carrotflowers

I really could use some advice on this.

Thanks Marshall. I'll keep that in mind.

Hi guys. I've been admitted with a full scholarship to MEDEG (Masters in Economic Development and Growth) at University Carlos III in Madrid/Lund University in Sweeden. I like the program on paper. It's your basic 2 micro, 2 macro, and 2 econometrics taught by faculty from the econ department, and then a bunch of options and specialist courses taught by faculty at the econ and other departments at both UC3M and Lund, including the option of a third econometrics. However, I've always have my heart set on attending the MPA/ID at Harvard. I have great work experience and my current boss is an MPA/ID graduate, and very enthusiastic about helping me get in. I've taken real analysis, DE, LinAlg, and although my quant GRE was low (650), I took it in a rush and only did two weeks prep because of work-related reasons, so I think I could hit 750 or more. The thing is that I would still have to apply, and there's no guarantee I'll get in. It's a classic "bird in hand..." situation. Do you guys think it's worth the risk holding out until next year for the MPA/ID? Or is the MEDEG an acceptable substitute? All opinions welcome, but specially from MEDEG graduates who can relate their post-MEDEG experience.

So by now everyone who's in already knows. I encourage you guys to join the MEDEG 2012 Facebook group, not just to meet each other, but also to help each other out with information about any number of things: visa applications, sources of funding for those accepted without scholarships, finding lodging in Madrid/Warwick, etc. See you there!

Hey there Zazka. I'm from the Dominican Republic. 27yo. My background is BA Economics from a local university (3.84 GPA), MSc Economic Development from Glasgow U (A average, distinction), 5 years work experience: 2 in government, 3 as UNDP consultant. First- time applicant. Main list, cat A Mob. scheme: Madrid-Lund. I got the letter at about 5 a.m. local time, which would've been 11 a.m. in Madrid.

Ok, now I've calmed down. I've just created the MEDEG 2012 FB group. Those accepted please join so we can meet each other.

Too excited to write more. Best of luck to all the rest!

No word yet. Does anyone know whether those rejected or those accepted are notified first?

Seems like they take that 15 April thing to heart. (I'm complaining so much about the wait I just know karma will come back to bite me in the behind and I'll be the first to receive my rejection).

Does anyone know around what time they started notifying last year?

An open thread to speculate, hypothesize, fret over, and maybe even post actual useful information about this year's MEDEG admissions.

It's a bit of a grey area, but it can be done.

In my experience in the world of IO's a PhD can get you both the desk with light traveling (research) jobs as well as the field/admin ones. However, MPAs do reach a glass ceiling when it comes to the research jobs (although one that's not impossible to break through). The MPA-ID I think would be perfect for me because it gives you enough PhD level economics to pursue high level policy-oriented research, while also training you for the field/admin sides of development work (this may be true also of the Yale-IDE, I'll have to look into that). The PhD would be 2-2.5 times as long and leaves out the applied development work part, but after that and with my experience it is very likely I'll be able to get any kind of development job I want. My fear is that the other MPA's/MPP's I've been accepted to (Cornell, UMD, UT-Austin) won't have the level of econ required for the more research-y development jobs. Also the only way you can skip the coming back to your country for 2 years FB clause is if you get a job at an IO immediately after graduation, and I'm not sure what the likelihood of that happening is with a degree from one of those universities (none of which's MPA/MPP programmes are even top 10). I enquired about deferring the FB, and they said they very rarely allow it.

I have a FB scholarship, and have been accepted with full funding to UMD-CP, Cornell, and UT-Austin for an MPP. I also just got a job as a consultant at the IADB in my country, and am getting really good work experience. When I applied for the FB, I had the Harvard MPA-ID in mind. However, I missed the application deadline. Now my boss is an MPA-ID graduate, and has said he'd recommend me and that as long as I get a good GRE I'm a shoe-in. Ultimately what I want to do is secure a staff position at IDB, the WB, UN, ILO and the like, doing policy-oriented research. Going on the FB to Maryland would mean I'd be close to DC, and so potentially work my way in to the IDB or WB through an internship or something. But unless I get a job at one of those, I'd have to come back to my country for 2 years (this is true regardless of the school), and job prospects here are basically nil except for government or consulting for IO's (which I've already been doing for almost 4 years). I don't really know what the career prospects in IO's are for the other two schools. So I have to decide whether to take the Fulbright and go this year to one of the three MPP's wherein I got accepted (not crazy about the curriculum in any of them), or hold my horses 'til next year so I can have a shot at my ideal program (the MPA-ID) or an acceptable substitute (a decent Econ PhD). All your thoughts are appreciated, specially since I have to decide by the end of next week.

I have a FB scholarship, and have been accepted with full funding to UMD-CP, Cornell, and UT-Austin for an MPP. I also just got a job as a consultant at the IADB in my country, and am getting really good work experience. When I applied for the FB, I had the Harvard MPA-ID in mind. However, I missed the application deadline. Now my boss is an MPA-ID graduate, and has said he'd recommend me and that as long as I get a good GRE I'm a shoe-in. Ultimately what I want to do is secure a staff position at IDB, the WB, UN, ILO and the like, doing policy-oriented research. Going on the FB to Maryland would mean I'd be close to DC, and so potentially work my way in to the IDB or WB through an internship or something. But unless I get a job at one of those, I'd have to come back to my country for 2 years (this is true regardless of the school), and job prospects here are basically nil except for government or consulting for IO's (which I've already been doing for almost 4 years). I don't really know what the career prospects in IO's are for the other two schools. So I have to decide whether to take the Fulbright and go this year to one of the three MPP's wherein I got accepted (not crazy about the curriculum in any of them), or hold my horses 'til next year so I can have a shot at my ideal program (the MPA-ID) or an acceptable substitute (a decent Econ PhD). All your thoughts are appreciated, specially since I have to decide by the end of next week.

I am applying to a master's degree/scholarship and in the application process one is given the opportunity to list any additional degrees/training one has undergone after completing undergraduate studies. I have two: a master's degree on a very closely related subject, in which I did very well, and another on a subject that is not directly related but is certainly a huge asset, on which I did not-so-well (out of 16 courses total, about 10 A's, 4 B's, but two C's; also did the first 12 courses first, went away to do something else, then came back and finished the remaining 4 after three years). Am I better off not mentioning that last degree? Will the two C's hurt my chances more than having that degree will benefit me? I am not required initially to submit a transcript, but am worried I might be asked to at some point, effectively ruining my otherwise spotless application. Thoughts?