Admissions Blog

The Data and Policy Summer Scholar Program (DPSS) presents a chance to learn coding and techniques for policy analysis in 8 weeks! With deadlines for the summer of 2024 approaching, we’ve provided you this checklist to make sure you are ready to submit a complete and strong application to DPSS.

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 late November. But wait! There are a few things we think you should consider between now and decision release.

There are plenty of ways for Harris students to get involved and gain real-world experiences outside of the classroom. For example, we have more than thirty Harris Student Organizations (HSOs) in which students can build community and do meaningful work. We attended an HSO fair and stopped by a few tables for a glimpse into their work.

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.

Muaz Chaudhry, MPP Class of 2024, shares his application experience and tips ahead of our early action deadline on October 5.

One of the best ways to get to know the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy is to visit our beautiful campus. Below are some activities and restaurants in and around Hyde Park that no one should overlook.

Before the ivy at UChicago bursts into an autumn rainbow and we get into the full swing of the fall quarter, I wanted to share an appreciation post about my first summer in Chicago. From music festivals to food fairs and outdoor activities, there's something for everyone to enjoy. All season long, you can play beach volleyball on Lake Michigan, enjoy views of the iconic Chicago skyline, try new foods from a variety of cultures, and visit neighborhood celebrations all over the city. Here are some ideas I’ve gathered for making the most out of summer in Chicago.

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.

The M.S. in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) is a rigorous, two-year program offered jointly by the Harris School of Public Policy and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Chicago. Students of the program come from a variety of backgrounds, educational focus and geographies, but all have a passion for using data to bring about change in public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Harris Policy Labs are Harris elective courses in which small teams of second-year (or second-third quarter MA) Harris students apply their rigorous Core education and policy skills to real-time public policy challenges facing client organizations. Policy Labs students work under faculty guidance and earn course credit.

As you’re planning to apply to Harris, you may already be thinking about your outcomes after graduation. We’re happy to share the following benefits, experiences, and outcomes for the Master of Arts in Public Policy with Certificate in Research Methods (MACRM) program.

While tips on applying to grad school from the Admissions team can be helpful to prospective students as they work through their application, we know many of you are also eager to hear more from current students.

We are excited for our upcoming event series in Washington, D.C. from July 13–14! Join us for coffee chats with the admissions team, a reception with students and alumni, and an information session to to learn how you can drive meaningful and measurable change with a graduate degree from Harris.

Sahila Kudalkar, MPP'23, shares some advice to incoming students on finding on-campus jobs.

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

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

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.

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.