Admissions Blog

The next priority deadline to apply to Harris is Thursday, February 22—apply now. We also wanted to share some information about GRE test requirements and waivers before you get started.

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 23, 2023—January 2, 2024, 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.

Curious about pursuing a career at the intersection of social impact and data analysis? Turn your passion for doing good into measurable impact with the Policy Research and Innovation Bootcamp (PRIB). PRIB is a two-week, in-person program, encompassing rigorous training in policy research methods, hands-on projects addressing real-world policy challenges, and unique opportunities for career exploration and leadership development. PRIB’s on-campus, in-person format allows you to engage and network with top policy scholars across interdisciplinary University of Chicago centers and institutes. Read more for six reasons why you should consider enrolling:

As students begin receiving their admission offers to UChicago for Fall 2024, we thought it would be helpful to sit down with Colleen Keefe Poungsiri, our International Affairs Advisor at the Office of International Affairs (OIA). Here, Colleen discusses some of the most frequently asked questions she receives from students starting the visa process.

Harris students recently attended the UChicago Gargoyle Gala, the biggest social event for graduate students across divisions at UChicago. This year, the gala was held at the world-renowned Field Museum.

We frequently receive questions from eager students on how they can strengthen their application. Before then, 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!

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.

Short-term programs at the University of Chicago, like the Harris Credential Programs, are an investment in your academic and professional career. The programs provide skills you can apply immediately, a global network of peers, and strengthen your resume for your next opportunity. Following are some tips to help you understand the financial planning needed for this investment in your future.

This year, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy is working to break down barriers for our prospective students. That's why we've waived our application fee for master's degree applicants. In this blog, we also share some information about waiving the GRE test requirement as well as tips for finding the program that is the best fit for you.

We understand finances are an important factor as you explore your academic pathway and hope the following information is useful in your decision-making process.

Dr. Ramaswami Balasubramaniam (Dr. Balu) is a development scholar, author, public policy advocate, and leadership trainer. After spending 26 years in pioneering development work among rural and tribal people, he pursued academic degrees in leadership, organizational development, and public policy. He was the Frank H.T. Rhodes Professor at Cornell University from 2012–14, and continues to hold academic positions in Cornell and other universities. He is currently the full time Member-HR in the Capacity Building Commission of the Government of India. On Friday, October 27, Dr. Balu visited the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to connect with senior leadership and students.

We regularly host Roundtables with alumni of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) Program who share their UChicago experience and advice for prospective students. We asked alums how they navigated the quantitative coursework of DPSS. Below are pieces of their testimonies. Access our webinar recordings or our DPSS Alumni Stories webpage for additional highlights.

The application for the 2024 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.

The University of Chicago Phoenix (Phil) is flying to Ohio! Ready to rise up from the ashes and make a more meaningful impact in your community?

Our PhD deadline is December 6, 2023. 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.

Our next deadline to apply to the class starting in Autumn 2024 is December 6—apply now. As you begin your application process you may be wondering which of our programs is the best fit for you. Check out our comparison chart and more information below.

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.

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.

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.