datik

Good news is that the Quant part of the exam is the easiest to improve, so I say go for it.

A lot of people have made really good arguments in this thread so I just wanted to say that I empathize with your situation and I'm really sorry this happened. From your update above, it is clear that this is unfairly upsetting you. I have known cases of sexual harassment by senior professors at Universities here, and it really pisses me off. They were worse than what you described because they didn't just "ask politely". What really peeves me is that in these cases the rest of the staff and even the University is complicit because they don't want to lose important professors or make a scandal that could affect the whole administration. So cases like this end up being normalized. I am glad that you exteriorized this concern because it is likely that you are not the first or the last to be subject to this individual's harassment. Maybe I'm being a little extreme but I also feel that you had a moral obligation to fight this. (But as others have said, the world is not always fair so you need to be smart about how you go about it). The supervisor is super guilty in this regard too.

I don't know what to tell you other than you should be confident and honest. You are doing everything by the books and pursuing a higher education. That is quite commendable. Just tell things straight, tell him about your plans and why you are excited. Also, be available to go out of your way to help out smooth things over for your last 2 weeks. I was on a similar position, having to tell my boss, whom I owed a lot to, that I would be leaving for my Master's. I had the fortune of being able to tell with more time in advance, committing myself to help out for the transition period. She was so excited for me I couldn't believe I was nervous before. She was happy I was going to do my masters, and compunded me to do it no matter what. Maybe the same will happen to you. Try not to be too nervous as it will botch your delivery.

I'm entering the MPP program soon and during these months I've spoken to plenty of people who went to HKS. All of them loved it, many of them had to finance their education entirely. One of the people I've talked to works at government, other works at McKinsey and yet another is a consultant for a small company that advises governments across the world in implementation. All of them swear by the school. They all agree that the impressive roster of speakers throughout the year is incredibly formative. One of my interviewees told me that the leadership and negotiation classes were among the best he ever took (this coming from a MBA background). Another mentioned that the hidden value comes from the classes where you have mates which have, for example, been ministers in South American nations, or human right activists in south-east Asia. The career advancement services is impressive from what I've seen. I would agree that the price and lack of financing options is a huge problem, though. The article is unfair and its arguments mudded, which is unfortunate because this is a discussion worth having.

If you are studying for a specific test such as the GRE, there are many sites that contain the most common "high-difficulty" words in these tests. Its a good habit to try to memorize a couple each day and then review how many you kept at the end of the week. There are flashcards apps that allow you to quickly study. If you want to improve your vocabulary without any specific purpose in mind, the answer is simple and you've probably heard it before: You have to read a lot of good stuff. This can be literature, but it could also be non-fiction. Just make sure they have advanced vocabulary. I read a lot and I love learning new words. That's why I always quickly look the word up in my cellphone when I read one that I don't know. If I was purposedly learning vocab for a test, I would also write down the new words. For those looking for reading material with advanced vocabulary, I always recommend The Economist. It has short, interesting, well researched and well written articles, with plenty of "GRE words".

engagement ring

Ended up accepting my admission to HKS, as I had a national scholarship

And its not impossible to get funding (I got offered like 80% of tuition with some research responsibilities)

You seem to have a great profile, unique story and a clear path. From what you wrote, it seems to make sense that you studied film and social sciences and now the next step for you is studying public policy to get into cultural policy. Make sure you convey that in your resumes, and that your recommendations speak to your committment to this path. Also, maybe it would be wise to use this time to think of institutions you may like to work in? Just doing this exercise and investigating on-line a little may be helpful to you and to your application.

Is it different from the normal application process? Or is it just the same as if I were just applying to the MBA and then pointing out in the essays (I assume there will be essays)? Sorry of this question sounds kind of dumb

Hello all. do any of you have any information regarding concurrent degrees? I have been accepted to HKS MPP program, but I've been seriously thinking of pursuing an MBA at MIT's Sloan. If I am reading the guide correctly, one may apply during his first year, but I am unsure what are the next steps to take. Any experiences in the subject?

I would just break up at that point

What positions are you considering after you graduate? At what institutions? What are the starting salaries there? Are there current graduates from the schools you are considering in similar positions?

To add to the above, I would say that it ultimately comes down to how you tell your story. Spend a lot of time in your essays. I made the mistake of focusing more on studying for the GRE than on writing. Schedule appropriate times for thinking about your answers, writing, and re-writing (hopefully get some feedback). Were there unique moments that helped shape your decision to apply to grad school? Is there a common thread that you followed between your different experiences? How do they help shape your perspective for the future?

Knock it out of the park with your GRE scores and you should be fine. Most schools will be more impressed with your essays/work experience and will only want a reason to be confident that you will not flunk classes. A great GRE score is perfect for that. You have plenty of time, so you can easily shoot for a 320+ score if you are disciplined. I recommend Magoosh as it helped me to do an effective daily routine. If you want GRE tips feel free to message me.

Just to chip in, I will say that it is great that you come here looking for advice. Take my advice as a grain of salt, considering that I haven't started my MPP yet (but I do have several year of work experience and I've spent well over a year researching this). First of all, 1 year may seem like a lot to wait if your situation is shitty right now, but in the long run it will be nothing if it ultimately helps you make a better choice. You do not want to take your graduate studies lightly. I know that Pakistan can be a suffocating place, but I think you can have it in you to just lay low for twelve more months. Regarding GRE, the quant section is actually the easiest to improve, specially if you have several weeks. Just do Magoosh for 30 minutes every day and correct your wrong answers and you will see your score get much higher. (In contrast the verbal section is greatly limited if your english is not up to par or if you weren't an avid reader before-hand). However, also keep in mind that GRE is a very small part of the application, and the one extra year of work (if relevant and you stand out) can do much more difference). Regarding MBAs, money and positions may not seem like a factor now, but in 2 years they will be, trust me on this. If you go to grad school your primary focus should be on what you want to project your career. That doesn't mean that MBA is the only correct answer here, but you should take into consideration what you want to do. For example, most big non-profits value MBAs more than MPPs. But an MPA may be more valuable for public sector work. Never forget the huge financial undertaking that this choice signifies! Personally, if I could start again and money wasn't an issue I would consider a joint MBA/MPP, but that's just me, given my own preferences and outlook. Are you competitive for other schools in one more year? Depends. The GRE is not as relevant as you think, as I said above. You say you are passionate, but can you tell a coherent story through your work experiences and volunteer work? Can you get relevant work experience in an extra year? Best of luck

Any advice regarding living in the Sommervile area (studying at Harvard)? How far away is it? Is the public transport reliable? Is it possible to go by bike? I've heard its a cheaper alternative

Do you guys think that taking 30K debt for going to HKS is worth it? (This with a willingness to work in the private sector)

This is one of the best replies on the subject I've seen. Thank you. I guess what would help here is having a precise idea of your career profile. Then you should have enough credits to get the precise skills you need and getting a few classes with the best theoretical professors in the sub-field of your choice. Don't think it should be either or.

Well, I think that its a fine decision if you consider that you are getting the degree because it will lead you to opportunities that are an end in itself rather than getting rich. And also, that you must be financially thorough for the next decade.

would you mind elaborating on her profile and skill-set?

Well they have Ban Ki-Moon as a fellow this next term so they aren't lying

No funding either. Applying to national scholarship as a last resort

Considering how much time you have, with deliberate practice you could easily score 166+ in the Q section. 158Q for no studying is actually pretty good. But as it has been said many times before, it is much more important to have strong recommendations and framing your SOP as if every part of your path has led to the study of education policy. Cheers,

Awesome, How long will you be staying at Boston? If you would share your thoughts about your trip here it would be greatly appreciated too, from us international students who will not be able to make the trip.