Good fits for MPA/MPP

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi, I'm currently entering my last year at a top-public university, and I'm considering trying to obtain an MPA/MPP. I want to go into policy making, because I have been passionate about it since I was like 5. The problem is my GPA is currently a low 2.84. There are two reasons for this. Most gen-ed's that I'm good at were satisfied in High School by AP tests, giving greater weight to subjects I have trouble with (Foreign Languages). The other is that I dealt with depression last semester, I was extremely overworked (I was working on a campaign, a normal job and going to school) and I eventually burned out. When you dig a little deeper into my grades they seem at least a little bit more impressive. I'd say aside from my grades I am a strong candidate.</p>

<p>my resume:
- Helped a professor with a research project (2011)
- Wrote columns mostly dealing with public policy for my college newspaper and a couple other publications (2011-Present)
-Hosted a radio show at my colleges station (2012-Present)
-Interned for a senate campaign (2012)
-Interned for a state senator (2013-Present (not sure if I will continue after this summer))
-Composed a 17 page policy analysis on college tuition reduction that received an A</p>

<p>My Academics:</p>

<p>Freshman Year Semester 1
Speech BC
Italian C
Comp. Gov. B
Political Numbers AB
Term GPA: 2.7</p>

<p>Freshman Year Semester 2:
International Relations B
Law, Politics and Society AB
French BC
Term GPA: 3.0</p>

<p>Sophomore Year Semester 1: (the one that's bringing me down)
History of American Political Thought BC
Legislative Process BC
Hip Hop Dance BC (This shows just how little I cared)
Italian BC
Nutritional Science C
Term GPA: 2.4</p>

<p>Sophomore Year Semester 2:
Debate B
Legislative Internship AB
The Divine Comedy AB
Power in 20th Century America AB
Term GPA: 3.4</p>

<p>In Progress Courses:
Summer
Macroeconomics
World Religion</p>

<p>Next Semester:
Stats in Political Science/ Comparative Genocide (depends on how things shake out)
Native Americans
Italian
The American Presidency</p>

<p>Overall GPA: 2.84
GPA in last 60: 2.83 (If I ace both summer classes, which I expect to since I'm taking them at a community college, this will be back above the 3.0 water mark)
GPA in Major: 3.11
GPA in Upper Division Work 3.13
GPA Minus first semester of sophomore year: 3.01</p>

<p>Programs I would Potentially Like to consider:
Arizona State
Nebraska- Omaha
Colorado- Denver
Illinois-Springfield
Kent State
North Dakota
Murray State
UMass- Dartmouth
Depaul?
Northwestern?</p>

<p>Do I stand any chance at all? Are there any other schools I should be considering? what can I do to strengthen my self?</p>

<p>I feel that this semester was a turning point, and I don't foresee my grades dropping below 3.0 for another semester.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Real-world experience will serve you much better than a mid-tier MPA/MPP right out of undergrad. You need to find internships or jobs, then think about returning to graduate school later. Consider an AmeriCorps-type program.</p>

<p>I work for a federal government agency, and the most valuable and important thing I did was take a six-month SCA/AmeriCorps internship after finishing my bachelor’s degree. The internship led to a job that I worked the summer after that, then I began pursuing a master’s. That experience opened all kinds of doors and opportunities. Making contacts and building a network is exceedingly important.</p>

3

<p>Go work.</p>

<p>Getting into a top MPA or MPP program straight from undergrad is difficult enough when you did well in college. It’s going to be even more difficult with a low GPA. MPA and MPP programs are predicated on the assumption that students have some real world experience; the classes and learning experiences are designed to benefit people who have at least a little background knowledge/experience in the field.</p>

<p>So go get a job. Work for a few years - at least 2, but more ideally 3-5.</p>