Thoughts on EMPA for career shift?

[rp06]

Hi all,

I'm thinking about doing a mid career MPA (I have more than 10 years experience) and was wondering about their value as launch pad for a career refocus or even change? Do the programmes actually deliver those skills and tools in a substantive enough way to build on prior experience and use it to move into another, related type of work? I've talked to staff at a couple of places and looked at their websites, and of course, one is told that these programmes ARE useful, but I'd love to hear from anyone on this forum who's either done it or knows of someone who has!!

I do believe that the good schools deliver on all this for their 'regular' MPA, MPP etc, and there are lots of posts about these, but not many about the mid career ones.

My background is as an academic in the development field at a highly ranked University - now I want to work in the field of security policy within an INGO/Public body or global institution. I'm looking at HKS MC/MPA and Maxwell EMPA.

Any inputs appreciated!