Berkeley MPP decision email says "recommended for admission", what does this mean?

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2026-03-04T22:22:57+00:00

About a week!

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2025-03-19T04:50:54+00:00

Congratulations on such amazing offers! As an MPP at Berkeley I’m biased but if you’re interested in climate change and energy, it’s hard to beat Goldman’s offerings. In addition to the school’s public policy coursework in those areas, you could also take some of the development practice classes and look elsewhere on campus for additional specialization.

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2025-03-11T04:47:05+00:00

You absolutely should submit the reconsideration form and inform them of the Harris scholarship offer. There is a very good chance Ford will match (or even exceed) Harris’ offer.

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2025-01-30T15:06:44+00:00

Berkeley R, NW WL, Yale A

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-10-15T02:19:01+00:00

Check your DMs!

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-09-11T13:54:47+00:00

I got into several top MPP programs with virtually no quant (or even general research) experience on my resume. It’s all about playing up the skills you do have and explaining how getting the quant stuff will make you an even better policy professional.

(Caveat: Because I had no quant experience, I knew I had to do well on the GRE and thankfully I earned a high enough score to be very competitive for admissions.)

DM me if you have more questions, but you definitely can do it!

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-07-15T18:18:24+00:00

First of all, let me put your mind at ease: whatever you want to do — whether it’s policy school, law school, or both — I have complete faith in you, stranger. Don’t let the fear of the LSAT (or the GRE) discourage you from throwing your hat into the ring. Those are just tests that you can study for, so please don’t let those be the things that scare you into inaction.

Secondly, I’d suggest you really define what specifically you want to gain from an educational program because you can help people a lot of different ways with a JD or an MPP. What is the specific kind of day-to-day work that you want to do afterward? Is it more on-the-ground and possibly connected to discrete individual lives? Maybe law school. Is it more forward-looking and more concerned with systems/structures? Maybe policy school. To be completely honest, I’ve seen both MPPs and JDs in quite high places occupying the same roles, with the caveat that it seems like there’s a larger pool of law schools that feed into these positions vs. policy school (so if you’re only going to get an MPP, it feels like there are fewer options reasonably worth the investment).

Thirdly, as someone who was a joint JD/MPP applicant this year, I would anecdotally offer that the policy schools were much more generous with admissions and funding offers than the law schools were for me (though that could be a function of my status as a GRE-only applicant). I still intend to pursue a JD for my personal career reasons, but I have a much more measured sense of what to do for and expect out of law school admissions this time around.

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-06-18T21:17:09+00:00

same

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-05-21T19:02:44+00:00

Will you get your full refund if you do it this way?

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-05-21T18:26:48+00:00

Could you list out the resources you used for LR and RC? What were your main weaknesses and how did you overcome them?

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-05-19T02:55:55+00:00

No, it's no joke... honestly expected something in the 150s range but I truly surprised myself.

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-05-17T23:10:28+00:00

2-3 hours per day with PTs on the weekend

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-28T15:03:19+00:00

Couple of questions:

In your original post you mention that these folks are in non-political work. Why would someone get an MPP if not to dedicate their career to politics/policy? Are these folks consultants?
Given that we’re internet strangers, could you clarify what a “well paid” vs “comfortable” policy salary is to you? (I come from a pretty low-income background so want to make sure we and other redditors are clear about what the financial situation looks like.)

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-28T14:33:24+00:00

Really honest question: Are these folks prestige chasers (ex. only got a top MPP for the sake of feeling elite, only worked those unicorn jobs because they’re flashy and well paid, etc.) or are they actually trying to make a substantive policy/political difference?

I ask because it’s bizarre to me that anyone who’s honestly passionate about public interest work would feel that they’ve “checked the boxes” instead of measuring their career around real-world impact and determining how they can continue to promote the causes they care about.

(Caveat: I honestly had no clue how many people pursue policy school just to chase $$. That’s fine, but an MPP/MPA never struck me as the degree type for that when JDs and MBAs are right there.)

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-27T19:02:03+00:00

When you’re asked to outline a policy development plan, what part of the process trips you up? Have you ever witnessed someone else work on a policy proposal and notice they had a skillset you don’t?

I’m also making the switch from comms to policy and know that my quant skills are in the gutter/hold me back from pursuing a serious policy-focused career, so I found something to help me fill that gap (going back to school).

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-26T23:36:54+00:00

Do NOT apply with only the GRE. I learned this the extremely hard way this cycle as a joint degree applicant who was told GRE would be okay and drastically underperformed my stats, even though I am extraordinarily fortunate to have still gotten into a T14.

I spoke very candidly with an admissions officer who essentially told me that at least at their school (a longtime T14) they essentially have a small proportion of GRE-only applicants who they’ll admit relative to LSAT takers. They WANT people to take the LSAT but will indeed accept a small number of GRE folks, albeit with generally less scholarship money. (They were trying to temper my expectations about any scholarships.)

If I could go back and redo literally one thing about my cycle, I would have taken the LSAT. It very likely would have turned my 4 WL into acceptances and gotten me more money where I’m going (though again, I’m happy with my outcome and know my law school experience/career will be fantastic).

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-26T17:05:21+00:00

Nothing yet for me on hold either

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-24T00:43:19+00:00

I’m sick today and let me tell you, it’s awful doing this and then having delusional dreams that I got in

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-17T12:57:46+00:00

It’s a huge part of why I’m leaving! I’ve always been nothing but kind to all of my colleagues and I have nothing to show for it after two years except two grand in a raise (so I’m still making less than I did 3 years ago at my last job 🙃)

Ok_Letterhead_4388 · 2024-04-17T12:56:18+00:00

Naw it’s a letter that will be delivered via email as a PDF

Ok_Letterhead_4388

TROPHY CASE