<p>Is anyone aware of potential public/economic/international policy programs (Masters) which will accept students without the typical 1-3 years work experience? Admission sites often state that work experience is not required but highly recommended. I understand the practicality of work experience for policy, but I will be graduating from a T10 Business School in only three years (AP & credit overloads) and I absolutely love policy. Econ major, math minor. Will have one internship as an analyst, but I have a feeling my daily involvement with the University stock fund would count as practical experience also! Thoughts?</p>
<p>From my research thus far, I am quite interested in the programs at Carnegie Mellon, Minnesota, PITT, LBJ @ UT, and Delaware. </p>
<p>Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I would appreciate an international focus, since I have studied abroad twice but I would be happy with anything at this point to advance my studies!</p>
<p>I’m really not sure why you’re opposed to going out and getting experience in the real world. You would not only be a stronger candidate come application season, but you would be a much stronger candidate when it comes time to apply for jobs.</p>
<p>The fact is, real-world experience is valued in academic circles. The “ivory tower” is being deconstructed, as both sides of the divide realize how important cross-pollination is.</p>
You just made my morning. “I think I am a strong candidate without work experience because I have even less real-world experience than the average college graduate.”</p>
<p>You know, I was just asking a question that is all. Not looking for judgment. At least I am saving another 50k rather than be another kid in huge masses of debt. </p>
<p>And as far as work experience, if you actually read my post, I will have an analyst internship, I help manage a REAL stock fund, and I even started a very successful business in HS. </p>
<p>This is why I avoided CC in HS…and will avoid it from now on!</p>
<p>By the way, if anyone has RATIONAL advice I would sincerely appreciate it! I am not opposed to work experience, I was just exploring an alternative route!</p>
<p>We gave you “RATIONAL advice,” you’re just not listening.</p>
<p>“Graduating from a T10 Business School in only three years” is great, but you’re acting as if that feat is somehow equivalent or superior to actually gaining real-world work experience in your field. That’s simply not how it works.</p>
<p>There’s a reason the graduate programs you mentioned strongly recommend getting real-world work experience before applying. Compared to an applicant who’s spent the last three years working as a government analyst, you will get rejected. One internship and being part of a team managing a university stock fund is not substantive public policy experience.</p>
<p>Yes, you will have to start at the bottom for awhile, as a GS-5 or whatever. Welcome to the real world. I’m in a government student-to-career program, and will be a GS-5 for the next two years while pursuing my master’s degree. C’est la vie.</p>
<p>If you “absolutely love policy,” why don’t you want to find a job in the field?</p>
<p>I know someone who got into Carnegie Mellon straight out of undergrad without even an internship, but I’m not sure that’s the norm. My son is a public policy student & is planning to go to grad school after getting more work experience.</p>