Matt and Keri, what was your favorite class and why? Keri: I'm going to pick 2 classes - Leading Non-profits and Marketing for Non-profits.

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1 Fels Institute: Welcome everyone and thanks for joining us for our prospective student chat. I m Michelle Garcia and I m the Admissions Director at Fels. I ll begin the session by introducing our other moderators and have them talk more about the program. We will then take your questions. Our student participant is Matt Closter, a 2nd year full-time student. After graduating from Brandeis, Matt worked for an international nonprofit in Texas for three years prior to coming to Fels. Our alum participant is Keri Salerno, who just graduated in May. Keri is a Grants and Foundations Officer at the Philadelphia Mayor s Office, is active in the Philadelphia nonprofit community, and has been involved in various political campaigns. Let s begin the session. 1. The MGA is comprised of 12 classes: 8 core and 4 electives. Core classes are split into four competency areas including financial management, general public management, quantitative skills, and politics. Matt and Keri, what was your favorite class and why? Keri: I'm going to pick 2 classes - Leading Non-profits and Marketing for Non-profits. Matt: My favorite core class was Budgeting for Nonprofits and Governmental Agencies. We had to work on a team project at the end of the semester to create a budget for a fictitious city. Very challenging and rewarding experience. Keri: I thought Leading Non-Profits gave a really good overview of the basics you need to eventually become an executive director of a non-profit. At times it's too easy to get wrapped up in the programmatic aspects of running an organization. However, what a good ED does is keeps the organization on mission, manage the budget and works with the board. Matt: I also enjoyed Marketing for Non-profits because I am working on a marketing plan for a real initiative occurring in a Philadelphia non-profit. I am combining themes and topics in class to a project that is actually happening. It's very exciting. Keri: I found Marketing for Non-profits useful because my background at that point had been in fundraising and organizing so this class gave me knowledge of an important subject matter I had not had the opportunity to experience yet. Fels: Thanks. Participants are probably considering other graduate school degrees. Although the MGA is most comparable to an MPA, one main difference is the emphasis on understanding the political systems of organizations and on devising and implementing political strategy. Keri and Matt, did you consider degrees other than those in public management? If so, what made you choose this type of degree?

2 Keri: No I hadn't. I knew I wanted to spend my career working in the public and/or government sectors so a public policy/administration degree seems the right fit. Matt: I looked at other MPA programs. I found some of them to be quite technical in analysis. I thought that the Fels program was a very balanced curriculum between quantitative, management, and political courses, amongst others. It allowed me to focus on a particular track as well, such as nonprofit administration. Fels: Thank you both. Career development starts at orientation. We offer networking, information sessions, and mock interviews with alumni; host career fairs and on-campus recruiters; and assist students in school year and summer internship searches. Matt, can you tell us what events/sessions you have participated in and a little about your internships so far? Matt: Sure, I would be happy to. The Fels staff and faculty are very dedicated to exposing students to professionals in the field, such as politicians, CEOs, and others. Through first hand conversations, I have learned much more about individual experiences and the variety of paths I could take in my career. I am currently working with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, an organization that works with communities and neighborhoods to create large-scale murals throughout the city. Last year I worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and over the summer I worked with the Institute of International Education. I have enjoyed the variety of experiences to learn how large organizations manage their projects and promote their missions and objectives. Fels: Thanks, Matt. Both our full-time and part-time MGA programs are based on a cohort model. We have between full-time students start each year and approximately the same number in each part-time cohort. Because our classes are small in size they allow for maximum interaction with classmates and faculty. Keri, can you tell us about how the Fels network has helped you post-graduate school? Keri: The contacts I made and relationships I built with my fellow executive students has given me knowledge of organizations in the area and a contact within them. Having a relationship with someone who either worked there, or used to work there, is critical should you need to build a partnership between your current employer and that organization. Fels: We are now open to questions. Jillian: My lack of experience in managerial/administrative positions has me worried that many programs may outpace me, as I am currently an undergrad in her senior year with only internships and clerical support jobs w/in non-profits on her resume. Would that be an issue at Fels?

3 Fels: Jillian, we highly value work experience so although we don't require it, it's a good idea to get between 2-4 yrs of full-time work. We like public service applicants from programs like AmeriCorps, Teach for America, and Peace Corps to name a few. If you are concerned with this aspect of your application, I suggest these programs. Rachel: I'm interested in the MGA/Social Policy dual degree. Can you explain the differences in curriculum between the dual degree and the MGA? How many students pursue dual degrees? Are they part of the class cohort in the same capacity as those students pursuing only an MGA? Fels: Rachel, yes, dual-degree students are part of the cohort and right now for the 1st year class we have 3 MGA/MSSP and 3 MGA/JDs. The difference in curriculum is that we are more management and skill based whereas the MSSP program is more policy-based with particular emphasis on certain populations. NY: When you have a moment, can you talk about Philly? I haven t ever been. How do you like living there? What are its pluses and minuses? Keri: One of the best parts I like about Philly is its walkability. Matt: I can add that it is a manageable city with great access to entertainment, restaurants, bars, and sporting events. Philly is making a comeback after the Phillies making it to the World Series two years in a row. Tracey: What s the most important message an industry switcher should convey? Although I read and am told students with public and private sector experience are welcome, how much truth is there to this idea? Fels: Tracey, we have students coming from all three sectors and we recognize the importance of the three. If you are trying to switch career paths, you should demonstrate an understanding of Fels and how it can help you in doing this and convey this well in your personal statement. You can also request an interview, which usually helps out students. Rachel: To what extent does the Fels Institute involve its students in research, both within the Institute and working with other organizations? Fels: We don't have traditional research like most universities, but do have applied research through our consulting site. We are given grants from foundations, government agencies and large nonprofits to tackle an issue and then work on this in a management capacity. Sometimes students do get research opportunities through other Penn departments, though. Andy: I'm interested in the MGA/Education Policy dual degree. Approximately how long could one expect it to take to complete this path? Are there any support systems for dual-degree students (mentors / other students, etc.)? Fels: Andy, the dual degree program takes 2 years because we double count classes. So, your first year you would take 3 Fels classes and 1 Education each term and vice versa the 2nd year.

4 There are definitely other dual-degree students here and we really work with you to map out a curriculum for you prior to coming to Penn. Matt C.: Is it possible to do a dual-degree with a PhD program? Fels: Yes, but it would really need to be worked out in detail. We've had someone who did a PhD in Education and the process went very well. I should also add that we can do double-degrees with other schools - not just Penn. We have mainly done this for JD applicants and usually students have taken a year off to come here and then gone back to law school. Tracey: Post-graduation do most students stay in Philadelphia? In which cities/areas is the Fels network strongest? Fels: Tracey, many students choose to stay in Philly, so yes, the network is very strong here. I would say that the NE corridor is also a good area ranging from Boston to DC although we have alumni in all 50 states and abroad. Matt C.: How would the joint-program work? Would one have to apply to the PhD program first, Fels first, or both for the same year? Fels: It depends on which program. Mostly I would say the PhD program since those are quite competitive. Troy: What makes for a strong statement of purpose, especially for someone who is coming from the humanities? Fels: Troy, a strong personal statement is well-crafted, has researched Fels, and is able to articulate how Fels can help the applicant achieve his/her goals. We are not looking for specific positions or agencies (although those are fine), but certainly that you have a roadmap. We also want you to tell us your story! Be judiciously creative! NY: Does the smallness of the program ever feel limiting? Are there enough people to find your niche? Matt: NY, the smallness of the program does not feel too limiting. You get to know your classmates very well and can find many opportunities to connect professionally and socially. There are great ways to find your niche through the different student organizations at Fels and in the greater Penn community. To expand on that point, Fels has a diverse student body from all over the world and the country. Many students come from a variety of working backgrounds too, so you can compare notes. Fels has a student association, and there are other levels of government at Penn, such as the School of Arts and Sciences Graduate body and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, all of whom organize a variety of social events and happy hours.

5 Tom: I'm primarily interested in the political aspects of the degree. Can you describe the opportunities available for Fels students to obtain internships or employment in positions that are more oriented towards politics (e.g., political staffer)? Keri: Yes, there are many opportunities to become involved in politics in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, and especially the Philadelphia suburbs, always has its fair share of "hot" elections. There are always plenty of campaigns to volunteer and/or intern on which can lead to other opportunities. Many Fels alum work for elected officials and when they need to hire always turn to Fels first for the best and brightest applicants. NY: Can you tell us about any internships your classmates are doing/have done? Do you recommend them instead of trying to do research with a professor at Penn? Keri: There was an intern on the Philadelphia Mayor's race in 2007 who was a full-time student. Upon graduation he became a deputy press secretary in the Mayor's Office. I do not recommend to research with instructors. It does not give you practical experience. The instructors at Fels have amazing networks and work with students to find them internships in government agencies, government consulting firms or non-profits. I also want to add that research in the academic sector does not provide an individual with the opportunity to expand their professional and social network. Allyson: I currently live on the East Coast and Fels is one of my top choice grad programs, but I worry that if I want to return to the Midwest (where I am from) a Fels degree might be limiting because I will have less networking opportunities to rely on and the program is less well known there...any insight on this concern? Fels: Allyson, I think that while you might have less of a network base in the Midwest, your skill set and the Penn name carries a lot of weight everywhere. Also, we really teach you networking skills here at Fels, so if you want to go back you would tap into local professional groups and other professional organizations as a way in. Rachel: Do you keep statistics on your admitted applicants' test scores and GPAs? Allyson: Is there an average age of a Fels student and/or how many years of work experience does the average Fels student have when they apply? Fels: Rachel and Allyson, sure, I can share that information. This year's admitted students had an average of 3.5 GPA and GRE percentages in the 70s. The average age was 26 and we had a 39% acceptance rate. Andy: How many students are admitted to the program each year? Fels: For the full-time program we admitted about 75 and a little less than half matriculated.

6 Tamecca: Fels is an attractive program because of its flexibility, however I'm unclear about how the duration of the program works when you attend fulltime. If you are admitted for the fall term when do you graduate in the fall of the following year or do you graduate in the spring even though you may not be matriculating in the spring semester? Matt: Tamecca, the fulltime program is 12 courses. The majority take 3 per semester over a two year period. So you graduate in the spring two years after you begin. I started in the fall of 08 and I will graduate in the spring of 10. Some students do take four classes/semester to expedite the process. Tracey: If students are interested in taking courses at other PENN schools is that possible? Do many students choose to supplement their Fels degrees this way? Fels: Tracey, yes, you can take your 4 electives outside Fels and some of the most common departments include business, city planning, education, social policy, and law. I would say that most students will take all or most of their electives at Fels because we are so specialized, but if you want to supplement your education with another subject area this is a good way to do it. Matt C.: Can you take more than 12 courses? Or take 12 Fels courses plus other electives? Fels: You can take more than 12 classes but you are charged per class, so you would be charged additional tuition and fees. Tamecca: Prior to submitting an application is it possible to arrange an info session or an exchange with alumni in your local area? Fels: Tamecca, yes certainly. Please felsinstitute@sas.upenn.edu to have this arranged or if anyone has any questions after the session. Tracey: Is it possible to pursue a dual degree with the business school? I noticed the business school has a dual degree program with another government-focused institution. Is it possible to adapt one's studies after starting the program or must a student interested in a dual degree program identify interest in both at the onset of her studies? Fels: We don't have a formalized dual degree with the business school, but are working on that. You don't need to declare this when you apply, although for the law school you would need to matriculate at the law school per ABA regulations. Tamecca: I'm curious to learn if anyone that is online now, has taken one of the following electives: GAFL 716-Campaign Management: How to Run and Win or GAFL: 761-Lobbying? Matt: I have friends in both classes. They like them very much. From what I understand, the assignments are comprehensive where you have to develop plans and present them to the professors. So the classes provide you with the skills and resources to get you to that point.

7 Andy: Approximately how many full-time students opt for an admissions interview? The Web site says only selected applicants will be contacted for one. What are some reasons for you to choose people for interviews? Fels: We can certainly have you in for an interview if you request one. The only applicants we mandate phone interviews for international applicants who we select. Allyson: Do you view applicants any different who might be interested in starting in the sprig semester versus the fall? How many students tend to start in spring and would it put you at any disadvantage? Fels: Allyson, most student start in the fall, but you can apply for the spring. I don't think starting in the spring is a real disadvantage but you miss out on orientation in the fall with the rest of your cohort. Maya: Do most students in the part-time program also start in the fall? Fels: Maya, we have students who start the part-time program each term (fall, spring, summer) although yes, fall is usually a good start time. Keri: I started in a spring term as a part-time student, finished in a fall term and then went to the graduation in a spring term. No biggie. Fels: Thank you everyone for logging in. It was great chatting with you!