UChicago Harris is intentional in ensuring students in all programs, whether conducted virtually or in-person, have a rich community experience. In this post, we share four essential pillars of the Harris community experience using the example of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) program.

One of the most common topics applicants ask us about are the letters of recommendation. These letters are an important part of your application and provide the committee with helpful information and insight into your ability to be successful at Harris Public Policy. In this post, Director of Student Recruitment Devon Reber Drehmer answers some of our most frequently asked questions. We hope these answers will be helpful to you as you are completing your application before the Early Action deadline on October 27!

Our admissions team tries our best to answer your questions as thoroughly as possible—on the phone, online, and especially on our blog. With regularly updated information, the admissions blog is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about Harris. We’ve gathered our top five posts from the fall to help you as you complete your application for the next deadline.

Thinking about applying to Harris? The Student Recruitment and Global Outreach team would like to share seven video tips for completing a successful application!

Applicants frequently request more information on the application rounds and the benefits of one deadline over the other. If you are interested in our full-time degree programs, we recommend applying by the earliest deadline possible. Read about the benefits of applying early.

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama and Senior Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, delivered the keynote address for our Diversity Days 2020 programming. She discussed her background and trajectory into her role, the unique challenges she faced, and advised students to listen to “the quiet voice that lives within all of us” to choose which path their careers will take. Watch the interview and other Diversity Day highlights.

Now that we’ve sent messages, made calls, and released decisions, we want to share a message to show how impressed we were with our applications from Early Action. We reached out to some of our staff readers anonymously and asked them to share what impressed them about this group of applicants.

Established in 2015, The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts promotes discussion, understanding, and resolution of global conflicts through research, education and engagement with the global policy community. As part of the education component of its mission, The Pearson Institute annually awards Fellowships to a select group of distinguished MPP students. Read more...

This is an exciting time for our admissions team. We are preparing to release decisions to students who submitted their completed application for the Early Action deadline on October 27. It was a pleasure getting to know more about you, all that you have done to improve your communities, and all that you are planning to do with a graduate degree in public policy. Read more...

Funding and financial aid are top concerns for many students—especially international students who need to indicate a certain amount of funds in order to apply for the F-1 or J-1 student visa. This is why we have put together six tips to help as you prepare to invest in your future.

The Admissions team has rolled out a series of virtual sessions on application tips. We have rounded up the recordings for your reference as you complete your application.

Meet Michelle Hoereth, Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion at the Harris School of Public Policy. Michelle reflects on the start of the school year and the release of the Diversity & Inclusion Roadmap.

The relatively short time you spend in graduate school is a long-term investment in your future. It opens doors for your professional path, advances your leadership skills, and increases your earning potential. Following are some tips to help you understand the financial planning needed for your graduate school investment.

Thanks to all who attended our Virtual Open House last weekend! If you missed it or would like to review, the recordings are available here.

MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) Program Director Kathryn Mattie shares her top ten takeaways from the recent "Zoom Into MSCAPP" program overview webinar.

Meet Sparkle Dalphinis, Associate Director of Student Recruitment and Global Outreach at the Harris School of Public Policy, as well as other student and alumni leaders in Diversity and Inclusion.

Incoming students at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy represent 49 countries, as well as various cultural backgrounds, languages, and experiences. International students applying to graduate school in the US may have many questions about our application process, and our admissions team is here to help. Director of International Partnerships and Executive Education Shilin Liu, MPP’17, shares some tips for international students applying to Harris.

Are you interested in applying for our Data and Policy Summer Scholar Program? Read this note from Lana Kugli Ou, who completed the DPSS program in 2018 and will join the MSCAPP program in fall of 2021!

Jenny Erickson, Director of Enrollment Management and Marketing Strategy at UChicago Harris Public Policy, answers questions about the academic and professional values of short-term, Credential Programs such as the seven-week Data and Policy Summer Scholar Program (DPSS).

We are excited you are interested in participating in the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) program! The program offers rigorous academics and robust co-curriculars in a virtual format. There are unique benefits and challenges of virtual learning, and we designed the program so that you will have an immersive academic training and community experience to fully explore the fields of data science and public policy.