HKS 2016

[edpolicy2015]

We can do this! Only another week of waiting. Good luck to everyone. Trying to resist checking my email every hour.... :-)

[HKS hopeful]

4 hours ago, kbui said:

FOUR YEARS?! Wow. That's dedication! I hope the admissions committee sees that. Did you mention it in your application?

Thanks! I did mention that I was a reapplicant. That's it. I started prepping for HKS in 2012 -- studying its programs, religiously reading its blog,  sat in on a couple of courses, and spoke with students who told me apply. I applied in 2013. Decided not reapply in 2014 in order to do soul searching about whether I truly needed this. After speaking again with alumni, who encouraged me to give it another shot, and seeing the need for talented policy makers and a national leader in my country(I was approached by the leader of my country), I came to the conclusion that I should reapply as I transition my career. 

Still not sure I'll be admitted., however, I've aleady started saying goodbye to some friends, reviewing Econ texts, downloading course syllabus and some readings to get a head start in courses I want to take and looking at Harvard  housing options. I'm also looking at  European travel sites because I plan to visit some European countries if I'm not admitted. I'll need a getaway.

 

Edited March 2, 2016 by HKS hopeful

[HKS hopeful]

2 hours ago, edpolicy2015 said:

We can do this! Only another week of waiting. Good luck to everyone. Trying to resist checking my email every hour.... :-)

Hahaha! I sometimes wish I was still working on my doctoral dissertation. It would at least distract me from rereading my essays for the 50th time, fretting over the one typo And hitting refresh on HKS' blog and counting hours awaiting the next blog update.  Good luck to you too.

[quietman]

7 hours ago, HKS hopeful said:

 I've aleady started saying goodbye to some friends, reviewing Econ texts, downloading course syllabus and some readings to get a head start in courses

 

Wow! You will certainly be prepared.

Edited March 2, 2016 by quietman

[HKS hopeful]

3 hours ago, quietman said:

Wow! You will certainly be prepared.

Well, I've told myself it's good information to learn regardless of outcome. Dreamt last night I was third on the waitlist. Which means waiting much longer for an outcome. :-( dreams dreams dreams, I tell ya

 

[loveglove]

14 hours ago, HKS hopeful said:

Thanks! I did mention that I was a reapplicant. That's it. I started prepping for HKS in 2012 -- studying its programs, religiously reading its blog,  sat in on a couple of courses, and spoke with students who told me apply. I applied in 2013. Decided not reapply in 2014 in order to do soul searching about whether I truly needed this. After speaking again with alumni, who encouraged me to give it another shot, and seeing the need for talented policy makers and a national leader in my country(I was approached by the leader of my country), I came to the conclusion that I should reapply as I transition my career. 

Still not sure I'll be admitted., however, I've aleady started saying goodbye to some friends, reviewing Econ texts, downloading course syllabus and some readings to get a head start in courses I want to take and looking at Harvard  housing options. I'm also looking at  European travel sites because I plan to visit some European countries if I'm not admitted. I'll need a getaway.

 

I have my fingers crossed for you! Only a few more days until we all know.

Where are you getting the syllabi? 

[HKS hopeful]

14 hours ago, HKS hopeful said:

Thanks! I did mention that I was a reapplicant. That's it. I started prepping for HKS in 2012 -- studying its programs, religiously reading its blog,  sat in on a couple of courses, and spoke with students who told me apply. I applied in 2013. Decided not reapply in 2014 in order to do soul searching about whether I truly needed this. After speaking again with alumni, who encouraged me to give it another shot, and seeing the need for talented policy makers and a national leader in my country(I was approached by the leader of my country), I came to the conclusion that I should reapply as I transition my career. 

Still not sure I'll be admitted., however, I've aleady started saying goodbye to some friends, reviewing Econ texts, downloading course syllabus and some readings to get a head start in courses I want to take and looking at Harvard  housing options. I'm also looking at  European travel sites because I plan to visit some European countries if I'm not admitted. I'll need a getaway.

 

Thanks! It's website (course offerings). Figured the earlier I start reading, the more events I could attend and student organizations I could join, this fall...that's if accepted. Someone asked yesterday if I regret only applying to HKS? No regret at all! If denied admission, I'll see it as the universe telling, no more classrooms needed to achieve goals... Even though it will be a tough swallow.

14 hours ago, HKS hopeful said:

Thanks! I did mention that I was a reapplicant. That's it. I started prepping for HKS in 2012 -- studying its programs, religiously reading its blog,  sat in on a couple of courses, and spoke with students who told me apply. I applied in 2013. Decided not reapply in 2014 in order to do soul searching about whether I truly needed this. After speaking again with alumni, who encouraged me to give it another shot, and seeing the need for talented policy makers and a national leader in my country(I was approached by the leader of my country), I came to the conclusion that I should reapply as I transition my career. 

Still not sure I'll be admitted., however, I've aleady started saying goodbye to some friends, reviewing Econ texts, downloading course syllabus and some readings to get a head start in courses I want to take and looking at Harvard  housing options. I'm also looking at  European travel sites because I plan to visit some European countries if I'm not admitted. I'll need a getaway.

 

 

[HRC2016]

I hope you get in @HKS hopeful! Seems like you really did your homework and know how the program will benefit you- and vice versa. 

[HKS hopeful]

19 minutes ago, HRC2016 said:

I hope you get in @HKS hopeful! Seems like you really did your homework and know how the program will benefit you- and vice versa. 

Thank you! Best wishes to you! 

[quietman]

So the blog entry on waitlisted applicants was posted today. The previous two 'Reading and Decisions Proccesses' blog entries have each been two days ahead of the corresponding dates they were posted last year, when decisions came out on Wednesday the 11th. Note that Wednesday is the 9th this year---right in line with things being two days ahead.

http://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/140366455328/2016-reading-and-decision-process-post-11

 

Edited March 3, 2016 by quietman

[loveglove]

59 minutes ago, quietman said:

So the blog entry on waitlisted applicants was posted today. The previous two 'Reading and Decisions Proccesses' blog entries have each been two days ahead of the corresponding dates they were posted last year, when decisions came out on Wednesday the 11th. Note that Wednesday is the 9th this year---right in line with things being two days ahead.

http://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/140366455328/2016-reading-and-decision-process-post-11

 

Fingers crossed for Wednesday! This is incredibly nerve-wracking.

Also, I'm a bit confused about this part:

"Third, we do not rank the waitlist and the Admissions Committee will not accept any additional documents from those placed on the waitlist. The Admissions Committee does not conduct interviews or take appointments with those on the waitlist. Waitlist candidates are reviewed based upon the information provided by the admission deadline. Thus we cannot provide information on one’s “place” on the waitlist as there is no ranking system. The list is reviewed as a whole if and when we have seats available."

How exactly do they make decisions about who gets off the waitlist if it's not ranked? Any ideas?

[quietman]

It could mean that instead of ranking everyone and just grabbing people off the list one by one, they instead try to find people who correct inbalances that result from admits choosing to go elsewhere. So maybe if fewer international admits (or more specifically, female international admits from a certain region who have a certain focus) chose HKS than anticpated, those in admissions would search the WL for international applicants (or female internationals from the certain region who have the relevant focus), even if the strongest WL'd applicants in terms of grades/scores/experience/LOR. are from the US.

I guess even then rankings could be useful, as adcoms would still need to distinguish between the people who fit the profile they're after, but I take it that they want to maximize their latitude to pick particular replacements in response to particular groups of admits declining offers of admission or deferring. It could also just be that despite the lack of official rankings the way people are chosen off the WL is pretty much like choosing them by rank--e.g. compare all the applicants then select those deemed most impressive.

 

Edited March 3, 2016 by quietman

[loveglove]

53 minutes ago, quietman said:

It could mean that instead of ranking everyone and just grabbing people off the list one by one, they instead try to find people who correct inbalances that result from admits choosing to go elsewhere. So maybe if fewer international admits (or more specifically, female international admits from a certain region who have a certain focus) chose HKS than anticpated, those in admissions would search the WL for international applicants (or female internationals from the certain region who have the relevant focus), even if the strongest WL'd applicants in terms of grades/scores/experience/LOR. are from the US.

I guess even then rankings could be useful, as adcoms would still need to distinguish between the people who fit the profile they're after, but I take it that they want to maximize their latitude to pick particular replacements in response to particular groups of admits declining offers of admission or deferring. It could also just be that despite the lack of official rankings the way people are chosen off the WL is pretty much like choosing them by rank--e.g. compare all the applicants then select those deemed most impressive.

 

Thanks!

[edpolicy2015]

3 hours ago, quietman said:

So the blog entry on waitlisted applicants was posted today. The previous two 'Reading and Decisions Proccesses' blog entries have each been two days ahead of the corresponding dates they were posted last year, when decisions came out on Wednesday the 11th. Note that Wednesday is the 9th this year---right in line with things being two days ahead.

http://hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com/post/140366455328/2016-reading-and-decision-process-post-11

 

Very exciting. Thanks for this update. Fingers crossed for Wednesday as well!

 

[HRC2016]

I wouldn't get my hopes up for the 9th since the guy on the phone said mid-to-late March. But I hope it's next week! I'm not sure there's a strong correlation between dates of blog posts and dates of notification. 

[HRC2016]

6 hours ago, loveglove said:

Thanks!

@loveglove - Is this your first time applying for WWS and HKS? I was admitted to SAIS, SIPA, Fletcher, and GW last year and deferred to Fletcher. I re-applied to SIPA for additional funding so I hope to hear back on that next week. Good luck!

[quietman]

4 hours ago, HRC2016 said:

I wouldn't get my hopes up for the 9th since the guy on the phone said mid-to-late March. But I hope it's next week! I'm not sure there's a strong correlation between dates of blog posts and dates of notification. 

Decisions have been released the second week of March at least over the last 2 years, so I have to admit my hopes are up for next week! The actual dates are a bit earlier this year, which leads me to hope that the slightly advanced blog posts this year reflect an attempt to keep in line with a slightly earlier release date.

Of course, the admissions process has a way of getting people like me to see connections where there probably aren't any!

Edited March 3, 2016 by quietman

[Expedia]

As the days go by, I am more convinced that I will definitely be rejected by HKS and WWS to the point that I am not worried about the decision day at all. 

[quietman]

That may be the best attitude to have....being rejected hurts less while being admitted feels better.

[6speed!]

37 minutes ago, Expedia said:

As the days go by, I am more convinced that I will definitely be rejected by HKS and WWS to the point that I am not worried about the decision day at all. 

 

34 minutes ago, quietman said:

That may be the best attitude to have....being rejected hurts less while being admitted feels better.

Yeah, I'm trying to just stay realistic. I think I'm competitive for both, but at the same time they are extremely selective programs. They reject dozens upon dozens of competitive, quality applicants every year. I think the best attitude is to be prepared for rejection - almost to downright assume it - so that, as you say, it hurts less and being admitted feels extraordinary. If one is rejected, life goes on. The fact that we're sitting here debating about if we might get into top notch policy programs is an elite conundrum - these are wonderful "problems" to have, after all. 

Edited March 3, 2016 by 6speed!

[quietman]

20 minutes ago, 6speed! said:

 

Yeah, I'm trying to just stay realistic. I think I'm competitive for both, but at the same time they are extremely selective programs. They reject dozens upon dozens of competitive, quality applicants every year. I think the best attitude is to be prepared for rejection - almost to downright assume it - so that, as you say, it hurts less and being admitted feels extraordinary. If one is rejected, life goes on. The fact that we're sitting here debating about if we might get into top notch policy programs is an elite conundrum - these are wonderful "problems" to have, after all. 

Yep, agree with all this.

Also, anyone else notice that the status page  (https://admissions.hks.harvard.edu/apply/status) changed? Most of the text is now gone for me.

Edited March 3, 2016 by quietman

[shrimps]

3 minutes ago, quietman said:

Yep, agree with all this.

Also, anyone else notice that the status page  (https://admissions.hks.harvard.edu/apply/status) changed? Most of the text is now gone for me.

Wow, yeah, same for me. No news, but still - a change!

(I feel like I'm watching very stressful paint dry.)

Edited March 3, 2016 by shrimps

[Ejc5ys]

Yeah, I saw the much larger "Veritas" and almost had a heart attack.

[Expedia]

I was thinking about writing "Hurrah, I got accepted" on this thread. It would just be too wicked on my part though. But I was imagining how many people (ones who will actually get accepted later) would be freaked out for not getting an email.  

[quietman]

Haha, ya, I think that would be a bit cruel. When I was a law school applicant and posting on a law forum that happened occasionally, and let's just say that some people got a little worked up  (I shamefully admit that I sometimes found it entertaining).