Tech background for MPP/MPA programs?

[taroboba]

Hey y'all. Been thinking about applying to MPP/MPA/MIA programs for a bit... my top choices right now are Columbia (either MIA or MPA - I have 6 years of Japanese but I wouldn't call myself 'proficient' by any means), Fletcher, HKS (for funsies), and Georgetown (leaning towards McCourt). My GPA is not competitive (3.35) and my Q score needs a lot of beefing up (currently 150Q/162V/5w, am retaking in October). My academic quantitative background is also weak. However, I think I have an interesting perspective for my essay, especially if I decide to concentrate in security studies -- I don't want to go into too much detail, but I worked for a well-known tech company for the last three years and have a really solid topic that combines policy + tech. 

My biggest concerns: my semi-unusual work background (I have some nonprofit experience, including being on the board of a nonprofit org this part year, but nothing full-time) combined with my lack of a quantitative background -- I am going to start online courses for stats and econ, but my transcript does not look great quant-wise. Should I take a year and try to find a more policy-oriented job + finish up these courses, or do you think my essay will be enough to convince admissions that I'm a serious applicant? My job was pretty entry-level but can definitely be spun to look more interesting.

 

Edit: forgot to mention my undergrad degree was in Political Science & East Asian Studies!

Edited September 6, 2016 by taroboba
missing info

[coasts]

I don't think you need to worry, but it would probably benefit your application to boost your quant score and do online classes in stats and econ (even one, if you don't have enough time for both). (Also you should do an online class for a grade to demonstrate your abilities, rather than something through, say, Coursera.) I don't know if this is a bad thing to say, but from my experience with applying last fall, my interactions with my new classmates, and reading this board, MPP/MPA programs aren't wildly competitive if you're looking at schools aside from HKS/WWS. (Of course, getting good funding is another matter.) I don't think that you need to work in a policy-oriented job in order to be a competitive candidate, though it may be good for you personally to determine whether you really do like being in the policy world and what specific part of it you want to pursue after grad school. Otherwise, if you can spin your job to explain why it made you interested in policy, then that should be plenty sufficient. 

[went_away]

Impossible to say without knowing more about what you want to do professionally after grad school. 

The most likely position you'd end up in after a SIPA/Fletcher is as the tech/IT guy for a DC or NYC NGO. 

With a name-brand tech employer on your resume, I doubt you'll have much trouble gaining admittance to one of the top programs - they'll gladly take your money.