Chances of getting into MPA program?

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm looking into Master of Public Administration programs for Fall of 2012 in San Francisco and NYC. I am over 3 years out of college and have been working consistently in the health nonprofit sector. I'd like to create an emphasis in health administration, which most MPA programs allow. I graduated undergrad with a 3.47, though my GRE scores are pretty low. I have excellent recommendations from both professors and professionals. </p>

<p>I'm considering Columbia SIPA and NYU Wagner, both obviously prestigious grad schools and difficult to get in to. Also considering Baruch College in NYC and for SF bay area: San Francisco State, USF and UC Berkeley's Master of Public Health (since UCB doesn't have an MPA program). </p>

<p>I'm wondering what my chances would be of actually getting accepted to any of these programs, especially with my low test scores. Looks like all of their acceptance rates are between around 10% and 30%. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I took an MPA at the LSE. And a lot of my friends went to SIPA for their second year.</p>

<p>I don’t know how US grad schools are, but I would think that they don’t just look at GRE scores, but rather at your application holistically. You are, however, up against a lot of folks, and they might use the GRE scores to compare, though I’m not sure about that.</p>

<p>BTW, my math score on the GRE (that’s the only one they count for me since I’m a foreign student) were low the first time around and then I retook and I got a much higher mark. So I would consider retaking the GRE if they’re as low as you say. GRE is ********ting when they say you can’t get higher marks second time around - I jumped a 100 points in math.</p>