Advice for New MPA-DP Students (or any Development Grad Students)

This week, a new cohort of MPA in Development Practice students arrive at Columbia SIPA. The MPA-DP program, sometimes known as MDP (Master of Development Practice), is designed to train the next generation of development practitioners. It is a journey that can be both challenging and rewarding, fun and frustrating. As a mature second-year student, I myself have learned a few lessons I thought I would pass on to you, the incoming MPA-DP student. Actually, my wisdom is so profound that it should be useful to all incoming development grad students:

• Don't put much faith in the advice of second year students. Everyone has their own favorite class, least favorite professor, or favorite gyro stand (*). But you will quickly learn that each of our experiences are, well, our own experiences. They are heavily dependent on our own goals, learning styles, and backgrounds. Some students last year took classes that were supposed to be great, and hated them. And some took classes that they were warned against, and loved them. Gather as much information on classes/events/subway routes as you can, but in the end make your own decisions. 
• The phrase "development practitioner" can really mean whatever you want it to mean. I initially thought it meant "field worker managing a rural development project;" one of my classmates thinks it means "politician interested in social and economic development." In my class, students were or want to become: government bureaucrats, NGO directors, philanthropists, World Bank economists, entrepreneurs, journalists, consultants, and teachers, to name a few. You and your classmates are all development practitioners, so own the phrase and, if you are like I was and currently possess a limited definition of "development practitioner," broaden it and embrace your talented and diverse colleagues.
• Overwhelmed with quant classes and disappointed in your electives? Remember that most of your education will actually happen outside the (formal) classroom, in the form of student groups, guest lecturers, and events. Find like-minded students to chase a specific interest, or students with differeing opinions to debate. If you cannot find the student group that fits your specific development-related interest, start one. [Oh, and some of that education will come at the bars and clubs, too]
• Have a strong idea of what you want to get out of your education. It does not have to be too specific, and it can change during your time at SIPA. But do you want to gain skills? If so, what skills? Do you want to expand your knowledge of a certain sector, or diversify your knowledge outside of a certain sector? Do you want to work abroad after SIPA or in your own country? You won't have all the answers yet, but having some strong (rough) ideas will be helpful.
• That being said, be open-minded about your education. Try new things, embrace the chance to have new experiences. Have you worked in South America for your whole career? Consider an internship in Asia. Do you have extensive public health experience? Pursue agricultural development. Most of all, become an expert in "expectation management." If you have worked in development before, you probably are used to "fluid situations" and situations that can change suddenly. Graduate school is not much different, so prepare yourself by keeping your expectations... reasonable. [aka Ride the Wave Where it Takes You]
• Get familiar with the relevant development conversations. Sure, you've read Sachs (probably how you discovered the MDP programs). But have you read (or can you remember) Easterly, Sen, or Farmer? Those are just a few... there are lots of development books and journals out there, and soon enough you will have more than enough of these to read for your courses. So don't spend the few weeks before school starting a new book. Another, perhaps easier way, to connect with the current conversations is to read development blogs.  NYU MPA graduate Dave Algoso makes the case for reading development blogs here. As he puts it, "Blogs cover many of the same issues as both newspapers and journals, but with an eye toward what they mean for practitioners and policy makers." Some of the blogs he mentions are defunct, but they should get you started. If nothing else, read (new SIPA professor) Chris Blattman's blog for a few days and see if you don't become hooked.
• Blog about development. It is a great way to think through some of the complex issues you will be learning about over the next year. I could write an entire post making the case for writing a blog, but Dave Algoso already did that for me! (and he boiled down the reasons to three: Get Smart, Get Connected, and Help Others Get Smart and Connected). Or, if starting your own blog is too much commitment, consider writing for The Morningside Post or Communique, SIPA's student-run publications.
• When you are bogged down in problem sets and all-night study sessions, take the time to remember why you are doing this. This was definitely something I needed. The field placement will be helpful, but in the meantime be sure to reconnect with people who inspire you or issues you are passionate about.
• Don't put much faith in the advice of second year students. Especially those who repeat themselves.

(*) Actually this is not open for debate: it's the one outside the law school.