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. We hope these answers will be helpful to you as you are completing your application before the June 15 deadline!

Jonathan DaCosta, MPP Class of 2024, writes about his transition to graduate school directly from undergrad.

Our next priority deadline of June 15 is just around the corner. We frequently receive questions from eager students on how they can strengthen their application. Before you apply, 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!

Carrie Collins, MPP Class of 2024, wrote about what a typical Tuesday looked like for her during spring quarter after completing the Core.

The next priority deadline to apply to Harris is May 15 at 11:59 p.m. (Central Daylight Time). 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 finalize your application, here is some helpful guidance on approaching and starting your motivational statement and essays.

If you are interested in advancing your career and education through the Data and Policy Summer Scholar Program or the PKU-UChicago International Policy Action Lab, we have put together a list of FAQs to help you navigate our programs and determine which one best suits your needs.

Yelyzaveta (Lisa) Fedorovska, MPP Class of 2024, moved to Chicago from Ukraine in fall of 2023. In this blog, she shares some helpful tips for graduate students looking for housing.

You’ve submitted your application! This is an exciting time for you—and for us. You’ve taken the next step in your academic and career journey, and you’re ahead of the curve by submitting so 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-May. But wait! There are a few things we think you should consider between now and decision release.

The Admissions team has rolled out a series of virtual sessions on application tips called Applying to Grad School. We have rounded up the recordings for your reference as you complete your application. Our next deadline to apply is, Thursday, April 20 at 11:59 p.m. CDT (UTC-5).

There are many fun and unique experiences to enjoy while living in Chicago. For example, Vitor Agrella da Silveira, MPP Class of 2024, writes about his experience watching his friend run in the Chicago Marathon last fall.

The University of Chicago is home to avid readers from many walks of life. A brief stroll around campus and you will pass the Seminary Co-Op Bookstore, which houses a world-renowned collection of scholarly work; 57th St. Books, which caters to the vast literary interests of the community; Powell’s Books, Chicago’s largest independent dealer in quality used, bargain, antiquarian, and out of print books; as well as six on-campus libraries (not to mention student borrowing privileges at several local museums and archives). We asked Harris faculty and staff to give some of their top reading recommendations.

Muaz Chaudhry, MPP Class of 2024, shares how he managed to build a vibrant community at Harris as a queer, international student.

After three years of online teaching, Peking University (PKU) and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy are proud to launch an in-person 2023 PKU-UChicago Summer School. During the Summer School, you will receive face-to-face instruction and guidance in English from top professors in PKU and UChicago Harris on PKU campus in Beijing, China. The 2023 Summer School offers three separate programs: International Policy Action Lab (IPAL), Monetary Policy and International Finance Program (MPIF), and Environmental Economics and Policy Lab (EEPL). Applications are now being accepted until June 18 for the summer of 2023!

Connecting with current students is an important part of making your graduate school decision. From a short conversation or a few emails, you can learn more about where to live, what to expect from classes, internship opportunities, and life outside of the classroom.

Victor Hinardi, MPP Class of 2023 and DPSS'20, writes about the ways in which data can be used to tell stories that impact policy change.

The application for Harris is still open. The next priority deadline to apply for Round 3 is May 15, 2023. We wanted to share some information about GRE test requirements and waivers before you get started.

Our Application for Review of Scholarship Award for admitted students is now open! The scholarship reconsideration is open Monday, March 13–Friday, March 24 and decisions will be sent via email by April 10.

Graduate school is an exciting adventure that presents many changes—some of which admittedly can be stressful. This is why the Dean of Students Office emphasizes the importance of establishing a self-care routine early in your academic career and taking advantage of the many resources the university offers for mental health.

Anna Weiss, DPSS’21, MPP Class of 2024, writes about what students can do with R Programming, a coding language for statistical analysis and data visualization, using our Harris Credential Programs, Data Analytics Credential (DAC) and the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) Program, as examples.

Yelyzaveta (Lisa) Fedorovsa, MPP Class of 2024, writes about the top ten fun activities to do in Chicago.