44-year-old Economist with 23 years of experience accepted to Harvard Kennedy School Mid-Career MPA as a Mason Fellow
As an economist with 23 years of experience, Mauro was determined to take his career to the next level by attending Harvard Kennedy School. “I had to put together an application that highlighted why I wanted to change careers, or change from the private sector to giving another focus of attention, which is more on the government side and more on the social side,” Mauro said.
Mauro said he wanted to be an agent of change for his country, Mexico, and he knew that the skills he could learn at Harvard would help him return home and be this change. Many people told Mauro he should apply to numerous schools in order to reach his full potential — but he knew where he wanted to be: Harvard Kennedy School.
As a referral from a friend, Mauro found out about The Art of Applying®. He did his own research about the accomplishments of clients and the team. He decided working with us was the best strategy for him to fulfill his goals.
“I think that [my research] gave me the insight that you were in the best position to help. And second, In the first interview call [Breakthrough Call] that I had with your team, I found out that they asked the right questions and they really get to know me and they told me that they were in a position to help me get the most out of my application,” Mauro said.
For Mauro, The Art of Applying® was not only a great resource to fulfill his grad school dreams, but he knew our program, Application Accelerator®, would help him stay accountable. Mauro shared, “[I am] a full-time employee with lots of traveling and lots of commitments and lots of deadlines and so forth. What I really wanted was a structured program that would help me meet deadlines.”
Mauro believes working with us at The Art of Applying® in our Application Accelerator® is truly an investment worth making. “It’s completely up to you to be successful... if you’re admitted to The Art of Applying®, then the likelihood of success is really high and you want to get your money’s worth.”
And indeed, Mauro did get his money’s worth!
Mauro was accepted to Harvard Kennedy School’s Mid-Career MPA program as a Mason Fellow. He plans to attend HKS and then return to Mexico to give back to his country. Mauro said, “I’m very happy to have been admitted. I look forward to being an agent of change in my country, and if I can do anything for other people, I am more than willing to do it.”
We are delighted to have been a part of Mauro’s journey from being an economist in the private sector in Mexico to attending his dream school, so that he can have the impact he is committed to making.
Start Date: September 2018 | End Date: May 2019
Applicant Information
- 44 years old
- Mexican
- School: Monterrey Institute of Technology
Acceptances
- Harvard Kennedy School
Attending
- Harvard Kennedy School MC/MPA Mason Fellows
Notable Quotes
Mauro appreciated our help in making his case as an applicant from the private sector:
“One of the major requirements was to have past experience. So I have over 23 years of experience working at CEMEX, a building materials company. And I had to put together an application that highlighted why I wanted to change careers or change from the private sector to giving another focus of attention, which is more on the government side and more on the social side if you will. So that was really helpful. And then what else can I tell you? I’m an economist by profession. I have an MBA and I really wanted to get an MPA, but I wanted to make sure that it was a mid-career program.”
Mauro came to us as a referral and felt we were the best professionals to help him achieve his goals:
“I did some research on your accomplishments. I found out that it was the best mechanism for me to really fulfill their compelling applications… It was a referral, I did my homework. And I realized that when at first many people told me, ‘You should apply to maybe three, four, or five schools to get your possibilities higher of acceptance, but I really wanted to get into this specific program. So I took the decision to apply only to this program, which I know is not the best thing, but having said that, I took the decision because you [Kaneisha] are from Harvard, both from Kennedy School and also from the Business School. And I think that that gave me the insight that you were in the best position to help. And second, in the first interview call [Breakthrough Call] that I had with your team, I found out that they asked the right questions and they really get to know me and they told me that they were in a position to help me get the most out of my application.”
Mauro appreciated that we got to know him during the Breakthrough Call, and then provided a plan, structure, and accountability in the Application Accelerator®:
“For me being a full-time employee with lots of traveling and lots of commitments and lots of deadlines and so forth, what I really wanted was a structured program that would help me meet deadlines and make sure that along the way. I remember my first call was on the fourth of September and the deadline for me was on the third of December. So I realized that I had maybe three months to put together this application, but while I was traveling, while I was working, while I was doing lots of stuff. So what really appealed to me was the discipline that I had to put together in order for the application. And I have to meet deadlines, I have to send things for revision for comments and most importantly the feedback that I got was really, really helpful and in terms of, ‘This is not really necessary….You haven’t spoken about this.’ So in …the first call [Breakthrough Call], they get to know you. And then from there, they can see what’s the best way that they can help you.”
Mauro was impressed by the professionalism of our team and felt his investment was worthwhile:
“When I think like anything in life, this is an investment. I think that it is worth every penny. And I think that yes, you think maybe you find other places where you can find help, but at the end of the day, for me, is finding the best help. And that was what I found in The Art of Applying®. Honestly, I really was surprised by the professionalism of the whole thing. And the way they set you up on the way, and the way they coach you, and the way they helped me — it was second to none.”
“I have to speak very highly of every member of your team…and that is even from the people that help you connect, that help you with the website, that help you with the questions…even the consultants that help you… So I found myself very comfortable working with the whole team. And every time I reached out for help, there was someone there.”
Mauro went “all in” on his dream of attending Harvard Kennedy School:
“I mean, I have always had this thing about being an agent of change. And coming from a developing country myself and I realized that this particular program the Mason Fellow program was what was more suited for me. So I went all in, if you will, on this program and with your help and your advice.”
Our belief in Mauro’s success helped him feel even more confident in his application process:
“I just want to say that I mean obviously, this is an investment, one should see this as an investment, but their success rate is really high…I like the fact that you take the chance to admit people to whether or not you want to work with them because I think that once you are admitted [to the Application Accelerator®] — you have what it takes, and it’s completely up to you to be successful.…So my recommendation, my advice to people, is…if you’re admitted to The Art of Applying®, then the likelihood of success is really high.”
Mauro is eager to pay it forward and help others:
“I’m very happy to have been admitted. I look forward to being an agent of change in my country, and if I can do anything for other people I am more than willing to do it.”
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