Harvard Kennedy School: An Interview with Admissions Director Matt Clemons

https://blog.accepted.com/harvard-ken...

Matt Clemons is the Director of Admissions for the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and he shares what the school is looking for in its applicants, what to expect while in the program, and some of the exciting things current students and alumni are doing to make an impact on society. If you are driven to solve the problems of public policy and society, take a closer look at Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Questions covered in this episode with timestamps:
Intro 0:00

Can you please give an overview of the HKS MPP program? 2:10

How do the MPP, the Master's of Public Administration, and the MPAID (MPA Int’l Dev) differ? 3:31

What is the Mason Program or cohort in the Mid-Career MPA? 6:30

What is the difference between joint, concurrent, and dual degree options? HKS offers all 3. 7:30

What percentage of students take advantage of these 2-degree options? 12:51

What’s changed at HKS in the last 3 years? 13:04

What is something really cool that a recent HKS grad is doing? 14:52

What are you looking for in applicants across all your degree programs? 16:50

What advice would you give someone who is looking to make a career switch? 18:30

What are you looking for in terms of academic experience, work experience, and other kinds of experience? 20:34

What gets you excited about an applicant? 23:29

What is a turn off? 24:59

Any plans to change the application essays this year? 27:16

HKS required 3 recommendations. That’s a one more than most masters programs. Why? 28:44

Your brochure says that interviews at HKS are not required, but that the admission committee may “contact applicants on a case-by-case basis.” When would you contact an applicant? Would that contact become an interview or would it be more like to ask for clarification about something in the app? 30:28

If someone is planning to apply this cycle, what advice would you have at this point in time? 32:19

What would you have liked me to ask you? 33:47

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