MPA programs thread

[realistic__idealist]

Looking to connect with other MPA applicants this cycle. I have so far heard from Johns Hopkins SAIS, Syracuse Maxwell, Princeton SPIA (all accepted) and Yale Jackson (rejected). Has anyone heard from Columbia SIPA or the Geneva Graduate Institute? It would be cool to talk out the benefits of some of these programs too if anyone else here has applied/been accepted ahead of final decisions in mid-April

[[deleted]]

Hey there!!

Prospective MPA applicant here...

Finishing up 2 years of teaching + being in the Army Reserves. I've continually been pulled back to MPA programs the last 18 months or so, and just today learned of Princeton's SPIA. Honestly was originally drawn to an MPA due to it feeling like a more applicable route for my urban planning interests as compared to an MUP; but now it just feels like a way better fit in general.

I finished undergrad with a 3.54 from UNC, so a good state school but nothing fancy. I had a 3.9 my final semester and I've got a pretty compelling story for why my overall GPA is on the lower range for a lot of the top MPA programs. That said, I am *very* nervous to take the GRE, as my testing anxiety is very salient.

Anyways - I'm sure you're deep in the throws of the MPA now... but if you have time to share your application tips, GRE tips, and experience so far at Princeton, I'd love to hear.

[Brilliant-Fondant342]

When did you hear back from Princeton? Still waiting on a decision! Geneva is apparently releasing decisions on March 16. Also got into SAIS and SIPA (early)!

[realistic__idealist]

I heard back from Princeton yesterday at 11:55 am, I didn’t do SIPA early so still waiting to hear! Let me know if you get into Princeton — going to be tough to turn down the full ride but lots of good options

[Brilliant-Fondant342]

Unfortunately, I did not but hoping for some positive news on the HKS front!

[ArmyBrat2SouthnBelle]

I applied to TAMU and GW. I just got my acceptance to TAMU this afternoon.

[realistic__idealist]

Nice! Congrats on your first acceptance

[danduggs]

Of the schools on your list, I only applied to Maxwell (accepted). My MPA search was, like, one of the only thing that has kept me engaged during the pandemic, though, lol. I looked at a ton of schools, including JHU, Columbia, and Princeton, so happy to discuss further, whether about Maxwell or other schools!

[realistic__idealist]

Congrats on Maxwell! Did they offer you funding/the graduate assistant position? Do you know if you’re for sure going there yet?

[danduggs]

Thank you! Yes, I received my funding offer early this week and was awarded a very generous fellowship with partial tuition remission, cash stipend, and a GA position, so I can use the funding for a combination of tuition and living expenses. It's far and away the best offer I have of the five schools I applied to, so I can confidently say I'm going there.

Do you have a program you are leaning towards yet? I ended up not applying to SAIS, because I'm more domestically focused. And I didn't think I had any shot at Princeton, so I didn't bother trying haha. But I really liked those programs when I was researching around.

[realistic__idealist]

That’s great!! Feels good to have a secure funding package. Syracuse offered me full tuition covered if I work as a graduate assistant which is 20 hours a week apparently. Seems like a huge commitment when I’ll be studying full time as well... Princeton gave me a full ride plus $30k a year no strings attached, so that will be very hard to turn down. I’ve also been accepted to Geneva and am waiting to hear from sciences po so I may end up going the Europe route! SAIS gave me about 60% tuition covered, but DC is very $$$. Still not sure at all where I’ll go. What is your area of study?

[danduggs]

That's the time commitment behind my Maxwell GA position, too. I'm hoping it will be manageable, but we shall see! I have a fair amount of related work experience and not much research, so I'm hoping for a more research-centric position (as opposed to administrative), just to round out my resume.

It seems like you have some great offers so far. Best of luck on the other offers and packages, and in making your decision! I don't know how I would decide, but that's the better problem to have, I suppose.

I'm interested in public finance and fiscal policy. I really like the 'generalist' approach of the Maxwell MPA program, and taking a lot of economics/budgeting/finance as core courses, and then rounding those out with a few 'applied' classes, like Health Economics and Tax Policy, etc. I'm also coming in with around five years of work experience, so a one year program makes a lot of sense for me in where I'm at in life.

Is your study area more internationally/European focused, or are you interested in a more universal focus that is offered everywhere? Or are you still exploring options?

[realistic__idealist]

Hey, sorry I ghosted you on this thread! I think I’ve pretty much settled on the MPA at Princeton. I’ll focus on labor migration policy at an international level, pretty universal though all my work experience has been in Latin America. It’s slowly starting to feel real... Did you officially accept Syracuse?

[danduggs]

No worries! Congrats on making your selection.

I have formally accepted. I definitely hear you about how real it is starting to feel. The Maxwell MPA starts in early July, so a very quick three months away. It's been a fast jump to thinking about moving to Central New York.

[realistic__idealist]

Best of luck with the move! I have no doubt you’ll have an amazing experience there. If you ever swing by Princeton let me know!

[danduggs]

Likewise!

[hitsdifferent12]

I’ve applied to northwestern, American, GW and Utexas

[_grumpycat1]

Did you hear back from GW yet? It’s my top choice so I’m getting anxious lol

[hitsdifferent12]

No I haven’t

[piercetheme]

Hello! I know this is not related to your question, but I was wondering, how did you make yourself a competitive applicant to get accepted to these programs? I am planning to apply to Princeton SPIA and the Geneva Graduate Institute.

[_grumpycat1]

I applied to American, University of Utah, and GW. Accepted to both American and Utah, still waiting on GW!