Grad School MPP or 2nd Degree in Political Science?

College Majors
1

<p>Hello all...</p>

<p>A thought just popped into my head, and I wanted to know the boards thoughts on this. </p>

<p>I am currently 29 and did my original degree in Information Systems... I absolutely abhor IT and have been trying unsuccessfully to get out of it with no luck the last 2 years. </p>

<p>My thoughts are either, to get into a good MPP/MPA program ... OR to do a 2nd degree in Political Science. </p>

<p>I have done a lot of volunteer work in the NFP sector and would be working in Chicago for NFP or Public Policy. I am not so much about big salaries, but a job that I would love and wake up for everyday. </p>

<p>I could do a 2nd degree at a good school i.e. in Political Science at Northwestern ... and finish in 1.5 years working part time with about 20-25k debt. </p>

<p>or</p>

<p>I could do an MPP and finish in 3 years but take off work entirely, and probably only get into an OK grad school like Loyola or Depaul...as I probably do not have the stats for NW or U Chicago type MPP #'s... and do this option would also STILL require a few prerequisite classes hence 3 years. This would put me about 40-50k in debt. </p>

<p>Thoughts? Would a 2nd degree and already a lot of work experience in a diff field get me in the door? </p>

<p>I am wary that option 1 will get me the job I want, I am wary option 2 might not be worth it with the dept load and more years off the job force.</p>

<p>Either way I have to do something I have decided... I have tried applying before for other jobs and just get labeled "IT guy" and pigeon holed, so no luck.</p>

2

<p>I doubt you’ll love the job and wake up for it everyday if you go into that much debt for either of your options. Do NOT do it for that kind of debt. I don’t necessarily think that a master’s will get you in the door.</p>

<p>You don’t say what kind of NFP you have in mind and what type of public policy area interests you, so that makes it hard to identify other pathways to the job you want.</p>

<p>If you are getrting pigeon-holed as “just that IT guy”, maybe you would benefit from some better self-marketing. Could you get some help from your college’s career center on fixing your resume? How could you translate your previous job experience and skills into something of value for the positions for which you’re applying? Surely, IT experience is relevant to certain aspects of policy jobs. You say you have volunteered, but you don’t say what types of organizations/ positions. Surely, your volunteer experience can count for something that will translate into desired experience on your resume? If nothing else, your volunteer experience might provide contacts that could turn into a job.Many such jobs come from personal contacts.</p>