Admissions Blog

The Persuasive Writing Credential (PWC) is not your typical online writing course. Whether you work in writing, policy, or another field, this program will enhance your persuasive writing at all stages. Below are four factors, according to students, that make this program unique.

We wanted to share some answers to frequently asked questions about how  Credential Programs prepare you for your academic and professional career, including examples from the seven-week Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) Program.

The application for the 2025 Credential Programs is open! We sat down with Shilin Liu, Executive Director of Partnerships & Credential Programs, to answer questions and share tips on how you can maximize a Credential Program’s impact on your academic and professional advancement.

It isn’t too early to apply to the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) Program! Here we outline the benefits of applying well in advance.

You’ve submitted your application! You’ve taken the next step in your academic and career journey, and you’re ahead of the curve by submitting early. After you submitted your application you probably took a deep breath—or maybe let out a breath you’d been holding in—and you may think all there is left to do is wait for decisions to be released in mid-March. But wait! There are a few things we think you should consider between now and decision release.

Happy Holidays from the Student Recruitment and Global Outreach (SRGO) team at Harris! The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy will be closed December 24, 2024—January 2, 2025, and your Admissions team will have limited access to email during that time. Before we leave for winter break, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite ways to celebrate winter in Chicago.

One of the unique features of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) Program is the opportunity to engage in hands-on policy research. The faculty-led Capstone Research Project is the culmination and highlight of the seven-week program. We spoke with Austin Wright, Assistant Professor and DPSS Faculty Director, to learn more about the capstone project.

Kerem Tasdan, MPP Class of 2026, shares a helpful, quick reference guide to using public transportation to explore Hyde Park and Chicago!

If you’re in Chicago and you let the cold weather keep you inside, you’ll be missing out on some of the most classic winter activities! Brave the outdoors and experience the thrill of a Midwestern winter by checking out these Chicago activities you can’t find anywhere else.

Martha MacLaren, MPP Class of 2025, shares how she got her internship with the Chicago Mayor's Office, and what she learned.

Evy Lanai, MPP Class of 2025, shares about her summer internship experience with the Commit Partnership, an education nonprofit in Dallas, Texas.

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.  

Our PhD deadline is December 5, 2024. We wanted to provide a roundup of resources you may find helpful, including information on both our PhD and MA in Public Policy with Certificate in Research Methods (MACRM) programs.

Harris’ main building, The Keller Center, is located at 1307 East 60th Street. This area is easily accessible through the 171 and 172 bus routes. Students can use these routes to not only access the Keller Center but also other important locations around the University of Chicago campus, such as the Regenstein library to study, the University of Chicago Bookstore to get swag, or one of the many local restaurants and attractions.

This year, the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) program at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has upgraded our program experience with two distinct tracks: Academic and Professional. Why? Because we know one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to education. In this blog, we chat with Shilin Liu, Executive Director of Partnerships and Credential Programs to learn more about this upgrade.

We frequently receive questions from eager students on how they can strengthen their application. We wanted to give you some tips on how you can make your application stand out—read more to get answers to frequently asked questions!

While it’s one of our favorite parts of the application reading experience, we know that writing essay components can be anxiety-inducing for applicants. As you start or continue your application, we hope you find this guidance on the motivational statement and essays helpful.

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, Senior Director of Student Recruitment Devon Reber Drehmer answers some of our most frequently asked questions.

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.

Embarking on a full-time graduate degree is a big commitment. Harris Credential Programs can help prepare you for graduate school while you work or complete your undergraduate studies. We’ve shared three ways credentials can support your graduate study using the example of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) program.