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Harvard Kennedy School Essay Prompts for 2013-2014

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Looking for the HKS 2016 Application Essay Prompts? Find them here. Yippee! The HKS essay prompts for this year have been released, and they are slightly different than previous years. This is great news to me, because I have read and edited hundreds of HKS admissions essays since helping one of my best friends apply (and get a full scholarship to attend!) in 2004, preparing my own application in 2005, and then after starting this company in 2010. Interesting note about word limits: One thing I noticed on the HKS blog is how much they emphasize that word limits are firm. Getting the full story out while staying within the word limit is one of the most challenging parts of writing admissions essays. One awesome benefit my clients get from working from me is freedom from worrying about the word limit. I allow my clients to submit their essays to me with a word count that is up to double the word limit, and I will edit their essays down to the word limit. Getting rid of unnecessary sentences—and sometimes even whole paragraphs—is a lot easier for me since I have less emotional attachment to each and every word and I know what kinds of sharing is meaningful to AdComs and what is just fluff. Okay, enough blabbing from me. Let’s get to the essay prompts, pulled from the official HKS admissions blog:

The 2013-2014 application essay prompts for the HKS MC/MPA, the MPA2, MPP, and MPA/ID are below:

All programs:

Essay 1 (Optional)

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. word limit: 750 words
 

MPP & MPA2:

Essay 2

The HKS motto, evoking our Presidential namesake, is “Ask what you can do.” Please share with the Admissions Committee your plans to create positive change through your leadership and service, and how an MPP/MPA2 from HKS will prepare you to do so. word limit: 500 words
 

Essay 3

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. word limit: 500 words

MPA/ID:

Essay 2

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

Essay 3

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

Essay 4

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

Essay 5

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 catalogue or on-line course catalogue are preferred. word limit: none specified

MC/MPA (including Mason Fellows Program):

Essay 2

Submit a statement that discusses your career goals, as well as the factors that led you to select the Mid-Career MPA/Edward S. Mason 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. word limit: 750 words

Essay 3

Describe your most substantial professional and/or public service contribution in which you exercised a significant leadership role in furthering the public good. word limit: 750 words

MPP and MPA/ID Applicants Applying to the HKS/HBS Joint Degree:

Joint Degree Essay

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

Yes! We are accepting HKS application materials for Rush Editing.

Review Deadlines & Turnaround Times: Click Here

Good News! We’re still accepting materials for editing with a quick turnaround for December 1–15 deadlines.

Important: The final deadline to submit materials is Tuesday, November 29, at 9 PM CT.

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