By Brendan Yap MPA/ID 2027
Attending HKS was beyond my wildest dreams—even as I write this post, I am still in disbelief that I am where I am today. I remember distinctively being anxious about putting my career on pause for two years to come to graduate school, but the experience has been everything I wanted and more. If that isn’t enough to convince you that HKS will be the right choice for you, here are five more reasons that I hope will help you decide to apply.
The academic rigor and emphasis on analytical skills is beyond those of most other policy programs.
Speaking personally as an MPA/ID student, the MPA/ID is truly unlike any other policy program. The MPA/ID places a heavy emphasis on technical and analytical skills, with the first year focused on sharpening our quantitative capabilities and fundamentals in macroeconomics and microeconomics. The MPA/ID curriculum teaches you to design policies that strike a balance between and technical accuracy, administrative ease, and political feasibility—an important lesson for any aspiring policymaker.
Beyond the MPA/ID core curriculum, HKS offers immense flexibility in choosing electives. We have ample space to take courses at almost every Harvard graduate school, as well as at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This was not even something I considered when I applied, but I now find myself taking every opportunity possible to tailor my time here at HKS to support my own research and academic interests.
You will be able to learn from faculty members that are truly world-class.
To put it simply: it’s nearly impossible to beat the quality of the faculty here at HKS. The school brings together top minds in the policy field, and they are available to us throughout the year. I remember walking past faculty offices, being surprised at who was here at HKS, and thinking to myself: I can just pop into their office and ask them any question I want?
In just nine months here at HKS, I have had guest lecturers, attended seminars, and gone to office hours with long-time industry experts, world leaders (both former and current), and Nobel Laureates. Consider my inner nerd fully satisfied.
“When people at HKS say they’re looking out for our wellbeing: they mean it. I came to HKS during a period of heavy uncertainty for international students, but HKS was there for me every step of the way.”
You will have access to an incredibly impressive network of HKS alumni.
The sense of giving back is particularly strong in HKS—and this extends to its alumni. HKS graduates have gone on to do fantastic things around the globe, and they are always ready to help the next generation. This is extremely helpful when you’re seeking summer internships (as MPA/IDs are required to do after our first year) or full-time jobs, or even if you’re just looking for people to talk to about your future.
The community is tight-knit, diverse, and always willing to engage.
Since we are one of Harvard's most diverse schools, you will never feel out of place here at HKS. Not only do HKS students come from a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, but everyone is willing to engage with one another and learn from each other. The School provides tons of avenues for students to interact with one another. My personal favorite is Quorum Call, a weekly casual gathering with snacks and drinks in the HKS Winter Garden.
I also love my MPA/ID cohort. The MPA/ID Program has a heavy academic focus, but I really do think the sense of camaraderie that comes out of it is extremely valuable.
HKS provides many resources and invaluable support to its students.
I was truly surprised at the vast resources and support that HKS makes available to its students. When people at HKS say they’re looking out for our wellbeing: they mean it. I came to HKS during a period of heavy uncertainty for international students, but HKS was there for me every step of the way. Now that I’m here, the school is sure to provide us with a great amount of support for our learning, our hunt for internships, and even for our future careers.
