realist2020 Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 For all those applying to Harvard Kennedy School's Masters of Public Policy(MPP) program. Let us get our conversations going! Fruit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruit Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I'm making a final decision between MPA-ID and MPP soon (leaning MPP, as I always have) but the quantitative resume is really freaking me out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
columbia09 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Any idea when the application will go online ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2711383 Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 On 9/17/2020 at 8:50 AM, columbia09 said: Any idea when the application will go online ? Ok this is getting ridiculous. I can't believe they still haven't posted the application... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van_96 Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I was just in an HKS virtual information session and they said it would be up in early to mid October, so hopefully they push the deadline back as well. Fruit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2711383 Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 3 hours ago, van_96 said: I was just in an HKS virtual information session and they said it would be up in early to mid October, so hopefully they push the deadline back as well. Thanks! Where'd you hear about this virtual session? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van_96 Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 23 minutes ago, 2711383 said: Thanks! Where'd you hear about this virtual session? They have a schedule here: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/admissions-aid/masters-program-admissions/admissions-events/virtual-sessions They do several versions of every type so hopefully one will fit your schedule! 2711383 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
columbia09 Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 3 hours ago, van_96 said: I was just in an HKS virtual information session and they said it would be up in early to mid October, so hopefully they push the deadline back as well. Why? What can they possibly be doing to push it back that long GradSchoolGrad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradSchoolGrad Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 50 minutes ago, columbia09 said: Why? What can they possibly be doing to push it back that long Chill out. I seen life from the other end (University staff). It is pretty rough because you have students, faculty, administrative, other staff, and of late - parents wanting something from you at once. So things they could be working on. 1. Figuring out what to do with the deferrals 2. Triangulating projections of intake and aligning standards accordingly 3. Figuring out the budget available for scholarships (possibly even negotiating with the University on your behalf to minimize the budget squeeze) 4. Their other jobs (a lot of times admissions staff are dual hatted with 2ndary responsibilities). Given the unique situation of this year, some of those 2ndary responsibilities might mean a lot more. 5. Doing stuff the University wants them to do, completely out of control of the college. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boolakanaka Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 17 hours ago, GradSchoolGrad said: Chill out. I seen life from the other end (University staff). It is pretty rough because you have students, faculty, administrative, other staff, and of late - parents wanting something from you at once. So things they could be working on. 1. Figuring out what to do with the deferrals 2. Triangulating projections of intake and aligning standards accordingly 3. Figuring out the budget available for scholarships (possibly even negotiating with the University on your behalf to minimize the budget squeeze) 4. Their other jobs (a lot of times admissions staff are dual hatted with 2ndary responsibilities). Given the unique situation of this year, some of those 2ndary responsibilities might mean a lot more. 5. Doing stuff the University wants them to do, completely out of control of the college. As GSG has aptly placed it, and much more diplomatically than myself, but chill. This going forward is a brand new world, where thought and reliance on how the process previously occurred will at best be fraught with peril, and at worse an entirely inaccurate reflection on how things will now be or how you wish them to be.... GradSchoolGrad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
columbia09 Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Boolakanaka said: As GSG has aptly placed it, and much more diplomatically than myself, but chill. This going forward is a brand new world, where thought and reliance on how the process previously occurred will at best be fraught with peril, and at worse an entirely inaccurate reflection on how things will now be or how you wish them to be.... You sound like the head of Harvard Kennedy admissions with that philosophical bit GradSchoolGrad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boolakanaka Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 12 minutes ago, columbia09 said: You sound like the head of Harvard Kennedy admissions with that philosophical bit Oh lord no. I’m double blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshyboy Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 There's a HKS blogpost from September 28th which mentioned "The master’s programs admission application will be available in early October and the admission application deadline will be in early December." https://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/630500794799702016/2021-application-cycle-fellowshipscholarship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshyboy Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 (edited) They haven't released the app yet, but they just posted the questions to their blog. Big thing to note is answers can't be more than 500 words. In previous years the limit has been 600 words. https://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/631172997073567744/2021-application-long-term-planning-series-post Edited October 6, 2020 by joshyboy GradSchoolGrad and van_96 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
columbia09 Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 5 hours ago, joshyboy said: They haven't released the app yet, but they just posted the questions to their blog. Big thing to note is answers can't be more than 500 words. In previous years the limit has been 600 words. https://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/631172997073567744/2021-application-long-term-planning-series-post Still no word on any other changes to the applications GradSchoolGrad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2711383 Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 9 hours ago, joshyboy said: They haven't released the app yet, but they just posted the questions to their blog. Big thing to note is answers can't be more than 500 words. In previous years the limit has been 600 words. https://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/631172997073567744/2021-application-long-term-planning-series-post Is the personal history/diversity essay new? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshyboy Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 3 minutes ago, 2711383 said: Is the personal history/diversity essay new? From what I can tell, that prompt was there last year as well, but they have slightly altered Prompt 2 from previous years. 2711383 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshyboy Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 GRE is optional for HKS MPP this year (make sure to include why you didn't take it in the Optional Statement) https://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/631261704288911360/2021-application-long-term-planning-series-post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmappers Posted October 9, 2020 Share Posted October 9, 2020 Anyone find any reliable information on the average GRE/GPA for Harvard MPP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshyboy Posted October 9, 2020 Share Posted October 9, 2020 I know that they ask for 75th percentile for the MPA-ID program which is far more quant heavy than the MPP, so I think aiming for that would be your best bet. Other than that, haven't seen hard stats floating around on the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van_96 Posted October 9, 2020 Share Posted October 9, 2020 In case anyone hasn't seen, the application is now available and the deadline is December 8th: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/admissions-aid/masters-program-admissions/how-apply Fruit and joshyboy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nerwen Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 Hi everyone A prospective international applicant here. Unsure about applying to HKS because of an engineering background and 0 professional or academic background in PP or IR. Would be really helpful if I could get some insights on the kind of profiles sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradSchoolGrad Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 25 minutes ago, aatrip said: Hi everyone A prospective international applicant here. Unsure about applying to HKS because of an engineering background and 0 professional or academic background in PP or IR. Would be really helpful if I could get some insights on the kind of profiles sent. That actually improves your chances because it makes you more unique. It doesn't matter if your background relates to policy or IR. You just have to show academic ability, genuine intrerest, and ability to make an impact in an organization you are in. nerwen and joshyboy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapingBrexit Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Describe a time when you did not meet expectations and elaborate on how the experience changed you. (250 Word limit) Not my favorite question. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapingBrexit Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 On 10/13/2020 at 11:09 AM, aatrip said: Hi everyone A prospective international applicant here. Unsure about applying to HKS because of an engineering background and 0 professional or academic background in PP or IR. Would be really helpful if I could get some insights on the kind of profiles sent. I was on a HKS Webinar yesterday and they explicitly cited how they like different backgrounds, and how they have a Nuclear Engineer in their current cohort. GradSchoolGrad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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