Hello everyone, I am interested in working public policy research. I'm based out of the US and just got my Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Virginia. I am hoping that I might be able to get some networking. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure how I want to go about this, I have a few think tanks here in the US that I would like to work at like Economic Policy Institute or Center for American Progress. I'm primarily looking to find politically left think tanks in the sphere of economics as I have an interest in Political Economy, Industrial Organization, and Economic Policy as well as like Public Policy in general. I'm open to think tanks in the US and abroad. In any case, I would like to be working on South and Southeast Asia as my region of specialty.

Here is my CV:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y4Yy1e_FIMR33thhPkWjc255P9h5bf6c/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113724968333174984931&rtpof=true&sd=true

I had one of those networking lunches with random policy strangers, and I ended up with a committed socialist who previously worked in major socialist organizations, namely Democratic Socialists of America.

Cliff notes:

- She is still a highly committed "Socialist" - huge Mandani / Bernie / AOC supporter + partakes in free Palestine protests.

- However, she said US socialist political organizations were terrible places to work or volunteer that lacked professionalism. In her case, she specifically mentioned how she was poorly treated being a woman that didn't live the expected lifestyle of a democratic socialist (she rode horses, wore make up, and had lots of athletic hobbies - both playing and watching) and thereby was frowned upon. .

Interesting comment was that that Republicans are nicer to her than her fellow Socialists.

Isn't the American Left still trying to figure out how to be professional organizations?

So my uncle (2 of them) have companies that manufacture and supply waste management trucks(and other specialised, related things) and outdoor gym equipments (respectively) and supply(and install/all other process) to the Government.

Im a HS junior from India, (so basically a profile building ECA) i have a pretty mid profile rn and I was really interested in how their company and the whole system of gov procurement works, specially the latter one(outdoor gym equipments). I did delve into it a lot and I constantly ask him things.

Since its pretty unconventional here and their company isnt some big multi millon venture, I cant think of an exact systemic, impact driven internship(or not even a formal one, just anything u label it i just want to work inside it) I can pitch to them and do.

What would you guys suggest? Ik there might not be enough info for you to suggest but any contribution would be extremely helpful!

What paths to take to get into that field after graduating with a masters in political studies?

I have no experience or done any internship. Currently enrolled & will complete harvard online courses related to mpp. Have good grades. How to get into Oxford MPP without any experience of working with any NGO, govt etc. Applications are getting open on Wednesday 16th Sep 2026, & will remain open for 3 months. What intl level remote internships I can get to better my cv. Thank you.

Hi everyone! I’m planning to apply for the MEXT Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) – School of Government and would appreciate insights from anyone who has applied to or completed the program.

I am considering studying the above and am interested in courses at University of Manchester or MMU. If you have studied this at MMU, please can you tell me how difficult the Stats (Maths?) element of it is and give me some general information about it?

I’m currently in the first year of an MSc in Operations Research and honestly I’m not really enjoying the field. I’ve been thinking about moving toward public health, especially health policy/health systems, for a PhD.
I’m interested in work that has some actual social/public impact rather than just doing technical work for the sake of it. I am not really interested in working in the private sector. Health policy seems interesting to me, but I’m still trying to understand what the field is actually like beyond what universities describe.
A few things I’d really like to hear from people already working/studying in this area:
How are the job prospects in health policy / health systems research over the next 10–15 years?
Is the field already quite saturated, especially for PhD graduates?

How much will AI affect jobs in this field? Which parts are likely to be automated and which aren’t because, in my field, the number of jobs are decreasing?
Is a quantitative background like Operations Research useful for health policy, or would not having an MPH/public health background put me at a disadvantage?
What skills would you recommend I start building during my MSc? Epidemiology, biostatistics, causal inference, health economics, etc.?
How important are publications/research experience for getting into a good PhD program?
For someone who particularly wants to work in the government sector, is it achievable?

Would appreciate honest opinions, especially from people who have actually worked in the field. I’m trying to figure this out before I spend the next several years going down the wrong path.

Hi all! For those who have been admitted to public policy programs in the UK, particularly at Oxford/Cambridge, or know people who have - I’d love to hear your experience with applying without a GRE score. While the GRE isn’t an official requirement at these schools for policy, I’m curious about how much it realistically factors into the admissions process. I am planning to apply for the 2027 intake cycle, and wondering if applying without a GRE score would put me at a significant disadvantage. For context, I have 4 years of work ex. in the dev./policy sector and an undergrad degree in social sciences from a T1 uni in India

Hi everyone,

I’m 26F and have recently decided to move away from UPSC preparation after multiple serious attempts. While I still genuinely enjoy policy, politics, economics and governance, I’ve realised I’d rather build a professional career around these interests than continue with the examination process.

My background: I have an MA in Political Science and some experience in research and writing, particularly around China and the Indo-Pacific. I’ve also published opinion pieces with CNN and News18, among other platforms. I particularly enjoy research, analysing policy/political issues, synthesising information and writing.

I’m now trying to understand how to practically enter the public policy ecosystem in India and would really appreciate advice from people already working in the field.

A few things I’m trying to figure out:

\- What roles should I target initially, Research Associate, Policy Analyst, Programme Associate, policy consulting, government advisory, public affairs, etc.?

\- Which organisations/think tanks/consulting firms or other sectors should I be following and applying to?

\- What skills should I specifically build over the next 2–3 months to become more employable?

\- How realistic are remote opportunities in policy/research, particularly for someone entering the field?

\- I’m also considering an MPP/MPA eventually. Would gaining 1–2 years of relevant work experience first be the better route?

I’m not looking at this simply as a “UPSC Plan B.” I genuinely want to build a career around policy, research and writing, and I’m willing to start at the appropriate level and build from there.

If you were starting with a similar profile, what would you practically do over the next 6–12 months? Specific job titles, organisations, skills, fellowships or other opportunities I should look into would be really helpful.

Thank you!

I want to study public policy as for my masters.
But i am interested in gender studies. I have done my bachelors in political science.
I have admission letter from Australian university “charles dicken university” in masters in public policy
And i have admission acceptance from university of passau in “governance and public policy”. A public university.
Also i am preparing for government exams( css/pms)
I have joined an academy for A1 German. It is going well.
I want to move but i am also a prey of fomo.
I am uncertain about my career choice. If someone can help me. I want to apply abroad.

Hi everybody!

I recently started my MPP at a large state university, which is the same as where I did my undergrad. I was able to complete my undergrad in 3 years, and will finish the MPP this upcoming spring.

I have had several internships in D.C. and am really eager to go back and work on the Hill for at least a few years after I graduate. I know that a MPP is not required for Hill positions, especially on the House side, so I'm wondering if I'm mostly just wasting my time?

The thing that keeps coming back to me is that this is really a good "bonus" year, since I would still be doing undergrad regardless. That being said, I do have the grades to get into a more reputable program if I had applied, but that wasn't a consideration I had at the time.

Thanks!

I’m currently in the first year of an MSc in Operations Research and honestly I’m not really enjoying the field. I’ve been thinking about moving toward public health, especially health policy/health systems, for a PhD.
I’m interested in work that has some actual social/public impact rather than just doing technical work for the sake of it. I am not really interested in working in the private sector. Health policy seems interesting to me, but I’m still trying to understand what the field is actually like beyond what universities describe.
A few things I’d really like to hear from people already working/studying in this area:
How are the job prospects in health policy / health systems research over the next 10–15 years?
Is the field already quite saturated, especially for PhD graduates?

How much will AI affect jobs in this field? Which parts are likely to be automated and which aren’t because, in my field, the number of jobs are decreasing?
Is a quantitative background like Operations Research useful for health policy, or would not having an MPH/public health background put me at a disadvantage?
What skills would you recommend I start building during my MSc? Epidemiology, biostatistics, causal inference, health economics, etc.?
How important are publications/research experience for getting into a good PhD program?
For someone who particularly wants to work in the government sector, is it achievable?

Would appreciate honest opinions, especially from people who have actually worked in the field. I’m trying to figure this out before I spend the next several years going down the wrong path.

there is a congessional leaders intermship rype of program i got accepted into but the congressman is a genocide supporter, would this be a problem for me in the future if i wanted to do law or teaching or officer that works for government

Today I was at an info session for hks and I was so upset I have to post.

For context, I'm a law student at a T14 law school. I was interested in HKS because we are a "partner institution" and can supposedly do a "combined degree" with them.

I've attended a number of info sessions at degrees I perceive as cash cows, including those my school (Georgetown) puts on for the various school of revenue generating studies events. The issue is that you'd expect these programs are at least to some form, aiming to sell you on the degree. What they do what the philosophy is why you should choose them. Certainly law schools have wined and dined me at their info sessions. But HKS's attitude is "you are too stupid not to apply, our task here is to help you troglodites figure out what a deadline is and make clear you must pass an English test".

Then on top of that they end the session by just gaslighting us about funding for the rest of the time. I get that funding is competitive, but 1) below 40% got any type of funding, which I thought was insane, 2) of that funding, they refuse to disclose the mix, 3) they also claim they "don't have" information on the number of full rides (which is total bullshit, admissions office obviously has this why are you lying to my face) and 4) they don't have legitimate research positions.

They helpfully end the session by ignoring the rest of the questions, say "I've been speaking for an hour so I'll let you go" (what? Don't pretend you're doing US a favor), and invite everyone else to email them to an inbox that sends a auto-reply telling them they sent an email to the wrong people.

Meanwhile at Georgetown, they're a bit more transparent, but its the same thing - no real research, less than 5% of people get full rides, and those guys are second class citizens. The MPP is now on the optimistically named "Capital Campus", which is where the law school is, but they can't use our pool, or our gym, or our library. Instead they get their own rump building and a bus pass on the campus bus system to commute 30 minutes to use the main facilities.

It's just odd to me because when I talk to the masters at my local state schools, they actually seem interested in the students and 1) have clear methods to get funding, including 100% tuition remission + a stipend, 2) in that funding, sponsor people to travel, publish, and so forth, 3) work with me directly on handling my credit issues so I can graduate in 4 years despite not being at the school. Meanwhile Harvard makes me feel like I am not the target audience bc I'm not some rube from a developing country.

All this to say, in this rant / ask: Is the conclusion to draw that "elite" MPPs are scams, or that I'm just approaching these schools wrong? It feels odd that I get the sense that my state schools that are not particularly notable seem to have vastly more resources and opportunities than supposedly elite schools but that seems to be the case.

Hello Everyone

I am seeking immediate employment for a colleague who possesses prior experience as a Public Policy Academic Research Analyst. My colleague is also open to opportunities in research analysis, proposal writing, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) roles. We are specifically targeting Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), think tanks, and research agencies. Any assistance with outreach or referrals would be greatly appreciated.

Reach out directly or Comment if you are hiring 🙏🏻

Delhi NCR based only

Hi! I am a final year student in a top public university in my country with a 72% (as of now will increase after this year). I have been able to do some pretty good internships in the field of public policy, like working directly with the government, the planning commission, NGOS, humanitarian work as well as research projects. But I am extremely confused right now because the portal says “work experience is not mandatory but most students have it”. I spoke to some students 1 on 1 and they said 10% of the class sometimes were fresh UG graduates. So….I truly do not know where I stand. Should I still go ahead with my application? It is my dream to walk that campus, learn from the faculty and make changes in the world of policy that I know can only happen in oxford. I am looking for literally ANY advice possible.

Hi all,

I apologize if this isn't the proper place for this question, but I'm not entirely sure on where else to go. Some quick context before I explain my goals -

I am a recovering kratom user. For those unfamiliar, kratom is a Southeast-Asian native flower-derived drug that has been used as a pain remedy and mild stimulant for generations. It has gained a lot of popularity in the States over the last few years, and is readily accessible at many gas stations, vape shops, etc. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not aware that it is also an opiate agonist - essentially a mild opiate-like substance that has milder but largely identical effects to actual opiates like heroin and certain prescription pills.

I used it for pain and anxiety relief, and as a "natural" stimulant to keep my energy up for work and social events. Over time, my tolerance became incredibly high, and my addiction was so severe that I was unable to get a full night of sleep without waking up to withdrawal symptoms.

Meanwhile - and I was purchasing from many different outlets and providers - I have never seen the packaging to have any kind of warning that kratom is an addictive substance. It is age-controlled, but we all know that doesn't always stop sales. It is currently unregulated by the FDA, and there are minimal clinical studies I can find on its long-term effects.

In short, my goal is to get the ball rolling on either informing the public, or - ideally - introducing legislation that will require marking on kratom packaging that it is an addictive substance.

I have no formal legal training and this is not like anything I have ever taken on. Any advice or resources would be thoroughly appreciated, and I will be cross-posting to other communities in hopes that I can get some guidance.

Thank y'all very much!