Harvard's Kennedy School Forum

[cantaboot]

I believe that the name harvard on any resume should look impressive.
what do you think of harvard's phd programs in general? or more specifically, in humanities?
I don't mean to put down anyone, but I am not quite impressed with some harvard phd in the academia (while I believe they should have pretty high GRE and there are reasons why they got into competitive graduate programs in the first place, their post-doctoral achievements are simply not remarkable -- like they are not very productive/ not productive at all, and have not even published any books many years out of the program)

That said, I must admit I could be harsh on the harvard phd because of my prior background/ training in the academia (and I got my graduate degree from a prestigious U.K. school) ... I do admire those who got extremely high scores on the LSAT, though -- 'cos this is something which I could not manage ....

[edcrane]

I am one who personally cannot stand watching The O'Reilly Factor.

http://deephousepage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164877

However, according to this, Bill O'Reilly got a 1585 on the SATs!! (I also saw this in Time Magazine a few years ago- I am just too lazy to find the actual source right now).
If this is true, O'Reilly had some strong credentials for Kennedy School, especially since I think when he took the test.. getting a 1585 was very difficult since there wasn't as nice of a curve on the test.

According to wikipedia, getting a 1585 is very difficult indeed as SAT scores are always multiples of 10.

[Bauer24]

I am one who personally cannot stand watching The O'Reilly Factor.

http://deephousepage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164877

However, according to this, Bill O'Reilly got a 1585 on the SATs!! (I also saw this in Time Magazine a few years ago- I am just too lazy to find the actual source right now).
If this is true, O'Reilly had some strong credentials for Kennedy School, especially since I think when he took the test.. getting a 1585 was very difficult since there wasn't as nice of a curve on the test.

According to wikipedia, getting a 1585 is very difficult indeed as SAT scores are always multiples of 10.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought back in the 1960's and 1970's (when O'Reilly took the test) that SAT scores could be other numbers than multiples of 10.

[Alf14997]

Bauer24 wrote:
I am one who personally cannot stand watching The O'Reilly Factor.

http://deephousepage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164877

However, according to this, Bill O'Reilly got a 1585 on the SATs!! (I also saw this in Time Magazine a few years ago- I am just too lazy to find the actual source right now).
If this is true, O'Reilly had some strong credentials for Kennedy School, especially since I think when he took the test.. getting a 1585 was very difficult since there wasn't as nice of a curve on the test.


According to wikipedia, getting a 1585 is very difficult indeed as SAT scores are always multiples of 10.

The real issue here is that SAT's have nothing to do with admission to the Kennedy School, as it is exclusively a graduate institution, and requires GRE scores.

And yes, Bill O'reilly, regardless of his ability to do well on standardized tests, is a huge douche, and should be considered an embarrassment to mainstream media (though few are far behind him)

[aleph209]

ksg isn't that easy to get in to, don't kid yourself. i do agree with the posters who haven't been that impressed with the MPP program.

i'm going to a T5 law school and got turned down from KSG's MPP program last year (probably because my gre didn't compensate for my mediocre gpa as well as my lsat), though i think the MPA2 program cares more about leadership potential and the MPA/ID is just extremely competitive.

i go back and forth as to whether to do a KSGdual degree, as for some reason i think law school would help me get in.

[OldManStan]

My brother in law JUST graduated from KSG with an MPA. He's off to New Yard for a few months before they ship him out to Africa. He's white, and nothing exceptional on his resume. It's not EASY to get into by any means though. I'm not sure how rigorous the course work is, but the last two months I know he didn't leave the library while he was finishing up his final projects and papers. He was a minority among minorities though, so if you're not a minority, you'll have to work extra hard to get in. He loved it though, and would of liked to get an MBA while he was there, but was declined admittance into the BS. If that helps you any....

[NickDarling]

Oh, did you get rejected by the Kennedy School? Of course Harvard is all about prestige, but what top schools aren't? I have two masters degrees (HBS and the Kennedy School) and can confirm that the Business School is MUCH harder to get into than the Kennedy School. I will say that the work load at the Kennedy School is pretty grueling, although the students are generally too idealistic to cope with the real world upon graduation. The Kennedy School forgets that economics dictates world policy, something the Business School has known for years.

[NickDarling]

Bill O'Reilly went to through the Mid-Career Program at the Kennedy School about 10 years ago. This program is for politicos who have been turfed out of office and for confused, middle-aged losers looking for the holy grail. It's easy to get accepted and is a one-year program. Once they graduate, the Mid-Careers go back to being the losers they were in the first place.

[Oblomov]

nm

[sutochan]

ksg isn't that easy to get in to, don't kid yourself. i do agree with the posters who haven't been that impressed with the MPP program.

i'm going to a T5 law school and got turned down from KSG's MPP program last year (probably because my gre didn't compensate for my mediocre gpa as well as my lsat), though i think the MPA2 program cares more about leadership potential and the MPA/ID is just extremely competitive.

i go back and forth as to whether to do a KSGdual degree, as for some reason i think law school would help me get in.

The Kennedy School takes LSAT scores in lieu of GRE scores for students admitted to HLS, which I think could make it easier to get into for 175+ LSATers. I imagine that, because there is some overlap between law and public policy, going to a top-five LS might help you get admitted...

[European]

Could anyone tell me their opinion on chances to get in KSG directly from undergrad (MPP program)?

[m3taphysician]

I'm becoming more and more interested in pursuing an MPP out of undergrad myself. Anyone here have anything to contribute regarding how easy/hard it is to get into KSG? Is a high GRE absolutely necessary like a high LSAT is necessary for LS admission? Or is there more focus on UG GPA?

I'd really appreciate any info

[huckabees]

I totally forgot about this thread.

I think doing a degree there would be incredibly interesting, but I'm not sure how the job prospects are coming out of this program.

[razorzor]

I knew it. Prestige whores. If Harvard had a department in shit licking you guys would be the first to sign up.

[doinmybest]

Ooold thread

[iagolives]

Does anyone know about the cross admit success rate with the PhDs at the Kennedy School? There is one that looks really interesting to me and I was just curious.

[m3taphysician]

I knew it. Prestige whores. If Harvard had a department in shit licking you guys would be the first to sign up.

MPPs are respectable degrees, particularly if one wants to study public policy prior to law school.

[skyscraper86]

How are the job prospects coming out of top MPP programs such as Princeton, Harvard, Georgetown, NYU? I am considering getting an MPP after completing my TFA commitment.

[huckabees]

How are the job prospects coming out of top MPP programs such as Princeton, Harvard, Georgetown, NYU? I am considering getting an MPP after completing my TFA commitment.

+1

In general, what kinds of jobs are available for those with an MPP?

Thanks!

[iagolives]

bump.. No PhDers out there?

[stab master arson]

/

[TheJudge]

I took a few classes there and the caliber of the discussion did not impress me that much. Pretty much a good level discussion and lecture as you would find in any college level class. Maybe a little more real life experience in the room. The have a pretty rogorous grading curve though, so there is no grade inflation. But as someone told me at the school, grades usually don't matter unless you are looking at consulting jobs. For most other purposes, just avoid getting really really bad grades and you'll be fine.

I also don't think it is terribly hard to get into. I mean they won't be taking any old Joe from the street, but if you have a decent GPA plus some policy related WE and can write a good statement of purpose, I believe you have a pretty good shot. The KSG admissions standards are nowhere near as rigorous as those at HLS or HBS.

[lym]

Hey I was thinking about doing a dual degree at Ohio State... a JD and Masters in Public Policy. But I'm also considering just getting my JD first and then enrolling in a Masters Program elsewhere... HKS is a possibility.

Opinions, please!!

[Veyron]

Do you have to take the GRE if you at another law school that has a concurent JD/MPP with the Kennedy School or can you still use your LSAT?

[lalalalaw]

Do you have to take the GRE if you at another law school that has a concurent JD/MPP with the Kennedy School or can you still use your LSAT?

If you are at a law school with a concurrent program, you do have to take either the GRE or the GMAT. If you are applying for a joint degree with HLS, you just need the LSAT.