"Having policy practitioners teach our core classes gives you a real feel for what it means to work for the government and the role of government in our lives. I appreciate the exposure to both the quantitative aspects of policy analysis, like econometrics, and the ‘real world’ political aspects of policymaking.”
--Irene Lin

“IPS was the right choice for me because the program takes the classroom straight into the field. Because the real world is the focus of your work, you are never left wondering whether something matters. At IPS, everything you learn matters.”
--Aaron Katz

“IPS has taught me to think analytically about issues. I came from an advocacy background and I had a tendency to see things as black and white. At IPS, I've learned the importance of going beyond the cursory analysis to find what lies beneath the surface of an issue. I've also discovered that whether you're a policy analyst or a policy advocate, the ability to communicate all the implications of a policy in a clear, concise manner is not only a professional asset, but a useful tool in crafting better policy.”
--Brecht Donoghue

“In the first semester, we went into the community and analyzed the effects of recent urban redevelopment in several neighborhoods. That street-level project gave me and my classmates valuable experience in data collection, analysis, and analytical writing. Because the project took place at the beginning of the program, it helped me to understand my strengths and weaknesses and allowed me to choose the courses I needed to develop my professional skills.”
--Andrew Heck

“My classroom work at IPS was both challenging and rewarding, but my activities outside the classroom went far beyond what I imagined I’d do as a graduate student. A paper we wrote during our Policy Analysis class was published, and I co-presented it at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management conference in Washington, D.C. The experience was daunting--we were the only graduate students invited to present--but we successfully presented our findings alongside leading housing experts and responded to tough queries from the audience. I was also a research assistant for Professor Burt Barnow and traveled with him to California, where I gave a presentation to a consortium of nonprofit organizations. All this in addition to getting my MPP from a well-respected university!”
--Caron Gremont

“Because Hopkins has an amazing collection of schools under its umbrella, I’ve been able to pursue my diverse interests in classes at the world-renowned Bloomberg School of Public Health and the School of Advanced International Studies as part of the MPP program. Another advantage of the program is the proximity to Washington, D.C.--having national policy-makers right in your own backyard really enhances the learning process. I’ve taken on a semester-long fellowship as a legislative assistant in a congressional office without having to take time off from the graduate program.”
--Polina Makievsky

“The small faculty-student ratio of the program is especially appealing, and the professors--many of whom are well-established researchers--are committed to preparing us professionally. My advisor helped me to develop research assignments tailored to my interests, connected me with community-based organizations in Baltimore, and has contacted several organizations on my behalf during my job search.”
--Ranita Jain

“Hopkins stood out from other schools because it balances rigorous quantitative training with the theoretical foundations and the practice of public policy-making. My work here gives me an analytical framework for thinking about development problems, and I will be able to apply my new skills to any international setting. To me, policy-making should have a universal aim: to improve people’s quality of life, especially for the most disadvantaged. Hopkins is helping me prepare for that challenge.”
--Maria Poli

“For me, the right fit meant finding a program that would allow me to place third-sector studies at the center of a more comprehensive policy curriculum. IPS provides an intimate graduate experience at an institution with enough flexibility and breadth of resources to encourage its students to explore: from domestic to international policy, policy analysis to non-profit administration, theory to practice. The affiliated research centers, certificate programs, and close faculty, staff, and student relationships enhance and distinguish the IPS graduate experience.”
--Ryan Chapman

“I chose to attend IPS over other programs because of its interdisciplinary nature. Although I was interested in a career in criminal or juvenile justice policy, I did not want to limit my studies to criminology. Here, I’ve been able to tailor a specialized course of study in justice issues that has included classes in urban policy and social policy. Along the way, I have benefited from the program’s intimate atmosphere and its accessible professors, as well as from living in Baltimore, a city facing many of the problems I have studied. I’m graduating with the skills I need to succeed as a policy professional working to solve problems of crime and justice in Baltimore and elsewhere.”
--Rachel Brash