Where I Was When I Got Into Harris

When I finished my undergraduate experience I knew that I eventually wanted to go back to graduate school, and specialize in an energy-related field, but I had always assumed that law school was the only option available for an individual with a more qualitative background like myself. A year in Washington, D.C. - and in particular the summer following graduation - exposed me to policy professionals on the Hill, and I became aware that an MPP, not a law degree, had become the new standard within their offices. Specialization was key, but learning how to properly dissect policy through quantitative analytics was no longer seen as optional, but rather a requirement to even receive the opportunity for an interview.

After careful research, it become increasingly clear that Harris was the right school for me. With a devotion to the quantitative side of policy, I knew that Harris would allow me to become more rounded professionally and provide an immediate advantage in the job market.

The day I got into Harris I was working in D.C. and coming back from lunch when my phone buzzed with a new email informing me that the status of my application had been updated. When I clicked on the attached link my screen filled with the notification of my acceptance, and I immediately called my mother - her screams of happiness nearly broke the speaker on my phone! After work I informed all of my friends at a happy hour and their reactions were both happiness for the news and sadness when they realized that this meant I would be moving away from them. Receiving my acceptance to Harris was an emotional experience; it represented countless days and hours of hard work, but more importantly how vital my support system was for me in ensuring that my goal could become a reality. After two days of thought, weighing my options, I ultimately decided that Harris was the perfect fit for me and I accepted my admission.

A year into the program I still believe that I made the right choice. The academic and social experiences that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of at Harris have been world-class and something that I know will set me up in my professional life. The quantitative skills that I am learning on a daily basis are well understood outside of the confines of the University of Chicago and remain heavily desired regardless of the field that my classmates and I are applying to. While the process of applying to graduate school, and eventually working through the core curriculum at Harris have been challenging, there is simply no better place to receive an MPP than the University of Chicago.