Kaneisha Grayson's Blog, page 13

Ding Analysis: Rejected from Harvard Kennedy School due to Program Fit, Resume and Essay Mistakes

From the resume to the essays, grad school applications have a lot of moving parts. Unfortunately, that means many things can go wrong in an application. If your dream school rejected you, you might be wondering what happened. 

Our founder, Kaneisha, recently sat down with one of our clients, “Arthur”, to review his rejected application to the Harvard Kennedy School’s Mid-Career MPA program. We’ve summarized the notes Kaneisha gave Arthur and added comments about how other applicants can learn from his application experience and Ding Analysis. 

At The Art of Applying®, we work with clients to make sure they put their best application forward. One of the services we provide within our Hourly Coaching program is called a Ding Analysis, which is an in-depth analysis of your submitted application with a writeup of hypotheses of why you were rejected, and suggestions for a successful reapplication. During the Ding Analysis, one of our consultants sits down with a client and reviews the entirety of their rejected application materials. The consultant reads and critiques all of the applicant’s materials and provides clear, constructive, and kind feedback. While much of the feedback often ties to the individual’s profile and experience, much of the advice is also universally applicable to submitting a strong application to Harvard Kennedy School and other top graduate schools. 

Of course, only the admissions committee will know exactly why they chose to reject an application. Many applicants make the same mistakes because they don’t know better. They suffer from the challenges of inexperience, the common situation of “not knowing what you don’t know.” If you learn some of the common pitfalls, you can avoid making them when applying to grad school and improve your overall odds at getting into your dream schools. 

Key Takeaways from Arthur’s Ding Analysis Choose the right program for you. 

Kaneisha’s insights ranged from comments about Arthur’s overall profile, starting with the program at HKS he chose to apply to. In Arthur’s case, he technically met the requirements of the program he chose. However, his profile would have been more competitive had he applied to a different degree at HKS that more closely fit his years of work experience and academic profile. When you’re applying to a grad school, you may be able to choose from several programs. To put your best foot forward, make sure you’re applying to the program that’s the best fit for your background and goals as well as the program for which you’d be the most competitive candidate for admission. 

Maximize your resume, and carefully explain short-lived experiences. 

Outside of the program that he was applying to, Kaneisha also pointed out areas of Arthur’s resume that were not as fleshed out as they could have been. Sometimes it can make sense to highlight certain aspects of your experience more than others. 

In Arthur’s case, he had some experience that stood out on his resume. However, this experience was surprisingly short-lived and not explained or addressed elsewhere on his application. Kaneisha pointed out that not acknowledging this experience likely gave the admissions committee pause. Additionally, Kaneisha shared that MPA programs generally accept longer resumes than just one page, so Arthur had much more room to expand on this experience than he did in his submitted application. While certain programs favor one-page resumes, at The Art of Applying®, our guidance is that well formatted resumes (with lots of white space and normal-sized fonts) up to four pages long are acceptable for policy school programs. Keep this in mind if you plan to apply to policy school. 

Consider how your test score can boost the competitiveness of your profile.

In addition to her notes on Arthur’s resume, Kaneisha also provided insight into whether a higher test score might improve his overall profile. In some cases, a higher test score can boost an applicant’s odds, but not always. Having an expert weigh in on whether or not retesting can make a difference in an application may save an applicant a lot of time and effort.

In general, at The Art of Applying®, we find that applicants overemphasize the importance of high test scores and drastically underemphasize and under-prioritize the importance of a well-formatted, fleshed out resume and compelling, cohesive, and concise essays. 

Directly address the essay prompt early in the essay. 

Regarding his essays, Kaneisha had several pieces of advice. First, she advised Arthur to answer the prompt directly in the essay’s first few lines. As tempting as it can be to start with a quote (don’t do it!), story, or drawn-out metaphor, clearly and directly answering the prompt should be the top priority for a policy school essay. This way, the reader won’t feel lost about whether or not the applicant answered the prompt. Sometimes, an essay sufficiently answers a prompt, but the applicant buries the lede with preceding paragraphs, and the reader gets lost along the way. The smartest approach is to make sure this doesn’t happen by being clear and upfront. Once you have clearly answered the prompt, you can then go into a story, metaphor, or a very carefully selected, not overused quote. And speaking of quotes…

Don’t start your essays with a quote. 

Many applicants choose to begin their essays with quotes, but this approach has its faults. Namely, it relies on another person’s words to convey your thoughts from the very beginning of the essay instead of relying on your own voice. It’s better to spend the first few lines of your essay answering the prompt clearly than to share a quote that may be overused and may not even get your point across. 

Be mindful of your biases. 

Kaneisha offered some advice that all applicants can take into consideration for their essays. First, be mindful of displaying gender bias. If you reference an interest in particular courses at the school you’re applying to, it is notable to admissions committee members if you only name men, which is a persistent problem in scholarly research, academia, and the corporate world. Our simple advice at The Art of Applying® is to make sure to list at least one course taught by a woman in the subject area that interests you. Many applicants name only courses taught by men without even realizing it. Keeping an eye on how your biases might pop up can help you avoid this common mistake. 

Avoid typos. 

Finally, we’ve all heard this last piece of advice, but it remains true. Avoid typos as much as possible. Misspellings or incorrect phrases happen to the best of us, but they can also taint an admissions committee member’s opinion of an applicant. Make use of spell check and ask friends, colleagues, or hired experts like us to proofread your materials to avoid leaving a bad impression on the admissions committee. 

While Kaneisha shared the tips above specifically about Arthur’s HKS application, all applicants can learn from her feedback. Avoid these missteps to put your best application forward. Of course, having a dedicated and experienced expert like the ones on our team at The Art of Applying® review your materials is always helpful. If you need help with your application, sign up for a Quick Call with our team today.

1 Learn more about the gender gap in scholarly research here: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/08/16/new-research-shows-extent-gender-gap-citations

Which business schools can you apply to without a GRE or GMAT test score?

See the list of schools for the 2020-2021 business school admissions cycle.

Author: Yorm

There’s never been a better time to apply to business school. With COVID-19 impacting the ability of students to take standardized tests in-person, several top MBA schools are responding to these changes by allowing you to apply without a GRE or GMAT, or adding special accommodations to meet the needs of MBA applicants in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. 

Listed below are a current list of test requirements for top business schools in the US. 

Note: Be sure to verify standardized test requirements on school websites as schools may continue to make adjustments.

Business School 2020-2021 Standardized Test RequirementsCornell University Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management Adjusted deadlines for official test scoresDuke University, Fuqua School of BusinessNew Round 4 application deadline (May 19). Round 4 candidates to submit the Executive Assessment without prior approval, instead of GMAT/GRE.Emory University, Goizueta Business SchoolWaiver process for candidates with extenuating circumstancesGeorgetown University, McDonough School of BusinessAccepting Executive Assessment, LSAT and MCAT, expired GMAT/GRE scoresHarvard Business SchoolRequired, extended timeline for those facing testing limitationsIndiana University-Bloomington, Kelley School of BusinessWaiver application processMassachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Sloan School of ManagementNot required, will accept valid or expired scoresNew York University, Leonard N. Stern School of BusinessWaivers for part-time MBA with conditionsNorthwestern University, Kellogg School of ManagementTest scores required, explain extenuating COVID-19 circumstances in optional essayRice University, Jones Graduate School of BusinessWaiver application processStanford University, Graduate School of BusinessAccepting official online versions of the GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS until further noticeThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business SchoolGMAT/GRE waiver for certain candidatesThe University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of BusinessWaiver process for candidates with extenuating circumstancesUniversity of California, Berkeley, Haas School of BusinessTest extensions provided for Round 1 candidatesUniversity of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Anderson School of ManagementTest extensions for 2020 cycleUniversity of Chicago, Booth School of BusinessCandidates can apply without a test score, official test scores required by July 1 (2020 cycle)University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan Ross School of BusinessWaiver application processUniversity of Pennsylvania, Wharton SchoolAccepting official online GMAT & GRE scoresUniversity of Rochester, Simon Business SchoolWaiver application processUniversity of Southern California, Marshall School of BusinessNot required, candidates are encouraged to take online alternatives for GMAT, GRE & Executive AssessmentsUniversity of Virginia, Darden School of BusinessGMAT/GRE Test OptionalUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin School of BusinessGMAT/GRE Test OptionalVanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of ManagementExecutive Assessment

A few top schools still require the GMAT or GRE as part of your application. These include:

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of BusinessColumbia Business SchoolDartmouth College, Tuck School of BusinessUniversity of Washington, Foster School of BusinessWashington University in St. Louis, Olin Business SchoolYale University, Yale School of Management

An MBA from a top business school offers candidates the opportunity to pivot careers, expand professional networks, and be equipped to take on impactful leadership roles in the world of business. With MBA graduates earning significantly more than their peers, an investment in a business education will always be worth it. It’s also a great time to apply to several top schools without the burden of taking a test. 

Looking for help on your business school applications? Learn more about how we can help by scheduling your Quick Call with our team today.

Hit Submit: Gia

How to Apply to Lots of Graduate Schools

How a woman with 17 years of public policy experience learned how to tell her story in a way that shows PhD programs how she’ll change the world.

Welcome to another edition of our new series, Hit Submit! In this series, we chat with current clients of The Art of Applying® before they’ve heard back from their schools, and after they’ve submitted at least one application. 

For this edition, we interviewed “Gia,” who has spent the last seventeen years working in public policy, but wants to do research that gives citizens a voice to change their communities. To accomplish her goal, she’s applying to PhD programs in urban planning and policy.  

Here’s where Gia applied with the help of The Art of Applying® team as an Application Accelerator® client:

UC BerkeleyUCLAUSCArizona State University

Before we jump into the details of the interview, let’s get Gia’s top takeaways.

Top Takeaways from Gia’s Hit Submit Interview:

If you are applying to a PhD, apply to a LOT of programs. Acceptance rates for PhD candidates are much lower than for master’s programs. That’s because the fit between you, the school, faculty, and research focus is critical.

Know what your why is. The application process requires deep introspection to convince the school, and yourself, that you’re absolutely certain you want a PhD. It’s not just about getting the credential. It’s about what impact you want to have on the world as a result.
Get your game face on! The application process for a PhD program is just as rigorous as being in the program itself. It’s great training for what you’ll be doing when you become a PhD scholar.

Here’s our interview with Gia:Gia, how did you decide which schools to apply to?

I’m applying for a PhD in urban planning and policy. How I came up with the list was with Planetizen’s guide and rankings, which helped me quite a lot in terms of determining the quality of the schools. I also looked at the relevance of the programs I’m applying to. I’m interested in technology and new media in planning, and obviously, the faculty plays a big role in that with the kind of research they’re doing. In addition to that, I also looked at the facilities and how the school presents itself. It’s very important to me to look for a school that I know I’m going to feel welcome and I’m going to belong when I get there.

So, what is your “why” for applying to graduate school? You’re interested in the PhD in Urban Planning, talk to us about what you hope will open up in your personal and professional life as a result of getting that degree.

My main why is to impact public policy. I’m applying for a PhD after spending seventeen years in the field working. I’ve encountered challenges as I’ve been going through my practice. What I really want to look at is how, through research, citizens can actually participate in having a voice in policy formulation, as well as a way of shaping their own communities.

What strengths and/or personal qualities did you bring to the experience of applying to graduate school?   

The first one is that, personally, I’m very open to growth. I’ve studied quite a lot in terms of academics and my mantra is, “I know I don’t know enough.” I believe that there’s so much that others have to share. Also with my background, I’ve worked quite a lot in engaging with the public, engaging with citizens, and engaging with government. I know that with that kind of background, I’ll be able to succeed in what I’m doing.

We know what strengths you brought to the table, what have you learned about yourself as you work through the application process?

My consultant keeps saying to me, “I’m training you for your PhD!” It’s very comforting and it went into my head that I’m no longer in the space that I was before I came to you guys, you know? All the work I’m doing [with The Art of Applying®] is like I’m already doing the PhD.

What surprised you about the application?

A number of things! I didn’t think that I needed to introspect so much to uncover my past history, to rediscover certain qualities about myself. Somebody on the other side must be convinced that you want to do this. It’s not just because you want a degree, but it’s about what impact you want to have in the world.

I was also quite surprised that I needed to apply to so many schools. Had I been doing it by myself, I would have probably applied to three schools.

If you could go back to the very beginning of your application process and give yourself some advice, what advice would you give?

Especially with the PhD program, it’s very much about fit. It’s very much about what you want to research and if there’s faculty that is interested in what you want to do. Read more about the schools and take notes as you read about the schools.

Let’s speak to your future self who is going to hear back from your schools. What do you today want to say to yourself in March once you start hearing back?

I’d say to myself, “You’ve worked hard to get here and you absolutely deserve to have a PhD. As you go on this new journey, always remember your why. Never leave it behind.”

We can’t wait for all the offers Gia’s going to receive! If you’re inspired by her story and want help getting into a PhD program or other graduate degrees, book a Quick Call with us today!

Hit Submit: How to Apply to Lots of Graduate Schools

How a woman with 17 years of public policy experience learned how to tell her story in a way that shows PhD programs how she’ll change the world.

Welcome to another edition of our new series, Hit Submit! In this series, we chat with current clients of The Art of Applying® before they’ve heard back from their schools, and after they’ve submitted at least one application. 

For this edition, we interviewed “Gia,” who has spent the last seventeen years working in public policy, but wants to do research that gives citizens a voice to change their communities. To accomplish her goal, she’s applying to PhD programs in urban planning and policy.  

Here’s where Gia applied with the help of The Art of Applying® team as an Application Accelerator® client:

UC BerkeleyUCLAUSCArizona State University

Before we jump into the details of the interview, let’s get Gia’s top takeaways.

Top Takeaways from Gia’s Hit Submit Interview:

If you are applying to a PhD, apply to a LOT of programs. Acceptance rates for PhD candidates are much lower than for master’s programs. That’s because the fit between you, the school, faculty, and research focus is critical.

Know what your why is. The application process requires deep introspection to convince the school, and yourself, that you’re absolutely certain you want a PhD. It’s not just about getting the credential. It’s about what impact you want to have on the world as a result.
Get your game face on! The application process for a PhD program is just as rigorous as being in the program itself. It’s great training for what you’ll be doing when you become a PhD scholar.

Here’s our interview with Gia:

Gia, how did you decide which schools to apply to?

I’m applying for a PhD in urban planning and policy. How I came up with the list was with Planetizen’s guide and rankings, which helped me quite a lot in terms of determining the quality of the schools. I also looked at the relevance of the programs I’m applying to. I’m interested in technology and new media in planning, and obviously, the faculty plays a big role in that with the kind of research they’re doing. In addition to that, I also looked at the facilities and how the school presents itself. It’s very important to me to look for a school that I know I’m going to feel welcome and I’m going to belong when I get there.

So, what is your “why” for applying to graduate school? You’re interested in the PhD in Urban Planning, talk to us about what you hope will open up in your personal and professional life as a result of getting that degree.

My main why is to impact public policy. I’m applying for a PhD after spending seventeen years in the field working. I’ve encountered challenges as I’ve been going through my practice. What I really want to look at is how, through research, citizens can actually participate in having a voice in policy formulation, as well as a way of shaping their own communities.

What strengths and/or personal qualities did you bring to the experience of applying to graduate school?   

The first one is that, personally, I’m very open to growth. I’ve studied quite a lot in terms of academics and my mantra is, “I know I don’t know enough.” I believe that there’s so much that others have to share. Also with my background, I’ve worked quite a lot in engaging with the public, engaging with citizens, and engaging with government. I know that with that kind of background, I’ll be able to succeed in what I’m doing.

We know what strengths you brought to the table, what have you learned about yourself as you work through the application process?

My consultant keeps saying to me, “I’m training you for your PhD!” It’s very comforting and it went into my head that I’m no longer in the space that I was before I came to you guys, you know? All the work I’m doing [with The Art of Applying®] is like I’m already doing the PhD.

What surprised you about the application?

A number of things! I didn’t think that I needed to introspect so much to uncover my past history, to rediscover certain qualities about myself. Somebody on the other side must be convinced that you want to do this. It’s not just because you want a degree, but it’s about what impact you want to have in the world.

I was also quite surprised that I needed to apply to so many schools. Had I been doing it by myself, I would have probably applied to three schools.

If you could go back to the very beginning of your application process and give yourself some advice, what advice would you give?

Especially with the PhD program, it’s very much about fit. It’s very much about what you want to research and if there’s faculty that is interested in what you want to do. Read more about the schools and take notes as you read about the schools.

Let’s speak to your future self who is going to hear back from your schools. What do you today want to say to yourself in March once you start hearing back?

I’d say to myself, “You’ve worked hard to get here and you absolutely deserve to have a PhD. As you go on this new journey, always remember your why. Never leave it behind.”

We can’t wait for all the offers Gia’s going to receive! If you’re inspired by her story and want help getting into a PhD program or other graduate degrees, book a Quick Call with us today!

Announcing the Launch of The Early Career Moves Podcast!

Why we’re proud to sponsor this resource for BIPOC young professionals seeking career confidence, fulfillment, and wellness.

We’re incredibly proud to announce the launch of The Early Career Moves Podcast from our very own Consultant Priscilla Esquivel Weninger! Her new podcast is for young professionals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) seeking guidance and relevant advice as they craft their early career paths.

Introducing The Early Career Moves Podcast

According to Priscilla, “The purpose of the show is to uncover a diverse set of career paths and showcase real people’s successes and lessons learned in a variety of fields. My goal is to help more young BIPOC craft intentional early career strategies that will propel them closer to careers that align with their values, strengths and purpose. We focus on the BIPOC community because of our unique challenges, histories of oppression, and lack of free resources tailored to our needs.”

Here are some of the topics she covers with her guests on The Early Career Moves Podcast.

Deep dives into obscure career industries & functions (ex: what is venture capital?) Navigating being “the only one” in the room Owning your career growth and professional development at workPreparing for graduate school application processMental health and finding “balance”Balancing parental/societal expectations (ex: being child of immigrants)Finding sponsors, growth opportunities, mentors at workPreparing for longer/traditional paths in academia, medicine, law, and engineering Evaluating your strengths and values and use them for career exploration And much more!

Why we’re sponsoring this incredible resource

We’re sponsoring this podcast because often, the brilliant folks Priscilla highlights in her show made the decision to improve their careers by going to graduate school. Their stories might one day be your story. If going to graduate school is the next big step you take, we would love to help you!

Check out the podcast! 

Check out the first four episodes TODAY on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher! 

Go to The Early Career Moves Podcast website and sign up for their newsletter so you don’t miss a single episode. Keep an ear out for a special offer from The Art of Applying® for listeners of the podcast, too! 

Hit Submit: How to Apply to Lots of Graduate Schools

How an African-American Male Raised by a Single Mother Completed 14 Graduate School Applications in One Cycle and Still Has Time for More 

Welcome to the first edition of our new series, Hit Submit! In this series, we’ll chat with current clients of The Art of Applying® before they’ve heard back from their schools after they’ve submitted at least one application. 

For this first Hit Submit, we interviewed “Anthony,” who’s one of our most spectacular clients. Anthony is an African American male from Brooklyn, New York who was raised by a single mother, and he wants to go to graduate school to become a social entrepreneur abroad. To accomplish his goal, he’s interested in getting an MBA and potentially enrolling in a dual-degree MPP or MA program. 

Here’s where Anthony applied with the help of The Art of Applying® team as an Application Accelerator® client:

Harvard Business SchoolINSEADWharton MBA/MA Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies ProgramStanford Graduate School of BusinessMIT Sloan School of ManagementColumbia Business SchoolYale School of ManagementUC Berkeley HaasMichigan Ross School of BusinessUniversity of Virginia Darden School of BusinessCornell SC Johnson School of BusinessUCLA Anderson School of ManagementAsia School of BusinessColumbia School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

We’re so proud that he was able to apply to so many schools during our Application Accelerator® program! 

Let’s first review Anthony’s top takeaways and then jump into the nitty gritty of the interview.

Top Takeaways from Anthony’s Hit Submit Interview:

Start early. Anthony became our client in February 2020, which gave him eight months to work on Round 1 MBA applications and 11 months to work on policy and Round 2 MBA applications.

Find the right programs. When choosing schools you will apply to, find programs that offer the right combination of coursework you’re interested in, a great network, and connections to your target industries and regions. 

Get organized. Applying to any number of schools requires you to juggle many requirements and deadlines. Don’t drop the ball. You’ll thank yourself later when you invest time in managing your calendar. 

Connect with current students. Not only can they give you amazing insight into what it’s really like to learn there, but they can share experiences and knowledge that can make your application stand out above everyone else’s when you drop insider knowledge that shows you’ve done your research. 

Think beyond test scores and grades. While those are important, your story is what elevates your application above your competition. We’re not saying, “Don’t get good test scores,” but don’t underestimate the power of your unique story. 

If you’re interested in dual degree programs, it’s great to have an anchor degree! An anchor degree is the one that will help you achieve your career goals while your other degree helps complete your profile. 

Here’s our interview with Anthony:

Anthony, how did you decide which schools to apply to?

I really wanted to go to a school that had dual degree tracks that were of interest to me.

For my Consortium schools, because I’m currently working in the tech sector, I picked schools that had really strong connections to the tech industry. In particular, I picked schools that had those connections in Asia because that’s where I’d like to go after graduating. That narrowed down the list pretty significantly. Then within that list of six programs, I ranked them by their return on investment and on having a strong entrepreneurial focus. 

For the other schools, the same things applied. I was really looking for schools that had really strong international reputations and really big alumni bases.

Did you apply for any fellowships?

Yes! I applied for The Consortium Fellowship and the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program at Stanford. 

A number of The Art of Applying® clients have become Consortium Fellows and Knight-Hennessy Scholars! 

Learn about the stories of our Knight-Hennessy Scholars Briana and David.

Hear the stories of our Consortium Fellow clients Lauren, Samuel, and Emilie, and get their advice for MBA applicants.

Why is having a big alumni base important to you?

Because I want to work internationally, I think it’s important to have a very solid alumni base around the world and not every school has that. I don’t have too many connections abroad, so having that alumni base gives me that confidence that I can pick up the phone and call somebody in the country to network.

What do you hope to open up in your personal and professional life as a result of getting your business and policy degrees or some of the other degrees you’re applying to? 

Because I’m currently working in the private sector, the MBA is my anchor degree. It’s my top priority, but I’m applying to a mix of international affairs or policy degrees to combine them with the MBA. I want to work internationally and in more niche areas like technology, but dealing with policy issues abroad. Long term, I’d like to pursue social entrepreneurship. That’s where I really think combining the elements of the MBA to become an entrepreneur and the policy or international affairs degree would help me understand how to have policy discussions and approach things from a social impact perspective. 

What surprised you about the application process?

How important talking to current former students actually is. That’s something that a lot of people tell you to do to learn more about the school and what the culture is like. But honestly, up until applying to the MBA programs, I always thought that talking to students or attending school events were a formality. I realized after talking to a couple of students early on that I got so much great information to put in my applications. 

What was harder than you expected it to be during the application process?

It was a lot harder than I expected to keep track of everything. Each application has so many nuances. Especially, because I was applying to different international programs that have vastly different time zones.

If you could go back to the very beginning of your application process and give yourself some advice, what advice would you give?

At the beginning of the process after I joined The Art of Applying®, I was solely focused on which supplemental classes I should take and what to boost my test scores for about the first four months because those were my recommendations from the Breakthrough Call. I sort of regret dedicating that much time to those things when I could have focused more on my story earlier on. I didn’t really start crafting a story until July, which was pretty late. I think it could have been less stressful if I shifted my focus to what the story was that I wanted to present.

So, this is our last question. Let’s speak to your future self this time. What does Anthony from today want to say to Anthony in March when he’s gotten all of his acceptances?

I think the biggest thing for me is to make sure that wherever I get in, I pick the best fit, not necessarily the best name. I don’t know where I’m going to get into or how much money I’m going to get from each school, but I think I would just tell me to be more critical of where you decide to go. Don’t just pick the school that is ranked higher or has better brand recognition. Pick a school that you actually enjoyed speaking to the students from or that you had the best impression of.

That’s all for our first edition of our Hit Submit series. If you want your story to sound more like Anthony’s, hop on a Quick Call with our team to talk about your applications!

Which Policy Schools Can I Apply To After February 1?

Are you interested in attending policy school? Fortunately, there’s still time to get your application in for this admissions cycle. There are many schools you can apply to after February 1, so you still have plenty of time to prepare an application to meet those deadlines. 

If you are looking for financial aid, it’s worth keeping in mind that many programs have a priority deadline, which is the cutoff deadline to be considered for scholarships. We recently put together a list of policy school deadlines for some of the top MPP and MPA programs in the U.S. This list includes any relevant priority deadlines for the programs included. 

If you haven’t started on your application materials yet, you still have ample time to apply to programs in this list. Of course, dates can be subject to change, so please verify deadlines on school websites.

Policy SchoolDegreesDeadline(s)Carnegie Mellon (Heinz)MSPPMRolling deadline after January 10, 2021American University MPAApplication deadline for the Key Executive MPA scholarship: June 1, 2021Columbia University (SIPA)MIA MPA MPA-DPFebruary 14, 2021UCLA (Luskin) MPPJune 30, 2021 (Rolling application deadline) University of Georgia MPADomestic applicants: July 1, 2021 International applicants: April 15, 2021 University of Minnesota (Humphrey) MPP, MPAMPP deadline: April 1, 2021MPA applications accepted on a space-available basis after February 15, 2021Ohio State (Glenn) MPA MPALMPA: May 1, 2021 (final deadline)MPAL: May 15, 2021 (final deadline)Texas A&M MPA February 15, 2021 (final deadline)George Washington University (Trachtenberg)MPAMPPMA-ENRPApril 1, 2021 (final deadline)Georgetown (McCourt)MPPMPMApril 15, 2021 (final deadline)Indiana Bloomington (SPEA)MPAFall 2021 (August start date):June 1, 2021 (final deadline)Cornell (CIPA)MPARolling admissions, submit your application as soon as possible.NYU (Wagner)MPAMUPMSPPEMPA
May 1, 2021 (final deadline)Syracuse (Maxwell)MPARolling admissions through April.UC Berkeley (Goldman)MPPMPAFebruary 2, 2021 (MPA Round 2)April 1, 2021 (MPA final deadline)University of Chicago (Harris)MPPMSCAPPMACRMJune 15, 2021 (Round 3)USC (Price)MPPMPAMay 1, 2021 (international applicant final deadline)July 1, 2021 (domestic applicant final deadline)UT Austin (LBJ School)MPAMGPS
March 15, 2021 (final deadline)U. Washington (Evans)MPAExecutive MPAMay 15, 2021 (Exec MPA priority deadline)July 15, 2021 (Exec MPA final deadline)U. Wisconsin (La Follette)MPAMIPA
Rolling admissions after January 1

While deadlines for many policy programs have already passed, there are still many top programs accepting applications after February 1, 2021. If you aren’t far along in your application, or if you need more time and still want to apply for the current application cycle, focusing on the schools above may make sense for you. 

Need help or a second opinion on your policy school application? We can help! To learn more about what we offer, schedule your 15-minute Quick Call with our team today.

What Are The Consortium Letter of Recommendation Prompts?

Author: Carrie 

The Consortium awards merit-based, full-tuition fellowships to top MBA candidates who have a proven record of promoting inclusion in school, in their jobs or in their personal lives. We recently covered The Consortium essay prompts and application deadlines for 2020 – 2021, including highlights of a few of our client’s Consortium success stories. Now, we are covering The Consortium letter of recommendation prompts. 

While this prompt is for The Consortium’s letter of recommendation, the prompt is also helpful for applicants to other graduate school programs. Letters of recommendation should be drafted by people who know you well, and can speak to your strengths. 

Note: Be sure to verify the letter of recommendation details on The Consortium website, as details can change.

The Consortium 2020-2021 Letter of Recommendation Prompts 



Part One: Comments

Question One: How long have you known the applicant and under what circumstances? (1000 characters max)

Question Two: Please discuss any strengths you think may enhance the candidates performance in graduate business students and in a management career. (1000 characters max)

Question Three: What weaknesses do you think may affect the candidate’s performance in graduate business studies and in a management career? (1000 character limit)

Part Two: Applicant Traits

Using the qualities listed below, how would you rate the applicant in comparison with other candidates you have known who have applied for graduate study in business/management?

OutstandingVery GoodAverageBelow AverageUnable to JudgeAnalytical AbilityMaturityEthics/IntegrityLeadership PotentialPersonality/
Ability to get along with othersWriting SkillsOral SkillsCreativity/ImaginationSelf-confidenceInitiative/
Motivation/EffortJob PerformanceOverall Appraisal



Part Three: Evaluation Summary

Please select the appropriate response for your evaluation summary.

Enthusiastically RecommendRecommendDo not recommend this candidate for graduate study at this time

Letters of recommendation are a key part of putting together a great application to The Consortium. Looking for advice about how to make sure your letters of recommendation standout? At The Art of Applying®, we are proud to count alumni of The Consortium’s selective full-tuition fellowships among our team of consultants! Book a Quick Call with our team, and learn more about how we can help. 

What Are The Consortium Essay Prompts and Application Deadlines?

Author: Carrie 

What is The Consortium?

The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management awards merit-based, full-tuition fellowship to top MBA candidates who have a proven record of promoting inclusion in school, in their jobs or in their personal lives. Applicants to The Consortium can apply to MBA programs at up to six member schools using one application, and can gain access to career and professional development opportunities. To help you apply to The Consortium, we gathered The Consortium’s 2020 – 2021 application deadlines and essay prompts.

The Consortium’s mission is to bring diverse perspectives into the workplace by reducing the under representation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in American MBA programs and, in turn, in the ranks of American business. At The Art of Applying®, we have helped many clients demonstrate their commitment to The Consortium’s mission, and get full-tuition fellowships through The Consortium. Learn about the success of our clients Lauren, Samuel, and Emilie, and hear their advice for MBA applicants.

Note: Be sure to verify deadlines and essay details on The Consortium website as dates and details sometimes change.

The Consortium 2020-2021 Application Deadlines



Early Application DeadlineOctober 15, 2020Traditional Application DeadlineJanuary 5, 2021Admissions DecisionVaries by schoolFellowship NotificationMarch 2021



The Consortium 2020-2021 Application Essay Prompts

The Consortium Core Essay #1:

Please describe your short- and long-term goals post-MBA. How has your professional experience shaped these goals and influenced your decision to pursue an MBA degree?

The Consortium Core Essay #2 (optional)

Is there any other information you would like to share with us that is not presented elsewhere in your application?

The Consortium Mission Essay:

Our mission, through the strength of our growing alliance and extended network, is to enhance diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership by striving to reduce the significant underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both our Member Schools’ enrollments and the ranks of global management across the following sectors: For-profit corporations, Nonprofit corporations, Government agencies and contractors, and Entrepreneurial ventures in both for-profit and nonprofit environments.

*Please address the three questions noted below. Please use specific examples pertaining to our target populations and clearly articulate your involvement, actions and results.

What will you do while enrolled in your MBA program to demonstrate your commitment to the mission? (1,000 characters)What will you do post-MBA with respect to community service and leadership involvement to demonstrate your continued commitment to The Consortium’s missions of diversity and inclusion? (1,000 characters)What have you done pre-MBA in your business, personal or academic life to demonstrate commitment to this mission? (2,000 characters)

When you respond to these essay questions, please provide several specific examples of your involvement and the results of your actions whenever possible. The first essay is required and used for admission purposes only. It provides an opportunity for you to express your strengths, attributes, experiences and other traits or abilities you believe are relevant to your educational goals and career objectives. The optional essay lets you bring additional information to the attention of the admissions committee. These may explain gaps in employment or shortcomings in your academic record, specific plans to retake the GMAT®/GRE or other relevant information. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions in the Personal Certification/Signature section (described below), you must provide an explanation. If necessary, you may use this essay to explain your circumstances. The last Consortium-required essay will assess your commitment to The Consortium’s mission and will be used to determine your fit for membership. Please navigate to the Membership section within the core application to view the membership essay.

Please note: You will be required to write at least one school-specific essay for each school to which you plan to apply. Schools only see their individual essays. To complete these essays, navigate to each school’s supplemental page within your core applications. Text boxes with specified word limitations will be provided for the membership essay and all school-specific essays.

Additional Tips:

Include your full name and date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy) on each page

Limit Core Essay # 1 to 300 word limit

Please use 12-point font

Must be a Microsoft Word document

Need help or a second opinion on your essays for The Consortium? We can help! To learn more about what we offer, schedule your Quick Call with our team today.

Ask The Art of Applying®: Supplemental Courses

Should I take supplemental courses when applying for an MBA or MPA program?

While you’re putting together a stellar graduate school application with great reference letters, solid test scores, and an amazing transcript, that one poor grade in a prerequisite course for your dream program haunts you at night. Are you worried that course might stop your dream of getting into your top-choice program? You’re not alone, and we have the answers. 

Welcome to our new, monthly Ask The Art of Applying® series where we give you a peek into what it’s like to be a client asking a question in our Q&A Vault. We bring you answers to your questions about getting into graduate school. This month, we’re answering a question about supplemental coursework. 

Should I take supplemental courses when applying for an MBA or MPA program? 

Here’s the full question from one of our awesome clients, “I have a quick question about supplemental coursework for business school applicants. I was planning on taking some quant courses in the next couple of months due to my low GRE quant score. I searched through the Q&A Vault and saw that Kaneisha suggested taking Statistics and Microeconomics. I took an intro to stats course in undergraduate, and also an intro to microeconomics and macroeconomics course. For both of those, I got an A-, but it was 2010/2011-ish. Do you still think it makes sense to re-take intro courses for those to boost my application, or do you suggest I take other courses, or none? Thanks in advance!”

One of our top consultants, Virginia, saw this client’s question and jumped in to respond:

“Hi, It doesn’t hurt to retake statistics and microeconomics. But, since you did well in macro & microeconomics, you could focus on statistics. Have you considered accounting? Accounting is the other core MBA course, so it could demonstrate your readiness for business school. Kaneisha, anything else?”

Kaneisha weighs in with:

“I would not repeat macroeconomics, microeconomics, nor statistics since you did well in them. I suggest you take Accounting (take this first) and then Finance (Intro to Corporate Finance, not Personal Finance).

You don’t need to take Accounting, nor Finance anywhere fancy—just a place where you’ll get a real letter grade.

Another option is to take Harvard Business School’s CORe.

Between the two options above, (Accounting + Finance) and HBS CORe, I do not prefer one or the other.

I love that you’re going to take supplemental courses. You’ll be really glad you did that for negotiating additional financial aid, updates during your interviews, and updates for any schools that might waitlist you.”

So, there you have it! If you have a low GRE score on the quantitative section and you want to bolster your application, you’ll do well to take quant courses you didn’t do as well in to get better grades and prove you’re ready for a rigorous MBA program.

What if I got a D in Microeconomics in college? Should I retake that before I apply to my dream MBA program?

The great thing about this client’s question is that it spurred follow-up questions from other clients! 

“Kaneisha, you had recommended that I take HBSCore for no credit during our Assessment Call. Should I take that in addition to enrolling for an econ course and stats course at a local community college for a grade? Please note that I got a D in Microeconomics in college, I don’t have a quant background and I got a 159 on the quant section of the GRE.”

According to Kaneisha, “No, you don’t do both; it’s the bundle of HBS CORe courses or separate courses.”

HBS CORe is an all-in-one package of courses to show that you’re ready for business school. So, if you’re planning to do that, you won’t need to take any additional courses to show you can handle Masters level quantitative courses.

What if I’m applying to Harvard Kennedy School’s Masters in Public Administration in International Development Program?

Once again, we have another follow up question from someone applying to HKS’s highly competitive MPA-ID program,

“I’m interested in taking supplementary courses for Harvard’s MPA-ID application. I know requirements for the MPA-ID include completion of at least one university-level course each in:

MicroeconomicsMacroeconomicsthree university-level courses in calculus, which must include multivariable calculus

In Undergrad, I received a B+ both in microeconomics and macroeconomics, and an A in statistics. I should be good with the calculus requirement since I received an A in both multivariable and single-variable calc (I tested out of the 3rd with APs). 

Do you think I should retake micro and macro economics at a community college or online course for credits?”

Here’s where things get interesting! 

Virginia comes in with one answer, “Since you did well in these courses, I don’t think there’s value in you retaking them. I took a look at the HKS MPA-ID prerequisites, and linear algebra is the only other listed prerequisite course.

But, linear algebra is only listed as desirable. Looks like you’re good to go with prerequisite courses!”

Then, Kaneisha comes in with a dissenting opinion!  

“I’m actually going to disagree. The MPA-ID is the most selective degree at HKS, and more selective than most top MBA programs. To prepare yourself for the rigor of MPA-ID, and to be as competitive as possible, I’d suggest you retake the two economics courses and take linear algebra.

Also, I suggest you speak with at least four MPA-ID alumni to get a very clear idea of the MPA-ID experience. It’s very different than the MPP and MPA—much more rigorous, similar to the first two years of a PhD program than simply a Masters degree.

I’m not at all looking to discourage you from pursuing it, but it’s important that anyone pursuing the MPA-ID knows just how competitive it is to get admitted and just how different the experience is than the other HKS degrees.”

What should I do next?

At the end of the day, your application is unique and it’s important that you think holistically about it when deciding to invest your time in supplemental courses to bolster your application. 
If you want some help from experienced consultants who can help you decide, we’re here for you. Book a quick call with us and we’ll help you answer questions like these. If you enjoyed this post, tune in next month for another edition of Ask The Art of Applying®!