MPP and no econ or stat

[OperaticDiva]

I am a senior and I am going to apply for the MPP program and then afterwards get a job and go get my JD at night. I do not have the $ to go another 4 years without a full time job. So, here's the point...my professors told me I should apply to the MPP instead of a political science program because that is what interests me and what I am good at. I do not have any econ or stat courses under my belt. I am taking a full load in the fall and spring semesters so I can't take the lower level courses so get some jist of it. I am graduating in May '10. Should I take a semester off and take econ and stat at a local cc? How important are those courses in a MPP program?

[growing19]

I did my MPP at U of Michigan's Ford School ('01-02), and in my experience, econ and stats were extremely important. However, while having some coursework in those areas would strengthen your application, it might not be necessary for admission. With some research, you might find programs that are suited to your experience and interests. If there is an MPP program at your university, I would start by speaking with an advisor there.

Michigan's program is on the quantitative end of the spectrum, with Microeconomics, Stats, and Benefit-Cost Analysis as core requirements of the program. Most of us also took Public Finance and International Finance, and most do Econometrics (which I never forced myself to endure, not being especially gifted in the quant department). I had taken Micro, Macro, and Stats when I applied as an undergrad Poli Sci major.

Regardless of what program you enter, you will almost certainly have to take some econ and stats classes. If you aren't sure how you like doing that sort of work, it might be wise to try to squeeze in a course before applying (even as an audit or online). Good luck!

[jenninthebox]

I'd try to take a few of those courses at a local community college, or an affordable four year school. My friend earned a BA in Psych, started a Ph.D program in Neuroscience at OU, then decided that academia wasn't for her and that she wanted to be a physician's assistant. She enrolled at a small state school and took about a year of pre-med courses, since her psych focus had skewed more towards clinical than medical. She got into OU's PA program earlier this year, and loves it. MOTS...if it's what you really want to do, take the steps necessary to make it happen.

PS: Stat's easy. I have a mind for politics and public policy (we have the same major), and not for math at all, and I did fine in my statistics course.