UChicago Harris 2022

[tobegradstudent]

Hello, I'd stared this forum for anyone applying to Uchicago Harris for Fall 2022. 

Edited September 7, 2021 by tobegradstudent

[PolicyApplier]

Yup! I applied to the MSCAPP and MA in Public Policy with Research Methods programs. I'm hopin' my early application will make the results a little more palatable than last year.

[Phoenix2021]

Hey everyone, I'm a first-year MPP student at Harris - more than glad to answer questions about my application experience/impressions of the program so far!

Classes begin on the 27th... but the student body's already been attending the three-week Math and Coding Camp (meant to prepare students for the quant-heavy curriculum) since August 30th. I've been taking in-person classes five days a week this entire month and participating in many other events so I already feel fairly immersed in the program. As of now, I have nothing but positive things to say about Harris. Of course I'll have far more detailed responses to share over the course of the next few weeks after the quarter officially starts next week.

So feel free to shoot me any questions! I'll do my best to respond in a timely manner. I know it's a stressful process. I've been there - would love helping others who were in my spot last year. (Edit: For the sake of discretion, if you have more personal questions please message me so we can connect directly. In the meanwhile, wishing you all the best of luck!)

Edited September 19, 2021 by Phoenix2021

[ThoughtsOnTap]

Who applied to the Early Action round // any idea if decisions will come back before December?

[anxiousaf]

On 10/11/2021 at 10:00 PM, ThoughtsOnTap said:

Who applied to the Early Action round // any idea if decisions will come back before December?

Hi! I have applied early action but I am very nervous 

 

[ThoughtsOnTap]

How come? 

[anxiousaf]

Just that I dont have a necessarily strong quant background but I have good work ex (2 years worth of internships) since I graduated in June this year and have worked after that as well. As for results, I think the site mentions "mid december" so I guess the second-third week of December should be our window. what about you?

[GudduRangeela]

On 10/11/2021 at 10:00 PM, ThoughtsOnTap said:

Who applied to the Early Action round // any idea if decisions will come back before December?

Hey! I applied to the Early Action too. I am optimistic that they'll release the decisions by Nov end. Saw a Harris's blog post from last year where they released the decision within a month after the Early Action deadline passed. https://harris.uchicago.edu/admissions/blog/early-action-decision-release

Don't wanna give any false hope though. Good luck, I am pretty nervous myself. ;_;

[PolicyApplier]

9 hours ago, GudduRangeela said:

Hey! I applied to the Early Action too. I am optimistic that they'll release the decisions by Nov end. Saw a Harris's blog post from last year where they released the decision within a month after the Early Action deadline passed. https://harris.uchicago.edu/admissions/blog/early-action-decision-release

Don't wanna give any false hope though. Good luck, I am pretty nervous myself. ;_;

It’s great news, but I definitely wasn’t expecting anything before mid-December. Best of luck, y’all!

[tobegradstudent]

Did anyone who applied EA receive an email last night? It's a thank you note from the admission team. Is it a signal that the decision will be released soon or thank you for applying?

[CCZZ]

10 hours ago, tobegradstudent said:

Did anyone who applied EA receive an email last night? It's a thank you note from the admission team. Is it a signal that the decision will be released soon or thank you for applying?

I received the email as well. Very weird indeed. It didn't feel like decisions were ready to be released. Anyway, mid dec is almost here.

[PolicyApplier]

It seems like it's very much just a thank you for applying with no real verdict sentiment attached to it.

[PolicyApplier]

21 hours ago, Silva said:

I received a thank you email but it was not from the admissions team’s email, it’s was from the senior Dean. I thought it was generic, but it had my name mentioned twice throughout and was sent from his direct email. Also , did they make reference to the whole review team being touched by your a “ challenging time” essay?

i think we all got the same email? Thanks giving day ?

As far as I can tell, they just used a generic email template and sent it on behalf of the Senior Dean. It's basically "{FirstName}, our team has been so impressed while reading Early Action applications. All of our readers have been struck by the resilience, strength, and dedication you have demonstrated in a challenging time, and even more impressed that you are countering these challenges by pursuing public policy."

It seems Happy Thanksgiving was the point of it.

[PolicyApplier]

13 minutes ago, Silva said:

Thanks for confirming. It’s quite trashy of them, not impressed. But hope to find out about the outcome as soon as possible. 
 

 

I would definitely agree. Short of confirmation or rejection, official emails are more painful for my hopes than anything else. I get the general sentiment, but surely they know most people that applied are reading these emails with just one thing in mind.

[anxiousaf]

Hi guys, by "mid-december" do they mean 15 December on the dot or are they giving a general time? I am sorry for this weird question its just that I have like two more decisions coming at the same time and I am so nervous now that December is starting

[Garfield301]

So by delaying sending out decisions UofC gets to see both the pool of EA and Round 1 before letting anyone know they've been accepted. They're playing a good hand of poker...

[PolicyApplier]

1 hour ago, Garfield301 said:

So by delaying sending out decisions UofC gets to see both the pool of EA and Round 1 before letting anyone know they've been accepted. They're playing a good hand of poker...

Did they say they were delaying sending out decisions? As far as I can see on the site, the deadlines are the same. I imagine they got enough applicants in the EA round that they don't have time to look into the Round 1 applicants before sending out offers.

[Garfield301]

Delayed versus previous years.

[Phoenix2021]

On 10/20/2021 at 10:24 AM, anxiousaf said:

Just that I dont have a necessarily strong quant background but I have good work ex (2 years worth of internships) since I graduated in June this year and have worked after that as well. As for results, I think the site mentions "mid december" so I guess the second-third week of December should be our window. what about you?

Don't fret, many are accepted without a substantial quant background. Many in my cohort have no formal coding skills or job experience. That's why emphasizing how you want to join Harris to gain quant skills to pivot to a new field or strengthen your career potential is crucial for your motivation statement. Just look at recent student profiles.

For those who attend, the Core will be challenging regardless of background. Everyone takes the same 3 classes: Analytical Politics, Micro, and Stats. Finals are next week so it's been tough. Can't recommend attending Math and Coding Camp enough if you've never used R. If you don't attend camp and have no experience with R, the learning curve will be steep. The vast majority do and there are remote options for international students. On that note, Python/Stata aren't part of the Core at all. It's been 100% R-focused so far and I'd say easily the majority of students are pretty new to it. NOT discouraging anyone from attending Harris. Once you get past the Core you can choose electives that require few to no quant skills. Loving it here so far, seems like the sky's the limit and the quality/diversity of the student body is mind-boggling. Already heard of almost 20 first-years working with/interviewing for the World Bank, just for one example.

P.S. We never got a Thanksgiving email. Received my decision on December 13th iirc. Based on these posts my strong suspicion is decisions will be delayed as well so don't panic if it takes longer for you all to hear back. Best of luck everyone.

[anxiousaf]

They extended it till 5:00 PM. Could be that their servers were down or something 

[anxiousaf]

20 hours ago, Silva said:

hopefully we hear from them this week!

I hope so too although I would bet that we will hear back only after 10th i.e. next week

[PolicyApplier]

I got the call today and I got into the MSCAPP program with 15k funding! Excuse me while I pass out from the adrenaline rush.

[Spoonforkknife]

Has your acceptance been reflected in your application portal already? or just a phone call? congrats!

[PolicyApplier]

They left a voicemail saying they wanted to talk about an “update to the status of my application.” They then told me after I called them back.

I believe they said the status on the portal will be updated next week, I presume on the 15th, and that’s when my official email will come in as well. Best of luck, y’all! 

Edited December 10, 2021 by PedroTheNoun

[Spoonforkknife]

I totally missed this, but they also left me a voicemail about my MPP application on friday near end of COB to talk about my application. I assume they don't call to reject you right? I'm so stoked.