mpp_app2021

Thanks for the reply. For Blavatnik, they require a minimum GPA of 3.1 for Canadian students so I qualify but barely. https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/international-applicants/international-qualifications?source=coursepage My main question is if I don't apply this year and wait to have another year of experience and hopefully a management position in government, do you see this a a major improvement on my overall application? Or is my low GPA always going to be a dealbreaker for HKS? Do you think a high score in the GRE is the only way for me to overcome the weaknesses in my application? Thanks!

@GradSchoolGrad Hi! You were so helpful last time and I was wondering if you had any advice this time around. I was rejected from HKS last year (only school I applied to) and what changed since then is that I have one more year of experience working for a Cabinet Minister and was also director of communications for a candidate in the Canadian federal election. I was wondering if you thought this year was going to be as tough as last year and if re-applying this year makes sense in my case. I am also thinking of applying to Blavatnik for their MPP. Thanks!

Do any of you have some ideas of online courses that could help improve the quantitative skills aspect of my application. I was rejected this year and I plan on reapplying at some point in the future and I am wondering which courses/programs HKS might see as 'serious' enough to improve my application.

Rejected. Very disappointed but congrats to everyone who got in. Hope you have the best time at HKS.

I feel you. Completely useless at work right now. I finally understand last year's thread haha!

I only get that when I click on Dan Rossi, none of the others.

This whole thing is making me pay attention to details like never before. ?

The appointment option disappeared from my MYFAID portal. Anyone else?

I can confirm the change happened this morning - I took a screenshot of the MYFAID page last night to know when it was going to change ? and the advisors weren't there. My anxiety right now ??

Are you talking about HKS MPP specifically or in general?

Yep - Depending on where you are from, your interests, etc. or just the quality of your overall application you can be offered financial aid from different sources that you didn't have to apply for (as long as you filled out the financial aid application). For example, I'm Canadian and there is funding given by the Committee on General Scholarships specifically for Canadian students that I would be eligible for but I can't apply for it - you need to be recommended by the admission/financial aid committee. Don't know if you saw this website, but I found it very useful! https://scholarships.harvard.edu/international-students

I am curious - what was the invitation exactly?

I wouldn't worry. They have mentioned many times that it is separate. I don't know how the admission process and the financial aid process interact in the end - but I am fairly certain that you won't be at a disadvantage because you didn't apply for fellowships.

Thanks for the input and congrats on Harris! Fingers crossed for HKS

I have a question for people who have applied to other MPP programs. I only applied to HKS because I never really considered going back to school (I already have another Master’s degree), but when I started looking into HKS it seemed like a perfect fit. And now … I feel like an MPP is the right next step for me. Hopefully, I get in, but with this year’s crazy competitive admission process you never know. So I'd love to know what other schools people whose first or second choice is the HKS MPP are considering or feel have some similarities with what HKS has to offer?

During one of the Q&A sessions, they said a few times that the two processes (admission and financial aid) are completely separate.

Thanks for your response! What do you mean by round 2? I applied by the December deadline. I get your point on the GRE. I am hoping that other aspects of my application compensate in some way. My graduate director mentioned in her LOR that I was in the top 2% of a cohort of 200 students and really vouched for my ability to perform well in that program, so hopefully that helps.

Considering applying to: Applied to the MPP at HKS Undergrad Institution: Top university in Canada - graduated in 2018 Undergrad Major: Political Science with a Minor in International Development Studies Undergrad GPA: 3.15/4.0 Graduate Institution: American University abroad and I also completed a certificate in Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford (received an A) - graduated in 2019 Graduate Program: Diplomacy and International Law Graduate GPA: 3.85/4.0 Didn’t submit GRE scores - I provided an explanation in the optional statement Quant Background: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Quantitative Methods, International Economic Relations, Intro to Quantitative Political Science Programming Background: Undergrad course requiring the learning of R Relevant Work Experience: Two internships in Government - one in the Prime Minister’s office and one in a Cabinet minister’s office Currently the press secretary of a high profile cabinet minister, previously legislative advisor in that office I worked on the 2019 Federal Election in issues management Extracurricular: I was a sports coach for young girls and got involved in many clubs during undergrad (led an academic delegation to a multi-university events, Vice-President of a major club on campus, reporter for both the French and English newspaper and participated in youth parliaments). Languages: French and English, intermediate Spanish International experience: Semester abroad in Sweden during my undergrad, journalism internship in Paris, language program in Spain, graduate program in France and the UK, study trip to the Middle East, Graduate practicum in the Hague Strength of LOR: Very strong letters from my graduate program director, one from the Chief of Staff of a Minister and a letter from a Cabinet Minister. Essays: My essays are very much focused on HKS and commitment to public service. My essays show that while I already have a Masters, the MPP would be useful because my goal is to focus on social justice and issues in Canada and not elsewhere (my other Masters is very internationally focuses). I put the emphasis on Indigenous issues, women’s rights and minority rights. I also highlighted my experience as a linguistic minority in Canada. Through HKS' Political and Economic Development concentration, I want to gain valuable knowledge about the policies that are most likely to cultivate progress toward inclusive development and to examine the approaches taken by different states to alleviate structural inequalities. My main concern is my low undergrad GPA - but I am wondering if my grad school GPA would compensate.