Need advice regarding a masters degree: MPP or MPA, or something else entirely?
Hi everyone. I'm 24 years old, and hold a bachelor's in Enterprise Leadership and Spanish with a certificate in Critical Cultural Competence. Post-grad, I spent two years abroad teaching Enlgish in Spain and volunteering/working for global nonprofits/businesses remotely. Now, I hold a UN internship, doing work on conflict-related sexual violence.
A through-line in my work has been gender advocacy and violence prevention, through volunteering in college at the Women's Center and working at a local nonprofit as a violence prevention coordinator. Now, with this internship, I'm doing really cool work like researching the intersection of violence with other global issues. I really enjoy this part of the work, and find the research inspiring. I just don't know if I will love it FOREVER, and I'm trying to get a master's degree that advances this as my passion now, but has an ROI that could support career pivots, too (probably the story of everyone's life). There is a chance a consultancy with the UN will be available at the end of my 6 month internship, but it's not something I can count on due to budget cuts.
SO. I am feeling like it's potentially time for a master's degree. I have done policy-related work, including authoring a policy paper published to an NGO's site based out of Africa. I love to write, and like working with people. Ideally, I'd like to be making $100,000 by 30, possibly more if I live on the East Coast. I have always wanted to work in an international setting, and truthfully, the UN is fascinating and could be a good fit for me long-term.
I think the policy world could be a good fit for me, hence my consideration of an MPP or an MPA. Truthfully, I think an MPA could fit my interests better, but an MPP has higher earning potential.
I also hear people all the time saying "don't rush into a master's program," but I feel like I can always go and get another one if one of these two is so utterly wrong I need a pivot, or if I just want to go a different direction.
Here's my question: which degree would you suggest for me, or, if you have one of these degrees, what job do you have and what's your day-to-day like, if you're not a policy analyst? How much money are you making? Was the degree worth the money you spent it on? Any and all advice is welcome.
Thank you!