Every time I scroll through these threads, there’s one piece of advice I wish I could scream through the screen: Once you earn your bachelor’s degree, start building your resume and gaining real-world experience!
Get involved in a campaign, build relationships with candidates and their staff, and look for opportunities to work in their offices. Be the person who always shows up, smiles, offers to help, and treats everyone with respect. Trust me, people notice, and those relationships can open doors you never expected.
My advice? Work for five years before pursuing your master’s degree. A graduate degree can absolutely increase your earning potential and opportunities for advancement, but it isn’t necessarily what gets your foot in the door. Experience and connections will often take you further early in your career.
I’m getting ready to pursue my own master’s degree, but I’ve already held positions in legislative affairs, policy analysis, and constituent services across both the legislative and executive branches of state government.
I cannot emphasize this enough: Start building your career before pursuing another degree. Your education matters, but the experience you gain and the relationships you build along the way are invaluable.

Hi all! I have been on my org.'s government affairs team for the past two years and we always used PolicyEngage/TrackBill but as you may probably know, they shut down suddenly (literally took our money and ran). While looking for new options, I'm wondering if anyone has good experience with other trackers? I saw a post a year ago, but now I'm also wondering if anyone is in the same situation and what they did instead.

In addition, we're hoping to track not only state and federal, but local (city) and county if possible. Is there a magic website/software that can do all?? We did a demo with Quorum but I didn't feel too positive about it/I heard they're very expensive.

Hey everyone, I got an MPA three years ago and i currently hold a job in the Federal government. I’m trying to find policy analyst jobs, but I have absolutely no experience besides grad school.
I have the good old question of how can I get experience but these jobs won’t hire me because I don’t have experience? Even junior analysts require a lot.
Any hints on where I can step into and get the needed experience?

I just started a job as a Policy Analyst at a state agency about 2 months ago. I was formerly a Project Manager (in the same field of work as this agency). I am used to managing concrete projects that have schedules, deadlines and tangible work products. In my new role I feel like I'm not "producing" anything. So far I've been in a lot of meetings, had a lot of conversations, documented the dozens of internal policy initiatives, and begun work on one report. I know I have good ideas to contribute and some of my suggestions have already gone into practice. But I still feel like I'm not doing anything.

So I'm curious, if you're a Policy Analyst, what does your day to day look like and how do you define being productive?

Does anyone work or have worked with this firm? I see on LinkedIn that they have an Entry-level Staff Consultant position posted but it has been there for over a month and I am wondering if they are actually hiring? I am wondering this firm a good place to start a consulting career pathway?

Hey all,

I am applying for masters programs for the first time and am currently filling out the application for the MPP program at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy.

I’m at the “academic interest” portion where it’s asking me to fill out a couple short essay questions, but the application itself and the application guidelines provided by GraSPP do not give any details for how these essay questions are supposed to be answered.

In particular there’s one section labeled “Study Plan” (limited to 200 words) and I have no idea what is supposed to go there. Am I supposed to actually go through the course catalogue and name all the individual electives I’m interested in, or am I just giving an overhead view of what I would like to focus my research on?

Maybe I’m reading too much into this because I’m an American and have some notions about the rigidness of academic admissions in Japan, but I feel like I’m not supposed to just free write my answers to any of these questions and should be following a format, but I can’t actually find where said format is located.

Any advise or insight is appreciated.

My bachelor’s is in public health, and I’ve worked as a mental health tech for the past four years alongside LCSW providers. I’m considering an MSW/MPP dual degree, with a macro focus for the MSW. I’m interested in what both degrees teach. I value social work’s focus on people, communities, barriers to services, and how systems affect people’s lives. I also want the policy analysis and evaluation skills an MPP offers, particularly for healthcare policy. I can afford both degrees, so financing isn’t my concern. I’m trying to understand how useful the combination would be in practice and whether employers recognize what each background brings. I’ve heard that finding macro or policy jobs with an MSW can be difficult.

For people with both degrees, or those working in healthcare policy:
Do you use both perspectives in your work?
Has having both degrees opened opportunities that one alone wouldn’t have?
How do policy employers view an MSW alongside an MPP?
Has maintaining social work licensure been useful in your policy career?
What would you recommend prioritizing in coursework and field placements?

I’d appreciate honest experiences about the strengths and limitations of this combination.

Hi everyone! I’m from India and considering applying for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the Hertie School. I’d love to hear from alumni about their admissions experience and any advice they might have for prospective applicants.

A little about my background: I hold a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations, a master’s degree in International Journalism, and a postgraduate diploma in Human Rights Law. Professionally, I’ve worked in the social sector, primarily around research, advocacy, gender, human rights, and the development of marginalised communities. My experience includes leading and contributing to field-based research projects, working on national-level studies, supporting programme implementation, and contributing to fundraising and institutional partnerships.

The MPP would be my second master’s degree, so I’m trying to understand how the admissions committee views applicants who already have a postgraduate degree, particularly those looking to build on their existing experience and transition towards public policy, governance, and evidence-based policymaking.

I’d especially appreciate insights on:
How Hertie evaluates applicants with prior master’s degrees and professional experience.
What makes an application stand out beyond academic credentials and work experience.
How important quantitative skills and prior economics or statistics coursework are for admission.
Scholarships and financial aid: How realistic is it for international applicants from India to secure substantial funding? Are there particular scholarships worth applying for, and how competitive are they?
Whether scholarships can cover a significant portion of tuition or living expenses, and whether alumni have advice on financing the overall cost of attendance.
Whether the programme has been valuable for alumni working in research, development, gender policy, and the broader social impact sector.
Any advice on positioning my profile and explaining why I want to pursue another master’s degree.
I’d be grateful for any candid advice, application tips, or perspectives from people who have been through the process, particularly Indian students or those who received scholarships.
Thank you!

Hey everyone!

I created TAXpedia.eu, a website that helps people explore how public money is spent across the 27 EU countries.

The idea is to make public finance data more accessible and easier to understand.

I'd love to hear what you think about it, especially from people interested in public policy. Any feedback is welcome!

Hello everyone!

I am currently a freshman public policy major, planning to also minor is applied data science. I plan to engage in a career within the private sector rather than the public, and I wonder if public policy would be the right choice for me if that was the case.

I initially decided to major in public policy because it was a field I was most exposed to throughtout highschool but as I started college, I am not too sure if it is the right fit. However, I still find public policy to be somewhat intriguing and do not want to switch out my major.

Does anyone have any advice about having a degree in public policy and having a job in the private sector? (for example, policy analysis for a real estate company)

Hello!

I'm pretty new to my research heading into a possible policy analyst career pivot after being an ad sales assistant at a media publisher for the past couple of years now. TLDR – I've been wanting a job change for awhile now and never felt fully satisfied/fulfilled with going into a career in media sales or marketing (they both interested me but now that I've been in it, it just constantly feels like I'm doing nothing of substance).

I graduated with my bachelors in public policy/public affairs from a top state school and started working at my current job in the spring before I graduated. I've been contemplating with the idea of going back to school and there weren't many programs that seemed all that enticing to me (law just didn't seem like the right fit for me; an MBA felt like i would be paying to network; etc.) but now an MPP seems like it might be what I'm looking for.

My internships while I was in undergrad were very much focused on marketing/creative/PR roles in the entertainment/media and fashion industries – my roles were not closely related to my studies whatsoever because I was interested in pursuing something different than my academic interests at the time. I had one internship as part of my graduating requirements where I worked for a non-profit education org but was on the operations/business development side ... not a lot of policy background there either.

So I guess my long-winded question to all of you is if you've been in my shoes and feel the need to make a change from corporate to public policy/policy analysis ... how did you do it or what would you have done differently? I'm seriously considering MPP programs and applying to them next year (the turn around seems too abrupt for me to do right now) but wanted to see how others have tackled this. Policy analysis at a think tank seems like what I'm looking for – substantive, meaningful work that has real impacts on other people and our communities.

TYIA to anyone that read all of this

Hello

I am looking for some advice on which MPP programs (Fall 2027) to apply for, for my situation.

I am 40 years old and work as a software engineer at an AI semiconductor company, with expertise in both AI hardware and software. I have ~12 years of professional experience and a PhD from a major US research university. I am looking to transition into public policy roles, helping shape policy frameworks around emerging technologies like AI.

Ideally, based on my research, I should aim for Federal government jobs, and hence should apply for Carleton MPPA or University of Ottawa MPA. However, I live in Toronto with my spouse and 2 young kids. So I want a career based in Toronto. This means I should aim for Queens, Waterloo, U of T. There are programs at York and TMU, I am not sure if the Co-Op opportunities are as strong.

As per my research on reddit, people heavily recommend Queen's MPA or Waterloo MPS over U of T Munk MPP. Munk MPP is the easiest for me, as I live less than 30 min away. With Waterloo or Queen, I would have to live in Kingston or Waterloo 5 days/week for 8 months or an year.

I have a few questions:

- Given my experience level, assuming I get admitted into all 3 (Waterloo, Queens, U of T), does it really matter which of these 3 programs I go for? I know that tuition at U of T is much higher, but the savings on renting an apartment brings it to similar overall cost as Waterloo and Queens.

- Any advice on whether I should apply for all 3? I am currently leaning towards applying for U of T and Waterloo. Queen's commute feels too long from Toronto (Friday evening and Monday morning travel) compared. to Waterloo by public transport (4 hours vs 3 hours). Is Queen's significantly better than Waterloo or U of T?

- Do I have a good chance of getting admitted to these programs given my profile?

- Is there ageism in hiring at Queen's park or think tanks? I am wondering what are my chances of securing a policy roles after I graduate (I will be 43 by then).

- Are there any federal jobs at all in Toronto that I can aim for?

- Any other advice for me?

Hello all! I'm hoping to get some advice ahead of a potential job offer soon -

I'm currently a state legislative employee (policy analysis) making ~$67k. I have a Bachelor's in public administration and law, a Master's in public policy, and a second Master's in environmental studies with a certificate in GIS.

I have interviewed for a policy-focused research support specialist job at the Cornell University (I know, I know) Climate Jobs Institute in NYC. Right now, I'm at the reference check step of the process. While the job's salary is pre-negotiated at a little over $67k, I have been told to ask for an increase anyway, as they will accept a figure above the base if the candidate makes a specific ask first.

The problem is, in my research, I've found WILDLY conflicting information on what an appropriate ask would be - some sources say the median range for a similar position in NYC is around $55k, others give estimates in the $80k-$90k range, and I've even seen a couple around $115k (which I would never ask for, just mentioning to show how inconsistent the info is). I know the rule of thumb is 10-20% above base, which would put me at about $74k, but I also know that's not always the case. I don't want to counter with something ridiculous, but I also worry about not getting what I can. If you can't tell, I've never had to negotiate before, I've been in the same government office since I finished undergrad, lol.

Thank you in advance for any insight!

Hello:

Has anyone been waitlisted for the MC/MPA program and then reapplied and was accepted? Do you mind sharing what changed in your application materials or what you believe made a difference? Would love to reapply but I don’t want to go through the lengthy application process again and make the same mistake. Any advice would be incredibly helpful!

Genuine question for people who know NEPA better than me.

Categorical exclusions are meant for projects that “normally” don’t have significant environmental effects. That means no environmental assessment, no impact statement, and no public draft or comment period.

there a Amtrak’s new maintenance facility that is being planned as part of chicago hub improvement program (chip), they got one in May 2026 with up to $659M in federal funding. About 15,500 people live within 0.25 miles. Amtrak did do studies, but the public only got a summary, and the community meetings came after the approval. Their own noise study found impacts at four groups of homes, and the fix is something they’ll “evaluate.”

There’s also a bill in Congress (BUILD America 250 Act) that would make rail facilities inside existing rail property eligible for this kind of exclusion.

What are you'll thoughts about this?

Personally, if this counts as “normally no significant effects,” it’s hard to see what wouldn’t, and the next neighborhood gets the same treatment. the thing that interest me is that agencies would be allowed to use categorical exclusions by pointing to similar projects they’ve already cleared, so once a this goes through this close to homes it becomes the example for the next one.

I genuinely don’t know what to do. I graduated with my masters in public policy last November. However, since then I’ve yet to get a job in my field. I’m a progressive who is from a rural, conservative community. It seems impossible to get a job in the field that both pays a living wage and doesn’t compromise my political views. It’s to the point where I waited tables up until June and now work in sales because I have bills to pay. I love policy studies and the research I have done. I want to get into the field so badly but my professional, paid experience doesn’t have anything other than an internship in a state capitol in 2023. I’ve applied to so many jobs across the country in the field, yet I’ve not gotten so much as an internship. I don’t know what to do. I feel hopeless. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks.

My starter for 10, the low pay commission

Hi everyone,
I'm 23 years old, and I'm currently going through a difficult phase in my academic and career journey. I'm posting here because I could really use some honest advice from people who have faced similar situations or are working in the fields I'm interested in.
I completed my BA (Hons.) in Political Science from Delhi University in 2024. I later joined an MA in International Relations However, due to personal circumstances, health issues, financial constraints and uncertainty about my career direction, I've started questioning whether I'm on the right path.
Over time, I've realised that my interests go far beyond traditional Political Science or International Relations. I'm deeply interested in **Economics, Development Economics, Political Economy, Public Policy, International Development, and economic policymaking**.
My long-term dream is to work as an economist or policy specialist at institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, or other international development organisations. Another ambition of mine is to contribute to state development and eventually work in a senior policy advisory role with the stateGovernment.
I'd love to work on issues such as poverty reduction, inequality, employment, public finance, education, human development and economic development. Eventually, I want to become someone who can conduct research, analyse economic problems, evaluate policies and contribute to decisions that improve people's lives.
But right now, I'm confused about how to get there.
I studied Humanities in higher secondary school and haven't studied mathematics seriously since Class 10. Despite having a Political Science background, I'm genuinely interested in learning Economics from the fundamentals, including mathematics, statistics and econometrics.
I'm considering preparing for an MA in Economics, potentially followed by further studies in International Relations or International Political Economy through a reputable foreign university. I have also considered the CFA qualification if I move towards development finance, and perhaps an Executive MBA from an IIM later in my career.
However, I don't want to keep collecting degrees without a clear purpose. Given my financial circumstances, I need a realistic plan that leads to employment, financial independence and long-term career growth.
I also have interests in entrepreneurship, strategy and social development. Ultimately, I want to build a career that combines analytical skills, economic understanding and public impact.
**I'd particularly love to hear from people who:**
Switched from Political Science or Humanities to Economics.
Pursued an MA in Economics without Mathematics in Class 12.
Built careers in Development Economics, public policy, economic research or development finance.
Work at the World Bank, ADB, think tanks, government institutions or development consultancies.
Have experience moving from academia into international development or government advisory roles.
Is this transition realistic at 23? What should I study first? Which master's programmes should I consider, and what skills or experience would make me employable?
If you have made a similar transition, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing about your journey, including the mistakes you made and what you would recommend to someone starting now.
I'm not looking for shortcuts. I'm willing to work hard and rebuild my mathematical foundation from scratch. I just want to make an informed decision before committing more time and money to another degree.
**If you were in my position, what would you do over the next three to five years?**
Any honest advice, personal experiences, resources or suggestions would mean a lot. Thank you for reading.

Please help me guysss …..