<p>Undergraduate institution: University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Undergraduate GPA: 3.25 (One semester left with mostly policy classes on my final schedule)
Undergraduate Majors: B.A. Recreation/ Sport Mgmt with Business Minor</p>
<p>GRE Quantitative Score: 158 practice test (74th percentile)
GRE Verbal Score: 155 practice (64th percentile) WILL IMPROVE
GRE AW Score: Graded myself so N/A but I believe I will get a 4.5+
Taking it this summer, but I am generally a good test taker </p>
<p>Years Out of Undergrad: Plan to go straight through (internships every summer of course) I graduate in fall so technically 8months out of school if admitted
Years of Work Experience: No full-time experience but have been employed since I was sixteen</p>
<p>Describe Relevant Work Experience:</p>
<p>Currently interning as the Resource Development and Grants Intern for the Maryland-National Capital Park Planning Commission for 3 months this summer. So far I have research funding opportunities, and began working on grant proposals. This is the #1 Parks and Rec Agency in the country. This experience is especially unique because I am housed in-office with park planners, landscape architects, division chiefs, deputy directors etc. They have allowed to sit in on their meetings and have invited me to lunch to give me a truly holistic experience. I am literally seeing from every angle how this Quasi-public government agency is operating, from the ground on up. We serve over 2 million people between two counties and the northern DC area. This has really inspired me to pursue the dual MUP degree (even though it is park planning, the framework is generally similar).</p>
<p>Interned for the Lansing,MI Dept of Parks and Recreation (part of mayor’s office) and organized city wide track events, fourth of July festival, supervised summer camp counselors,etc. I Also wrote a grant for them that was approved for $6,000 from Jackson National Life Mortgage. This grant required me to do budget analysis and ended up saving the department’s scholarship program so that low-income kids could continue participate in programming. Also garnered sponsorships for upcoming activities guide</p>
<p>Facilities manager for the RecSports Division of Student life. Manage between four buildings and also supervise a full student staff under me. Startes as an entry-level employee and now hold the highest position an undergrad can have. I also personally evaluate my employees biannually.</p>
<p>Served as Pre-College Mentor for past two summers for a two week college institute for students from at-risk high schools in Knoxville</p>
<p>Languages: English (I am interested in domestic policy)</p>
<p>Activities:
Single undergraduate member of the RecSports Endowment Fund Committee
Member of Dean of College Of Ed, Health, Human Sciences’ Advisory Board
Member of Mu Rho chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated (Chapter of the Year 4x in a row)
Member of NIRSA and TIRSA
Member of NRPA (Attended 2012 Congress in Anaheim on my own funds)
Member of TRPA (Awarded $1,000 scholarship for leading student in field)
Member of ICMA
Member of Adidas Partners in Sports
Member of Phi Theta Sigma National Honor Society</p>
<p>Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Will recieve LOR’s from top Chapter 13 Attorney in Detroit, Dean of my college, And Director of MNPPC (one of the top Park/Rec Departments in nation). I am also in the process of founding an Out-of-State Student Association here at UTK.</p>
<p>Other: I aspire to become one of the leading officials for park/recreation development and land use in a large city (municipal) and maybe move on to a federal level. Because the fields are so closely related, if I am admitted into a dual MUP/MPA(MPP) program I will look into city and community management also.
Michigan is my #1 not only bc I get in-state tuition but also because I would like to be involved/closely monitor the crucial redevelopment of downtown Detroit. Part of the reason I want to get my MPA or MPP is the diversity of the degree. I need to be further educated on quantitative strategies to determine things such as cost recovery, sustainibility, etc in order to make informed choices, especially because governments use tax-supported dollars (you cannot develop faster than you can recover).
I believe that my specific work experience and ability to write grants will help me. Also, I do not volunteer very much because I work 20+ hours per week and fund myself. I also funded my own trip to the NRPA conference in Anaheim,CA from Knoxville (And will do the same for Houston this year). I also hope to get to Boston for the ICMA ConferenceLastly, I am a black male, if that helps.</p>
<p>My schools I will be applying to:
1.Michigan Ford MPP/ Taubman MUP
2.U of Washington Evans MPA/dual MUP
3.University of Maryland MPP
4.USC Price MPP/MUP
5. University of Wisconsin MPA/ maybe dual MUP)</p>
<p>Other possibilities (maybe 2 more schools): Texas A&M, Ohio State, Rutgers</p>
<p>Do I have a realistic chance of getting in? If so, what are my chances of gaining any funding? (I will do anything from being a Teaching assistant, research assistant,etc.)I have about four months to get my application stronger so any suggestions are great! Once again THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!</p>