Our faculty play a central role in the academic and professional success of our students. Through their work as researchers, our faculty have made connections with government agencies, national think tanks, other universities and local organizations in need of well-trained policy analysts. Frequently, students find job placements by faculty members making a phone call, sending a resume or receiving an inquiry from a colleague. Even in this most recent economic downturn we have had close to 100% successful job placement for our MPP Class of 2009.

IPSSA Service Chair Miriam Greenleaf-Miller, Class of 2010, talks about a service day in West Baltimore.

Public policy school has provided many unexpected experiences – including jumping ropes and tossing water balloons with my classmates and a group of kids.

On Saturday, August 29, IPS student volunteers held a field day at the Walden Circle Community Center in West Baltimore. A nice mix of first- and second-years participated, showing that old and new IPS students are already beginning to mingle. The field day provided a lot of us with an opportunity to display our sundry talents aside from memo writing and running regressions: Students from IPS gave hula hoop lessons, painted faces, made henna tattoos, supervised T-shirt decorating, and organized kickball and water balloon games. Others such as myself just enjoyed the opportunity to run around with kids all day.

The event was organized largely by IPS student Kelly Biscuso, who has run the community center for the past year, IPS Student Association volunteers, and residents of the Walden Circle Townhouses. The event started off slow, but soon picked up as parents and kids in the area heard music playing, smelled the hot dogs grilled by a resident volunteer, and saw the activities. In all, the field day brought together around 40 to 50 attendees of all ages. At one point, I saw a man who looked in his 60s blowing bubbles with a child clearly under the age of two. I couldn't look for long, though, because my new 5 year-old best friend tugged on my sleeve for me to go play wiffle ball.

Monday has come and gone, and now the kids of Walden Circle are back at school. Who knows what this year will have in store for them. Nevertheless, I am really proud that we all jumped in to give this community – largely strangers to us – a spectacular sendoff into the next school year.

Courtney Conner, a second-year MPP student and IPSSA Social Committee co-chair, reviews this year's new student orientation.

Each summer, the Institute for Policy Studies hosts a two-week orientation for the incoming class to familiarize them with the program and prepare them for the coursework they'll have in the upcoming semesters.

This year's orientation included many features from previous years, but also provided some elements offered for the first time. Writing workshops instructed by former MPP student Amy Buck and supported this year's Policy Analysis teaching assistants introduced students to the art and practice of memo writing. Balancing the qualitative with the quantitative, math workshops reminded students of many of the fundamentals they'll need to succeed in their statistics and microeconomics courses.

New additions to this year's orientation schedule included a civics seminar providing an overview of the U.S. legislative, budgeting and appropriating processes and expanded public speaking seminars that focused on successful presentation skills. The teaching assistants for the first year core courses also hosted a dinner at the Dizz (one of our favorite local establishments) to give new students "tips for success" in each of their first semester classes.

But orientation isn't all work and no play. Native Baltimorean students and those new to town became a little more familiar with Charm City during Baltimore Day with a Duck Tour through downtown, followed by a happy hour in Fells Point. Finally, we concluded orientation and began mourning the end of summer with a baseball game at Camden Yards.

Let the school year begin!

Elizabeth Schiemann, class of 2010, talks about her summer internship at the Center for Urban Families.

In May, once the dust settled from briefing books, exams, and a year of studying Baltimore City’s social policy from behind a desk (usually the corner one in the lab by the mailboxes), I realized I needed an internship! So, when I discovered the Center for Urban Families (CFUF) with Dr. Barnow and Dr. Nightingale’s help, I stayed up pretty much all night writing a cover letter, polishing a resume, and frantically emailing references to send off at first light (not unusual, as I was slightly nocturnal by May). What would you do if you were offered a chance to participate in change, not just pontificate on it?

The Center for Urban Families is a Baltimore-based nonprofit that serves low-income, predominantly African American clients through workforce development, responsible fatherhood and family services programming. CFUF’s Program, Planning and Evaluation (PPE) department is incorporated into each program area and develops its national, state and local policy advocacy. My internship at CFUF with PPE exceeded my expectations, encouraging participation in many facets of nonprofit management as well as creating specific project-oriented tasks within the department. Granted, I am not retooling Maryland’s entire healthcare enrollment system, but I am surrounded and inspired daily by clients, staff, and lifelong city residents who face life-altering challenges and rise to meet them every day. More importantly, CFUF staff emphasize that they work in service of communities that cannot always speak for themselves— the low-income, the incarcerated, non-custodial parents, and majority minority communities—developing partnerships and networks that help each individual and family become self-sufficient.

As my primary project, I am developing and writing CFUF’s first Community Conversations Series publication on the earned income tax credit’s (EITC) impact on low-income fathers and families. This piece is based on discussions with CFUF’s program leaders, clients, and practitioners; review of past and recent legislation and research; and the outcomes of the Community Conversation, which expanded my understanding of how tax policy impacts individuals. Hopefully, the publication will be out this fall offering information on the EITC to policymakers and practitioners as well as guidance on CFUF’s position relative to developing awareness of the EITC and possible expansions of the policy, at both the state and national level.

So, here it is, the end of August, and I am at a transition point again – enrolling in classes and bracing for two more semesters at that desk in the corner – but I consider it a summer well spent. Not only did I get eight hours of sleep a night, I learned a great deal from my colleagues. Even more importantly, I have a list of new skills to acquire in the coming year. When I emerge from behind that desk next May I will be even more prepared to engage in implementing social policy – and maybe even get a job!

Paul Messino, a second-year MPP student and president of the Institute for Policy Studies Student Association, is interning with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Although this year’s job market was tough, many of my classmates found exciting internships in their area of interest. Many of us decided to stay in Baltimore – a great idea considering all the festivals and activities the city offers in the summer. After a long week of work, people still in town often meet up for a drink that turns into policy wonking about the new policies coming out across the state and nation. Lately, it's been the congressional hurdles facing national health care reform or Baltimore City's stimulus plan (another student is tackling that at Baltimore City Public Schools). We compare work stories, and the week's best intern usually receives high praise.

This week when we meet up for drinks, I've got them beat.

Last Tuesday, my boss at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), jumped into my cubicle to tell me that a grant application for CHIPRA the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act; is due in nine days and the current draft "needed work." Happy to sink my teeth into the project, I told her I'd help out. Little did I know that the current draft was skeletal. Basically, the grant sought out applicants who could design and implement an outreach effort to enroll eligible, but unenrolled children from hard-to-reach populations for either the state children's health program or Mediciad. The grantee must demonstrate their ability to implement a tracking system and show that they have retained newly enrolled children.

With the help of a staffer and a classmate who is also working at DHMH, we re-wrote the whole draft, from conception to budget to implementation in seven days. Our proposal would re-work Maryland's outreach and enrollment system, pulling it into the electronic age. (I can't reveal details or, well, I'd have to kill you).

I can't wait for this weekend's meet up. I think the DHMH crew will get some high-fives.

Well, the first official Baltimore Ravens preseason game took place last night and that can only mean two things. Summer is coming to a close and school is about to begin. This weekend is the MPP Class of 2011’s last free weekend for awhile. Monday, August 17^th marks the start of New Student Orientation for the Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) Program. The Institute will be welcoming a new class of 38 policy students to the family. 

I recently met with a prospect student who immediately asked about our quantitative requirements.   Specifically, the student was concerned that her background may not include sufficient quantitative skills AND wondered how much of our program focuses on the quantitative side of public policy.

This is a question I often get from prospective students considering our Master’s in Public Policy (MPP). Before I address the question, let us take one step back so that the non-policy people understand the question. Typically, in a policy program students are required to declare an “area of concentration” at the end of their first semester. This declaration may be known by different names including policy area, specialization, policy focus, policy track, etc. Whatever its name, the meaning is the same. Students are required to identify a specific area in which they will focus their studies. Depending on the curriculum format, this exploration and investigation typically begins in the spring of a student’s first year and is in full swing during the second year when most electives are taken. Okay, so now that we are on the same page, back to the question.

Cailin McGough, Class of 2010, on last weekend's service event:

Our visit to Our Daily Bread began with some firm instructions: Guests at the downtown organization's meal program would be addressed as "sir" or "ma'am" -- a courtesy rarely extended to people living on the street. Sunday's visit marked the first IPS community service project for the academic year and hopefully the first of many visits to ODB. After a quick rundown of the jobs that were to be assigned that morning, we got started as people began to filter in around 10:30. At Our Daily Bread, there's no waiting in line: visitors find a seat and are served by volunteers. The result is a kind of fast-moving restaurant, with guests filling nearly 20 tables and staying only long enough to eat a hot meal.

While several hundred people passed through the doors that morning, we learned that only about 15 percent of those who visit the soup kitchen are actually homeless. Many would be considered working poor and may opt for a free meal now in order to pay a bill later. Mothers with children passed through almost as often as aging vets: There's even a corner of the dining room devoted to families, stocked with kids' books and high chairs.

To keep things going smoothly, each volunteer took on a specific task: fill drinks, offer bread, clear the tables. With guests rotating in and out every ten to fifteen minutes, I was scrambling to keep a basket of bread filled and note all the new arrivals. Soon after 12:30, with the room cleared (and hairnets removed), we sat down to debrief over our own casserole lunches.

IPS 2010 students at Our Daily Bread

Along with the hot meal program, Our Daily Bread offers training to the formerly homeless, recovering addicts, ex-offenders and others. Hopefully we can find another opportunity later in the semester to help out again -- whether it's filling up sweet tea in the kitchen or looking over resumes in the employment center.

-Cailin McGough, MPP 2010

Good morning!  I know you have been waiting all weekend to find out the final items on our list so I thought I would write early today. 

6 - Policy-Related Experience: Whether you are coming directly from your undergraduate studies or leaving the job market to return to school include some type of policy-related work (paid or unpaid) on your resume.  This experience could take a variety of forms includings volunteering, internships, classes taken, senior projects, etc.  Adding these types of experiences will go a long way to show the admissions committee members that you are committed to Public Policy studies and have already begun to explore the various avenues available.

5 - Recommendations: Another note about these letters, try to include an academic reference when possible.  I know that some schools do not require it and others who do will tell you it is okay if you cannot get one but try.  While employers can certainly speak to your knowledge and skills specific to a job, your motivation, teamwork, management and other skills, they may not have insight into your academic capabilities.  Admissions committee members want to gain confidence in your ability to successfully complete graduate work and providing an academic reference can be very helpful in determining this.

4 - Please Follow the Personal Statement Guidelines Provided.  Pay close attention to the directions given for the personal statement.  If a school asks for a one page statement DO NOT provide two.  If another requests 1-2 pages DO NOT add a third.  While it may be true that admissions committees will still read these longer personal statements and it will not be the reason you do not get admitted, it is not true that they will necessarily find value in the extra page (or two). Part of being an effective policy student and practitioner is your ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in a clear and concise manner.  Do not recount all of your work and college experiences...we can find all of this information in your resume.  You should plan to spend a good amount of time planning your statement and selecting and organizing the items to include.  Other than a visit to the school, this is your ONLY opportunity to offer a more personal side to the application.  Use your time wisely!

3 - Do Your Homework!  When visiting or contacting a school, plese do some research about the institution.  Even if your are writing an email it is important to demonstrate that you have some sense of the school and the program.

2 - Plan Ahead.  Hopefully, by now you have realized that I am a strong believer in planning and preparation.  This is especially true when it comes to the financial side of graduate school.  Let's face it, this can be an expensive proposition and so good planning can help to ease this burden.  It is a very good idea to contact the financial aid office at the schools you are considering.  If you are able to make a phone or in-person appointment you will have a chance to go over many of your options, learn about scholarships, work study and other ways to defray the costs.  It is also good to talk to the department/program specifically about departmental scholarships, employment opportunities, research assistantships (R/A) and teaching assistantships (T/A) positions.  If you are considering loans it is also good idea to fill out an application for federal student aid, more commonly known as FAFSA.  This application, in particular, requires some lead time so do this early.  I know that it is not always comfortable or fun to talk about the financial side of graduate school but it is better to understand the costs so that you can better prepare and ultimately enjoy and be successful during your graduate school experience.

1 - Whenever Possible Make Contact with the School.  Plan to visit the schools in which you are interested.  This is valuable for several reasons.  You need to see if it "feels" like a good fit, a visit provides an opportunity to chat with current students to get student's perspective of the program AND it puts you in front of some of the people who may review your application.  Believe me, it definitely helps the admissions committee gain a more complete picture of you and your application rather than just looking at you on paper.  Often, it might be impossible to visit the school.  In these cases, reach out to the admissions contact, chair or program director and arrange a phone call or request to speak (or email with) to a few students.  At the very least try to have an email exchange to have some of your questions answered.

So, that is my version of an "Admissions Top Ten List".  I hope that as you explore schools and make decisions about where to apply you will find some of the tips in this and the previous blogs helpful.  Stayed tuned for more about studying public policy including The Role of Quantitative Skills in Policy, Areas of Concentration, Careers and Internships in Public Policy and much more.

As always, I would love to hear from you.  I have lots of ideas about what to post but would prefer to get some feedback from you.  Again, thanks for reading!  - Carey