Thanks to our Senior Team Harris member, Sally Park (MPP 18), for this guest post! 

Hi all! My name is Sally Park; I am a second year M.P.P. student at Harris and Team Harris Senior Ambassador. Since the day I posted on Facebook that I got accepted to the Harris School of Public Policy, I have been receiving many messages from friends and friends of friends about my student life at the school. I finally had a chance to visit my home in Korea after my first year in school and internship at the World Bank, and talk with prospective students over coffee. It was really nice to meet students who are passionate about working for the public regardless of their fields, and to share my great experience at Harris with them. Talking with them actually gave me more conviction why I chose public policy and why I chose Harris to follow my dream – so thank you for students who showed up!

For those who have missed, I wanted to share some of the questions that might interest you, as well.

Q. Harris emphasizes data analysis skills. Did you actually acquire those skillsets?

A. Whether I end up finding a job or pursuing a Ph.D., I realized that I need to strengthen quantitative skills. At Harris, I learned how to use STATA, and how to read and analyze data. I knew nothing about programming and data analysis before I came to Harris—now I am actually using STATA in my current internship at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and also a Stats TA. So much progress in one year!

Q. How’s student life as an international student? Do you think you fit into the community?

A. Harris is a very diverse and international community. I should say the greatest asset that I had over the last year are my friends at Harris. You can meet people from all over the country; I love talking to all of them who have different perspectives for a variety of issues. This is one small example: I got invited to Mexico City by my Mexican friends last winter break, and had an awesome time there – I honestly thought I was the VIP guest!

Q. Looking back, do you think you would choose Harris again?

A. Absolutely! As long as you want to address the problems, make an impact, and change the world, I believe Harris provides you with all the resources and skills that you need. I had a great experience with serving as a Programming Director in Women in Public Policy and Communications Manager in Chicago Policy Review last year, and also secured the internship at the World Bank last summer with my experience at Harris. I’m looking forward to this year’s Harris experience as my second year, too. So, why not?!

We've been making our rounds at several large fairs this autumn and we've still got many others yet to go. You can see our previous blog post about where we've been and where we are going. You can also always refer back to our Events page to look up and register for upcoming events. We wanted to write a post that detailed some of the best practices for fair attendance that we've utilized and observed.

1: Do your research beforehand.

Learn what there is to know about the fair. What’s the layout? Which companies or schools will be there? Learn more about the schools you are interested in, so that when you come to our booth, you can ask more in-depth questions. Asking a standout question can set you apart from the other attendees!

2:  Make a short list of schools and companies you’re interested and prioritize.

This will seriously help you manage your time when navigating the space. You’ll know which schools and companies are there and you can make sure you have enough time to hit your top choices. If the conference provides a map, familiarize yourself with where those on your short list will be.

3: Be more interested in the informational materials than the swag.

Representatives notice if people come by to take swag, but not to take information or ask questions. If you ask good questions, take the informational brochures, and engage with the representative, you are more likely to get noticed.

4: Engage with the representatives.

Mingling with Admissions representatives is one of the major draws of an Idealist Fair. Especially if you are unable to visit our campus, this is your opportunity to meet with our team and personally introduce yourself. Be sure to share some background information about yourself, and ask any questions you may have about the application process or programs.

5: Have your contact information ready to go.

We’ve seen a number of students bring business cards, print resumes, or print labels. Labels are certainly the cheapest and most efficient option. You should include your name, email, phone number, address, and even your birthday. It’ll allow you to spend less time writing down your information and more time speaking to the representative.

6: Follow up with us.

We make an effort to reach out to all students, but it takes us some time. If you’re very interested in a school, then you should follow up with the representatives you met –it’ll really make you stand out.  

Students frequently have questions related to transcripts — details on which ones we need and how to submit them, and what we are looking at when we review them. To summarize the requirement for submitting: Harris requires transcripts from all colleges and universities attended in order to have a complete academic record. If you transferred between institutions we will require transcripts from each institution, not only the degree-granting institution. During the application process we can accept unofficial transcripts, but we do require official transcripts before you can enroll in your courses.

Students with foreign credit- we do not accept third party evaluations such as WES or ECE instead of your transcripts, but we can accept them as an additional credential if you feel they will assist in the review of your application. We do require both the transcript and an official translation of your transcripts – meaning the translation should be completed by an official organization or notary. During the application process you can submit an unofficial copy of your transcripts, but the translation must be official.

Students often inquire what we are looking at when reviewing your transcripts, and the short answer is, everything. We are necessarily looking for a particular degree program, and you can view our previous post for why but we do look at your particular coursework, grades, and overall GPA. All of these details helps us to better understand your academic qualifications and your overall strength as a student.

If you have any questions about the process please email harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu

Many incoming applicants to Harris have questions on how their work experience will be viewed, the level of importance placed on having significant work experience, and the length and format of their resume. We see students who have a variety of professional backgrounds. Many of our students have a few years of work experience in a particular filed, while others have recently graduated and have not yet begun their professional careers but typically have had some internship, volunteer, or extracurricular experience while pursuing their undergraduate degree. Others have significant work experience and have concluded that pursuing a graduate degree will allow them to advance to the next level in their field or allow them to change careers.

When reviewing your resume, we aren’t looking for a particular format, the resumes we receive are as diverse as the students applying to Harris. While it may be appropriate for some students to have lengthier resumes to detail their professional and, if applicable, research experience, other students may have more brief summaries of their experience. Some students prefer to submit chronological resumes while others prefer to format their experience according to relevance to policy or the program for which they are applying. Again, we are not looking for one format or a limited set of professional careers and we encourage you to submit a resume that you believe best supports your Harris application. 

I think a lot of applicants struggle with this important step in their application because they fundamentally misunderstand the responsibility involved in getting faculty, coworkers, and others to write recommendations. At the end of the day, the recommendation letter is written about you, for you, and it is up to you to manage the task.

Plan of attack

What I typically do before I even ask any individuals about recommendations is make sure that I have planned out exactly what I am asking who to do by when. I have an excel spreadsheet with each of the applications, how many recommendations I need and the due date. I then create columns for one week, two weeks, and one month before the due date. For recommenders who may be traveling, or professors unavailable between terms, allowing two months is helpful. I have these dates added to my calendar and send out reminders at each date. If you haven’t been in touch with your recommenders recently you may want to have a resume handy to share.  You should also know where to direct the recommender if they need more information about Harris. Our website is a great place to start. Last thing to do, schedule a time to meet with the individual—in person if possible.

The ask

Now is the time to relive all of those awkward asks in your life. The time you asked the popular boy/girl to prom in high school. That time you asked a friend in college to set you up with a formal date. Take those and put them to the side. You will be asking people who know you well and can speak to your skills and your fit. These recommenders are often in a mentorship role and are eager to help you with your next steps and to speak about your qualifications.

Make the ask in person if possible. I am a person who is not against showing gratitude for these individuals whom are willing to take time to recommend me, so I often show that appreciation by buying my recommender a coffee and sending a thank you email/note after our meeting thanking them for their time. Make sure at this meeting you are able to provide your recommender with your resume, and are prepared to discuss your motivation for applying to Harris or even share a draft of your motivational statement (BONUS - your recommender may give you some helpful tips on your statement!). Also be ready to discuss why you believe this program is a good fit for your future endeavors. If you’re struggling with the Why Harris question, you can reach out to our Admissions Specialists (harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu) and we will happily work through why Harris Public Policy has the right program for you. Also important, thank your recommender when they agree to write, and ask them if they have any advice for you.

Expectations

It is important that you tell your recommender the expectations. Inform them when the recommendation letters are due and how they are to be submitted. Even after you’ve explained these expectations to the recommender, it is still your responsibility to make sure your recommender follows through. This is why the initial planning is important. You already have the timeline planned out so that you can remind your recommender at different points to make sure they know when the deadline is approaching. 

I had the opportunity to see the smash hit musical Hamilton in Chicago.  For those of you outside the US, Hamilton is phenomenon that has captured hearts and playlists of people of all ages. Created by Lin Manuel Miranda, Hamilton chronicles the life  of Alexander Hamilton one of the more influential and colorful founding fathers of the US. There are geniuses...outliers...and then Lin-Manuel Miranda. You could lock six billion people in a room for a year and not one could come up with something as original as Hamilton. Beyond incredible music he takes a story that everyone knows and tells it a new way meshing history with contemporary issues of the day.

One of the things I enjoy about living in Chicago are the vibrant arts and cultural opportunities that are available. As a student, I encourage you to take advantage of a wide range of cultural and entertainment options from rooting for the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, to strolling through the Art Institute or diving into a mosh pit at Lollapalooza. There is something for everyone and also opportunities to explore something new or outside your comfort zone.  

For me, watching and experiencing Hamilton with my very very excited son Gavin (Harris Class of 2030)  is an experience I will never forget and if you get the chance to see Hamilton don’t miss it!!

Bonus Content: read why Hamilton got it wrong and Chicago is actually the Greatest City in the World

We frequently receive this question from eager applicants searching for opportunities to strengthen their application, as well as students who are concerned about specific aspects of their application. Actually, we probably receive this question from almost all incoming students. 

So, what do we look for? Most of our students are aware of the reputation of the University of Chicago as an extremely rigorous institution, particularly in the quantitate coursework. Some students are attracted to this reputation, while other students fear they do not have the quantitative skills to be successful. In reviewing your application, we will carefully evaluate the quantitative experience, but this does not mean we look for one specific GRE score or a set list of undergraduate majors. We take into consideration your scores and academic background of course, but we will also review your current work experience and evaluate whether or not your essays address any particular areas of weakness.

Outside of the quantitative background, we look for academic diversity in the applicant pool. Often liberal arts students may believe they do not have the academic background for a policy program, but we at Harris understand that some of our most passionate and enthusiastic students pursued competitive liberal arts programs, and completed those programs with the strong critical thinking and writing skills required of Harris students. See our section on essays below to learn more about expressing fit. For example, a recent alumna Rebecca Planchard spoke of her desire for quantitative training at Harris. She didn't come to Harris with quantitative courses or experience, but with a passion and a track record to prove she would succeed. 

Additionally, we want to see applicants who are excited to dive into both the curriculum at Harris as well as the opportunities available in the surrounding community at the University of Chicago. Many of our courses contain experiential learning opportunities, and we are seeking students who feel passionate about pursuing real-world opportunities to impact policy. If you have doubts about the impact the surrounding community can have on your policy studies, take a listen to episode one of The Axe Files (also available on iTunes) the podcast hosted by David Axelrod through the Institute of Politics here at UofC. During Episode One, UofC alums David Axelrod and Bernie Sanders discuss, among many other things, the opportunities they pursued outside the classroom.

Finally, we at Harris value the public service dedication we see in so many of our applicants. So much so that we will match the Segel award for those who have participated in AmeriCorps. At Harris, we believe those with the passion and the dedication to better themselves to learn the science of public policy, rooted in data and impact, will be the most successful students and future leaders. You can view our Profiles page to see this drive that our current and incoming students, our faculty, and alumni all share. 

Students in the early stages of the application often call or email our office asking when they will be able to see the essay questions. Usually we sense a slight panic in their tone implying that writing essays may not be their favorite weekend activity, or that they need to immediately see the essays in order to have extensive time to prepare as no length of time will be enough for them to write, re-write, have peer-reviewed, throw away, retrieve out of the garbage, review again, throw away again, start over, and then submit the original draft their kind friends peer-reviewed. To answer the original question – the application process is dynamic and the essay questions will not appear until you have completed other parts of the application. So just keep moving forward and you should have no problem in viewing the essay questions. 

When approaching the essay questions, think about how you would approach a case interview. You have an opportunity to demonstrate to the evaluators how you write, how you think, and how you approach problems. This is a wonderful place for you to be able to express your passion and enthusiasm for public policy, to showcase your analytical mind and how you would approach policy issues, and to show some of your character in your writing. Great essays should give a sense to the reader of who you are and should show—not tell—about your interests and abilities in public policy. 

Keep following the blog all week, as we'll be sharing valuable application tips to ease your pain points. 

So you have filled out your name, last name, academic information, work experience etc; all done with the obvious bits of the application, and now you face the Herculean task of writing the motivation statement. What to write? How to start? How do I fit everything in so few words (or for some how do I write so much about myself)? Should I start with a quote or is it too cliché?

As you keep staring at the blank screen in frustration, with the cursor constantly blinking as a reminder for you to write something, consider these few words of advise from a fellow sufferer.

1.     Essays shouldn’t be a one-night or all-nighter task    

These essays tend not be something you can just ace in one night. It is the essence of you that needs to be presented to someone who has never known you personally and has limited information to assess your admissions profile. Give yourself enough time to work through drafts and reflect on your writing. Do not panic if you haven’t started the process earlier, learn to pace yourself well and set personal deadlines.

2.     To finish, you have to start

    When you start, it’s easy to get bogged down by the whole scheme of things, how the essay is going to turn out, how it would all fit in, would there be a continuous flow to it? Just be confident and type down those first few words, write whatever that comes to your mind. Don’t be afraid of hastily scribbling down words, you can ruthlessly edit later. Throw in small paragraphs of whatever you feel is relevant, it will make sense in the end.

3.     Google is not the answer for everything

       Google might help you with facts, but this is something that you have to do on your own. Do not be tempted by sample essays on the internet or the essay that your senior so helpfully provided you. By all means, seek advice from people but do not try to build up on an existing essay. Your essay needs to be as original as you are! Admission committees value honesty and have an uncanny knack for detecting botchy work.

4.     To write is human, to edit is divine

       Edit mercilessly, while editing try to get rid of redundant words and paragraphs that do not make sense when placed one after the other. Do not be afraid to reorganize and reorder. Detach yourself from your essay and judge it as an observer. Treat your life as a movie and think of the viewer. Does it make sense to them? If you find it lacking, go back and start over. While the next bit of advise is obvious, it is often overlooked in haste: make sure your writing is free from grammatical and spelling errors and the formatting looks good. Stick to standard fonts and font sizes.

5.     Feedback is the breakfast of champions

     Let someone who knows you well or someone who is in the same field as you intend to be look over your essay. Sometimes, we tend to miss achievements and aspects of our life that our well-wishers might be quick to point out. Do not be depressed or defensive about feedback, it is what will make your writing better!

Good luck and happy writing!

PS. Try going over you resume too when you write your essay. Explain gaps or career changes or bad grades (anything that cannot be explained in a resume) in you essay. Never make the cardinal mistake of forgetting to edit the name of the school you are writing the essay for!  

Go ahead! Begin planning to complete your essays and application today. 

Harris is home to students from around the globe, and it’s common for our international students to have unique questions. All interested students can find a complete FAQ here, but below is a round-up of the questions we most commonly receive from interested international students:

Do I have to take the TOEFL/IELTS? 

Please visit the university’s TOELF/IELTS waiver requirements here. If you do not fall within the parameters listed by this policy, you will need to submit an official TOEFL/IELTS score for your application to be considered complete.

What is Harris’ English language requirement?

 Applicants may submit either the TOEFL or IELTS to meet the English language requirement set by the university. Test scores must be sent directly to Harris using code 1849. The minimum score requirements for each exam are as follow: TOEFL-overall score of 107 with a minimum of 26 in each subsection. IELTS-overall score of 7 with a minimum of 7 in each subsection.

My TOEFL score is below the university requirement. Can I still apply with this score? 

For applicants whose TOEFL/IELTS score falls below the university requirements, we ask that you submit a short 2-minute video statement with your application. When completing the application, after you enter your TOEFL/IELTS score, a link to record your video statement should automatically populate.

Can my test scores arrive late? 

If you believe that your test score will arrive after the application deadline, please let our office know and we will determine if a short grace period can be provided for the time it will take your score to arrive. Please note that you should apply within the application round that best fits your needs. If your test score does not arrive in the specified grace period after the application deadline, we will roll your application to the next round without penalty.

I do not see the video statement – what can I do? 

The application process is dynamic, and you may not see the video portion available when you first begin the application. As you move through the application, if you do not meet the language proficiency requirements, you should be prompted to upload the video. If you have issues uploading the video please contact harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu

I am having issues with uploading the video statement to the application. What can I do?

We understand that technical difficulties happen from time to time when uploading video statements. As such, you can record your 2-minute video statement in another platform such as Youtube and send us the link. After you have submitted the application, when you log back into the application portal, you will see the Upload Materials function. You may use this to upload a word document that includes the link to your video statement.

What are your transcript requirements for foreign credit? 

You will be allowed to submit unofficial transcripts through the electronic application process; however, official transcripts will be required upon admission for enrolling students. Please submit transcripts for all prior academic work from any institution of higher education. Foreign credentials must also be accompanied by an official translation.

Can I submit my foreign credential evaluation (WES) instead of my transcripts? 

Students cannot submit a foreign credential evaluation INSTEAD of their transcripts, but they can submit this information in addition to their transcripts.  

Outside of questions on the application process, we strongly encourage students to visit The Office of International Affairs website. They provide detailed information students on daily life as a student at the University of Chicago as well as information for F and J students at various stages in the enrollment process. If you have additional questions or concerns please email harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu

Our Mentor Program at Harris is a longstanding cornerstone of our commitment to empowering students to be connected with experienced professionals throughout their program duration. Since 1988, the Mentor Program has paired students with dedicated industry professionals who want to support the next generation of policy leaders (that’s you!). 

Year 1

In your first year, you will apply to “affinity groups”, which are based on career interest and led by mentors with experience in that career area. Programming focuses on career exploration, adjustment to graduate school, and connecting your curriculum to a professional application. Additional programming focuses on career development in the form of team building, social events, and other seminars.

Year 2 

Your second year focuses on one-on-one mentorship between you and your mentor. Here you will begin fine-tuning your career goals. These pairings are based on location, sector, goals, and personality.

How many professionals are involved in the program? 

There are currently 200 established policy professionals in the Mentor Program. 100 new professionals have joined the network in the last two years alone! 

Who can apply for the program? 

100% of all Harris students are eligible to participate in the program.

How do I apply for this program? 

You will receive an email about applying for the program before arriving to campus. 

What is the time commitment? 

In the first year, affinity groups meet up to twice per quarter. Each program will have different professional development goals. They may be other events (social or networking) that students may also participate in with their mentors. In the second year, plan to meet with your mentor (via phone, email, or in-person) about once a month or based on your personal schedule with your mentor. 

Who are the mentors? 

Mentors come from across the United States and around the globe; many are Harris alumni themselves. They are individuals with policy experience who volunteer their time to mentor Harris students as they navigate a career in a policy-related field. Mentors have included elected officials, CEOs, policy advocates, etc.

We hope that you will take advantage of this program; it is an incredibly beneficial way to strengthen your ties with your Harris peers and to create a career network tailored to your specific needs and interests. For more information, click here.