Female Economist from India Accepted to Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia SIPA, and Chicago Harris, with a Scholarship
After earning her Economics degree from the University of Warwick, Harman put her knowledge of economic theory into practice in both the public and private sectors in India. While she enjoyed her work, she realized that shaping policy was ultimately the way to change the trajectory of a nation’s economy. Harman’s desire to transform her knowledge of economic theories into real, effective policy changes led her to apply to Master’s of Public Policy programs.
Harman struggled to make progress on her MPP applications. Her anxiety made it hard for her to work on essays and study for the GRE. She procrastinated and became discouraged when she wasn’t making as much progress as she wanted. Being an economics student, Harman knew that getting help with her application was the best way to get accepted to her dream schools. So, she reached out to work with us.
After her Breakthrough Call, Harman appreciated how The Art of Applying® team’s customized approach helped her craft her story for admissions committees at her target schools. Harman mentioned, “I really felt that this was exactly the help I needed. Not in terms of what I need to get into policy schools, but how I needed to put my story forward.”
Though she was in India, Harman felt well connected with her consultant and her peers in the Application Accelerator®. She said, “I live in India, so my time zones were completely the opposite of the U.S. and I had to listen to the recordings of the calls. But, it still made you feel much more comfortable going through this because you heard people talking about the same concerns that you have.”
All of Harman’s hard work paid off. Harman was accepted to Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia SIPA, and University of Chicago Harris with a $30,000 scholarship! What’s Harman’s advice for applicants from India who want to pursue a public policy degree?
“We all have our stories. The crux lies in presenting them in the right ways to these schools. And, since we are not aware of a lot of the context that American schools look for, or the language, or the way of presenting your stories, that’s something you miss out on by virtue of being in a whole different country… So, that’s something I needed help with from The Art of Applying®,” Harman shared.
And what does she have to say about working with The Art of Applying®?
“I think the program is worth it for guiding you through the American system of graduate school applications. If you can join the program, then I don’t think there’s better help out there to help you get to your dream school,” Harman said.
Congratulations Harman! We are so glad to have been part of your journey to policy school.
Start Date: September 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
- Classification: 2:1 – Upper-Second Class Honors
- GRE: 328
- School: University of Warwick
- Major: Economics
- Work experience: 4 years in economics
Acceptances
- Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
- Harvard Kennedy School
- University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
Scholarships
- University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy – $30,000 scholarship ($15,000/year)
Notable Quotes
On making the commitment and investment in working with The Art of Applying®:
“I realized that if I’m going to give it only one shot to apply to grad school, it’s worth [working with The Art of Applying®] rather than wasting more years thinking about whether to apply or not. I’m an economics student. I understand opportunity costs. I would rather give it my best shot rather than try twice or thrice on my own.”
On the how Application Accelerator® helped Harman get into her dream schools, and earn a scholarship:
“One thing I found immensely helpful in the [Application Accelerator®] program is we have our own system of deadlines, which makes sure that you are prepared to submit that final application much before the deadline for the school. It makes you much more comfortable in your essays and in your approach to the whole process. That and the fact that The Art of Applying® is so good at getting back to you when you have any questions or come up with any roadblocks.”
Harman’s advice to prospective MPP applicants from private sector backgrounds:
“For the people from the private sector: you might feel that because you come from the private sector that policy schools might not look at you. But, as someone who has worked in both the public and the private sector, I can assure you that the skills are very similar and they intercross a lot. So if you have your heart set on a purpose bigger than your current role, and you know that your skills are needed there, then policy schools will be happy to listen to you.”
Leave a Reply