<p>I’m somewhat interested in attending public administration school, eventually, so, a few questions.</p>
<p>• Do you generally need to major in something in the social sciences for undergrad, in order to apply to public administration school?</p>
<p>• I’ve heard that law schools generally admit students almost entirely on GPA and LSAT scores. What factors are most important in PA school admission? What role do undergrad prestige, extracurricular activities/work experience, GPA, and GRE scores play in admissions?</p>
<p>• How important is the prestige of one’s PA school in looking for PA jobs?</p>
<p>• Are schools with better PA programs (eg Syracuse) usually more or less selective than schools with better general prestige (eg NYU) for PA school admissions?</p>
<p>Any help is appreciated!</p>
<p>-No, although it helps.</p>
<p>-GRE scores, GPA, work experience, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation and your personal statement. Generally speaking you should have:</p>
<p>1) compelling work experience - 2-5 years is generally expected - in administration that shows a dedication and prospect to succeed in public administration;
2) a solid GPA - at least around a 3.3;
3) strong letters of recommendation from professors and/or supervisors within the field of PA;
4) extracurriculars that show leadership experience and an interest in the field (these are less important if you have work experience, but more important if you have 2 or fewer years of experience); and
5) a personal statement that tells a compelling reason why you want to pursue an MPA right now.</p>
<p>For some programs, strong quantitative skills are expected. At most program, you need average to great GRE scores (1100+).</p>
<p>-Pretty important, but it can vary regionally.</p>
<p>-There’s no blanket answer to this; it varies from school to school.</p>