Chances for Masters of Public Policy

Graduate School
1

<p>I just took the GRE today, and I'm not planning on applying to grad school until next year, but I thought I'd start getting an idea of where to apply now that I have more concrete stats. Here they are:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5 from a top 3 liberal arts college. Strong upward trend (junior & senior GPA closer to 3.8). History major, but with lots of economics, statistics and political science classes.
GRE (just got today, so only have ranges, no percentiles):
Verbal - 690-720
Quant - 720-800
Good recs.
2 years of (hopefully) related work experience.</p>

<p>Where should I look to apply?</p>

<p>Is Harvard JFK out of reach?
Georgetown?
University of Michigan Ford?
George Washington?</p>

<p>Any other suggestions are welcome!</p>

2

<p>*bump - anyone?</p>

3

<p>I don’t really know much at all about grad school, but I do know that in 2009, the acceptance rate at the Kennedy School (HKS) for MPP/MPA was somewhere around 35%, so honestly, it’s not nearly as competitive to get into as b-school and law school. Others say that it hovers around 20%, but nonetheless, assuming your GRE scores fall generally within the range, you’re probably a shoo in if those statistics are still accurate.</p>

<p>Sources: [Harvard</a> University - acceptance rates of all degree programs - The GradCafe Forums](<a href=“Harvard University - acceptance rates of all degree programs - Applications - The GradCafe Forums”>Harvard University - acceptance rates of all degree programs - Applications - The GradCafe Forums)</p>

4

<p>I was looking at attending the HKS for MPP. I don’t know how good my chances are. I’m a Police Officer in Miami, FL for the last 9 years, graduated from Norwich University (Military College) with a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in History, had a decent GPA, and am set to take the GRE. From what I’m reading, you need to be up in the 700-750 range. I have excellent recs, and I know my essay will be good. I’m set to take a sebatical prior to attending. Realistically, what are my chances? I understand it’s a hard question to answer, but I figure I throw it out there.</p>