Jump to content

Harvard Kennedy School Admissions

pete-mc

By pete-mc
in Government Affairs Forum

 Share

Recommended Posts

Ourtwocents1 Decaf

Ourtwocents1

Posted
Posted (edited)

I got in! On cloud 9 right now.

 

I guess financial aid decisions to be released in a couple of weeks?

Edited by Ourtwocents1
  • Replies 425
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

Ethical Realist
Ethical Realist

Public Policy Expert, I hope you were being sarcastic. I'm a second-year MPP at HKS and I can't agree more with the idea that comparing HKS to HLS and HBS is ridiculous. HKS is great at what it does,

ridofme
ridofme

Revolution - your posts are getting tiresome. You are on a subforum entited "government affairs", and seem shocked/outraged/dismayed that a degree in public policy is not going to set you up to make a

soaps
soaps

This thread is more toxic every time I visit it. No one here wants to absorb all this vitriol and internet ego bruising on top of the anxiety of the waiting process. In this thread and others, some of

AUSAJAG Decaf

AUSAJAG

Posted
Posted

Yeah I didn't see anything about financial aid in the email or when i logged onto sparks.

Revolution Mocha

Revolution

Posted
Posted

Yeah I didn't see anything about financial aid in the email or when i logged onto sparks.

 

Financial aid will be released in a few weeks, but HKS rarely gives funding.

 

Any of you guys joint MBA applicants?

AUSAJAG Decaf

AUSAJAG

Posted
Posted

Financial aid will be released in a few weeks, but HKS rarely gives funding.

 

Any of you guys joint MBA applicants?

 

I was a PPIA fellow and they give a limited number of full funding awards to PPIA people.

Worthashot Decaf

Worthashot

Posted
Posted

Out.  8 years military officer with good MA and BA GPAs hoping to start a non-profit to improve social equality (which I can still do).  Oh well, not really the best place for my family.

 

Any Conservatives get admitted?

Kadisha Latte

Kadisha

Posted
Posted (edited)

Out.  8 years military officer with good MA and BA GPAs hoping to start a non-profit to improve social equality (which I can still do).  Oh well, not really the best place for my family.

 

Any Conservatives get admitted?

 

Not this one.

 

Even though I got accepted in ESIA, SAIS, SFS, and SIPA. I wonder what they didn't like about my application. 

Edited by Kadisha
intlrlns Espresso Shot

intlrlns

Posted
Posted

Did anyone get into HKS (MPP) and SIPA (MIA) but with no or little funding from both?

 

I did but would take HKS MPP over SIPA MIA any day. Even though I like the MIA curriculum a little better the lack of resources at SIPA is just not worth it...

  • 2 weeks later...
David_King Decaf

David_King

Posted
Posted

Hi everyone.  Sorry to have found this site just now -- after we've finished up the admissions season.  (Though, as many of you know, the financial aid folks are still working on packages.)

 

I'm happy to answer questions if you have any.  There were several interesting threads here that I've been sorting through.  And a few reactions:

 

- I can't speak to the MPP, MPA/ID, or PhD committees -- but on the one's I chair (MPA, MC/MPA (including Mason Fellows, Wexner Fellows, and so forth) -- we *do* take a lot of time reading files.  We're "slower" than HLS or HBS because we do not rely very heavily on GRE/LSAT/MCAT scores. This is especially the case for our applicants who have been out of school for more than five years.  At that point, test scores are simply part of a larger portfolio. Essays, "fit to the program," transcripts, and letters -- these all matter a lot.  Every file is screened multiple times.  Each applicant can be assured that every word is read by at least two readers.  

 

- As for the "quality" of students at Harvard's professional schools, each school looks for wildly different attributes.  We have no hesitation rejecting folks who'll ultimately get into HBS, even those with sky-high test scores.  Our successful applicants need to make a case that their work will be in the public interest, whether in the private/non-profit/or public sectors.  Almost all of our successful applicants have impressive histories of working and volunteering in places that serve communities.  And having spent 20 years at HKS, including 15 years on the admissions committee, I'm certain that we the overwhelming majority of Business School students couldn't get into HKS.  And probably vice versa.  Both schools have different missions.

 

- Working on MPA admission is a plum assignment for faculty and staff. Unlike our sister institutions, faculty are very actively involved in admissions, and we have very low turnover on the committee.  Why?  Because it is an honor to read the files from our applicants.  Most of our applicants are profoundly inspiring,

 

- There is, though, one thing that will absolutely bar an applicant's file from getting considered. We are serious about TOEFL scores for applicants who need to take the test.  We simply will not review an applicant's file with a sub-100 TOEFL score.  More than half of our MPA applicants do not have English as their first language.  Those TOEFL scores are really important.

 

Enough for now.  If you happen to be in the crop of our new admits, we'd love to see you on campus for New Admit Day next Friday (April 5).  If you're on the waitlist, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.  And if you didn't get in -- please know that any future applications will be read "fresh," without any prejudice based on past attempts. 

Kaneisha Espresso Shot

Kaneisha

Posted
Posted

Congratulations to everyone who was admitted!!!

 

Also - I think it is AWESOME that official HKS folks are now in this thread (not me; I'm a 2010 HKS alum and admissions consultant). Hopefully, they will be able to answer you guys' questions from the official point of view. I'm here to provide insight as a 2010 MBA/MPA Harvard joint degree alum (who received a HKS fellowship) and an experienced admissions consultant.

 

I wanted to reach out to those of you who applied to HKS and were not admitted to see if you might be interested in having me review your applications and give feedback on where I think things went wrong. I'm updating a course on applying to HKS that I created, and want to include (anonymous) live case studies showing do's and don'ts. If you'd like to get some insight from someone who has done this for three years, has several clients who have been admitted with full rides, and has several HKS admits this season (including a reapplicant), please see this post and respond by 4/1 if possible: http://kaneisha.com/free-essay-and-resume-editing/

 

It's not guaranteed that I'll be able to get to everyone's materials that I receive, but I'd love to help provide some insight into your application as well as have some live examples to make my HKS Video Series that much more useful.

 

Regards,

Kaneisha

AUSAJAG Decaf

AUSAJAG

Posted
Posted

Just got my financial aid decision from HKS. Gave me full tuition + Fees. I gotta pony up for housing and living expenses.

bejis Decaf

bejis

Posted
Posted (edited)

I haven't received an e-mail (checked Spam folder) but checked and my decision is up on MYFAID. :huh:

 

Edit - Anyone else have this problem?

Edited by bejis
Kitten Decaf

Kitten

Posted
Posted

I haven't received an e-mail (checked Spam folder) but checked and my decision is up on MYFAID. :huh:

 

Edit - Anyone else have this problem?

I didn't get an email either and my decision is also up on MYFAID. I'm glad I saw your post. Now I don't have to keep waiting!

Kitten Decaf

Kitten

Posted
Posted

Just got my financial aid decision from HKS. Gave me full tuition + Fees. I gotta pony up for housing and living expenses.

 

That's amazing, AUSAJAG. Congratulations!

intlrlns Espresso Shot

intlrlns

Posted
Posted

Congrats AUSAJAG! That's really fantastic. I didn't get any $ so leaning toward Fletcher now...
Is anyone taking out the hefty loan for HKS?

  • 2 weeks later...
Truly Humble Decaf

Truly Humble

Posted
Posted

I'm so glad I found this site and the hks tumblr blog. Harvard's MC/MPA program is the perfect fit for me as far as the average age of the students,and the numerous years of work experience I have in non-profit/volunteer work. Hopefully, the application review committee feels the same way when I apply, if so, Cambridge here I come !!!!!!!!

 

Also, congrats to those who were accepted, and to those who weren't, It never hurts to try again, you never know!

 

God Bless!

 


 

Kokoroewa Decaf

Kokoroewa

Posted
Posted

Does anyone know when last year the waitlist offers (if there were any) were released?

Hey, I'm in your shoes too. Any news right now would be great! Have you picked a back up school, though? Or do you plan to wait a year and reapply if you don't get in?

mrpapagorgio Decaf

mrpapagorgio

Posted
Posted

Hey, I'm in your shoes too. Any news right now would be great! Have you picked a back up school, though? Or do you plan to wait a year and reapply if you don't get in?

Hey yep, SIPA it is unless HKS comes through - and even then not 100% which I'd choose.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

  I accept