Harvard MPP

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi everyone :-) </p>

<p>So I am a French student, currently studying as an Economics major (Law minor) at the Sorbonne in Paris. I am hopefully going to graduate next and it's been more than a year that I must say I am seriously considering applying to Harvard School of Government. </p>

<p>The reason for this school and this degree is quite simple, as humble as I am trying to be, I want to have the best teachers .. and eventually have the best foundations for the future. I understand what public service is, what contribution means. I don't care about money, I don't care about fame, I don't care about recognition, I just want to make this world a better place, and I think this school (among many others) is exactly what I need.</p>

<p>As far as experience (and considering that I am only 20 years old - almost 21), I already worked at the European Parliament as an assistant of eurodeputy, at the French National Assembly (Lower House) for a French deputy, worked for a certain country's ministry of youth who organized workshops for the integration of a certain ethnicity in Europe. (I am not what we could call a ''pure'' french haha, my parents wern't born in the country), and received offers for this summer at a certain G20 country's Constitutional Court and its Grand National Assembly (Lower House, again). I also worked on part time next to my classes in a Think Tank promoting Intercultural and interfaith dialogue and integration (we raised awareness in certain communities for the last elections in France).. Other than that ... well .. I was a member of the university's delegation to the UN and won a scholarship to participate to a European Forum somewhere in the continent (I am trying to be vague so I remain anonymous haha)</p>

<p>And no, my parents didn't help me, actually none of them even graduated from Middle School haha (should I mention that to them? In France we don't really talk about our social backgrounds, it's not so much about meritocracy but republican equality, they newly discover the term ''positive discrimination''). </p>

<p>Grade wise, I can't really say If I'm good or not, I checked their site and they don't even have minimum requirements for the GPA (btw, we are graded out of 20 in France, and the best students have 14 or so - I have 13, it is considered a A- I think?) Anyway I have the minimum requirement for schools like McGill or LSE but that's because they show the requirements for each country.</p>

<p>All this to ask you guys, do you think I have a chance? And, do you advise me other schools?</p>

<p>Also, what will they think about a year abroad? (Like Rome, I kinda fear that they see this as a year of tourism). </p>

<p>Thanks for everything guys.
M</p>

2

<p>Hello, it would be better if you work for 2 or 3 years after college, then apply to Harvard’s School of Government. </p>

<p>I believe that the Harvard brand alone will bring you places… With your background, I’m pretty sure you’ll get in Harvard.</p>

3

<p>I think you are competitive for admission…however the why Harvard isn’t very convincing at the moment. Try to strengthen that. Good luck</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the reply guys, seeing that I have a decent chance to get in it very self-motivating. By the time I apply I will hopefully have a full year of non-continuous professional experience, hope it will do. I noticed however that the age average was higher than in schools like Berkley for the equivalent degrees - Anyhow, I’ll work on my motives and apply. </p>

<p>Thanks again :-)</p>

5

<p>If you wish to enter political life, then why not apply to Sciences Po or ENA?</p>

<p>At the Masters level, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins surpass Harvard, according to U.S. International Relations scholars themselves:</p>

<p>[The</a> Best International Relations Master’s Programs | Foreign Policy](<a href=“http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/03/top_ten_international_relations_masters_programs]The”>http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/03/top_ten_international_relations_masters_programs)</p>

<p>At any rate, HKS’s admission standards are not particularly high; the school admits ~20% of applicants, and given your prestigious undergraduate degree from the Sorbonne, your substantial public service experience, and your humble background, you appear to be competitive for admission.</p>

6

<p>Because I believe both of those institutions will restrain my horizons.</p>

<p>And I do not want to get involved into politics (as politike; the struggle for power) for right now, I am too much of the consensus type of guy :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Thanks again for telling my that I have my chances it is really really motivating!
I promise I’ll come back here in a years time If I am accepted haha. </p>

<p>I am planning to apply to many universities anyway, but I will have to work on the GRE I guess.</p>

7

<p>How would Georgetown and Johns Hopkins ever restrain your horizons?</p>

8

<p>John Hopkins and Georgetown, I would include American as well…are all probably just as good in IR as Harvard…this is mostly due to theft that they are located in dc…but just in IR, I wouldnt go as far as to say that their masters programs are better than harvards.</p>

9

<p>Hello Gutrot, I wasn’t talking about them but about the two French institutions he mentioned earlier (Science Po and ENA) :-)</p>