Frequently Asked QuestionsFor MPA Admissions

What undergraduate background do I need to gain admission? 

Any undergraduate degree from an accredited university will be accepted because government and nonprofit organizations engage in a variety of activities and require a variety of skills and knowledge.  The goal of the MPA program is to enhance leadership capability in whatever responsibilities a person has or seeks to assume.  We do require two undergraduate prerequisites as noted below.

What are the prerequisites for the MPA program?

You will need an undergraduate course in American government and an introductory course in economics, either micro- or macro-.    You may take these courses at any accredited university, and you may take them while enrolled in the MPA program (during the first two semesters).  Alternately, you may take the CLEP (College Level Examination Program) test and score at least 54 for economics or 50 for American government. 

Do I have to take the GRE?

You must take the GRE or the GMAT.   We prefer the GRE. 

May I start the program before taking the GRE?

Yes, but only in a non-degree classification.  You may take up to twelve hours while in this classification and then transfer them into the program if you are subsequently admitted.    You may not receive financial aid while in this category, and you may not defer student loans, if you have any, while in this category.

What is the minimum score required on the GRE? 

There is no absolute cutoff.  We review the entire record.  Generally speaking, a score of 500 or above on the quantitative and verbal sections and 4.5 or above on the writing section will be positive indicators.   Scores lower than 450, or 4.0, are considered negative indicators that have to be offset by positive indicators elsewhere in the record, such as the GPA.  We recognize that scores tend to decline the longer a person has been out of school, and we take that fact into account.

Whom should I ask to write letters of recommendation?

 The purpose of these letters is to help determine your potential for success in graduate school.  If you have recently completed your undergraduate degree, former instructors who know you well are good choices.  If not, supervisors or co-workers in business, government or nonprofit organizations make good choices.   There are certainly other possibilities, and we will be happy to answer questions about them.

What should letters of recommendation contain?

Writers should tell how they know you and give their relevant organizational positions, e.g. former professor or director of a program in which you worked.  They should address as much as the authors know about your intellectual ability, communication ability (oral and in writing), motivation for public service, work habits, dependability, inter-personal skills, and anything else the author believes will affect your ability to succeed in a graduate program and in a public service career.   The writers should avoid commenting on any qualities they have not observed.

To whom should the letters be addressed?

They should be addressed to MPA Program or MPA Director at the address given in the application instructions.

How should letters be sent?

Ideally, they will be on letterhead stationery and sent by mail, fax, or PDF file attached to an email message.   

What should I write in my statement of purpose?

There is no “right” answer.  We just want to know why you want to earn a MPA degree.  We are looking for a sense of purpose and the ability to write a cogent statement.

What about financial aid?

Please see the Graduate School website on financial resources, http://grad.uno.edu/fin.cfm.  In addition, we sometimes have assistantships available as a result of grants and contracts.  You should check with the MPA director about specific opportunities.

Can I work and attend school part time?

Yes, over half of our students do so.  Many of them are already pursuing careers in government or nonprofit organizations.  We like having a mix of in-service and pre-service students.  For this reason we schedule almost all of our classes in evenings or online.  When we do schedule a class in the afternoon, we make sure to offer the same course in the evening or online within a year. 

When may I apply for admission?

UNO's Office of Admissions sets deadlines for each semester.  You can check these and other university dates at: http://registrar.uno.edu/bulletin/importantdates/.  For the MPA program, the application deadline for Summer and Fall semesters is February 1st, and the deadline for Sping is November 1st. However, the MPA program will typically reach capacity before those dates, so you need to complete your application as soon as you can.  To ensure full consideration for financial aid, you should have your application in by February 1for the following fall.