From law school to MPA

[dnielsen8]

I'm currently in law school and thinking of applying to MPA programs directly after I finish. I have a 3.67 undergraduate GPA from top-15 undergrad and will have 3.1/3.2 GPA from top 5 law school (that's based on my calculation, my school doesn't actually calculate GPAs) Does anyone happen to know if my low law school GPA will sink my chances at places like MSFS/SAIS/Fletcher/HKS?

Thank you in advance!

Edited November 27, 2013 by dnielsen8

[MPPgal]

Of course not! I know people in my program who had bad grades and came from bad law programs so dont worry about it.

[Jufarius87]

I think they will see "top 5 law school" on your resume and that in itself will establish your academic bona fides for all but HKS/WWS. Even for HKS/WWS if that 3.67 UGPA had some math and/or you get a good quant score on your GRE you should be competitive.

One thing you might consider though is putting that law degree to work for a couple years though. Law school is not cheap for most (and neither is the MPA!). You might be able to knock of some debt while collecting the work experience MPA schools like to see.

[NPRjunkie]

An MPA won't add anything over and above a law degree from a T5 law school, even from WWS/HKS. I'm surprised you don't know that already. Unless you're fully funded and it's for your own personal enjoyment, don't bother. It'd be just silly to consider SAIS/Fletcher/GTown after already earning a T5 law degree, but still weird even for WWS/HKS unless you were dual-degree for HKS (and even in this case, dual degrees are usually covered by fellowships since HKS won't really add anything to HLS). It's a funny image thinking of someone with a T5 law degree walking around with a bunch of little kids at SAIS, Fletcher, etc. bragging about the summer internships they did.

There's literally nothing you can't already do with a law degree that an MPA will improve upon.

Edited November 28, 2013 by NPRjunkie

[excusemyfrench]

I'm currently in law school and thinking of applying to MPA programs directly after I finish. I have a 3.67 undergraduate GPA from top-15 undergrad and will have 3.1/3.2 GPA from top 5 law school (that's based on my calculation, my school doesn't actually calculate GPAs) Does anyone happen to know if my low law school GPA will sink my chances at places like MSFS/SAIS/Fletcher/HKS?

Thank you in advance!

 

Is it too late for you to do a dual degree at your current school? That would save you some money unless cost isn't an issue. I agree with the other user that you should consider working for a few years. Are you not interested in practicing? Are you going to take the bar? At least take the bar! I have a JD and chose to not take the bar because I had zero interest in practicing. I kind of regret it now and am considering taking the New York bar. Having that license just opens another pathway career-wise. You never know, right?

 

And to actually answer your question, I guess I'm on the "work for a few years" train because of your GPA. Although, if you're at a T5 then maybe the GPA doesn't matter as much as the law school itself.

 

But anyway, I have to say that if you're just interested in working in public policy, then the JD absolutely can open doors; it did for me albeit with some serious networking thrown in for good measure. But I also have several years of work experience overall.

 

If you take the bar and get licensed (or even if you don't), you can definitely get into the policy world. I've seen quite a good amount of JDs/licensed attorneys working as policy analysts/associates. But then again if you have specific, personal reasons for wanting an MPA and you're ok with the additional debt (like me), then go for it.

 

It's your life. Good luck!

 

P.S. I once met a Yale law grad with a Harvard MPP and I believe he went straight through so it's definitely a choice some people are making!

Edited November 28, 2013 by excusemyfrench

[dnielsen8]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

 

I'm not really interested in working as a lawyer, or in policy actually. I've focused mostly on law and development and comparative constitutional law. I'd like to work in development and feel like the MPA would give me the quantitative and project management skills that law school hasn't

 

I am still thinking about taking some time off to work for a while-- I'm taking a year off of law school at the moment to get more field experience in Southeast Asia so might go back to that after finishing my last year of law school.

 

I'm pretty concerned about being able to easily secure a job after the program. The program at my school isn't known for having the most supportive alum network or career services so that put the dual degree out of the running for me.

[excusemyfrench]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

 

I'm not really interested in working as a lawyer, or in policy actually. I've focused mostly on law and development and comparative constitutional law. I'd like to work in development and feel like the MPA would give me the quantitative and project management skills that law school hasn't

 

I am still thinking about taking some time off to work for a while-- I'm taking a year off of law school at the moment to get more field experience in Southeast Asia so might go back to that after finishing my last year of law school.

 

I'm pretty concerned about being able to easily secure a job after the program. The program at my school isn't known for having the most supportive alum network or career services so that put the dual degree out of the running for me.

 

Have you considered the United Nations Young Professionals Programme (UN YPP)? The cut-off age is 32 I think. It's a really cool 2-year "fellowship" if you will. They hire for different "job families" every year. You have to take a placement exam FYI. It might be up your alley interest-wise.

Edited November 28, 2013 by excusemyfrench

[dnielsen8]

Yeah, I have. It seems like a great program and definitely the best way to get a secure job at the UN if you get in.

 

I'm actually interning at the UN at the moment and think I could use a break from it

[excusemyfrench]

Ohh ok! Sounds good. Think about taking the bar though. Seriously!