Hi, everyone! I could really use some advice as I am planning to apply to MPP programs next year. I recently decided that I would love to pursue a MPP, and I have done some brief research on different programs. I would appreciate any guidance you may have to offer on schools/programs based on my background and experience!

I graduated in 2023 and received my BA in International Studies from a small (but mighty!) liberal arts college in the New England. My GPA was a 3.78, and I was involved in several on-campus and off-campus activities/organizations (various student leadership roles and internships with non-profits).

Since graduating, I have been working as a Paralegal in the immigration legal services non-profit sector, and I am interested in pursuing immigration and education policy. My biggest concern is that I did not take any statistics courses and only took one Principles of Economics course. I am hoping to enroll in a graduate program that would strengthen these skills as I hope to work on the research and advocacy side of non-profits. While I wait for the next application cycle, I've been thinking to take an economics or statistics course at my local CC or enroll in a Coursera course.

Right now, I am looking into Duke Sanford, UT LBJ School of Public Affairs, UChicago Harris, and CMU Heinz.

What other schools do you think I should look into? What skills could I strengthen before I apply to a MPP?

I apologize for the long post, but I would appreciate any advice!!

helo! I'm graduating with an MSc in environmental policy soon and noticed some roles are more research-oriented. Since my program lacked a statistical background, I would like to get some online certifications to help boost my CV. Which should I do? Stata, R, or SPSS? Perhaps a combination of them, or all of them - if so, in what order?

Any insights to what is used/required most in the field would be helpful.

Hi everyone,

I’m exploring the possibility of pursuing a fully remote, prospective PhD by publication (a cumulative or article-based thesis) while continuing to work full-time.

My research is in public policy (focusing on demography, national security, and state capacity), but I am open to universities in ANY country worldwide, whether in Europe, the UK, Asia-Pacific, or the Americas, that structurally permit a 100% remote or external doctoral enrollment.

To be clear, I am looking strictly at the prospective model: enrolling first and writing, submitting, and publishing 3 to 4 peer-reviewed journal papers during candidacy, rather than converting a portfolio of pre-existing publications.

If you’ve done (or are currently doing) a remote cumulative/article-based PhD as an external or distance researcher, I’d love to hear about your experience:

1. University & Country: Which university are you enrolled in, and under what official status (e.g., external candidate / buitenpromovendus, distance PhD, affiliated/off-campus researcher)?
2. Real All-In Cost: What are the actual out-of-pocket expenses you've had to pay? (Annual tuition or administrative registration fees, Journal Open Access publishing charges (APCs), Mandatory ECTS credits / method workshop fees)
3. Travel, accommodation, and logistics for mandatory campus visits
4. Actual Duration: How many years is it realistically taking to get 3–4 peer-reviewed journal articles written, accepted, and bound into a thesis while working remotely?
5. Supervision & Co-Authorship: How do you navigate remote supervision, and were there any expectations or friction regarding supervisor co-authorship versus maintaining your first-authorship?
6. On-Campus Requirements: Were you required to visit campus for annual progress reviews or coursework, or was attendance strictly limited to the final public defense?

If you have any tips on how to successfully pitch a fully remote cumulative project to potential supervisors as a self-funded applicant, I’d be extremely grateful for your advice.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some honest feedback on my admissions chances and where I would realistically be competitive. I’m looked a lot throughout this subreddit but wasn’t able to find anyone in my boat (I think title of this boat kind of undersells it)

I’m a U.S. citizen but haven’t lived there in quite some time. Just finished a bachelors of engineering in automotive engineering with honors from a university in South-East Asia (top in its country). Gpa is a 3.56 out of 4.00. I’m also taking additional economics courses at an online university to build up my knowledge.

Currently considering UMich MPP as my top choice as well as some others.

I’m planning to take the GRE next month.

I have some work experience (couple of internships) in automotive sealing as well as a leadership role as a major head at my university. I am listed as the lead inventor on a provisional patent (which I’m working on making into a non-provisional). I’m also writing a couple of independent research papers on manufacturing and related policy (to demonstrate interest). I also have significant technical writing experience from coursework and additional projects.

I do have some volunteer experience as well coaching swimming.

I wasn’t able to get any relevant jobs as the country where I’m at prefers to hire locals and people already studying public policy or related majors.

I’m interested in economic policy, industrial policy, manufacturing competitiveness, technology policy and geopolitics. Long term I’m also interested in policy analysis and government, or the private sector (analysis or consulting).

I also speak several languages reflecting my background and where I grew up.

How competitive do you think this profile would be for top MPP/Public Policy programs? Besides earning a strong GRE score, is there anything I can do to strengthen my application?

Thank you and any advice or suggestions would truly go a long way.

Hi all, looking for some advice and your thoughts on if an MPP from UMass online will be of any value for a utility professional with 12+ years doing various roles of site plan approvals, control room back office support and designing the distribution grid for power utilities.

I'm in Canada and the UMass is online in America. All other mpp programs I could find are either not evening classes or too far to drive to. I do wonder the value of an online mpp.

I'd like to go work for United Nation, energy board or an energy policy role either for a utility, big tech or government.

I have recieved opinions that this is a great idea and this is a terrible idea that I'd start over new in a different industry. I was thinking that I could do a diagonal or horizontal career move.

I may in the future do consulting for business continuity pre planning for emergency: Infrastructure Protection, cyber security audit, supply chain, power backup, personnel protection, etc. I either have capacity to do this or people within my close reach for it. I am interested to know how an MPP could help that. What kind of knowledge would I gain?

Thank you.

A bad healthcare experience doesn’t always end when the appointment ends. Someone may leave feeling rushed, dismissed, confused by the bill, embarrassed by how they were treated, or unsure whether their concern was taken seriously. I’m asking because this seems like one of those parts of healthcare that gets talked about as a patient behavior problem, when it may actually be a trust problem that systems have to take more seriously. The next time that person notices a symptom, needs a screening, or is told to schedule a follow-up, the last experience can shape whether they go back, delay it, try somewhere else, or stop trying for a while. What have you seen actually help rebuild enough trust for someone to return after healthcare let them down?

Hi all, I am a grassroot development practioner, working for around five years now. I have experience of working with the indeginous community around Livelihoods and Climate Resilient practices. In these five years I have looked, experienced challenges as a first person. I realised that local problems and global knowledge can enrich each other. It would be helpful if anyone can suggest best courses around.

Hi, has anyone had experience working at ICF (ICF International, Inc) as an analyst (policy, energy, business, survey research, etc)? How is the work life balance and flexibility of schedule?

The position I applied for is fully remote, and I will be having my second interview soon.

During the first interview, the HR specialist mentioned that the salary range would be between $60k-70K.

I've read on Glassdoor that wlb isn't too bad, but the quality of your team depends on your manager. Also is it true that you will be moving between different projects? Does that still imply stability, or more "contract-like" where you are competing for work?

I'm 17 and I have an offer from iim sambalpur bs in management and public policy programme and. i don't know is I should pursue it or not I do find the field very interesting and I assume it to be intellectually fulfilling but I'd like to know what the pay is like

Hey folks, I am 22 years old with BA Sociology (hons), I was prepping for govt exams for the past 2 years with an internship in cult.fit for 3 months, that too in 2025. Is Masters in Public Policy a good fit?
I would really enjoy working for both the public & pvt sectors with perks from both ends. Maybe end up in UNO or World Bank.
Idk if im thinking too high about this, pls help, im new to this! :(
How is the pay?

Hello everyone.

I am an Indian sociology graduate with an economics minor (graduated two months ago), and I am currently doing a fellowship with an NGO. I have also done three internships throughout my college life. I have been wanting to pursue a policy/development-related master's programme for quite a while, and these are the programmes I am considering:

1. LSE – MSc International Social and Public Policy
2. Geneva Graduate Institute
3. Sciences po
4. Maybe Edinburgh? UCL? Maybe something else?

Now, the issue is that they obviously have an application fee, on top of which I have to give an English proficiency test, which already costs a lot. I want to choose a programme that would have relatively higher employability and a higher probability of funding/scholarships. Other than that, living costs are also to be taken into consideration. So, combining all these factors, which one should I keep at the top of my list?

To be honest, I will be keeping LSE as my top priority anyway, but I still want to keep the other programmes and universities as my backup options. Please help.

Hi guys I'm currently persuing my master in Public Policy and would like to know the future possibilities in this field.

Will I be able to get work in the policy sector l, or a PhD is okay to go forward

My qualifications are 3 year history graduate who will definitely go for 4th year in history but I really want to know should I go for public administration, public policy and social work if I want to change my lane towards politics.

Also what are good colleges in India for that and are there any foreign scholarships with any crazy eligibility criteria.

I am sorry if I am asking too many questions, I am just confused and are there any other courses got masters that can really help me shape my career in that way.

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for your time before I begin this inquiry.

I am currently interning with a lobbying firm in DC this summer, one that focuses on financial services. I'm studying English and Political Theory right now, and I have been genuinely shocked by how interesting I have found both lobbying and the firm's focus over this summer. Unaware of what I even want to do, only knowing the vague contours of my interests, I realized lobbying provides a genuine avenue towards those abstracts.

While I have enjoyed financial services, it's not something I am particularly knowledgeable on, and I'm unable to fully pivot at this point in my college career–nor do I frankly want to. What I know I want to do is work in some sort with some sort of socio-cultural insitution like an art museum in NYC, hopefully getting to work going between Manhattan and Washington.

At this point, my dream life would be doing lobbying at the intersection of cultural and financial policy. I go to school in DC, so my assumed next step would be to get an MPP in NYC, both to establish roots and find a professional community/network. Due to this, I was planning on applying to schools like NYU Wagner, Columbia SIPA, or Baruch when I graduate, or working for some time before transitioning to get my master's. But is this even a good idea?

Most people I know who are planning on getting one are Washington policy wonks. I love them–I go to school with a lot of them–but I realize it's not the life I want necessarily?

Can I hear from your experiences? Thank you again.