admissions@hks.harvard.edu Harvard Kennedy School Ask what you can do. Matt Clemons – Director of Admissions MISSION Train enlightened public leaders and generate the ideas that provide solutions to our most challenging public problems. We are a professional school • • • • • Professional skills development Project and case study focus No academic thesis Majority do not go on to PhD We prefer previous full-time professional work Negotiate, manage, measure, lead, communicate There is not one profile • We are interested in applicants from a variety of majors • Previous work experience does not have to be government related • Both our students and alumni represent the not-for-profit, private, and public sectors The Harvard Universe 14 Different schools Graduate training in a variety of fields Each school runs its own operations Different admission offices and policies HKS Overview master’s degrees international students full time students countries years of work experience in the public, non-profit, and private sectors colleges and universities previously attended What are we looking for? Commitment to public service and to making a difference Leadership skills Quantitative ability Strong academics Diverse backgrounds Overview of Degree Programs Degree Master in Public Policy (MPP) Two-Year Master in Public Administration (MPA2) Details Requirements 2-year program Bachelor’s degree Core curriculum: analysis, management, and leadership Work experience: none, average is 2-3 years 2-year program Bachelor’s degree & substantial graduate-level coursework Flexible curriculum Work experience: 3 years Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) & Mason Program 1-year program Bachelor’s degree Flexible curriculum Work experience: 7 years, average is 14 years Master in Public Administration/International Development (MPA/ID) 2-year program Bachelor’s degree & quantitative coursework Core curriculum: Economics-centered, multi-disciplinary Work experience: none, average is 4 years PhD Programs • Public Policy • Political Economy and Government • Health Policy • Social Policy Master in Public Policy (MPP) • Work experience is not required (but the average is 2-3 years) • Two year program • Core curriculum plus electives • Average age: 26 • Average class size: 227 MPP Curriculum Core Requirements Policy Area Concentration Year 1 Year 2 □ Economics □ Business & Government Policy □ Quantitative Analysis □ Democracy, Politics, & Institutions □ Politics & Advocacy □ International & Global Affairs □ Strategic Management □ International Trade & Finance □ Ethics □ Political & Economic Development □ Policy Analysis □ Social & Urban Policy □ Leadership Spring Exercise Policy Analysis Exercise MPP Spring Exercise • Two-week long simulation that offers students an intense challenge of intellectual integration and practical application spanning the disciplines represented in the MPP core. • Students practice applying core tools and concepts in a setting and at a pace approximating professional reality. • Students attend presentations and write policy memos and briefings related to the challenge. • Past Spring Exercise topics have included: • Sex Trafficking • Global Warming • AIDS in Africa • Rebuilding Afghanistan MPP Policy Analysis Exercise •Capstone of the MPP program - equivalent to a thesis. •Students work with a real world client to implement a solution to a public policy problem. •Recent award winning PAEs include: • 21st Century GDP: National Indicators for a New Era • Rail Station Renovation Studies: Recommendations for the Redevelopment of New York’s Penn Station • Reintegration of Former Child Soldiers in the Cote d’Ivorie Master in Public Administration (MPA2) •Prerequisites: at least three years full-time professional work experience and a master’s degree or considerable relevant graduate course work •Two-year program •Average age: 30 •Average class size: 71 MPA2 Curriculum •Two courses from a policy area •One class from each distribution area □Economics and Quantitative Analysis Sample class: Public Sector Economics □Management and Leadership Sample class: Judgment Making, Decision Making, and Behavior □Political Thought and Institutions Sample class: Religion, Politics, and Public Policy • Electives Flexible curriculum Mid-Career MPA •Minimum of seven years full-time professional work experience (average is 14 years) •Average age: 39 •Average class size: 196 •One year program •Developing country citizens apply through the Mason Program Mid-Career MPA Curriculum • Summer program • One class from each distribution area □ Economics and Quantitative Analysis Sample class: The Political Economy of Trade □ Management and Leadership Sample class: Decision Making and Leadership in the Public Sector □ Political Thought and Institutions Sample class: Human Rights and International Politics • Electives MPA in International Development (MPA/ID) • Pre-requisites: microeconomics, macroeconomics, and multivariable calculus. Statistics and linear algebra are desirable but not required. • Work experience is not required, but strongly preferred, preferably in a developing country • Two year program • Average age: 27 • Average class size: 70 MPA/ID Curriculum • Core courses • Electives • Summer internship • Past internships: Turkish Treasury Department, US Embassy in Madagascar, Boston Consulting Group, and Inter-American Development Bank • Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA) • Capstone paper designed to integrate students’ coursework and skills acquired during the program • Objective is to provide specific policy recommendations in the context of a concrete developmental problem Combined Degree Programs Joint Degrees •Harvard Business School •Harvard Law School Concurrent Degrees •Business: UPenn, Dartmouth, Stanford, MIT •Law: Berkeley, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, UPenn, Stanford, Yale •Divinity: Harvard (MTS or MDiv) •Design: Harvard (MUP) •Medicine: Case-by-case Cross registration opportunities are available within Harvard, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Tufts Fletcher School. Admissions Tips Sign up for the admissions blog to stay up-to-date on admissions information and recruitment activities. hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com Plan Ahead! In the coming months: • Register for the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and/or IELTS by the end of October/early November. • Obtain transcripts from all of the schools you attended for credit. • Select your recommenders and ask if they will write a letter of recommendation for you. Test Information • GRE and GMAT • Not cutoffs, we prefer scores in the top 30% • TOEFL • Minimum iBT score of 100 and we prefer 25 on each section • IELTS • Minimum score of 7 and prefer score of 7 on each section. The Cycle One application open date – September One application deadline date - December One decision release date – March One class start date – September Deadline: December 2, 2014 All required materials must be included with the application and submitted by this date. Transcript 3 letters of recommendation Resume/CV Essay(s) GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and/or IELTS Visit hks.harvard.edu/degrees/admissions/apply to learn more. HKS Themes Service Leadership Advocacy Involvement in community Overview of Financial Assistance Average Amount of Financial Assistance Harvard & Affiliated Sources* Percentage of Admitted Students Received Scholarship/Fellowship Aid* $80,000 48% $70,000 43% $60,000 31% $50,000 31% $40,000 20% $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 Mason MPA/MC MPA MPP MPAID $Mason MPA/MC MPA MPP *Source: Admitted Students Fall 2012 Please note: These figures should not be considered predictive of the likelihood of receiving aid or the amount received. Amount of aid available and the number of recipients will vary based upon the availability of funding. MPAID Harvard Kennedy School Loan Repayment Borrowing is a reality for many at HKS… Domestic Student Average Borrowing* $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $- However, there are options! HKS Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) Helps graduates employed for non-profit and government organizations with modest incomes repay their loans after graduation. Key Features: • Available for both domestic and international borrowers • Eligible for 5 years of participation International Student Average Borrowing* $30,000 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $- *Source: Borrowers only, class of 2012 Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Provides loan forgiveness for borrowers who repay their loans using an income based repayment plan for the amount remaining after 10 years of employment for 501C(3) or U.S. based governmental position (federal, state, and local). Key Features: • For domestic borrowers only Office of Career Advancement • Individual career coaching • JACK: Jobs and Careers for the Kennedy School, our dynamic job bank and career management system • A wide range of job search tools and skill development resources • Employers on Campus program • Connections to our expansive alumni community • Networking events with alumni and practitioners addressing the professional areas of interest most often pursued by our graduates • Information on career-related programming throughout HKS and the Harvard community Employment Post-HKS •The HKS degree remains resilient in a sluggish economy. •By October, 90% of 2013 graduates reporting* were settled (employed/continuing education). This is consistent with previous years. •Most students will find their post-HKS positions through professional networking. •In 2013, 84% of employers hired a single graduate reflecting our diversified hiring base and the unique trajectories of HKS graduates. *91% of the Class of 2013 reporting Employment Post-HKS Our graduates work in a multitude of industries and fields. Some of our top professional areas of interest are international development, international security, public finance, urban economic development, energy and the environment, social policy, and public affairs. Our graduates also work in a variety of sectors: Student Life Journals and Writing Opportunities Professional Interest Councils (PIC) Student Conferences John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum •Premier arena for political speech, discussion, and debate. •Since 1978, The Forum has hosted 1,000 events which have been seen by 650,000 people live. •Heads of state; leaders in politics, government, business, labor and the media; academics; community organizers; and artists visit HKS. •Forum speakers must agree to answer questions from the audience. •Regularly sponsors television and radio programs, film screenings, and debate watch parties. John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum The Tipping Point: Elevating Women for Global Security A Conversation with Felipe Calderón Boston Marathon Tragedy and Aftermath A Decade in Iraq: Lessons and the Landscape Ahead A Public Address by His Excellency Macky Sall, President of Senegal Premiere Screening and Discussion of Game Change Research Centers Main engines of research, covering international, national and local issues of public policy and management. Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs Carr Center for Human Rights Policy Center for International Development Center for Public Leadership Edmond J. Safra Foundation for Ethics Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government Institute of Politics Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy Joint Center for Housing Studies Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston Taubman Center for State and Local Government The Women and Public Policy Program Research Centers Opportunities for students include: • Workshops/lectures • Fellowships • Funding for summer internships • Leadership • Mentoring • Research projects Contact Information Phone: 617-495-1155 E-mail: admissions@hks.harvard.edu