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

Each year we place a number of students on the waitlist for a variety of reasons, and many students reach out to our office to learn what they can do to strengthen their application. Read this blog to learn more about the waitlist process and some frequently asked questions.

In a recent email to the Harris Community, Dean Katherine Baicker shared key takeaways and recordings from Black History Month programming.

Enrollment in Public Policy/Public Administration programs has grown steadily in the US over the last ten years. And for the Harris School of Public Policy—a graduate school that believes developing effective public policy is a science, based on data and measurable impact—that has certainly rung true. This growth is spurred in part by a shift in attitudes. The 2020 Deloitte Millennial Survey shows the importance of organizations taking intentional measures to drive positive societal outcomes, as well as being a place for talented employees to thrive in an impactful role. Read more...

If you are a recently admitted student, you may be wondering if you should take regular or advanced microeconomics and statistics in the Core. 

In his recent session, Taking Advanced Classes in the Core, Professor Tom Coleman, PhD’84 and Senior Lecturer at Harris, lays out some of the core differences between these classes. 

Watch the Webinar: Professor Tom Coleman on Taking Advanced Classes in the Core (59 min.)

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...

The following certificates have been approved for STEM eligibility. This means that international students who earn one of these certificates will be eligible to apply for an additional two years of OPT after the initial one-year OPT period, for a total of three years of possible work authorization.

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.

This summer, Professor Austin Wright led the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) and International Policy Action Lab (IPAL) programs in a research project on Covid-19 mask mandates. Teaching Fellows Geet Chawla, MPP Class of 2021, Luke Chen, MACRM Class of 2020, and Anthony Farmer, MPP Class of 2021, worked alongside Wright on a research paper, “Tracking Mask Mandates During the Covid-19 Pandemic.” We asked the Teaching Fellows about their experience this summer.

At UChicago, you’ll join a global network of alumni. During Virtual Admitted Student Week, join alumni across sectors to see what the trajectory of a Harris Student looks like.

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).

David Kanos, MPP Class of 2021, discusses his summer internship with the Brookings Institute’s Africa Growth Initiative, and how Harris equipped him with the tools he needed to succeed.

We encourage Harris students admitted into our graduate degree programs to explore  opportunities to prepare for their fall enrollment.  

Our non-degree Credential Programs enable you to gain specific skills that can bridge gaps in your portfolio and connect you with the UChicago community before starting your degree. 

Last summer, amid a global pandemic and from their own homes, two students in the University of Chicago’s MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) program rolled up their sleeves and got to work helping federal agencies better leverage data and technology. Eric Son and Launa Greer (both MSCAPP class of 2021) participated in the 10-week Civic Digital Fellowship, which promotes itself as a “first-of-its-kind internship for mission-driven, student software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and designers to innovate at the intersection of technology and public service.” Although neither had previous experience working in government, each recognized this as a unique opportunity to put their hard-earned computer science and data science skills gained through their first year in the MSCAPP program to the test.

Virtual Admitted Student Week is a chance for newly admitted students to connect with current and incoming students, as well as alumni, hear from faculty across policy areas, learn about the student support offered at Harris, and see the unique opportunities to study public policy and gain hands-on experience. We asked the Student Recruitment and Global Outreach team what they look forward to most about Virtual Admitted Student Week this February.

We are excited to be hosting meet and greet sessions for admitted students with current students from our Harris Ambassadors program January 25–29. These sessions will be a great opportunity for newly admitted Harris students to ask questions, learn firsthand about the Harris student experience, and connect with current students as well as other admits.

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.

Our team is aware of the many unique challenges everyone is facing in this current environment. So, for the 2021 admission cycle, Harris is offering a test-optional admission process for all applicants—domestic and international. The policy is open to students who do not wish to share their scores and to students who are unable to take the GRE or GMAT.

Thinking about applying to Harris? Our Round 2 deadline is January 22. The Student Recruitment and Global Outreach team would like to share seven video tips for completing a successful application!

We frequently receive this question from eager students searching for opportunities to strengthen their application, as well as those who are concerned about specific aspects of their application. Read more to hear our thoughts on these questions!