Hey guys,
I ran across your forum while researching an unrelated topic and thought I would offer my services

I am a second year MPA PPM student at LSE on the PPM stream, and I have spent both years of my degree at LSE (after completing a BA in the USA). And here are a few thoughts....
1) The MPA is extremely expensive. As an American I am now suffering through six-figures worth of debt from the USA government. That said, I would argue it is worth it - especially if you are on the PEP stream and/or you take the dual degree option.
2) Teaching at LSE is variable, as it is with any university; however, my experience has been (with two exceptions) very positive. I would not have studied at LSE as an undergrad, but as a post grad I have had fantastic experiences with some of the best minds in the field: Dunleavy, Burgess, Held, etc.
3) In terms of presessional courses, all MPAers (regardless of stream) take the MPA-specific pre-sessional their first year unless they have a strong background in economics and are ubber keen on taking additional economics courses above and beyond the required MPA core curriculum. (Please note that you have to pass the econ specific pre-sessional in order to get permission to take additional classes, and 2nd year students can pursue the econ pre-sessional in year two if they are keen). Both presessionals are challenging and should give u a good indication as to your readiness to pursue further econ and econometric options.
4) In terms of job potential, don't think the MPA limits yourself to policy making. Many students indeed take the kid of positions listed above (and we have fantastic relations with OECD, World Bank and various political organisations). However, many students go private --- partially due to debt. Last year, the job market for graduates included Goldman Sachs, Marakon, Bank of England, NATO, multiple foreign service agencies and multiple PhD programmes. This year, the spread is similarly varried, with a fair number of students returning to their home countries and a fair number of others going into strat houses.
5) Best thing about the programme: your coursemates... many of whom will have left the jobs you want! (E.g. one of my class mates came from BoE, one from WB, one from USAID, one from Goldman)
6) Second best thing: optional modules. You can take your optional courses basically from any department you want. Some people specialise on a topic (e.g. economic development) and others take a wide range. Even if they are not on the approved list, you can usually get in. Hence, I am taking a risk management course through the accounting department, two IT courses through the information technologies department, a system modelling course through the operational research department and a innovation in public sector course through the social policy institute.
7) The 'bad and the ugly': this is a public choice programme... and you should know what that means. This is an expensive programme, and you should understand the sacrifices you will have to make. This is a demanding programme, and you will be working over holidays while other msc students are playing. This is a self-motivated programme. If you want the course/the teacher/the job/the help, you are going to have to fight for it.
LSE's MPA is not a traditional MPA, by North American or Australian standards; it is uniquely LSE. Thus, you will graduate prepared in ways different than others, but better for it. Also, if you are a non-EU citizen, you should be aware that this counts as part of the the HSMP, thus your chances for remaining in the UK post-graduation are very high... if you want it.
Hope this helps. If you have more questions, feel free to ask. Otherwise, find us on facebook
