What WE looks better?

[agh423]

Hello -

Which of these do you think looks better in applying for an MPP program?

Option 1: Working with AmeriCorps for a year. Don't know exactly what I will be doing, but it will probably entail some type of program that allows seniors to better get involved with their community.

Option 2: Working with a public consulting group for two years as an apprentice. Learn the ins and outs of public consulting.

More about me:

Graduated with a 3.66 GPA majoring in Business with concentrations in Economics in International Business. Graduated from Saint Louis University (top 70-80 school; also Jesuit, will this help at other Jesuit schools (like Georgetown?)) where I also got a certificate in Service Leadership (this requires 300 hours of community service and attending 24 workshops on service leadership). As far as work/volunteer experience goes, I volunteered for four years at a local tutoring site where I spent the last year and a half as a coordinator of the program. I worked as an intern for my school doing a lot of research and analyzing work.

Taking the GRE first of September, shooting for a 1300 (low to mid 700 on quantitative). My SOP will strongly reflect my desire to work in the public sector and I can probably get a couple of strong LOR.

I really want to get into a strong MPP program (Georgetown, GWU, or American) and want to see what will help me. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

[golonghorns]

I would definitely do option two. If you research Americorps, most people regret doing it due to the living standard and beauracratic red tape.

[riz1]

I would normally say Americorps, but I think option two looks pretty good. More than anything else, though, figure out what you want to do after you get your degree. The reason I say this is because what you want to do with your MPP should inform what you want to study in grad school, which in turn should help you drill down the schools you apply to, based on those schools' respective strengths. For example, if you want to do domestic policy work, a school like WWS, HKS, Maxwell, American or Denver would be great. So would LBJ and Ford.

If, however, you want to dive into a professional policy program that is international in scope, go to Georgetown, Fletcher, WWS (again), Korbel, etc.

Contrary to many people on this forum, I have recently been turned off by the lack of dedicated international focus at HKS. The only effort to internationalize the school is the MPP program's International and Global Affairs (IGA) track option, which just started a couple of years ago and has met with limited success. In my opinion, there's still a lot more work to be done before Kennedy is regarded in inner circles as a breeding ground of truly international practitioners. Although, with that said, the Harvard name alone can get you pretty darn far ...

From what you've said though, it seems you want to stay in the DC area. At any rate, think things through before you apply anywhere!

[Cornell07]

I agree with the above. Both options sound good though I would make sure you thoroughly look into Americorps so you are really sure about what you are getting into. On the plus side, having a record of public service can pay off in the form of scholarships and play well with public service schools like WWS, HKS, and Tufts (? I don't fully remember their app).