The Master of Public Policy

Master Studies at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy

Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States

During August, 2006 – April, 2008, I earned my Master of Public Policy (MPP) Degree from Pepperdine University School of Public Policy in Malibu, CA, United States. This is how I double-concentrated in Economics and Regional & Local Policy.

This experience has been my greatest personal achievement so far. Usually, it is not very difficult to be admitted at a university in the United States. Every year, many Romanians are admitted to prestigious U.S. universities but the greatest problem is to secure the financial resources. Tuition, accommodation, books, travel, medical insurance, and the other subsistence costs are very high. In 2006, I was admitted to four universities: New York University, Georgetown University, Monterey Institute of International Studies, and Pepperdine. I chose Pepperdine for the following reasons:

  • They gave me a scholarship that covered accommodation and food.
  • They admit approximately 30-50 students every year so that you benefit for greater attention from the faculty and staff.
  • Pepperdine University is located in Los Angeles County, a metropolitan area with great carrier opportunities.
  • During the two years of the MPP Program, every student is required to have a summer internship and a career services adviser helps you throughout the Program.
  • They pay much attention to your needs, especially as an international student, so that you adjust fast to the life in California and the American bureaucracy.

To me, the time I spent in California at Pepperdine was so unique, that I want to share as much of it as possible on this website. I present detailed information under the “My Studies in the US” menu. You can check out the main events that I attended every semester, during my summer internship and at graduation. I tell both about the academic side and the extracurricular or leisure activities. Probably the greatest assets of the Program were my colleagues, that I hope to stay in touch with, even though I no longer live in the US.