Working at CHAI
May 7, 2012 8:50 PM Subscribe
Asking for a friend: Looking for first/second hand experience of people working at the Clinton Foundation/Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and whether it improved their chances of getting into grad school?
1. What was their experience being employed by Clinton Foundation or CHAI -- atmosphere, people, things they were exposed to, etc?
2. How is working at CHAI viewed when applying to grad school in International Relations/Econ Policy/Public Admin/Public Health? Considering other qualifications are average, could working at CHAI be the ticket into one of the top graduate programs?
Looking for a first hand or second hand experience with it.
Thank you!
1. What was their experience being employed by Clinton Foundation or CHAI -- atmosphere, people, things they were exposed to, etc?
2. How is working at CHAI viewed when applying to grad school in International Relations/Econ Policy/Public Admin/Public Health? Considering other qualifications are average, could working at CHAI be the ticket into one of the top graduate programs?
Looking for a first hand or second hand experience with it.
Thank you!
It depends on what type of position your friend holds, as well. If someone is in a leadership position within the Clinton Foundation, heads some major policy initiatives, etc. they have a much greater chance of getting into a prestigious graduate program. And the networking never hurts. I've also heard nothing but great things about working for the Clinton Foundation.
At the same time, I'd echo what Etrigan said - I would hesitate to take any position solely on the hopes that it would get you into a good graduate school.
posted by theuninvitedguest at 7:27 AM on May 8, 2012
At the same time, I'd echo what Etrigan said - I would hesitate to take any position solely on the hopes that it would get you into a good graduate school.
posted by theuninvitedguest at 7:27 AM on May 8, 2012
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1 -- Overwhelmingly positive things heard about the experience. A slight tinge of true-believer-itis seems to be in place, but not so much so that it's off-putting; roughly equivalent to the Peace Corps.
2 -- It is seen by Clinton alumni themselves as a big bonus (on par with Peace Corps or Teach For America), but I didn't see any measurable difference between the Clinton alumni and their peers.
Don't do it (or really anything else) if your sole purpose in doing it is to get into a good graduate school. The point of your going to a good grad school in one of those areas is to make yourself better at making the world a better place, right? The Clinton Foundation would be a good way to actually make the world a better place in and of itself. Treat it like that, not like a stepping stone.
posted by Etrigan at 5:13 AM on May 8, 2012