pete-mc

I got this from the CPL website: "Finalists for the Gleitsman Fellowship will be asked to come to Harvard Kennedy School (if local) or call in for a phone interview with members of the Gleitsman Fellowship Selection Committee on March 18, 2013. Finalists will receive an invitation via email by March 15, 2013 which will provide more detailed information. Information regarding the interviews will not be available prior to that time." "Finalists for the Dubin Fellowship will be asked to participate in an in-person interview at Harvard Kennedy School with members of the Dubin Fellowship Selection Committee on March 19, 2013. Finalists will receive an invitation via email by EOD March 15, 2013 which will provide more detailed information. Information regarding the interviews will not be available prior to that time."

I read this on the CPL website: "Finalists for the Zuckerman Fellowship will be required to come to Harvard University for an interview with members of the Zuckerman Fellowship Selection Committee on March 14 and 15, 2013. Finalists will receive an invitation via email the week of March 4, 2013 which will provide more detailed information. Information regarding the interviews will not be available prior to that time. For those living outside of the Boston/Cambridge area, hotel and travel expenses to and from Cambridge will be paid by Harvard." This means that HKS admissions decisions are taken as we speak. Seems that fellowship applicants get notified first. Those who have already heard can you please share.

It could be the tension and nervousness that some forum members here have which leads them to express their feelings in a rather politically not so correct way. Let's remember, it's just a school. It won't get you a job and it won't do the job for you. It may be an accelerator to get the foot in the right door, but that's all, I'm speaking from experience. My impression is also that their is an exaggerated view of HBS in comparison to other Harvard grad schools, such as HKS. Do you really think that all HBS grads become CEOs? The answer is no, the school is mainly driven by an excellent marketing machinery, but they also only cook with water, like us.

Let's also not forget that, according to recent HBS career posts, some 20-25% of grads don't have a job offer at time of graduation, that's about 180-230 students, which equals in class size HKS's entire MPP or MC/MPA cohorts. And those who are company sponsored are committed to return to their previous employer for 2-3 years, otherwise they need to pay back the tuition. I personally know an HBS grad from 2002 who was sponsored by McK and then bought out by an investment bank. But that was more than 10 years ago.

You make following arguments on HBS grads (compared to HKS grads): "who earn much more over the course of their careers" - yes, that's indeed true, but is entering HKS a means to earn a lot of money? HBS, yes, but HKS? "frequently get their pre-MBA employers to foot the bill for their degree" - yes, I heard that as well, but sometime in the early 2000's when MBAs were in high demand? It's not like that any more; last I heard an HBS grad tried to condition BCG to pay his tuition upon graduation to join them; they said no thanks "HKS just doesn't make financial sense" - yes, I agree, but should it? What about college? "epitomizes the worst of the mad grab for prestigious sounding degrees" - I would not generalize here; maybe for some MC/MPAs that's true; but a lot of the MPPs etc. are truly passionate about publi policy from what I've seen Do you mind sharing with us what's your background and current status vis-a-vis PP/IR apps?

Last time I checked (a while ago though), it was around 120-130 applicants and around 50-60 admits.

Am glad I didn't read about this hickup, would have cost me a lot of nerves, hehe. By the way, can any of the current HKS students please confirm whether HKS requests background checks after admission and prior to enrolment?

Was anyone of the HKS applicants interviewed? Can you tell us about your experience?

Great initiative from them to tweet about admissions..Wish HKS and others would jump on the Twitter wagon too..

Just read an interesting Twitter post from Harris admissions: "AppTip#11: Apply to places where you want to live. Your life goes on even when you're in graduate school, you should enjoy it." That's why I ended up not applying there and WWS, etc. Hehe..

I applied to 5 policy schools: HKS, SIPA, Fletcher, Georgetown, and SAIS. All East Coast, sorry, hehe. I was also considering MBA programs, but then did not go through with it (maybe later for Executive MBA). I ended up withdrawing all my apps except for HKS. I realized (I admit a bit late) that as a mid-career the only school I would be prepared to resign and leave my (good and safe) job for is actually HKS. I know it's a risk but at my age and career stage can't afford to make an ambigious choice.

Congrats! Did you get any funding?

Great post from Ethical Realist, finally some feedback from an actual student at the school itself. Will PM you.

Yes me too, am glad it's done. But not to be the spoiler here, we only get considered for them if we get admitted. Just don't wanna end up having done all this work and then not get in.

Soapwater, makes sense. Now I'm feeling bad though since I am a MC/MPA applicant. Hope people still respect me if I get in.

I believe he called the admissions office, but not sure. I trust him.

Did you check with him why he didn't? It would have been helpful to have a backup just for this kind of case.

It seems that the key rationale behind this argumentation is the school's admissions rate.

A friend of mine who also applied to HKS told me.

Listening to Revolution and Adollarninetynine leaves a bit of a bitter taste about HKS. It's too bad that there seems to be some kind of competition among Harvard students themselves. I always thought once in Harvard, you're part of the brotherhood. At least to the outside world, this hierarchy is less known. I would think that you got admissions mistakes in any of the schools, but probably more so at HKS. Does this devalue the degree to the "qualified" ones, will it be held against them on the job market that they went to HKS and not HBS, for instance (inside the US, abroad I assume it matters less)?

What's the difference between being offered admission and being recommended for admission? Is it conditional on passing a background check?

Just out of curiosity, if you had to rank the schools against each other by your described criteria, what would the internal hierarchy look like?

May I ask what you are basing your judgment "HKS students get no respect at all" on? Did you study at Harvard?

Can you describe what you mean with "it can be annoying"?

I'm sure you have a good shot at Sipa.