Frequently Asked Questions

General Admissions FAQ

Admissions Procedures FAQ

General Admissions FAQ

What is Policy Analysis?

Public policy analysis aids problem-solving in the public and non-profit sectors. People have analyzed policies for centuries, while policy analysis as a systematic, formal undertaking is still a fairly new field of endeavor and thoughtful people differ about exactly what it is. In their standard textbook Policy Analysis Concepts and Practice (third edition), Professor David Weimer (MPP '75/PhD ’78) and Professor Aidan Vining (MPP '78/PhD '80) offer a good definition: public policy analysis is “client-oriented advice relevant to public decisions and informed by social values."

Policy analysts provide information and advice to public officials, the press, policy advocates, nonprofit and private sector decision-makers, and citizens generally to help them choose, design and implement better public policies. To do this well requires a series of skills: skills that constitute the core curriculum of GSPP.

How do public policy and public administration programs differ?

Public administration, developed in the early 1900s, is a special field of study within the academic discipline of political science. It emphasizes the structure and operation of bureaucracies and organizations, including budgeting, personnel, and formal and informal internal controls. Some public administration programs include study of the special management skills required in governmental (as distinct from private) organizations.

Public policy is a newer field, developed in the late 1960s, whose theories and methods draw upon a variety of disciplines, such as economics, political science, statistics, and other social sciences. Its central focus is on the environment, substance, and effects of policies. Within that context, bureaucracies and organizations are examined as major sites for policy formulation, advocacy and implementation. Both public policy and public administration programs are relevant to the broad profession known generally as public management.

More information about career opportunities and employers of GSPP graduates is available in Career Services.

Does the GSPP program train generalists or specialists?

The School first aims to train generalists, in the sense of providing basic policy skills needed in a variety of policy positions and across a wide range of policy issues. Having learned and applied the basic skills in the School’s program, graduates are able to familiarize themselves rapidly with the details of a specific policy area relevant to their particular job. It would not be easy, however, for policy area specialists who lacked these technical skills to develop them once on the job. Feedback from alumni and employers confirms the soundness of providing an education for generalists.

The variety of positions reflects the multidisciplinary skills possessed by MPP graduates and the different types of policy roles sought by individual graduates.

Can a GSPP student give special attention to a specific policy area?

All first-year students take the core curriculum, which provides basic analytical approaches and skills. In contrast the second year consists mostly of electives, with students able to choose from among the rich offerings of the academic disciplines and professional programs on the Berkeley campus as well as from those at GSPP.

Depending on individual preferences, students elect courses to deepen or extend their analytical skills and/or to familiarize themselves with the substance of a specific policy area (energy, health, income redistribution, international affairs, environmental protection, education, racial or gender policy, etc.). In addition, the student’s major project during the second year treats a policy problem of the student’s own preference. Similarly, a student may concentrate his or her efforts to secure a summer internship in specific policy areas of personal choice.

Is a master’s thesis required?

In the second year, each student completes an Advanced Policy Analysis (APA) project, which is an intensive study of a significant policy issue of his or her choice. The APA study, which is typically done for a real client, provides students with the opportunity to apply concepts and skills learned in the School’s program. Students often develop their APA projects from the recent experience of their summer policy internships. Most students receive pay from their client for undertaking and completing the APA project. An APA study is performed under the close supervision of a GSPP faculty member, and its satisfactory completion meets one of the requirements for award of the MPP degree.

How does the GSPP program treat the political dimensions of public policy?

The School believes that to be effective in the policy world, the evaluation of policy choices should take closely into account the political setting for the making and implementation of policy. To have significant impact, an analyst of policy options often must go beyond technical competence and include sensitivity to the political environment of the policy issue and of the client. Hence the GSPP program stresses such concerns as the political feasibility of policy alternatives, value and ideological conflicts, and the dynamics of organizational behavior as they affect policy implementation. Useful preparation for GSPP’s core curriculum would include some familiarity with microeconomics, the American political process, statistics, and calculus. One of the core courses is a full year’s work in economics which assumes some knowledge of calculus. Entering students without that knowledge or who want to refresh their applied mathematical skills are urged to take an intensive brush-up Math Review given by the School just before the fall term.

Have a question?

If you have specific questions about the adequacy of your academic preparation for the program, please contact the GSPP Admissions Office at mppadm@berkeley.edu.

Admission Procedures FAQ

Is work experience required?

Although GSPP does not require work experience for admission,  applying to the program with at least three to four years of relevant full-time, post-undergraduate work experience is strongly encouraged. GSPP believes work experience adds tremendous value to class discussions and helps students to develop a context for problem-solving, policy analysis, and professional development and networking. 

Do I need to have a particular undergraduate major or training?

Students at GSPP represent a wide range of academic backgrounds. Most students have degrees in social sciences, with a smaller number having undergraduate majors in humanities, biological or physical sciences, mathematics or engineering. Some students already have advanced degrees. GSPP does not require prior quantitative training; however course work in college-level introductory statistics, calculus, and micro-economics, is strongly recommended. Applicants who have not taken at least one of these courses are encouraged to enroll in one (or more) at a local community college or on-line to strengthen their application and prepare for the MPP program's quantitative rigor. Additional courses counting towards the application should be taken for a letter grade, unless grading options were changed to Pass/Fail specifically due to COVID-19. Please note this in the Addendum section of the application.

Can I defer?

Requests for Deferment

Deferments are granted and done so only if unanticipated and compelling circumstances develop after admission that create the need to request deferred enrollment. Applicants may submit a written request for deferment, addressed to the MPP Admissions Committee Chair. Petitions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If a deferral request is granted, the applicant is guaranteed a spot in the following year's class. The deferral is for officially admitted applicants only. Fellowships cannot be automatically deferred. Applicants may only defer one year. Beyond a year, an applicant must re-apply as a new applicant. Exception: Students who choose to join Teach For America are automatically approved for a two-year deferment upon receipt of required documentation. Please contact Lezley Hightower (lhightower@berkeley.edu) with questions about the MPP deferral process.

GPA Calculation Questions

Q: How do I calculate my Major GPA?

The Major GPA calculation is not required by the Goldman School of Public Policy. Please leave this field blank.

Q: Do I need to I submit a GPA calculation worksheet with my application?

The GPA calculation worksheet is appreciated but not required. However, if you are applying to a concurrent degree program, it may be required by the other program. For a template GPA calculation worksheet, please click here.

Q: How do I calculate my advanced GPA?

If you received your undergraduate degree at a US university or college then calculate your Undergraduate Advanced GPA using all coursework towards the degree after the first two years. For a template GPA calculation worksheet, please click here.

What if I'm currently a UC Berkeley student?

If you are a current UC Berkeley graduate student, you can only apply for the concurrent program during the first year of enrollment as a Masters student and you must fulfill the same requirements as any new applicant. Please note the following:

Current UC Berkeley graduate students must complete a concurrent degree application to be admitted to an additional program. For example, if you are a current MPP student interested in pursuing the concurrent degree with Public Health, you must submit a MPP/MPH application for Fall 2021.

Be sure to complete the "Previous UC Berkeley Affiliation" section of the online graduate application via the "Educational Background" link in the left navigation menu.

It is acceptable to have your current department forward up to two letters of recommendation from your previous application. The third letter should be new.

You may re-use GRE scores from your previous application if they are still valid. Please self report your scores on your new application and we should be able to match your official scores to your new application.

Current students applying to a concurrent program must pay a new application fee or apply for a fee waiver (if eligible). For fee waiver eligibility requirements, please click here. 

Essay Questions

Q: How many essays are required for the MPP Application?

Two. (1) Policy Statement of Purpose and (1) Personal History Statement. 

Q: What is the page length requirement for the Personal History Statement?

There is no page length requirement for the Personal History Statement. However, this essay is generally 1-2 pages, double-spaced.

Q: What is the difference between the Policy Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement? 

The Policy Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement have two distinct set of guidelines (see below). It is expected that the two essays may overlap.

Statement of Purpose PROMPT:

The Goldman School of Public Policy welcomes applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and with a variety of career aspirations. Some of our students have had prior experience in the realm of public policy; others have not. It is helpful to us to know more about your background, your motivation, and your long-term goals than can be inferred from your records and references. We would appreciate your helping us by supplying a brief statement of 3-5 pages, double-spaced. Please address some of these areas:

The present: Why do you want to take an educational program in the analysis and management of public policy?

The past: What experiences or activities bear on your qualifications for this program, e.g., research papers, study groups, job responsibilities, policy or political projects? How do these experiences relate to your decision to undertake the study of public policy analysis and management? If you have been out of school for a year or more, please indicate the positions you have held and your major activities. A vita or resume is strongly recommended.

The future: What kinds of work and activity would you like to engage in following graduation, and what are your long-range career objectives? Please supply whatever information you think may help us to understand your candidacy more fully.

Personal History Statement PROMPT:

Required of all applicants. Please note that the Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose.

Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree.

In this section of the application, you may also include any relevant information on the following: how you have overcome barriers to access in higher education, evidence of how you have come to understand the barriers faced by others, evidence of your academic service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and individuals from other groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education, evidence of your research focusing on underserved populations or related issues of inequality, or evidence of your leadership among such groups.

Q: Should I include my resume with the Statement of Purpose?

Your resume should not be submitted with your Statement of Purpose. Your resume should be submitted on the Supporting Materials section of the online application.

Transcripts Questions

Q: Am I required to submit my study abroad transcripts?

It is not necessary to submit a separate transcript from the abroad university if the courses, credits, and grades appear on your degree-awarding university transcript. 

Q: May I send official transcripts directly to the Goldman School?

Please do not send official transcripts. For domestic applicants: upload a PDF copy of your unofficial transcripts (with evidence of degree conferral) to your online application. Official transcripts for all college-level work will be required only if admitted. For international applicants: upload unoffical transcripts to your online application. Please also submit copies of additional documents that verify degree conferral (degree certificate, diploma).

GRE Questions

Q: What is latest date I can take the GRE and still be considered for admission?

GRE scores are requested but not required for the Fall 2021 application due to COVID-19. In order for your scores to arrive by the application deadline, the Goldman School recommends that you take the GRE by no later than early November. The application and all supplemental materials (including GRE scores) are due by December 1, 2020. Late materials may not arrive in time to be reviewed by the admissions committee.

Q: I did not list the correct department code. What should I do?

As long as you listed the correct institution code for UC Berkeley (4833 - Graduate Programs), the Goldman School will be able to retrieve your scores.

Q: I submitted my application and on the "status" page it reads that my GRE scores have not arrived. I ordered my scores a while ago, should I be concerned?

It can take up to a few weeks for Berkeley to receive GRE scores. You may check the status of your scores via your application status page. If more than a few weeks have passed since you have submitted your GRE scores and they are not showing up as received, please feel free to contact us at mppadm@berkeley.edu and we can check for your scores manually. Be sure that ETS sent your scores to institution code 4833 (Graduate Programs). 

Q: Can I submit my GMAT or LSAT in lieu of the GRE?

The GRE is required by all applicants applying to the MPP program. No exceptions. No substitutions.

Q: What are the average GRE scores?

You can view the latest set of admissions statistics here.

TOEFL Questions

Q: If I’ve attended a university in the United States, am I required to take the TOEFL?

All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East,  Israel, the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, most European countries, and non-English-speaking countries in Africa.

We will only accept TOEFL tests administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and reported directly by the TOEFL office. For Fall 2021, TOEFL tests taken before June 1, 2019 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to Berkeley. To send an official score report, the institution code for Berkeley is 4833 (Graduate Programs). More information about evidence of English language proficiency, including qualifying for an exemption, can be found here.

To qualify for a TOEFL exemption you must:

  • Have a basic degree from a recognized institution in a country where the official language is English.
  • Have completed a basic or advanced degree at an institution, in the United States or abroad, where the language of instruction is English and the institution is accredited by one of the United States’ regional accrediting* agencies.

NOTE: The Graduate Division includes a third exemption for those who have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with a grade B or better at a regionally accredited institution within the United States. GSPP does not accommodate this exemption.

There are two standardized tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Q: Which version of the TOEFL is required?

UC Berkeley will accept the Internet-based test (IBT) and the paper-based format (PBT).

Q: What is the minimum TOEFL Score?

For the purpose of admission to UC Berkeley, your most recent score must be at least 90 on the Internet-based test (IBT) or a 7 overall band score on the IELTS exam. However, applicants admitted to the MPP program tend to score higher than the minimum allowable score. 

Letter of Recommendation Questions

Q: Who should write my letters of recommendation?

The most helpful letters of recommendation are from persons who have supervised the applicant’s work in either an academic, employment or community service capacity, and who can evaluate the applicant’s intellectual ability, creativity, initiative, leadership potential, and promise in the field of public policy analysis and management. Three letters are required to complete the application, however, we will accept a maximum of four letters. Applicants may submit a mix of academic and professional letters or all professional.

Q: How do recommenders submit their letter electronically?

Recommenders will be sent invitations to submit letters through the online application. Once you have started the online application, the instructions for how to submit letters of recommendation can be found in the main menu under “Recommendations”.

Q: Can I submit more than 3 letters of recommendation?

Yes, you may submit up to 4 letters of recommendation.

Application Fee Questions

Q: Am I eligible for an application fee waiver?

You must be a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident to be eligible for the graduate admissions application fee waiver. Applicants with AB540 status are also eligible to apply for the fee waiver. Questions about the fee waiver process should be directed to gradadm@berkeley.edu. 

There are two ways in which you may qualify for an application fee waiver:

  • You can demonstrate financial need, or
  • You are a current participant in certain programs that qualify for a fee waiver.

Please click here for a full list of application fee waiver guidelines.

Mailing Questions:

Q: What address should I send hard copy application materials?

Please note, the MPP admissions team is working remotely due to COVID-19. All materials should be submitted electronically. 

If I'm not accepted, may I reapply?

Those reapplying to GSPP must complete a new online application. Old test scores can be connected with your application if you provide the test registration scores and dates on your application and they still fall within the acceptable date range. If you applied to the university within the last two years, you may use previous letters of recommendation on your current application. However, we recommend refreshing your application materials as much as possible. Please contact mppadm@berkeley.edu if you would like to use previous letters of recommendation. When reapplying, please be advised of the below requirements:

Online Graduate Application for Admission and Fellowships

$120 application fee for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents;  $140 for all others (submitted with online application)

In your Policy Statement of Purpose, please include a brief description of how you spent your time since you last applied. (submitted with online application)

Please upload unofficial transcripts for any new course work completed since you last applied. (submitted with online application)

You may submit replacement of items such as new letters of recommendation or new GRE scores. Otherwise, you may request that GSPP use items provided with your original application (please contact mppadm@berkeley.edu) for assistance

Miscellaneous Questions:

Q: When will admission decisions be made?

All admissions decision letters will be emailed in early-March or shortly thereafter.

Q: When is the application deadline?

The application deadline for admission and fellowship consideration is in December of each year.  This year, the application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2020. All required application materials are due the application deadline.

Q: Who should I contact if I am having technical difficulties with the online application?

Applicants should report any technical difficulties to the Graduate Office of Admissions. Email: gradadm@berkeley.edu.