<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I’m a current student at UMich Ross Business School (will graduate in 2008), and I am interested in pursuing a MPP. I’ve enjoyed my education thus far, but I am more interested in pursuing a career in the private or NFP sector. I have a cumulative GPA of 3.7, I’m extremely involved in school leadership positions relevant to the public and NFP sectors, sit on a committe for the board of a local NFP, and I do some work for the State on a grant. Obviously, the GRE and my work-experience after graduation will play a big part in admissions, but can anyone make some suggestions on schools I should think of pursuing and when I should begin pursuing them (or how to go about evaluating where to look)? I have no experience in the graduate school arena, no one in my family does, and my school is really MBA-centric when it comes to graduate school counseling. Also, any other “potpourri” information or advice related to pursuing a MPP or MPA would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Any thoughts? Not a popular degree?</p>
<p>Much appreciated.</p>
<p>I would suggest defining what aspects of public policy you gravitate towards. If the NFPs you would like to work for are in the sector of social work / social policy, take a look at Masters of Social Work programs that are policy-focused (i.e. non-clinical). UMich and Univ of Chicago have strong programs, as does UCLA. There is a lot of overlap between certain MPA, MPP, and MSW programs.</p>
<p>I am also very interested in policy, but know from experience that I want to craft policy to assist foster youth. As such, a master’s from a school like U of C is my best option.</p>
<p>I agree with Blasingson… you first need to decide on your research interstes/specialists. You also need to decide if you would like to study policy analysis (MPP) or management and policy implementation (MPA).</p>
<p>To get an idea of the top graduate programs… and those that are top in their field check out the USNews Graduate School rankings. </p>
<p>If you plan to take a year off you can tailor your experience to the proposed area of study.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>Appreciate the help. I’m interested in the Policy Analysis side (MPP) more than the Public Administration side. I’m particularly interested in the interchange between the three sectors–not sure if that is very helpful.</p>
<p>Any suggestions on what schools I should look into or even schools I would have a shot at?</p>
<p>Best.</p>
<p>Overview info here: <a href=“http://www.naspaa.org/students/faq/faq.asp[/url]”>http://www.naspaa.org/students/faq/faq.asp</a></p>
<p>I tried finding a USNews ranking but the link was broken.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I took a few years off after getting my B.A. and am very thankful that I did. I am going back to grad school with both a more mature and defined focus. Working also added legitimacy to my resume and undoubtedly played a roll in helping me secure solid grants.</p>
<p>You should definately go out and buy this year’s edition (or go Borders and transcribe the list) of the US News Graduate Schools. It is a good starting point to see which schools are considered the best. They also provide a breakdown for policy areas including: City Management, Health Policy, Nonprofit Management, etc. </p>
<p>After you look at the rankings, check out the websites of the programs and get on their mailing lists. Take the time to find professors with similar research interests; check out the program format and whether it matches your learning style; funding availability, etc etc. Remember that just because a school is ranked high…does not mean that it is the best school for YOU. </p>
<p>Hope I was able to help…</p>
<p>Blazingson… where are you going to school? what are you studying?</p>
<p>latoya,</p>
<p>I have my sights on U of C, Mich, and UW in Seattle. I intend to focus on foster care policy and program management.</p>