Harvard Kennedy School 2014-2015 Essay Prompts

All Programs

Optional Essay:

 If you have any concerns about your prior academic background, or if you believe the Admissions Committee may have concerns, please give a brief explanation of your performance in college, or your standardized test scores (750 word limit).

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MC/MPA and MC/MPA Mason

Essay 1: Submit a statement that discusses your career goals, as well as the factors that led you to select the Mid-Career MPA program as a means of furthering your personal and professional goals. Be as specific as possible in describing how your expected course of study will enable you to build on your prior professional experience and achieve these goals (750 word limit). Essay 2: Describe your most substantial professional and/or public service contribution in which you exercised a significant leadership role in furthering the public good (750 word limit).

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MPP

Essay 1:

The Harvard Kennedy School motto, echoing the President for whom the School is named, is “Ask what you can do.” Please share with the Admissions Committee your plans to create positive change through your leadership and service. (500 word limit).

Essay 2:

There are many pathways one can pursue in order to make a difference in the world. Why is the MPP Program at HKS an appropriate pathway to achieving your goals? (500 word limit).

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MPA/ID

Essay 1:

Discuss your decision to choose international development as your professional career. Also, explain how developing your analytic skills relates to your career in development (750 word limit).

Essay 2:

Describe an event or experience in which you exercised a significant decision-making, management, or leadership role (750 word limit).

Essay 3:

Describe a public policy or public management problem related to international development and analyze a range of solutions (750 word limit).

Essay 4:

At least one college level course in microeconomics, macroeconomics and multivariable calculus must be completed before enrollment. Statistics and linear algebra are desirable, but not required. Explain how you have met these requirements, or how you propose to meet them before enrolling in September. Please include descriptions of mathematics courses you have taken that covered calculus and multivariable calculus, as well as descriptions of any courses whose titles do not clearly indicate the content (e.g. Mathematics II or Advanced Mathematics). Official descriptions copied from your college’s course catalog or on-line course catalog are preferred.

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Joint HBS Essay (for MPP and MPA/ID applicants only, if applying to Joint HKS/HBS Program)

How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level (400 word limit)?

MPA2

Essay 1:

The Harvard Kennedy School motto, echoing the President for whom the School is named, is “Ask what you can do.” Please share with the Admissions Committee your plans to create positive change through your leadership and service. (500 word limit).

Essay 2:

There are many pathways one can pursue in order to make a difference in the world. Why is the MPA Program at HKS an appropriate pathway to achieving your goals? (500 word limit).

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Non-Degree

Essay 1:

The Harvard Kennedy School motto, echoing the President for whom the School is named, is “Ask what you can do.” Please share with the Admissions Committee your plans to create positive change through your leadership and service. (500 word limit)

Essay 2:

Describe an example of commitment to a goal from your work, academic, or personal life. This does not need to be dramatic—or even successful—but should speak to your capacity for sustained effort. Please focus on one specific example, rather than a summary of the résumé/CV we have asked you to provide (500 word limit).