Graduate School Social/Public Policy Advice please

<p>I have a question about acceptance to Graduate school in social/public policy.
I'm leaning toward some of the top programs like SAIS, Goldman School Berkeley, harris school University of chicago, etc. </p>

<p>I know I have a passion for social work and the policy associated with it and I'm definitely leaning toward getting a masters. I really want to go to graduate school right out of undergrad, and I'm just wondering if anyone knew the credentials for undergrads who get accepted into graduate schools in public/social policy. </p>

<p>I am going to probably graduate a year early (2009 spring) at Georgetown University.
I haven't taken the GRE's yet, my gpa right now in 3.65, and I'm majoring in Econ, so I have a lot of quantitative background.
I've worked in the social policy realm, specifically with disadvantaged youth. I have also held an internship at a finance organization, and I'll have an internship in my Governor's office. Do internships matter a lot for undergrads who want to get accepted to grad school without work experience?</p>

<p>Any advice would be great.</p>

<p>also, would getting a letter of recommendation from my governor help a lot for acceptance?</p>

<p>I'm sure you already know this, but public policy schools really want to see 2-3 years of full time work experience. To get in without it, your grades/scores need to be an order of magnitude above what you would need ordinarily. For top programs like Harvard and Princeton, I would say around 3.8-3.9. If you don't have full time experience, internships are EXTREMELY important. My guess is that the governor's letter would be a fairly nice bonus, but only if he/she actually knew you and could write a strong letter. If it just comes out as "student x worked in my office from y-z, and performed well in..." you don't really get any benefit.</p>

<p>What kind of work experience are they looking for?</p>

<p>I am also interested in social policy too. However would grad school in public policy or social work be the better route? (I want to do policy research and nonprofit consulting in the future)</p>

<p>Hey, I got into both Goldman and Harris without work experience, but I know I was one of very few people who did. I didn't apply to SAIS but I have heard many stories of people being rejected with letters that say, you were a great applicant, please apply in 2 years after getting work experience. Your econ background will be very advantageous for both Goldman and Harris which are very quant and econ-heavy. I think graduating early might be a disadavantage because you will be even younger than the rest of your cohort. Why not work for a year?</p>

<p>I think internships do matter, but it really depends what you actually did on them. What will you be doing at the Governor's office? </p>

<p>Admissions officials will tell you, they won't care about big names recommending you unless they actually know you well! Don't get a letter from the governor if you can get a letter from someone who was directly supervising you and can write a detailed and persuasive letter.</p>

<p>Out of the schools you mentioned I only tried for harris (my goal was to be in D.C. since thats where the jobs I want are). I also came right from undergrad.
I got in with no financial aid to harris. I had a 3.65 and was a sociology major. I did get aid to a few other schools though in the D.C. area, which is where I'll be headed come August.</p>

<p>I was told internships matter alot if you are straight from undergrad. Even if they are not exactly public policy internships. I worked my governors office in constituent services for example. I got a letter there, but from someone who knew my work very well and supervised me. At least in Michigan those "letters of rec from the governor", are all signed by a machine, and written by someone else... and places know that (hell, I wrote some of them for people while at the governors). So I'd be cautious about that. Have one from someone who knows your work very well write it, and can attest to what you actually do. </p>

<p>-Erin</p>