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5 MPA Personal Statement Tips for Driven Applicants
Most graduate degree programs require applicants to submit a statement of purpose, sometimes called...
Is Working for a Nonprofit Worth It? (Hint: It is with an MPA Degree)
We have all heard the term “nonprofit sector,” but what is a nonprofit organization, really?...
Best Infrastructure Jobs for MPA Graduates
Roles in infrastructure policy and development are at the root of a wide range of issues and...
How Getting an MPA Can Help You Build a Career in Government Policy
When considering a career in public service, it is important to understand how and why governments...
5 Myths Surrounding Public Administration Jobs — Debunked
We all crave purpose. Think about it — why is figuring out the meaning of life such a popular...
Best Careers for Veterans in Public Service
Behind every thriving society is a team of strong, selfless leaders. If you are a veteran or active...
Scholarships for Veterans Seeking an MPA Degree
As a professional with military experience, you may be researching public service-related careers...
Benefits of an MPA for Veterans and Military Personnel
Are you a veteran or current service member looking for a career where you can continue to better...
What are the Benefits of Having Two Master’s Degrees?
What are the Benefits of Having Two Master’s Degrees? So, you have made the decision to invest in a...
Cost-Benefit Analysis: 5 Reasons to Get an MPA
It’s no secret that deciding to pursue a graduate degree comes with numerous factors to consider:...
5 Types of Infrastructure Management for Policy Professionals
Risk management. Transportation design. Infrastructure policy. Do these topics sound like issues...
Is Getting an MPA Worth It After Military Service?
Veterans and current military service members are some of the most impactful, mission-driven...
MPA Job Opportunities You Wouldn’t Expect in 2023
The new year is upon us, and with it, comes new opportunities for self discovery, growth, and...
7 Government Jobs for MPA Graduates
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a postgraduate degree that provides rigorous training...
MPA Application Tips: The Video Interview
Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of the Master of Public Administration, describes a unique part of...
What’s the Difference Between an MPA and an MBA?
A Master of Public Administration, or MPA, is often referred to as a “Master of Business...
5 Reasons to Pursue a Dual Degree — Getting an MPA and an MBA
For competitive, driven students, pursuing a dual degree can be a great way to maximize the returns...
3 Practical Reasons to Attend Cornell's Fall MPA Open House
At Cornell University, we realize that you're very busy and that your time is valuable. We also...
Understanding the Timeline of Career Management Support at the Brooks School MPA Program
Millie Reed, Assistant Director of the Office of Career Management at the Cornell Brooks School MPA...
What Can You Do with an MPA?
Getting a Master of Public Administration (MPA) proves itself to be one of the most impactful...
Jobs for MPA Graduates — And Where MPA Graduates are Working Today
Professionals who obtain a Master of Public Administration (MPA) are driven, empathetic individuals...
5 Professional Development Tips for Future Leaders in Public Affairs
In today’s rapidly-evolving and competitive professional landscape, it is crucial that MPA students...
What is Science, Technology, and Infrastructure Policy?
Building strong communities and improving quality of life are just two of the many reasons...
How Getting an MPA Will Prepare You for a Career in Nonprofit Management
Nonprofit institutions play an important role in community life and are an integral part of the...
9 Reasons to Join the Cornell MPA Community
Each day, we witness current events that are changing the shape of our society. As our world...
Not All Ivy League MPA Programs are Created Equal — Here’s Why
You want a master’s degree in public administration, but how do you decide with such wide-ranging...
MPA Application Tips: How to Submit Letters of Recommendation
Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of MPA Program, shares tips for obtaining high quality letters of...
Is a Public Service Career Right for You? 11 Jobs for MPA Graduates
Most professionals consider getting an MPA and pursuing a career in public service because they are...
MPA vs MBA vs MPP — Comparing Popular Professional Graduate Degrees
While there are several professional graduate degree options that can enhance your knowledge,...
[Expert MPA Insight] What are the Benefits of Professional Development?
It's no secret — career and professional development is paramount to any graduate student seeking...
7 Benefits of an MPA in 2023
We are living in a challenging era — there's no question. Between overwhelming political unrest,...
Careers in Public Administration for Aspiring Changemakers
The only certainty in today’s world is change. While some jobs are disappearing, new careers are...
Improve Human Safety in the US With a Career in Infrastructure Management
Did you know that the United States’ infrastructure received a C- rating in 2021? Every four years,...
Living in Ithaca, NY — Why is Ithaca an Ideal City to Get Your MPA?
Cornell University is revered as one of the largest and most diverse of the famed Ivy League...
Leading Through Conflict — Getting an MPA to Transform Policy in the US
Whether you're interested in reforming the education sphere, combatting the opioid crisis,...
Why is an MPA Worth it in a Post-COVID World?
Only a few months into 2020, the whole world was forced to face an insurmountable challenge — a...
How Getting an MPA at Cornell Helped Me Launch a Startup Company
Elaha Mahboob completed her MPA at Cornell University in May of 2019, with a concentration in...
What You Need to Know About International Development Studies
In today’s increasingly connected global society, the needs of developing countries are crucial to...
How Getting an MPA Can Help You Shape Economic and Financial Policy
How and where governments spend money is pivotal in building and supporting communities, and as the...
Growth, Brand, and Limitlessness — Why I Chose Cornell's MPA Program
Elgin Ford, Jr. completed his MPA at Cornell University in May of 2019 with a concentration in...
People, Resources, and Connectedness — Reasons to Consider Cornell's MPA
Claudia Heeyeon Ro completed her Master of Public Administration at Cornell University in May 2019...
Getting an MPA to Advocate for At-Risk Children in the United States
Jamie Frank concentrated in Social Policy while pursuing a Master of Public Administration at...
Promote Gender Equality by Getting an MPA
Longer lives, the chance to go to school, the #MeToo movement. The world has made some measurable...
Experiential Learning Makes a Difference — One Veteran's MPA Journey
Mauricio Cortes is a military veteran, a graduate of Cornell University's Master of Public...
4 Changemakers in Public Affairs Teaching in Cornell’s MPA
The Master in Public Administration degree offered by the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs is...
Want to Address Climate Change? Study Environmental Policy
Climate change is a pressing issue. It is altering our environment in ways that impact disaster...
Getting an MPA as an Army Lieutenant Colonel — Lee Robinson's Story
Cornell University is proud to be home to a diverse and high-achieving community of students who...
7 Public Service Careers for MPA Graduates
How do you define career success? At the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, we begin by asking...
Leave a Legacy: 5 Reasons You Need to Pursue an MPA by 2025
In today’s volatile social, political, and environmental climate, the need for policy improvements...
Getting an MPA With Argentina's Economic Development in Mind
Claudia Poclaba is a second-year CIPA student who is concentrating her studies on Economics and...
From Egypt to Ithaca: Getting an MPA to Develop Economic Strategies
Mohamed El Messidy is a second-year CIPA student from Egypt. A graduate of the American University...
My Summer MPA Internship in DC — Rooted in Sustainable Agriculture
Alyssa Marcy is a second-year CIPA student concentrating in Environmental Policy. Born and raised...
Understanding the Science Behind Learning-By-Doing in Cornell's MPA
At Cornell University, we believe in the power of hands-on learning, which is why we offer a...
[Student Spotlight] Completing an MPA Internship in Geneva
Khyatee is a second-year MPA student who is concentrating her studies on Science, Technology and...
Getting an MPA and Interning with Oxfam America to Help Female Farmers
Jessica Lavides is a second-year CIPA student who is completing a concentration in Public and...
Getting an MPA After Studying an Unrelated Field — Kara's Experience
My name is Kara, and I completed my undergraduate degree in Engineering at Cornell University this...
Learning to Protect the Environment in My Cornell MPA Internship
Mary is a second year MPA student concentrating in Science, Technology, and Infrastructure Policy...
Interning with the UN Executive Office of the Secretary-General — Arianna's Journey
Arianna T. Rebancos is a second-year CIPA fellow concentrating in Social Policy. She currently...
Tailoring My MPA to Focus on Public & Nonprofit Management
I could not find a job after college. Even though I had graduated with honors and had done my due...
Lessons Learned from My CIPA Capstone — Bright Citizen
During the Fall 2018 semester, I offered my own project, a startup called “Bright Citizen”, for my...
5 FAQs About the New York City Externship in Cornell's MPA
In Cornell's MPA program, we offer a graduate education spanning the globe, which enables you to...
Getting an MPA to Help My Community — James' Story
James Warren is a first-year MPA student concentrating his studies in Government, Politics, and...
Learning-by-Doing in Cornell's MPA Program — Beth's Story
Beth Yarze completed her MPA at Cornell University in May of 2019, with a concentration in Economic...
MPA Capstone: How Working With a Startup Refined My Professional Skills
Marcell Fischler graduated from CIPA in May of 2019 with a concentration in Science, Technology,...
Understanding The Coverdell Fellowship for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Are you a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer? Looking for a graduate degree that will help you make the...
5 Reasons Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are Seeking Graduate Degrees in Public Administration
Are you a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) seeking an experiential, cutting-edge graduate...
Part 2 - CIPA Infrastructure Practicum Course: Visit to the S.U. Botijas School
Note: This is Part 2 of a series focused on the Winter 2019 CIPA course, PADM 5757 - Infrastructure...
How I'm Using My MPA to Develop Autonomous Driving Technology
Vivian Sun, an alum of Cornell's MPA program, is currently serving as the head of public relations...
Getting an MPA & Focusing on Social Policy in the United States — Jamie's Journey
Jamie Frank is a 31-year-old CIPA alum from Tewksbury, Massachusetts. She pursued the Social Policy...
Using My MPA to Improve a Nonprofit's Marketing Strategy in Ithaca
Muhammad Ali Ilahi is a first-year Master of Public Administration student from Pakistan who is...
Transforming Policy in the United States with My MPA
Julie Stone is Jewish American and was raised in sunny Los Angeles. Her musical husband is...
Here Are All of My Favorite Cornell MPA Experiences — Jiaying's Thoughts
Jiaying Li graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Economic and Financial...
Using My Cornell MPA to Strengthen the Arts Community
Ben Sandberg graduated from CIPA in May of 2017 with a concentration in Public and Non-profit...
Improve People's Lives by Studying International Development Policy
If you want to make a difference in the world, you have to start with passion. No matter the...
Cornell's MPA Program Took Me to Kenya, Australia, and Greece — Here's Why
Ranissa Adityavarman graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Government,...
3 Graduate Certificate Options for Specializing Your MPA
I remember reading about the Cornell’s CIPA program — its broad scope and relative ability to let...
Advocacy Day in Washington DC: Representing Cornell in the Halls of the Senate & the House
It is safe to say I have had to contain my jealousy since arriving at CIPA. I love to travel, and...
First-Year Wrap-Up & Advice to Incoming MPA Students
An end of the year blog? You probably shouldn’t ask — I’m still in the middle of papers, but here...
CIPA Fellows in the District: A Look at the Spring 2019 Externship in Washington D.C.
This semester, I am one of six CIPA students participating in the spring CIPA in Washington, D.C....
8 Ways Cornell Exceeded My Expectations as an MPA Student
Jairo Sebastian Mena Arce, a 2018 graduate of Cornell University's MPA program, pursued a...
Combating Climate Change with My Concentration in Environmental Policy
Katie Egan is currently pursuing a concentration in Environmental Policy at the Cornell Institute...
Pursuing a Passion for Human Rights & Social Justice at Cornell University
Emily Martin graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Human Rights and Social...
Choosing Cornell's MPA, Domestic Policy, and an NYC Externship
Anlly Palacios graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Social Policy. She is a...
How Cornell's MPA Prepared Me for a Leadership Role in the Field of Public Finance
Frankie Shi Cheng graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Economic and Financial...
Cornell Public Affairs Society 2018 Board Reflects on the Past Year
The Cornell Public Affairs Society, better known as CPAS, is the peer-led governing organization...
How a Capstone Project Turned into a Research Position
Sarah Cartagena is a second-year CIPA student who is concentrating her studies on Human Rights and...
My Mini-Internship Experience with Humanity Crew in Athens, Greece
My name is Mohammad Ali Ilahi, and I'm getting an MPA at Cornell University. Over winter break, I...
Making the Most of Service-Learning Opportunities at CIPA: 2019 SMART Team Studies Indonesia’s Cacao Industry
A key advantage of the coursework at CIPA is that it actively encourages students to participate in...
Systems Thinking: CIPA's Derek & Laura Cabrera Offer New Hope for Solving Wicked Problems
Drs. Derek Cabrera and Laura Cabrera, internationally known for their work in the field of systems...
CIPA Capstone Project – Agricultural Producers and Exporters Association in Chile
Capstone projects are an indispensable component of the CIPA curriculum, providing students with...
CIPA Capstone Project #1 – Zeal Technologies & Cannabis Packaging
Capstone projects are an indispensable component of the CIPA curriculum, providing students with...
Why I Chose Cornell's Master of Public Administration Program — Molly's Story
Molly Warrington graduated from Cornell's MPA program in May of 2018 as an Infrastructure Project...
Goals of Ending Homelessness: Why Sharlene Chose Public and Nonprofit Management
Sharlene Castle, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a...
Why this Alum Chose Cornell's MPA and the Government, Politics, and Policy Studies Concentration
Adam DeRise graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Government, Politics, and...
6 Ways to Finance Your MPA at Cornell University
Because Cornell is the only Ivy League school with land-grant status, CIPA’s MPA program is more...
Interdisciplinary Project Takes First-Year MPA Student to South Africa
Jamila Daniel is a first-year CIPA student concentrating in international development studies....
A Different Way of Doing Business: CIPA Students Bridging the Health Equity Gap with Ithaca Health Alliance
Capstone projects are an indispensable component of the CIPA curriculum, providing students with...
Contributing to the Field of Sustainable Development — Lillian's Cornell MPA Experience
Lillian Gabreski graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Economic and Financial...
From Cornell's MPA to Medical School — Zachary's Story
Zachary German graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Social Policy, and a...
How I Chose My Concentration: Economic & Financial Policy
Mohamed El Messidy is a first-year CIPA student from Egypt. A graduate of the American University...
5 MPA Concentrations to Consider if You're Passionate About Working in Domestic Policy
In the United States, today’s tough political climate demands public servants with the knowledge,...
Presenting Ways to Deter Child Marriage in South Asia at the 2019 Earth Charter Education Conference
This January, I pushed myself to do something I am not the biggest fan of — public speaking. While...
Meet an Infrastructure Policy Expert — John Foote
CIPA Visiting Scholar John Foote is a Research Fellow at the Taubman Center for State and Local...
Bridging My Passion to My Profession: Getting an MPA at Cornell University
Professionally, I’m admittedly “all over the map”. I’ve explored careers in financial services,...
Jumping Into the Second Semester of a Uniquely Flexible MPA Program
Whew! First year, second semester: Here we go! After the first semester of my first year came to a...
An Interview With the Director of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs — Maria Fitzpatrick
Maria Fitzpatrick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Policy and Management, Milman...
MPA Student Tackles Project-Based Learning in Baton Rouge
“Children are great imitators. So, give them something great to imitate.” -Anonymous I had the...
Just Another Day at CIPA: Meeting White House Reporter April Ryan
Alexandria is a second-year student who is concentrating her studies on Government, Politics and...
4 Tech Classes that Science, Technology and Infrastructure Policy Enthusiasts Must Take at Cornell
In recent years, the number of students getting an MPA and enrolling in the Science, Technology and...
Developing Business Acumen: What I Gained From My First CIPA Semester
My first semester at CIPA was a true leap in terms of my academic and intellectual growth. I took...
Nearing the Finish Line and Rekindling My Passion for Human Rights & Social Justice
My last semester is here, and it came faster than expected. I have decided to specifically dedicate...
Gearing Up for the Beginning of a New CIPA Semester
I would be lying if I told you I am eagerly anticipating the start of the next semester. True, I am...
Understanding the Dual Degrees & Graduate Certificates at the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs
A department within the College of Human Ecology, Cornell’s Institute for Public Affairs offers a...
CIPA Infrastructure Practicum Course Takes Students to Puerto Rico in January
Elisabeth Theresa Lembo is a first-year CIPA Fellow (’20) from New Jersey concentrating in Public...
Start Your Career in Social Justice Advocacy with an MPA
Although we hear most often about heroic human rights icons, it’s important to recognize that real...
Researching the Economics of Risky Health Behaviors with an MPA Faculty Member
John Cawley is a Professor in both the Department of Policy Analysis and Management and the...
[Faculty Q&A] Understanding the Importance of Translational Research
Janis Whitlock is a Research Scientist in Cornell’s Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational...
Want to Work in Environmental Policy? Here’s Why You Should Start with an MPA
For those who are passionate about the environment, it may seem difficult to find a profession in...
Cornell Brooks School MPA Application Tips: The Personal Statement
Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of the MPA Program, offers his perspective on making the personal...
The Brooks School Alumnus Appointed to 2018-19 Class of White House Fellows
In October, a Brooks School alumnus Clayton Fuller, MPA 2006, was appointed to the 2018-19 class of...
Stepping out of my Comfortable Life and Jumping into an MPA
Sarah Brown is a first-year MPA student. An organic farmer from Washington State, she spent last...
How an MPA Will Fuel Your Future as a Nonprofit Leader
A Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is a professional, post-graduate degree that...
Celebrating Life in Ithaca
Sarah Brown is a first-year CIPA student. An organic farmer from Washington State, she spent last...
APPAM Equity & Inclusion Fellowship: An Unforgettable Experience
Jacquelyn Chyrell Richards is a second-year MPA student who is concentrating her studies on...
Colloquium: Opportunity on a Silver Platter
Jamila Daniel is a first-year CIPA student concentrating in international development studies....
Real-World Lessons through Competition and Cooperation: NASPAA Simulation Competition
About the author: Sarah Cartagena is a second-year CIPA student who is concentrating her studies on...
Shaping My Post-Master's Plan After Getting an MPA
Mohamed El Messidy is a first-year CIPA student from Egypt. A graduate of the American University...
Getting an MPA Enabled Me to Do the Work I Love — Molly's Story
Molly Conlin is pursuing a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management. Prior to CIPA she...
Academic Life at Cornell: "Hard" Vs. "Intellectually Challenging"
In my first blog, I wrote about my personal life, and I think a few reflections about getting an...
My Journey to an MPA: Why I Chose Cornell
Sarah Brown is a first-year CIPA student. An organic farmer from Washington State, she spent last...
Fall 2018 Capstone: Developing a Business Plan for an Afghan Coffee Start-Up
Brooks School students have the opportunity to complete a capstone project during their second year...
Bridging the Gap Between Complex Policy Changes and Vulnerable Populations
Jacquelyn Chyrell Richards is a second-year MPA student who is concentrating her studies on...
Cornell's MPA Program Was the Perfect Fit for Me — Here's Why
Mauricio Cortes graduated from the MPA Program in May of 2017 with a concentration in Public and...
Students Reflect on the 2018 Cyber Policy Competition
This CIPA team including (l to r) Anshuman Gupta ’20, Khyatee Tewari ’20, Nida Mahmud ’19, and...
Why I Short-Listed the Cornell Brooks MPA Program
Mohamed El Messidy is a first-year Brooks School student from Egypt. A graduate of the American...
Gender Equality is Focus of Summer Internship at United Nations Women
Claudia Ro is a second-year CIPA student who is concentrating her studies on human rights and...
CIPA International Capstone: Exactly what I was Looking For.
Sarah Cartagena is a second-year CIPA student who is concentrating her studies on Human Rights and...
Reflections on My First Year: How I Knew Cornell's MPA Was Right for Me
Sarah Cartagena is a second-year CIPA student who is concentrating her studies on Human Rights and...
Why Should You Think About Getting an MPA? Why Now?
Muhammad Ali Ilahi is a first year CIPA student from Pakistan who is concentrating his studies on...
Getting an MPA After Serving in the Military
Will LaRose is a masters candidate in public administration with a concentration in public and...
Cornell University — An Affordable Ivy League MPA
What are the savings of an MPA from CIPA in the long term? Is an MPA worth it? You might be...
Summer Internship: Harlem Youth Court Offers Window into Education Policy
Naudia Williams is a second-year MPA student, who is concentrating in Social Policy. She has a...
Lake Placid Consulting Project Puts Students’ Skills to the Test
This piece was originally published in April of 2017. People are often surprised when I tell them...
CIPA Capstone Team Studies Refugee Camps in Greece: On-the-Ground Research offers Eye-Opening Experience
When this piece was written in the spring of 2018, Amal Aun, MPA 2018, was a second-year CIPA...
How the MPA Infused my Engineering Career with Decision-Making and Policy Skills
Alqayam Meghji completed his MPA at CIPA in May of 2019 with a concentration in Science Technology...
CIPA Capstone: Experiential Learning In Action
In Capstone, students work with real clients on consulting projects, providing valuable services...
How Cornell's MPA is Preparing Me to Work in the Energy Sector
Steven Greco graduated from CIPA in May of 2018 with a concentration in Government, Politics and...
Reflections on the First Semester: Jamila E. Daniel
Jamila Daniel is a first-year CIPA student concentrating in international development studies....
Mobile Money Impact Evaluations: A Review
This piece was written in February of 2017 for CIPA’s online journal, The Cornell Policy Review. At...
Concentrating in Science, Technology and Infrastructure Policy While Getting an MPA
At CIPA, Alqayam Meghji is pursuing a concentration in Science, Technology and Infrastructure...
Industrialization and Inclusive Growth in Ghana
Eghosa Asemota is a second-year CIPA student studying international development, with a specific...
The Need for Institutional Reform at the National Minorities Commission, India
This piece was written in November of 2017 for CIPA’s online journal, The Cornell Policy Review. At...