MAAHF
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Posts posted by MAAHF
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I am an international student from the Middle East
Programs: MPA2
Schools: HKS
Undergraduate institution: Top university in My country
Undergraduate Major: Pharma and Biotech
Undergraduate GPA: 3.83 overall
Post Graduate Major: Public Policy - Concentration: Regulatory Policy
Post Graduate GPA: 3.36 ( full time student , working full time and travelling 15% of my time)
GRE: Verbal: 150; Quant: 154 (AW 5) - wasn't my day :-(
Years Out of Undergrad: 5 years
Years of Work Experience: 6 years
Describe Relevant Work Experience:
1 year Military in its medical services section
5 years at a UN agency in its Regional HQ in the Middle East. Travelling in the region and providing healthcare/pharmaceutical policy Advisory services to Governments
several internships in multinational companies such as Bristol Myers, Novartis and P&G
Have an extensive event organization experience both locally and internationally
received various academic, service and leadership awards locally, regionally and internationally
Won several apprenticeship like competitions (business case like with several multinational corps)
Languages:
English:Academic IELTS 8
French: elementary
German: Conversational
Arabic: Native
Quantitative: at Under and post graduate levels
Calc 1 (A-), Macro economics (A-) Microeconomics ( B+ ) Statistics (
Quanttiative Analysis (A)SOP: Focus on my strengths, working closely with governments on a policy level, UN circles exposure, extensive duty travel history , robust future plans in one of the 6 policy areas and related to political change at my country
LOR: 1 from Thesis supervisor , 1 from ex work supervisor currently leading very important work on IP and patents globally in HQ and one from an internship supervisor who later turned to a work colleague
Questions:
-Do I have a chance with my substandard GRE? I can't take it again due to time factor as HKS are pretty strict with deadlines Or should I save my money , face and work on getting a 160 in quant the least and apply next year? Does HKS look down at re-applicants? Also do you think my MPP would give me an edge considering the pre req courses of MPA2 or it will be a double sided weapon since several core courses are common between the two degrees? My MPP was regulatory focused and less quant.
I am starting to feel heebies jeebies as the deadline is approaching!
I appreciate your advice!
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To MAAHF MPA2 Hopeful:
I think the primary challenge with your application (as you already know) is your GRE scores. With outstanding essays and stellar recommendations, you have a chance at getting into the HKS MPA2. Some strengths of your application is that you did well in college and your postgraduate work and it sounds like your CV will be chock full of great public service-centered content.
Despite these strengths, you would have a much better chance if you would wait until next year, knock the GRE out of the park (or get at least a score in the high 150's on each part), and make sure your essays are airtight.
I typically advise my clients to wait to submit a top-notch application rather than rush and submit a so-so one. I do think that the hurdle is higher for admissions to HKS and other top policy schools as an applicant.
If you are absolutely sure you are applying this year, make sure your essays provide lots of specific detail on your plans for the future and how HKS fits into those plans (classes, research centers, student organizations, etc.).
Best of luck and I hope you can shake the heebie jeebies!
Kaneisha
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Kaneisha
Thanks for your thoughtful reply..specially the tips on essays
Do you have any takes on re-applicants to HKS? I am thinking if my GRE scores are the big hole in my application... I would give it a shot this year anyway....if turned down I would study ..retake GRE and apply next year as a re applicant. Question is do you think adcom look down at re applicants? Or have a qouta for them from total applicant's population? is there a wait list for HKS like in MBA programmes? Would you kindly also give your views on the diversity element I asked MPPgal about?much appreciated
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To MAAHF MPA2 Hopeful:
I think the primary challenge with your application (as you already know) is your GRE scores. With outstanding essays and stellar recommendations, you have a chance at getting into the HKS MPA2. Some strengths of your application is that you did well in college and your postgraduate work and it sounds like your CV will be chock full of great public service-centered content.
Despite these strengths, you would have a much better chance if you would wait until next year, knock the GRE out of the park (or get at least a score in the high 150's on each part), and make sure your essays are airtight.
I typically advise my clients to wait to submit a top-notch application rather than rush and submit a so-so one. I do think that the hurdle is higher for admissions to HKS and other top policy schools as an applicant.
If you are absolutely sure you are applying this year, make sure your essays provide lots of specific detail on your plans for the future and how HKS fits into those plans (classes, research centers, student organizations, etc.).
Best of luck and I hope you can shake the heebie jeebies!
Kaneisha
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Mppgal thx for the useful response...number of years of work experience is smth I thought I may be within 2 standard deviations from the mean since the avg MPA2 class profile was 30 yrs with 5 yrs exp as reported on the HKS website. I already have a thesis based MPP so I will not be applying for another one. Can I ask a question....how much weight do you think the adcom put on class diversity? I know sm1 who got into MPA/ID which in my views is even more competetive in terms of pre reqs and work experience and built his case around his unconventional professional background ...coming from and commitment to work in a geographically hot spot.
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You have a chance, yes, are you ideal, no. Honestly for 99% of the population Harvard´s MPA 2 is a chance, lets put it like this the people I know who got in this year included the speaker of the President of my country, so my question is, you are only willing to stop what you are doing for harvard or do you want an MPP, if the first then go ahead, but 5 years is a bare minimum of experience you are competing against people with 10 or more years so chances are pretty dim, if you want an MPP then diversify, I would say you are an ideal candidate for Columbia, Chicago, GT, etc
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I am an international student from the Middle East
Programs: MPA2
Schools: HKSUndergraduate institution: Top university in My country
Undergraduate Major: Pharma and Biotech
Undergraduate GPA: 3.83 overall
Post Graduate Major: Public Policy - Concentration: Regulatory Policy
Post Graduate GPA: 3.36 ( full time student , working full time and travelling 15% of my time)
GRE: Verbal: 150; Quant: 154 (AW 5) - wasn't my day :-(
Years Out of Undergrad: 5 years
Years of Work Experience: 6 years
Describe Relevant Work Experience:
1 year Military in its medical services section
5 years at a UN agency in its Regional HQ in the Middle East. Travelling in the region and providing healthcare/pharmaceutical policy Advisory services to Governments
several internships in multinational companies such as Bristol Myers, Novartis and P&G
Have an extensive event organization experience both locally and internationally
received various academic, service and leadership awards locally, regionally and internationallyWon several apprenticeship like competitions (business case like with several multinational corps)
Languages:
English:Academic IELTS 8
French: elementary
German: Conversational
Arabic: Native
Quantitative: at Under and post graduate levelsCalc 1 (A-), Macro economics (A-) Microeconomics ( B+ ) Statistics (
Quanttiative Analysis (A)
SOP: Focus on my strengths, working closely with governments on a policy level, UN circles exposure, extensive duty travel history , robust future plans in one of the 6 policy areas and related to political change at my countryLOR: 1 from Thesis supervisor , 1 from ex work supervisor currently leading very important work on IP and patents globally in HQ and one from an internship supervisor who later turned to a work colleague
Questions:
-Do I have a chance with my substandard GRE? I can't take it again due to time factor as HKS are pretty strict with deadlines Or should I save my money , face and work on getting a 160 in quant the least and apply next year? Does HKS look down at re-applicants? Also do you think my MPP would give me an edge considering the pre req courses of MPA2 or it will be a double sided weapon since several core courses are common between the two degrees? My MPP was regulatory focused and less quant.
I am starting to feel heebies jeebies as the deadline is approaching!
I appreciate your advice!
-
It has a strong decision sciences and data analytics
component
idnt know why it is not ranked
their MBA MPH is one good combination
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Hi I am an International student. I am applying to MPA2. My GRE is not bad but definitely not within the competetive range Q154 V 150 AWA 5. I took it last week so no time to improve as HKS are pretty strict with DL. I was wondering if I should apply building on an excellent under grad GPA, a v good PG GPA and diversity element with a relatively unconventional MPA2 applicant's professional profile (below)? Or should I save my money and face and work on getting a 160 in quant the least and apply next year? Does HKS look down at re applicants? Also do you think my MPP would give me an edge considering the pre req of MPA2 or it will be a double sided weapon since several core courses are common between the two degrees? My MPP waa regulatory focused and less quant.I appreciate your advice!
Education:
* GPA 3.83 a 5 years Bsc in pharma biotech top school at my country
*GPA 3.36 Masters in Public Policy from a regionally well known program. THESIS on a healthcare Regulatory policy topic.
Work experience
6 years at a UN agency in its Regional HQ in the Middle East. Travelling in the region and providing healthcare policy Advisory services to Governments
Pro bono consulting with an Int'l NGO
several internships in multinational companies such as Bristol Myers, Novartis and PnG
Have an extensive event organization expwrience both locally and internationally
received various awards and won several apprenticeship alike competetion s
attended more than 100 hours in class room tr
The 'Am I competitive' thread - READ ME BEFORE POSTING
in Government Affairs Forum
Posted · Edited by MAAHF
NPR Junkie ...I am really interested in your views on my thread above. Much appreciated in advance