HKS financial aid application form

[florating2012]

In terms of HKS MPP, is it ture " more self-funding secured, more chance to get the admission" ? I mean, the relevance of self-funding to the MPP admission. Or admission and financial aid are totally separate?

I am filling in the HKS financial aid application form, just wondering in the savings section " the more the better (to be considered for the admission) " or " the more the less (chance to get financial aid) "?

any thoughts?

[MYRNIST]

It isn't a strict yes and no answer.

In order to keep their finances sustainable, universities need a certain percentage of students to pay their own way. That percentage depends on a lot of factors like class size, university endowment, whether it's a public or private school, etc. This doesn't mean the student literally has to have $100k sitting in the bank; they just need to have funding secured that doesn't come from the school's pocket. It could be their company is sponsoring them, a government, some fellowship, an essay contest, whatever.

So from an admissions standpoint, a well-qualified candidate who also doesn't need the university to bankroll their education is highly desirable.

But the degree to which this actually helps your admissions chances depends on the school. Since MPP/MPA is a public service-oriented degree, without the very high earning potential of other professional degrees, most schools at least pay some lip service to the importance of financial aid. The vast majority of us don't work super lucrative jobs to begin with, and will enter socially impactful but relatively low-paying careers after graduation; self-funding or huge student loans are impossible or extremely inadvisable for most candidates. Most schools usually toss out some financial aid so they don't end up being nothing but a factory for rich kids and future investment bankers and completely lose the credibility of their "public service" schtick, but that amount is governed by the % of self-funding students they need (mentioned above), and their institutional commitment to public service.

For example, WWS has both a humongous endowment and a really strong commitment to public service (their alums actually started bitching when too high a percentage of graduates were going on to lucrative private sector jobs, rather than government service). They can easily afford to fund their entire class. Not that they actually do, but they could. Since they are not under financial pressure to get self-funding students, and actually want future public leaders, being able to pay your own way is not really an advantage in gaining admissions. If they like someone with zero self-funding more than you, they'll just pick them and foot the bill.

HKS has a separate endowment from the rest of Harvard and it is actually pretty small (relatively speaking), so they do need quite a few self-funded students.Their own website says most students should expect to be self-funded, which is no joke considering that's about a $100k commitment. I also would argue this implies they don't have a particularly strong commitment to actual public service. The Harvard brand means they'll get plenty of company or government sponsored superstars, and lots of ludicrously wealthy applicants from around the globe (son of Saudi prince? welcome aboard!), perhaps they don't feel the need to be very generous in attracting candidates who would need financial help. Again, I would refer you to the official HKS website, which pretty much spells it out: they don't give much financial aid. Hence, being able to pay your own way would definitely help your admissions chances at HKS, IMO.

For what it's worth, I decided not to apply for HKS because I am not (a) independently wealthy ( sponsored by a huge NGO or foreign government © from a developing country with an inspiring life story. Seemed like even if I got in (and that's a low chance), I certainly wouldn't get financial aid. Maybe I'm wrong, but guess I'll never know.

Edited February 6, 2012 by MYRNIST

[MYRNIST]

Disclaimer: the above is by no means a complete explanation of the financial logic of admissions, there are a lot of factors I left out for brevity's sake.

[avocado9]

On the SPARKS page under Apply for Financial Assistance, it says that "In order to maintain a need-blind admission process, the financial assistance application is separate from admission consideration." However, this doesn't mean that low-income applicants that in get financial aid (like at WWS) - they get weeded out from enrolling b/c of costs, which leaves a higher # of self-funded students to enroll instead.

[florating2012]

MYRNIST and avocado9: ) Many thanks for the insightful policy analysis with HKS &WWS examples!

[lilijane]

I heard those rumors last year too during my LL.M applications that it is harder to get in if you are also applying to financial aid..I was admitted by most of the schools which I also filled financial aid form. Harvard wasn't one of those schools but they were top schools. I really do not think they would reject a strong candidate just because he/she applies to financial aid...

[lilijane]

No, definitely it is not pathetic or anything negative. I totally understand you. Application process changes the mood of people (at least it changes mine:) or at least make a muscle in your finger u use for refresh button..I am a lawyer and I do not have enough information to compare and calculate all those statistics but there is no way we can accurately figure out what is going on during admission processes..I know many people who are relatively more successful than the ones who manage to get in top schools but they have been rejected..every year you can hear such stories of people around you..but there is one thing for sure that the applicants who are granted financial aid are the ones who have solid record of academic accomplishments as well as other success stories or the ones who have made significant contribution to the public service in their home countries or abroad. This is what I have experienced at least. Apply to HKS and wait for the results, you have a chance there but if you do not have a solid record of accomplishment I do not think you have a chance for financial aid. Good luck with the results

[florating2012]

Lilijane:) thanks for your sharing! after completing the financial aid application, definitely need refresh button, haha^.^

Hi All, how much do you fill in the section of 'secured financial resources' in the HKS financial aid application form finally? do we need to meet 2 years financial requirement or just one year?