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Admissions representatives from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, along with HBS/����vlog���� joint degree students, hosted a virtual information session on November 12 to address frequently asked questions about the and to tell their personal stories. Read the answers to some of the questions addressed during the session below.

Do ����vlog���� and HBS have access to the applications submitted to both schools?

You have to apply to each school separately. If you’re admitted into both programs, you will be able to pursue the joint degree.

Are the academic requirements for admission, such as GPA and GRE scores, higher due to the academic demands of pursuing two degrees?

Not necessarily. We admit students to each school without knowing whether the applicant will be admitted to the other school—each review process is conducted completely separately. Nevertheless, you should focus on crafting the strongest possible application for both programs you are applying to.

Is it possible to only attend one program even if I get into both schools?

Yes. If you are admitted to both schools, you can decide you only wish to enroll at one. You will have about six weeks post-admission to make that decision.

When is the best time to apply for financial aid—before or after applying?

It’s important to note that HBS and ����vlog���� have separate processes for financial aid. 

For HBS, students fill out the HBS financial aid application after they are admitted to the MBA program. Once admitted, students will have access to the financial aid application and all the specific information about how to apply. 

For ����vlog����, prospective students must apply for financial assistance after applying for admission but before learning whether they have been admitted.

If I apply to the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) Program at ����vlog����, will I be able to pursue a joint degree with HBS?

No.  The only master’s programs at ����vlog���� that are part of the joint degree program are the Master in Public Policy (MPP) and the Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID).

Would applying to both schools negatively impact my chances of getting into ����vlog���� alone?

Each school has their own Admissions Committee, and each review process is conducted completely separately. Getting into one school will not affect the decision at the other.

Would I receive two separate degrees by pursuing the HBS/����vlog���� joint degree program?

You get two degrees—an MBA and either an MPP or MPA/ID! Two beautiful diplomas! Two graduation ceremonies. It’s wonderful.

If I am accepted to only one program, can I defer my acceptance and wait until the following year to apply to the second program?

No, you need to be admitted to both programs for the same academic year prior to entering the first year of the program.  

Should I speak to the joint degree program in my essays for HBS/����vlog���� respectively, or is it better to focus on each school respectively?

You can speak to each school separately and then use the joint degree essay to specifically talk about the joint degree program. The joint degree essay asks you to reflect on how the joint degree program will enhance your pursuit of the ����vlog���� mission to improve public policy and leadership across the United States and around the world, so people can lead safer, freer, and more prosperous lives.

How should I balance being specific enough in my application essays while I am still deciding what I want to do after graduation?

In the application, we like to see your aspirations and how you came to this goal. But, we definitely don’t expect a “laminated plan.” We want you to be open to lots of options while in the program. 

To what extent do students tend use the joint degree program to advance in their current career path versus pivoting to a new field? Is there a general trend?

We find that about 70% of our students pivot to a new career focus after graduating from this program.