Journey to MPP and MBA- your advice greatly appreciated

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I'm a new poster, so please let me know if I'm posting in the wrong place.</p>

<p>I'm posting about where I'd like to go due to my goals, where I am at now (as a rising college senior), and your advice toward achieving these goals. </p>

<p>GOALS</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>] I'm motivated by researching and creating viable solutions toward the so-called triple bottom line of sustainability, economy, and social equity.
[</em>] I seek to do this through regional and urban policy and planning solutions, specifically through my interest in integrating housing, public transportation, education/workforce development, and food infrastructure.
[li] I'm also very interested in implementing issues of democratic organizational management and structure, such as workplace democracy, cooperatives, and community ownership mechanisms. [/li][/ul]</p>

<p>** REASONS FOR MPP AND MBA **
[ul]
[<em>] I'm interested in attaining an MPP to better understand complex regional and urban political economies.
[</em>] I'm also interested in an MBA to better understand and practice management and organizational development skills to lead as well as gaining invaluable social capital.
[li] In the more distant future (after MPP and MBA), i'm <i> very </i> interested in receiving a PhD to gain more research skills, combine research and practice (because I have an interest in scholarly work but lean towards on the ground work), and additional credibility. [/li][/ul]</p>

<p>** WHERE I'M AT NOW **
[ol]
[<em>] I created my own major that combines sociology, public policy, international relations, and geography that addresses urban inequality issues in my city (more qualitatively based work).
[</em>] GPA: 4.0 (with two dropped classes and phi beta kappa/phi kappa phi), GRE: not yet taken, First generation college student
[<em>] Extracurriculars/research/work experience:
[list=a]
[li] internships in several grassroots organizations in community organizing and local urban policy for the past three years, [/li][</em>] research experience with two professors in sociology and public policy (more qualitative, some statistics) with McNair and Mellon Mays fellowships,
[<em>] internship in a relevant research center on campus for the summer,
[</em>] started and lead a relevant campus coalition to address university urban policy to urge focus on equity for a year,
[li] accepted and attended several policy institutes, business programs, and community organizing seminars (two by Harvard, two by several progressive NYC and SF based think-tanks and organizations). [/li][/ol]
[/list]</p>

<p>** WHAT I HOPE TO DO FOR THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS **
I realize I’m definitely lacking, at the very least, in my experiences and my quantitative skills.
[ul]
[li] Strategy for gap in quantitative skills. ** Because of the nature of my coursework (I have little room), I hope to first graduate and take a macroeconomics and quantitative skills course (perhaps statistics) in community college or elsewhere. In the meantime, I hope to audit a geographic information systems/mapping course this fall. [/li][li] **Strategy for gap in experiences. I was thinking about applying and seeing if I get in first. Since I most likely wont, I hope to find relevant work experience for at least a year in an organization that deals with business-community regional-based solutions in SF (I have several possibilities in mind). [/li][li] Others. I hope to study abroad my last semester, apply for random fellowships (such as Fulbright and coro), and continue my grassroots and student leadership experiences. [/li][/ul]</p>

<p>** YOUR CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE? **
[ul]
[<em>] Is the idea to take the economics and quantitative courses in community college a bad idea?
[</em>] How can I improve relationships with recommenders? I have several, but I'm pretty sure I can better my relationships.
[<em>] How else may I deal with gaps in my application?
[</em>] What else should I do in my gap between grad school.
[/ul]</p>

<p>I believe I have a long way to go. I would greatly appreciate your help and constructive critique! Thank you for your patience in reading this post; I believe you would have helpful information from your experience. Please let me know if you need additional information. I would very much like to make a positive difference in the world. </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Are you interested in a joint MPP/MBA program? You may have to take both the GRE and the GMAT, depending on the program. Many good MBA programs also require work exp (your internships may not be enough) so applying now to see if you can get in may not be a good strategy if you are able to get into a lower level program now but could get into a great program a couple years from now.</p>

<p>It seems that you would want microeconomics in addition to (or even in lieu of, if you had to pick) macro. Statistics also is a great choice. How is your general math background? Are you taking the calculus sequence, for instance? MBA programs also frequently require pre-reqs in the business core, so without a BBA you may not qualify for certain programs without taking accounting, etc., also. </p>

<p>I really don’t know how comm college coursework is perceived relative to a 4 year university. I’m curious to see what others with more info on this have to say. If I had to guess, I would say it might be neutral if you don’t need to rely on them for recommendations or as a source of application strength but merely to demonstrate that you have the appropriate educational background. (I just finished taking a bunch of math courses at my local 4 year uni as a non-degree seeking graduate student preparatory to my MA/PhD work. This is something that you may be able to do, too, as an alternative to the comm college.)</p>

<p>For the PhD, quant background is going to be very important as you note; you are going to want through multivariate calculus at a minimum, I would think, and the more stat the better (esp. IMO if you can take calculus-based courses that really help you understand what’s happening behind all the formulas). Obviously, researching requirements for the kinds of programs that attract you will guide you. Are you looking at PhD in public policy? </p>

<p>You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into your plan and are on the road to being able to write a compelling SOP. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>It sounds like, from what you have stated in your goals, that a PhD might be best suited for you, without an MPP/MBA. You seem interested in research, which is why you should get a research degree. There isn’t a reason to get an MBA and a MPP in my opinion, if you’re going to get one, get one or the other. But I would recommend just taking relevant classes at a four year, so you’re not spending all this money unnecessarily. Keep finances in mind. </p>

<p>You can definitely take quant classes and basic econ classes at a community college. Any advanced econ classes I would take at a four year, just because the quality of professors will most likely be better, which will help in the study of econ.</p>

4

<p>Thanks so much for the responses and advice back!</p>

<p>-just a quick clarification, i’m using my roommate’s account (because I didn’t want to sign up for my own account), to explain what i mean by a first-time poster
-also, i don’t know if this matters, but I’m attending a tier 1 private, 4-year research university </p>

<p>@one-eyed-rex:
-unfortunately, i’ve only taken statistics pass/fail, but I was pre-med for my first two years, so i’ve taken up to organic chemistry. i haven’t taken math since senior year high school. i hope to make up for this through community college perhaps to save on tuition as well
-i’m definitely very interested in a PhD in public policy, especially urban policy</p>

<p>@the philosopher
-i see what you’re saying about either mpp or mba, and i’ll reflect on this further. I’ll see how my finances pan out, but because i’m very much wanting to be do something in practice my first few years, i’d like to get these practitioner degrees because i see them meshing well for my purposes.</p>