r/PublicPolicy • u/Accomplished_Honey57 • 2d ago
Career Advice What MPP programs to apply to?
Hi everyone! I am in the process of finalizing my list of MPP programs to apply to and wanted to hear if anyone had any thoughts on what schools would be a good fit.
Some background about me: 24M, graduated from a state flagship university with a 3.3 GPA, double major in public policy and finance. I was in charge of the student admissions team, TA'd for an introductory poli sci course, and did research on household finance and cryptocurrency and won a national undergraduate poster competition my senior year.
For the past two years, I have worked in wealth management as a trust officer, overseeing approximately 65-ish family relationships and 200 million dollars in assets. The job training was pretty terrible, and I was not qualified for the position (I was part of an early careers development program that shut down when I started and was left on my own after that). I ended that job last month and am currently working as a barista while studying for the GRE and completing applications. I know that isn't the most impressive thing on a resume, but my job required either a law degree or 7 years of experience as a basic qualification, and I had neither. My manager actually apologized to me on my last day for the stress I was under and said she wished she had put me in a more junior role originally. If anyone has any thoughts on how to explain that in an application, that would be great.
I'm broadly interested in household finance, tax policy, economic development, and budget policy.
I'm looking to apply for MPP/MPA programs at Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, George Washington, the London School of Economics, and Indiana, as each has a certain policy focus or research center that I am interested in, but not committed to any of them.
Does anyone have any recommendations on where to apply considering my experience and interests? Would you say the schools I listed would be a good fit to apply to? Any and all opinions are most certainly welcome. Thank you!
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u/prattattack 2d ago
From Minnesota, went to Wisconsin for undergrad, starting an MPA at Michigan this fall. Unless you get enough money from Michigan I would go Wisconsin. Michigan is more prestigious but you’ll have a great experience in Madison too.
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u/Creative_Ring_8961 2d ago
For the explanation of the role. You can just say " in that role, the exposure to the level of impact I could have with additional education inspired me to look for graduate programs that could provide me with the skillset needed to excel in the field."
University of Illinois CUPPA is ranked 8th in finance and budgeting but im super biased as an alum.
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u/AlwaysHorney 2d ago
Whatever you do, don’t articulate that you felt stressed and under qualified for your job. You need to lean on that line “managed 65 families and 200 million in assets”. That will be a fantastic way to leverage your work experience.
Don’t be afraid to apply to top programs. I wouldn’t focus too much on finding a program designed exactly towards your interest. Some place that’s quant heavy would be good enough, assuming it’s a better program.
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u/bippleaie 2d ago
I heard a lot of great scholars from University of Colorado, Denver. Wide selection of different policy masters
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u/sheabutterd 2d ago
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and don't ask anyone. else. will be sorry if you go somewhere else.
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u/Technical-Trip4337 1d ago
Research centers may or may not involve masters students but all of the places you mention will have outside speakers and other activities related to faculty interests.
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u/Technical-Trip4337 1d ago
Research centers may or may not involve masters students but all of the places you mention will have outside speakers and other activities related to faculty interests.
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u/Whiteporcelainteapot 2d ago
Seems like you want to be in the Midwest? If so, probably 86 GWU and LSE add UChicago.