<p>So I'm currently a sophomore at UCLA and I'm almost certain at this point at pursuing graduate studies in Public Policy/Public Administration. USC definitely has my interest as, for one, it's one of the most prestigious schools in Southern California that actually has an MPA program. I've been looking at the site and trying to see admission requirements, pre reqs, average stats of an admitted student, etc.</p>
<p>I know the MPP and MPA programs require a certain amount of social science undergraduate courses (not a problem as I'm a History major, Poli Sci minor), and a course in Stats (taking it before I graduate). However, the site doesn't list anything about average stats on admitted students or as to how many students apply per year. Or at least I haven't found it.</p>
<p>Would anybody know where I can find such information? UCLA's Grad School website displays how many students apply for a program and how many are admitted per year and they generally list things like "Average admitted student has a 3.5 GPA"</p>
<p>I believe they put the stats in the brochure. You need to visit the school and pick it up in RGL (Lewis Hall) room 108. Enter gate 2 off of Exposition. It’s the building on the immediate left of the entrance on Childs Way. </p>
<p>Awe, is that the only way? (I’d want to avoid driving to the USC campus simply because I don’t have a car and having to drive from home to LA just to ask one question seems to be…burden some) I’ve honestly done a lot of searching, but I cannot find any information. All I found was this from Petersons:</p>
<p>Both the MPP and MPA program have a 70%+ admission rate (which is great news for me), but it doesn’t list the average GRE score or the average GPA. All it says on the webiste is that an applicant should have an above average GPA and an above average GRE (jeez, whatever that means).</p>
<p>As far as I’m concerned, the only thing I have been able to compare it to is UCLA’s SOPA, which states that the average admitted student has a GPA of 3.5 and a standard GRE score of 630 V, 705 Q, 5 Writing.</p>
<p>I was reading on another forums that a person working at USC SPPD admissions said the middle 50% range of accepted GPAs was 3.1-3.57 for the MPA and 3.1 for the MPP, but the source isn’t reliable so I can’t really say. And come one, 3.1-3.6 That’s such broad numbers, ugh!</p>
<p>The Graduate School of Policy, Planning and Development is nationally ranked by U.S. News as 7th in the nation. Students come from all over the world to do graduate work here.</p>
<p>Many of the admitted students appear to have been in the workplace before applying to graduate school. You might wish to look over those numbers, which are on the website.</p>
<p>Within the graduate school are particular specialties. U.S. News ranks these specialties which are national rankings:</p>
<p>Public Management-Administration…5th
City Management-Urban Policy…4th
Health Policy…9th
Nonprofit Management…7th
Social Policy… 10th</p>
<p>I do not feel the numbers are as important as making the best grades possible, submitting ECs that have some association with your possible specialty and taking time to tour the graduate school facilities, labs and library. UCLA and SC have different “vibes”. See if you are the right “fit” for becoming part of the Trojan family.</p>
<p>USC is a private university. A complete freshman profile is posted in the undergraduate admissions forum of the website. For graduate schools each school has individual admission policies. Some post admissions information and others do not.</p>
<p>A subjective guide might be to go to the SPPD website to the graduate specialty–Real Estate. In that specialty are posted resumes of graduate students in that program for 2009. When you read what these students have accomplished before being admitted I think you would agree it is quite impressive. I DO REALIZE this is not your program of interest. However, it might give you an idea about the qualities the admissions committee is looking for in graduate candidates.</p>
<p>Most guidebooks that I have seen recently have information that is quite out of date. With the competition now to enter SC and their graduate programs the numbers printed appear unrealistic.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information Georgia Girl, appreciate it.</p>
<p>And yeah I’ve been to 'SC before (including the Coliseum for a football game). I was accepted there when I applied for undergrad and I toured the campus extensively so I know it well. As to how much I like it, I’ll say I do like it but I’m not going to get that far yet considering I’m not even applying yet.</p>
<p>Notaznguy, the stats you provided are quite low. I know the average GPA for undergraduate transfers was 3.67. I highly doubt one could get into the grad program with a 3.1. That’s low for any school’s standards. However, if you have stellar work experience that may help a bit, but it wont get you in. As a SPPD undergrad, I know they look for individuals who are passionately dedicated to their track/profession and one must provide proof. Again, I don’t doubt some got in with a 3.1, but they are not the majority. </p>
<p>You could call SPPD’s office for more information. But, the school is not required to publicly post statistics, unlike their public peers.</p>
<p>DJS3CA, undergraduate stats do not apply and have no impact on graduate admission standards. Again, I stated the range was 3.1-3.57, meaning the lowest they could have accepted that year was 3.1 and the highest may have been 3.6. MPA/MPP programs are geared more toward work experience than simply GPA and GRE scores anyways. I never officially stated what is the average GPA of the admitted student, hence why I am posting this thread.</p>
<p>I doubt, however, USC’s SPPD has ridiculously high standards (3.7+ on average admission stats) considering MPA/MPP programs are not extremely popular, and when you consider the stats of public schools, such as UCLA (less than 300 apply a year), I doubt thousands of people apply to USC. Even some of the more popular schools like Georgetown GPPI receive only 1,000 applicants a year</p>
<p>Based on most other schools and given USC’s ranking in Public Policy/Administration, I would just assume the median accepted GPA would be around 3.4-3.5 as well though.</p>