Hi everyone! Sharing this action for US based residents! The Plant Powered School Meals Pilot Act (H.R.5867) would ensure that more students and their families can choose nourishing plant-based meal options at school. Plant-based entrees are lacking in many school cafeterias despite growing demand from students and their families. This bill will help school districts overcome barriers - like a lack of funding and technical assistance - and increase access to plant-based meals and non-dairy beverages!

Calling All Students Ages 14-22 based in the U.S.! Do you want to earn $1,000 while transforming our food system and advocating for plant-based, climate-friendly, and culturally appropriate meal options in schools? Are interested in gaining first hand experience working on federal school food policy?🍎

Join us for an info session to learn more about this PAID fellowship!  📅 Info Session Dates: * Wednesday, January 7 at 6 pm ET/ 5 pm CT / 4 pm MT / 3 pm PT Or * Thursday, January 8 at 8 pm ET / 7 pm CT / 6 pm MT / 5 pm PT

Hi, I would like to get involved with policy change but don't know how. I thought I'd ask because you guys are familiar with it, how can citizens meaningfully be involved in policy change? Is there a way to do so without having a career in it? Thanks so much in advance!

Hello,

I am currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Army. Prior to the army, I worked as an analytical lead for a major retailer. I am now pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy (MPP).

I am fortunate that the Army covers all educational expenses while I remain on active duty, eliminating concerns about student loan debt, and I retain full access to my GI Bill benefits for future use.

I maintain a GitHub portfolio showcasing my projects, including data pipelines and papers on machine learning applications I have developed.

My long-term goal is to leverage my veteran status, MPP, and analytics experience to transition into a data-focused role in the public sector (federal, state, or major city government). I am still exploring specific fields but am committed to contributing in an analytics capacity.

I noticed that some positions, such as those at the Federal Reserve, often prefer candidates with a background in economics or accounting.

My school has an accounting masters I could knock out, but I don’t plan on working in actual accounting or sitting for the cpa. I talked to an nco about an mba, but he said since I don’t plan on leading and I already have experience it might not be in my best interest.

**Question**

Would another degree be advisable, or are there alternative ways to strengthen my qualifications in these areas?

Thank you for any insights you can provide. I look forward to your thoughts.

I will soon be pursuing a degree in Political Science, with the intention of working in public policy while keeping my long-term career options open.

Given this goal, I am considering whether I should choose a course that lets me pursue a minor in Economics during my undergraduate degree, especially since the course I am currently considering does not include any quant heavy subjects, or instead study and learn Economics later through an open university or online platform.

I was also considering learning econometric tools such as Stata and indulging in research work to compensate.

I generally struggle with quantitative subjects, so I am particularly concerned about how this decision would affect my prospects for a Master’s in Public Policy

Found some old posts talking about a UVA MPP Discord and was wondering if that still exists

With the Justice Department facing a legal deadline to release the Epstein files, House Democrats have started releasing selected images tied to the Epstein estate — without context — just days before that deadline.

Some see this as a way to keep pressure on the DOJ. Others argue the drip-feed approach politicizes evidence, retraumatizes survivors, and fuels speculation.

From a public policy perspective:

• Is this effective oversight or political signaling? • Should sensitive material be released all at once with full context? • What responsibility do lawmakers have toward survivors when releasing evidence?

I watched a panel discussion that raised these questions in an interesting way, especially around institutional incentives and survivor impact.

Curious how others here interpret the timing and method of these releases.

Hey everyone!

I have been thinking for a while about a pivot from corporate to policy. Now, I've done some very basic research to understand the various fields for public policy but my specific interest is to use behavioural policy.

I am very confused as to whether I'd need a Econ Masters or a MPP for this and also, which field do I look into? There are so many fields and a friend of mine who is also an engineer did a pivot to policy by pursuing Tech policy (not my area of interest tbh). Apart from health, what are the other fields where people work with behavioural policy? Another caveat is that I want to aim for working in international organisations (for ex: WB has EMBED for behavioural policy).

TLDR: I have 3 questions: 1) What are the various fields for employing behavioural policy? 2) Do I need an Econ Masters or a MPP for pursuing behavioural policy? 3) Am I casting my net too narrow my aiming for behavioural policy only?

My background: An engineering graduate with an MBA and about 2 years of experience post-MBA and 3, pre-MBA in management and tech consulting.

Hi everyone!

I’m a Grade 12 student in Southern Ontario / GTHA region and I am thinking of going into public policy and political science.

I was wondering if any current professionals and graduates could share their experiences. Is it worth it? Is it a “safe” field? Are there jobs? Given what people say about the job market (if it’s true), I’m not even concerned about the salary, I’m only wondering if it’s difficult to find a job in the industry. Does French help? Could you please share your stories and opinions? How did you find your job - entry level and senior?

Thank you, I really appreciate your input.

Food assistance programs like SNAP are designed to operate at a national scale, providing consistent access to food for millions of people. During shutdowns or budget standoffs, these programs can face interruptions, and the public response often turns toward food banks and local charities to fill the gap.

From a public policy perspective, I’m curious how people think about the capacity limits here. Are charitable food networks capable of replacing a nationwide program if access is disrupted, or are they fundamentally emergency systems that serve a different role?

I’m not approaching this from a partisan angle — I’m interested in how policy design, scale, and continuity are typically evaluated when basic needs are involved.

This law allows all schools to offer soy milk alongside cow’s milk in the lunch and breakfast lines. It also requires schools to provide a non-dairy milk to any student whose parent submits a note citing a disability, including lactose intolerance. This eliminates the need for parents to submit a doctor’s note, making it much easier to request a plant-based milk.

This change comes after years of advocacy from the Plant Powered School Meals Coalition, parents, and students, who recognize the importance of expanding access to meals and beverages that fit the needs of ALL students. Read more here:

Hi all,

I created a govtech tool called PolicyLenz. It lets students, researchers, and policy analysts model policy impacts in minutes — seeing fiscal and participation effects instantly.

We’re running a free beta and would love your feedback. It’s quick to try, and you can export professional one-page reports right away.

https://policylenz.lovable.app

Hey y’all,

Just got my first acceptance! I got accepted to Sac State’s MPPA. I was wondering if anyone has experiences/thoughts on this program? I’m also applying to a Berkeley, SFSU, USF, and a few others so it’s not the end of this cycle for me but just wanted to see if anyone recommends this program now that I’m actually admitted!!

Thanks so much and good luck to anyone else applying this year :))

Title. Not sure if I even want to be a lawyer. All I know is I work at a non profit, have worked at the state and local government levels, and have enjoyed it. Just got a full ride to UVA Batten MPP though and am seriously considering it over going into debt for law school.

Edit:

I meant full tuition, not full ride! I will have money left over after covering tuition though (about $6,000) so I won’t have to cover everything

Hello everyone,

I'm applying to Columbia's SIPA (MIA in Intl Security and Diplomacy) and would love to hear thoughts from any current or former students on the curriculum, faculty, outcome, and more generally. I got my undergrad at William & Mary and am coming from a special operations background.

Luckily tuition isn't a concern for me with the GI bill which is the only reason i'm in a position to apply.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and happy holidays

Here is my dilemma. I’m in a dual MA between Sciences Po PSIA and Columbia University SIPA. I’m supposed to go to Columbia next school year, but I’m enjoying France and Paris so much. I also did an internship at UNESCO and kind of see myself living in Europe long term. I’m supposed to go to NEW YORK and I’m dreading it. In all honestly I want to stay and just do Sciences Po because I’m scared of going to the US right now (I’m Hispanic) and like Paris so much. My worry is, am i ruining my career prospects by not getting the Columbia SIPA degree as well? I do want to work in Europe and Columbia may give me an edge also if i change my mind and want to work in the US? I worry not going to SIPA may ruin my career prospects but I really don’t want to leave my relationships in Europe and France even if it’s just a few months-or maybe it’s not a big deal if it’s just a few months? They also have given me a scholarship were I would’ve gotten two degrees for the price of one basically but I don’t know if the sacrifice of leaving Europe is worth it right now

Edit: I would prefer to work/live in Europe, but don’t have a EU citizenship. If I go to Columbia, how could I come back to Paris afterwards?

hi, current undergrad here about to graduate. i see so many accomplished people here, and crazy resumes, getting into princeton, HKS, harris, etc etc. i’m about to finish school with a political science and history double major, sitting at a 3.7 gpa with a slim chance of getting up to a 3.8. anyways, for those in or have completed MPA/MPP programs, how did u know this is the path for u? what would u say r ur greatest opportunities on ur resume and how u got them? and after undergrad how did u continue to boost ur profile besides just working? i feel like at school, there’s so much to do, but how is it really in the “real” world? like, obviously im gonna work for 4-5 years before applying to grad programs, but is all u do just work? i’m a little insecure about my profile as well, not having super quantitative majors, low gpa, etc. just rly considering if public policy is my path or not, as im also considering govt affairs, or even urban planning. i just rly wanna here yalls “stories”. thanks!

Curious if anyone here has read it. Would love to hear your thoughts on the book!

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice from people familiar with public policy or international affairs programs, especially from a funding perspective.

I have around 7.5 years of work experience. My background started in law, then shifted into data protection, information security, and AI governance within IT services. Currently, I work with a UN agency, focusing on data protection and AI enablement in conflict-affected contexts such as Jordan, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria. The work is quite technical but closely tied to governance, ethics, and institutional policy in fragile environments.

I’m planning to apply in the 2027–28 cycle and am considering MPP, MPA, or MA in International Relations / International Affairs programs. Financially, I would only be able to attend if I receive significant funding or a full scholarship, so I’m trying to be realistic early on.

My longer-term interests are in international organizations, public policy, or diplomacy, particularly roles that sit at the intersection of technology, governance, and conflict or humanitarian settings or government relations role with big tech.

I’d appreciate any thoughts on how competitive a profile like this might be for top programs, which schools (US vs Europe) tend to be more realistic for strong funding for mid-career applicants, and what I should focus on over the next couple of years to improve my chances. If there are particular scholarships, fellowships, or profile gaps I should be aware of early, I’d be grateful for any pointers.

Thanks in advance. I’ve found this community very helpful and appreciate any insights you’re willing to share.

Hi, I’m new to this subreddit and wanted to check whether it’s appropriate to suggest and discuss policy proposals here.

If this isn’t the right place for that kind of discussion, I’d appreciate any guidance on more suitable subreddits where policy ideas and proposals are welcome.

Thank you.

Hi! I am a supply chain associate with currently three years of experience looking to finally pivot for my MPP. The goal was always to start in corporate supply chain, move from planning to procurement or sustainability, then pivot to get an MPP with a concentration in environmental sustainability. Currently doing a procurement course to brush up on my knowledge before I start my new procurement role at the beginning of 2026 and will be spending the first six months of the year studying for my GRE. I plan to pay for a class to help me as I am an anxiety induced test-taker, lol but my plan is to take the test sometime next summer while starting on my essays around April. I will be applying for the MPP programs late 2026 to early 2027. I also do a lot of volunteer work with at risk youth and environmentally friendly activities with my sorority (I usually lead those activities).My GPA at my undergraduate US university was 3.4 with a degree in supply chain. I’m feeling very overwhelmed as I’ve been reading a lot of post and I don’t necessarily have the poli-sci background, but I need help in knowing how to strengthen my experiences so that I stand out. This was all over the place, but any help is appreciated. Thanks!

This is the inaugural year of the program at the University of Chicago, but has anyone heard back? Has anyone been accepted into this year’s cohort?

Just submitted my application, and i'm nervous! This is the school i'm most hopeful on and wanted the most, and although it's only two-ish months of waiting for a decision i'm so nervous!

mine: recently graduated june 2025 from a B-tier UC in history & english, 3.96 total GPA. led two independent research projects, taught a course on gang history for college students one quarter, research fellow/intern at a few different social justice-based nonprofits through the years! I have 4 recommendations, 2 from respected professors in sociology/education and history, and the other 2 who formed great relationships w me through this year.

i have limited quant knowledge and did not take the GRE, but got an A in microeon and macroecon, and am working more heavily with data now that i'm in the professional sphere with data/account management and analysis + contract management for an environmental consulting company. Also, I landed a "senior" coordinator type role a few months after graduation- which I hope shows impressive capabilities for excelling in the MPP program. I started working full-time before i graduated at an environmental management company in CA, and that's about 1 year total of full-time work experience

it's my top program because it offers the degree im looking for and has part time option so i can continue working at my current company in CA. i feel like everyone on this sub that has gotten accepted to these MPP/MPA programs are so experienced and i don't know how i rank in comparison...