I need to join a club/organization in NYC. any ideas?

[JSC437]

Hi everyone. I need some advice. Hope you can help.

I am a 2nd year MBA student.... and once i complete this degree I am planning on applying to either Kennedy School of Government (Harvard) or Woodrow Wilson (Princeton) for a masters degree in public policy. However, those schools are really tough to get into and i need some advice on how i can enhance my application. I want to have a more well rounded application and i believe that i can achieve this by joining a social/philanthropic organization.

Here is my question

Can anyone suggest some national or NYC based organizations that i can join? What types of organizations are impressive to admissions people?

thanks for any/all help.

 

[Connemara]

John Birch Society

 

[zalb916]

Originally Posted by JSC4President

What types of organizations are impressive to admissions people?

Organizations that people join because they have a genuine interest in said organization, rather than an interest in gaining favor of admissions staff.

 

[MetroStyles]

Just a question - why did you pay for an MBA if you wanted to go into public policy eventually anyway?

 

[JSC437]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

Just a question - why did you pay for an MBA if you wanted to go into public policy eventually anyway?

my mba is pretty much free.

and really i want to go into international development.... i should have been more specific.

My finance/econ MBA will be useful.

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/degrees/masters/mpa-id

 

[JSC437]

Originally Posted by zbromer

Organizations that people join because they have a genuine interest in said organization, rather than an interest in gaining favor of admissions staff.

i agree.

but how do you find out about organizations that would be of interest?

I was a member of mensa... i stopped that because it was stupid. I was a member of toastmasters... but i get scared of public speaking. and i was a boy scout when i was a kid. I was a member of Viktor Neiderhoffers libertarian club for a while.

however, i am looking for something interesting that i can contribute (and show that i am active in an organization).

 

[dv3]

Style Forvm, you've already done it!

Kidding aside...

Volunteer to tutor children. I did it through college and it can be enjoyable. There are plenty of opportunities and it shows you care about your community.

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by JSC4President

I was a member of toastmasters... but i get scared of public speaking.

Isn't that a reason to join Toastmasters, not quit it?

 

[odoreater]

I think joining any one of these organizations that other people in your position join just to put on their resume and say they did something makes admissions people's eyes roll.

I think what you should do instead is what others here have said - find something that interests you or think of some kind of issue that you feel strongly about, and volunteer or join an organization in that area. It would be more unique to say that you poured soup at a homeless shelter than to say you were a member of some random organization.

 

[unjung]

http://www.eastsideclubnyc.com/

 

[thewallychamp]

Illuminati

 

[chas]

http://www.bowlmaple.com/ Join a bowling league

 

[JSC437]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

Isn't that a reason to join Toastmasters, not quit it?

valid point

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by JSC4President

valid point

Don't feel bad. I had public speaking too and have not bothered to join despite Thomas' encouragement.

 

[unjung]

Wouldn't public speaking basically be a requirement of an MBA program? Aren't MBA students required to give a lot of presentations?