<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I'm a current student at UMich Ross Business School (will graduate in 2008), and I am interested in pursuing a MPP. I've enjoyed my education thus far, but I am more interested in pursuing a career in the private or NFP sector. I have a cumulative GPA of 3.7, I'm extremely involved in school leadership positions relevant to the public and NFP sectors, sit on a committe for the board of a local NFP, and I do some work for the State on a grant. Obviously, the GRE and my work-experience after graduation will play a big part in admissions, but can anyone make some suggestions on schools I should think of pursuing and when I should begin pursuing them (or how to go about evaluating where to look)? I have no experience in the graduate school arena, no one in my family does, and my school is really MBA-centric when it comes to graduate school counseling. Also, any other "potpourri" information or advice related to pursuing a MPP or MPA would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Any thoughts? Not a popular degree?</p>
<p>Much appreciated.</p>
<p>I would suggest defining what aspects of public policy you gravitate towards. If the NFPs you would like to work for are in the sector of social work / social policy, take a look at Masters of Social Work programs that are policy-focused (i.e. non-clinical). UMich and Univ of Chicago have strong programs, as does UCLA. There is a lot of overlap between certain MPA, MPP, and MSW programs.</p>
<p>I am also very interested in policy, but know from experience that I want to craft policy to assist foster youth. As such, a master's from a school like U of C is my best option.</p>
<p>I agree with Blasingson... you first need to decide on your research interstes/specialists. You also need to decide if you would like to study policy analysis (MPP) or management and policy implementation (MPA).</p>
<p>To get an idea of the top graduate programs.. and those that are top in their field check out the USNews Graduate School rankings. </p>
<p>If you plan to take a year off you can tailor your experience to the proposed area of study.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>Appreciate the help. I'm interested in the Policy Analysis side (MPP) more than the Public Administration side. I'm particularly interested in the interchange between the three sectors--not sure if that is very helpful.</p>
<p>Any suggestions on what schools I should look into or even schools I would have a shot at?</p>
<p>Best.</p>
<p>Overview info here: <a href="http://www.naspaa.org/students/faq/faq.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.naspaa.org/students/faq/faq.asp</a></p>
<p>I tried finding a USNews ranking but the link was broken.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, I took a few years off after getting my B.A. and am very thankful that I did. I am going back to grad school with both a more mature and defined focus. Working also added legitimacy to my resume and undoubtedly played a roll in helping me secure solid grants.</p>
<p>You should definately go out and buy this year's edition (or go Borders and transcribe the list) of the US News Graduate Schools. It is a good starting point to see which schools are considered the best. They also provide a breakdown for policy areas including: City Management, Health Policy, Nonprofit Management, etc. </p>
<p>After you look at the rankings, check out the websites of the programs and get on their mailing lists. Take the time to find professors with similar research interests; check out the program format and whether it matches your learning style; funding availability, etc etc. Remember that just because a school is ranked high...does not mean that it is the best school for YOU. </p>
<p>Hope I was able to help...</p>
<p>Blazingson.. where are you going to school? what are you studying?</p>
<p>latoya,</p>
<p>I have my sights on U of C, Mich, and UW in Seattle. I intend to focus on foster care policy and program management.</p>