r/PublicPolicy

I am RECE with 4 yrs of experience in the field 2.5 as supervisor. I am going to Athabasca University for BPA- Governance, Law and Management. I am looking to get into public policy or other government positions. I feel lost and i am looking for career advise. I am currently making 65k in my current position.

What would help me get into public policy roles?

All suggestions and ideas are welcome.

TYIA

Background:

Recent Fulbright ETA, 2 years experience as a data analyst, 3.4 GPA in BS in Math/CS at one of the Claremont Colleges

I don't really have any polisci/public policy exp or have taken any classes except Comparative Environmental Politics, but I have worked/interned/volunteered at a few nonprofits. Specifically, volunteering as theater staff at a nonprofit arthouse theater, writing curriculum at a Cantonese literacy nonprofit in Hong Kong, helping plan an impact campaign for a climate action film. I also had/have a temporary job recruiting poll workers for my county's registrar of voters.

I was accepted to UMass Amherst's part-time online MPP starting Summer 2026, which comes out to ~29k over 2 years. I'd mostly like just to work in state/county/city government or at a nonprofit, not necessarily shooting for high policy jobs in DC or consulting/think tanks although I wouldn't turn down the latter. But I wonder if UMass's relative lack of prestige (and me living and wanting to work in SoCal) would make this degree not really worth it.

I would like to go to USC but missed the Fall 2026 scholarship deadline (it's 120k full tuition and with my background, how likely is it they even give me aid 💀), so I'd apply for Fall 2027 admission.

I wonder if I could defer UMass for a year and apply for USC in the meantime...

Then, if I get into USC with good enough scholarship, I'd go to USC.

But if I get rejected or am accepted with bad financial aid, I'd just go to UMass?

Or maybe I could just do UMass for 1 yr and then have some credits transfer over so I'd do USC for maybe 2.5 yrs instead of 3? Idk. This would be the case where I'm not allowed to defer UMass for the secret purpose of applying to other schools.

Do these ideas sound legit or would I have to withdraw other applications/not be allowed to apply to other grad schools once you defer an offer (because I guess that's like committing?). Sorry, I am a first-gen college student, so idk how this stuff works.

Thank you!

I've been accepted to Georgetown, George Washington, and American for their MPP programs and am trying to figure out which school is the best fit for what I want to do. My focus is in Technology and Environmental Policy/Regulation, but I'm also looking for strong quantitative coursework. I ideally want to work for federal/state government or do consulting. If anyone has made a similar decision and has similar goals I'd appreciate any advice.

Total Program Costs (before fees):

Georgetown - $95,000

George Washington - $65,000

American - $55,000. Also offered a $12,000 total Graduate Assistantship that could be a research position.

For American and maybe GW I could probably do it debt free. I don't think Georgetown is worth it since it's way more expensive than the others and I would take on debt so the ROI doesn't seem worth it.

Was looking into ed policy programs, but after realizing how graduate schools of education provide so little funding (teachers college, Harvard GSE), on top of a really unexpected family emergency I’ve decided to not go to school this year. My goals are family/education policy and I’m looking for MPPs that are more generous with funding. I was accepted to Harris with 60 percent tuition so funding more like that is what I’m looking for. Any great social/education/family policy programs within MPPs? Resetting for the next year and back to the drawing board it seems.

Hi all, I’ll be joining the MPP at LKYSPP this year and was hoping to connect with anyone who’s currently there or has graduated from the program.

Would really appreciate any insights on accommodation (what works, what doesn’t), course selection, workload, and overall student life. Also keen to hear any tips, things you wish you knew before starting, or advice on how to make the most of the experience.

Thanks so much in advance!

“And you may ask yourself, ‘Am I right? Am I wrong?’”

Much like David Byrne’s iconic big suit, Pete Hegseth’s persona feels like a deliberate architectural distortion - a costume designed to project a stature he hasn't yet earned. But where Byrne’s oversized tailoring was an avant-garde subversion of corporate identity, Hegseth’s appears more like a desperate camouflage for a lack of political weight. His "braying" rhetoric isn't just loud; it is the sound of someone trying to occupy the empty space between his curated image and his actual qualifications. He isn’t wearing the suit; the suit - and the performative MAGA-brand toughness it represents - is wearing him.

Basically the title. I heard that Queens has one of the best co-op placement rates but after (1) hearing about the financial issues faced by the school, and the MPA program in particular, and (2) visiting the campus and the finding that the building looked really neglected, I'm seriously reconsidering :/

Is Queens really that much better co-op placement rate wise than TMU? I live close to TMU and got a scholarship but if Queens can give me a better chance at a co-op & job after graduation then obvi thats the best choice. Any advice?

Has anyone that applied by the March 30th deadline heard back??