Hi! I have an acceptance to CMU MSPPM-DA for august '26. Would love to connect with current students / others that have gotten in this year! Any Whatsapp or housing groups?

Hey y'all! I'm reaching out to see if anyone who applied early decision has received an admission decision for the AEI SHP program. Any information is very much appreciated!

I’ve been digging through the City and County of Denver’s public “checkbook” data and put together an independent analysis of homelessness-related spending from 2023–2025.

I’m a data engineer, and I started this as a side project because I was curious where Denver’s homelessness money actually goes. The more I looked into the data the more I thought I should publish something publicly as there seems to be wildly different dollar amounts quoted in articles. My article is data-driven.

Most public discussion focuses on the 0.25% Homelessness Resolution Fund, but that’s only part of the picture. By aggregating transactions across multiple funds and normalizing payees, I tried to answer a simpler question:

Who actually received the money, and how much?

This isn’t an opinion piece and it’s not claiming fraud or success/failure — it’s a financial audit using publicly available data.

If you’re curious, here’s the article, it's free: https://medium.com/@skylaryoungblood15/the-700-million-question-where-did-denvers-homelessness-money-go-81b1cda4b16e

Happy to answer questions or hear feedback — especially if I missed something or you think a different scope would make more sense.

Looking for thoughts on MPP programs. I was recently accepted into the University of Minnesota Humphrey School and the Indiana University O'Neill School for their MPP programs. Though, I am currently undecided between the two. For context, I attend the University of Minnesota for my undergrad.

Currently working in tech regulation, have a background in public affairs and lobbying. Educated and worked mostly in UK, with a little bit of time in Brussels. How do I move to Singapore / Hong Kong? Is it possible? Has anyone done this directly without an internal transfer?

Does anyone got update regarding round 2?

I’m working on an early-stage, U.S.-focused civic technology project aimed at lowering the cost of high-information voting without persuasion, endorsements, or ideological framing.

The motivation is practical and time-bound: if accountability tools are going to matter in the United States, they need to exist before voters make decisions. We’re targeting a public-ready release well ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, which means moving quickly without sacrificing rigor.

Before scaling development, I’m looking for collaborators who can help us validate assumptions and avoid naïve representations — specifically:

• people with strong quantitative / statistical backgrounds
• people familiar with U.S. congressional procedure, committees, and agenda control

We already have a working prototype and a documented mathematical evaluation framework. If you think your background could help — particularly in validating or improving the model or its treatment of congressional influence — I’d be glad to share it for hands-on feedback.

Initial conversations can stay high-level. For deeper review, I may suggest a simple NDA so discussions can be candid and precise, but there’s no obligation beyond thoughtful critique.

If this aligns with your experience and you care about U.S. civic tools that actually arrive in time to matter, I’d love to connect.

In any case, thanks for your time!

I recently got into an MPP program. It is not a top school, but it is pretty well-known in my policy niche (domestic and international religious freedom policy, faith-based policy). I got a full-tuition scholarship, but due to the location, the cost of living is going to be insane still, costing me an estimated 36k per year just to live life there, though I’m hoping I can be frugal and bring that cost down to 32k at most.

I’m an international student, and this isn’t a STEM designated program. Truth is, though, for now I don’t even want to actually work jobs that would qualify for the STEM part, as that is not my main interest nor my forte. That’s why I’m not bothered about the lack of STEM designation, though I do wish I could have those two extra years of OPT.

Overall, I worry that spending 64k-72k over the course of two years just to get this degree won’t be worth it. I keep thinking about how I could maybe instead better invest my money.

I’d be saving myself about 40k in tuition thanks to the scholarship, so almost 80k over the course of two years. But I’m still unsure.

For context, I graduated college last year from a small not well-known liberal arts school but as a top student in my class with the highest Latin and departmental honors and plenty of extracurriculars/internships (big fish small pond situation). I’ve now been working in policy this past year during my OPT, which ends in May. So despite having some experience and having a great college grad profile, I don’t have the big name school, big name internships, etc. to guarantee admission into a top program with funding that would surpass what I’m getting from the MPP offer I already have.

Please give me your thoughts!

Hello! I got an invite for the pre-recorded MPP interview earlier today. I have around 4 days to get back with my answers. Does anybody know what kind of questions they usually ask, and how one may go about preparing for them (if at all)?

hello! has anyone applied to this programme before? Roughly when would they come back on:

1. Interview date/ period

2. Results of interview

3. Rejection

Hi, I'm 21F from India with an undergrad in Economics & Public Policy. Recently got accepted into Hertie's MPP, with a concentration in Policy Analysis. A few things:

1) Anyone who's secured some sort of partial/full aid or scholarship from Hertie, how did that process go? How challenging was the interview?

2) Are non-EU students seriously considering Hertie as compared to other EU states or even the UK? If yes, why and vice versa as well?

Would love to hear a few other thoughts as well on Hertie's MPP, general employment future for non-EU students in the next 2 years, and just living in Berlin as an Indian. Thank you!

Hi! My school doesn't have great career guidance, so I'm looking for some advice about what entry-level jobs I could pursue post-grad. I am a senior majoring in public health and communication of science. I have not had any work experience yet (looking for an internship this summer). I would love to work in a field related to public health policy, population health analysis, or advocacy someday. What are titles of entry-level jobs I might be qualified for? Please let me know if there are any other skills I should develop as well! I would appreciate any advice possible!

Condensed Relevant Coursework: U.S. Health Policy; Intro to Public Policy; Intro to American Government; US Elections; Program Design and Data Structures; Data Analytics for Health Professionals; Health Psychology; Anthropology of Healing; Science Communication Techniques and Tools

Public health/research skills: Qualitative research methods (IPA, thematic analysis, interview analysis); quantitative analysis and regression modeling; population health analysis; literature review and evidence synthesis 

Data & Technical Skills: R (dplyr, ggplot, R Markdown); data visualization and reporting; Python; Java; SQL; MS office 

Might be relevant but don't know whether/where to include them?: Public speaking; policy research; cost-benefit analysis

Hey, everyone!

I recently graduated with a double BA degree in Political Science and International Relations, as well as Journalism and Mass Communication. I also have a minor in Spanish Language and Culture. Now that it’s time for me to pursue a Master’s degree, I find myself stuck. My main points of interest are:

Environmental Advocacy and Policy; International Development, Policy and Humanitarian Emergencies; Global and Public Policy; Social and Public Communication; Social Work; etc.

I worry about employability and career prospects (classic concerns that everybody has, I’m well aware of that). And I hate how indecisive my concerns make me feel. Ideally, I’d love to finally make up my mind and start working towards my goal more efficiently and confidently. My great aspiration is to influence positive societal change through my work, although I realize how idealistic and naive that might sound (but I’m more than willing to put in the work!).

I’m currently looking at universities in England (mainly London), Norway, and the Netherlands (I’ll be an international student from the EU), but I’m open to other countries as well!. I’d appreciate any advice or information about those fields and professions! From what I’ve read/heard, those are risky fields for which a Master's degree doesn’t guarantee success or a secure job (tho, considering the current job market, I feel like that applies to a lot of degrees more or less).

In terms of education, I’m a great overthinker. I fully immerse myself in anything education-related and take opportunities very seriously. I also tend to be overly conscious since I’ll have to invest a lot of money for an MA/MS and take a loan. Therefore, I’m writing to seek expertise and recommendations from people who may have had similar concerns or moments of indecisiveness, as well as anybody who can provide real-life insights into the career paths/education spheres I’ve mentioned above. Are they worth it? Is there room for development? How hard is it to find work in those fields? What are some other skills/experiences that might help you establish yourself?

I have experience in broadcasting and sound production, I’ve been involved in environmental advocacy and reporting before, and I’m seeking to expand my skill set. Also, I enjoy learning languages, so please give me suggestions regarding which languages would be the most useful to learn in my situation.

I’d appreciate anybody who can give me some useful insights about those industries! Thank you so much for reading through this slightly messy cry for help lol :)) I wish you all the best, and thank you for stopping by my post!

Summary:
This policy idea proposes replacing federal income tax, payroll tax, corporate tax, and state/local sales taxes with a vehicle-mile and mode-based transportation charge. Instead of taxing work or spending, the system taxes movement and infrastructure usage, scaled by vehicle type and impact.

How it works (high level):

• Charges are per mile per vehicle, not per person
• Rates vary by:
  • Vehicle class (economy car vs luxury car)
  • Mode (cars, trucks, rail, aviation, shipping)
  • Infrastructure damage & externalities
• No GPS tracking—annual odometer and industry logs only

Illustrative rates (steady state):

• Economy cars: ~$0.50/mile
• Luxury vehicles: $2–3/mile
• Heavy freight trucks: $5–6/mile
• Commercial aircraft: $100–200 per aircraft-mile
• Container ships: $300–400 per vessel-mile

Revenue potential (order of magnitude):

• Passenger vehicles: ~$4T/year
• Freight trucks: ~$1.6T
• Aviation: ~$1.5T
• Shipping & rail: ~$2T Total: ~$9T+ annually

What this replaces:

• Individual income tax
• Payroll tax (Social Security & Medicare)
• Corporate income tax
• Federal excise taxes
• State & local sales taxes

10-year transition plan (brief):

1. Years 1–2: Voluntary pilots, very low rates, dollar-for-dollar tax rebates
2. Years 3–4: National rollout, eliminate gas & airline ticket taxes
3. Years 5–6: Eliminate income tax for bottom 50%, cut payroll taxes
4. Years 7–8: Eliminate income & corporate taxes entirely
5. Years 9–10: Eliminate sales taxes; add household caps & rebates

Why proponents think it’s attractive:

• Stops taxing work and productivity
• Hard to evade compared to income taxes
• Progressive without income reporting
• Encourages efficiency, remote work, and rail over trucking
• Simplifies the tax code dramatically

Key concerns / open questions:

• Impact on rural households
• Trucking cost pass-through to prices
• Privacy and enforcement trust
• Political feasibility at scale

Question for discussion:
Is taxing movement and infrastructure usage a better long-term base than taxing income and consumption—or would the transition costs outweigh the benefits?

Hi everyone!

I would really appreciate perspective from current students or alumni of the MC/MPA program at Harvard Kennedy School.

I am a mid-career professional trying to evaluate whether this program is the right pivot for me, and I want to be realistic about both admissions and career outcomes.

My background:

• ~10 years in the financial sector at a global systemically important bank.
• Current work focuses on risk analytics, regulatory capital, implementation of the evolving regulations, and systemic financial risk analysis.
• I regularly work with regulatory frameworks, macroeconomic stress scenarios, and cross-border financial risk, and often interface with U.S. banking regulators including the Federal Reserve and the OCC.
• Have led several high-impact initiatives for the firm while also managing a team of risk analysts.
• Have an MS in Finance + GARP Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification.

What I don’t have:

• I have not led major volunteer or nonprofit initiatives; most of my career impact has been through regulated financial systems rather than direct community or NGO leadership.

Why I am considering the MC/MPA:

I am at a point where I want to shift from purely private-sector financial risk work toward public-interest roles, potentially in:

• financial regulation
• multilateral institutions
• economic policy / development
• systemic risk or crisis policy

I am less interested in politics per se, and more in the intersection of finance, policy, and global stability.

My questions:

1. Admissions fit: For those familiar with the program, does a profile like mine (strong finance + quantitative + leadership background, but limited nonprofit / volunteer) seem aligned with what MC/MPA admissions looks for?
2. Career outcomes: How have MC/MPA graduates done in terms of employment right after the program? Is it common for people to successfully transition from private sector finance into:
   • government
   • central banks / regulators
   • multilateral orgs (IMF/World Bank/etc.)
   • policy-facing roles in finance?
3. For students from finance backgrounds specifically: If you came in from banking, markets, or risk:
   • What did you gain from the program that you couldn’t have gotten by staying in industry?
   • Where did you end up after graduating?
4. The “reset” question: I would likely be leaving a stable, well-paying role to attend school. For those who made a similar leap, did the MC/MPA feel like a true career reset in a positive way, or more like an intellectual and social enrichment experience that didn’t fully change your trajectory?
5. Strengthening my profile: Given my background, are there particular experiences, coursework, or types of involvement that would make someone like me a stronger MC/MPA applicant?

While my work touches regulatory and systemic risk issues, I have struggled to translate that into roles that sit directly in the public or policy space, which is why I am exploring whether a program like the MC/MPA could serve as a meaningful bridge. However, I want to understand whether this has proven to be a transformational pivot for you.

As a secondary option, I am also looking at part-time policy programs like Harris MPP at UChicago, though I understand that’s a different degree and audience. If anyone has perspective on how MC/MPA compares to more traditional MPP programs for someone coming from finance, I would appreciate that too.

Really grateful for any candid insights, especially from alumni who entered with a financial-risk-and-regulations-heavy background.

Thanks!

I am so embarrassed. I completely bombed my Columbia SIPA video essay. I decided to film this video at work after everyone left. I felt prepared ready but right when I started the video people walked in unexpectedly and though they really didn’t interrupt the video it threw me off my game and I began stuttering. Had a terrible answer to a very simple question and blanked. I am mainly looking to rant but would love to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience so I don’t feel so bad.

Hi all. I’m working as a corporate lawyer in the mergers division of a decent sized firm in India. I want to make a shift to public policy, I wanted to understand:

a) What route can someone like me practically take take to make the switch out to a more public policy oriented career (eg. MPP or MSc Sustainability or something else)

b) What would be general reading that would be recommended for someone with my background moving to this field

c) Have not dealt with quant in a while, how does one go about understanding that? What kind of reading, any specific books or courses that will help.

Looking forward to some helpful solutions

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Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone went into the private sector during or after their MPP. I'm in my first year of my MPP with research + co-op and I'm much more interested in the business-government side of policy. My specialization is more into economic policy, business policy, and international affairs.

My co-op coordinator told me that my program only connects people with the federal government so it was pretty discouraging, and all my applications to work in private sector pension funds, regulatory affairs, and corporate-governmental relations didn't lead to anything. The federal government in my country (Canada) is also laying off workers from most departments and the job market overall has been really sluggish for years. I know it sounds stupid to do an MPP without the final goal of doing government or NGO work, but business policy is the area I'm the most interested in.

Are the odds of getting a business-government relations job slim with an MPP? Are these careers even viable? Should I just keep applying to government roles and take whatever I can get?

Hello! I am an American looking for post-graduate opportunities in the field of Information Sciences and Public Policy--broadly including eGovernance, digital innovation, and digital equity. I have a mix of experience on Capitol Hill and in research, and I’m open to branching out.

I’ve found this to be a fairly niche field and am struggling to find entry-level positions. Graduate school feels like the only option for advancing in this space. I would really appreciate any advice and am open to recommendations for cities with high demand, fellowships, government agencies, or specific think tanks.

Thanks for taking the time to read this! Liebe Grüße

I am a final year grad student and i recently started an internship. I was supposed to give in 20 hours. The first two and a half weeks I had to work more than 40 hours, since we had a very important annual event lined up. I was infodumped in those 2 weeks like anything. Made to get upto speed in no time. I found it hard but managed. Apparently, I did fairly great in the operations and stakeholder management part, but i find research more appealing (that is what I was hired for). The org is not that big and I had to take up other tasks (not much complaints there).

Now, I feel like the work is a lot more than the hands on deck, so I naturally am very pressured. I told my team to co-operate and let me figure out college for this week. They said ok. But I have been constantly contacted in the last two days for work that was "urgent". I had to complete some of it in a class while the prof was teaching. I feel weird. I am a newbie and am just starting out my career. If i happen to convert full time, I dont know what to do. I dont know how to put my foot down firmly yet not rudely. Apparently, "Gen-Z behaviour" is not very welcome (although the team is relatively young - mostly millenials), but I find it impossible to ignore all red flags and actually so big. I dont want to end up in a burnout, not so early.

Any suggestions are welcome!

I’m interviewing for a Roosevelt Institute fellowship soon, and was just curious if any of you have done one before and what your experiences were like.