Having the passion to serve the public and wanting to make a career out of it is an amazing thing to pursue. However, it may require schooling to allow you to serve in an administrative capacity. Happily, there is no shortage of MPA programs that offer the appropriate training.
As a rule, there is less pressure for entry into a Masters in Public Administration course than for the more widely-recognized MBA courses. However, you will still have to work hard to get into the top institutions that offer MPA degrees. But if you follow a certain plan, you will most likely improve your chances of getting into a Masters in Public Administration program of your choice.
The most prestigious MPA programs generally view your exam results. If you select your career while you are young, it is easier to reach your goals. If you are serious about admission, you will commit yourself to a strong performance in both your courses and your standardized tests.
The reality is that most people do not discover their vocation while they are young. It often takes several years of work experience to prompt a long-time graduate to enroll for a Master's degree. You may feel that your original exam results are unimpressive but, sad to say, you cannot alter your transcript.
This should not bother you, since you can play to your other fortes. Studying for a second bachelor's degree is one way of proving that you are in earnest about acquiring your eventual Master's degree. It might not be strictly necessary to take a second bachelor's degree in public administration, as you might acquire one in economics, politics or some other social science in less than a year.
Wanting to get into a master’s program will mean scoring well on the Graduate Record Examination. When you can ace every question in your study guide, buy a different guide and start again. You might even want to enroll yourself in a review center as they can provide plenty of tips to prepare you for the GRE Exam.
If your first attempt at the GRE does not produce the marks you need, you'll be glad to know that you can always try again. The number of times you take the test is a secret that will never be revealed to any admissions board. Sometimes, your application to a Master’s program is worth delaying if it means getting into a better MPA program.
Successful applicants have always participated in the workforce, as you would expect at masters level. A "real" job will impress the admissions board even more than a sandwich placement. You present as most single-minded about your career goals when your work history in public administration matches this.
Describing your history and your goals in a personal essay is a terrific opportunity. The admissions board wants to know how you believe your Master's degree will support your eventual career, so be sure to explain that here. Illustrate your more personal aspirations, not with a master-plan for redeeming the planet, but showing how they are related to your proposed work in public administration.
Another hint is to bear in mind that you are competing against a crowd of applicants for your MPA place, so make yourself stand out from the crowd. There a variety of options for both face-to-face and distance education that will result in a high-quality MPA degree that sets its graduates on the pathway to public administration success. Strengthen your odds of going to a top college.
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