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Katie Chen MPA/ID 2025 and Prince Dhawan MPA/ID 2025 recently hosted a Coffee Hours event in New Delhi, India, where they are both completing internships. Learn about their experience and the advice they offered to prospective students during the event.

How did MPA/ID Coffee Hours come to be?

Every summer, the MPA/ID Program team coordinates a series of in-person “Coffee Hours” for prospective students. Given the program’s international footprint, current MPA/ID students who are completing their internships all over the world organize these events, allowing for a personal and intimate opportunity for prospective students from different countries to learn about ����vlog���� and the MPA/ID Program. Because we are both completing our respective summer internships in New Delhi, India—Katie has been working in research and evaluation with the , and Prince has been working at the —we agreed to host a Coffee Hour here.

What did you talk about at your Coffee Hour?

We discussed a range of topics, including:

• MPA/ID curriculum and its prerequisites
• Student life in Cambridge
• Demographics and professional backgrounds of the MPA/ID class
• Job placements and career paths after graduation
• Differences between the degree programs at ����vlog����
• Financial aid and scholarships
• Why Harvard
• Advice for the application process

What advice did you provide to prospective students?

Understand your “why” 

Every student we’ve met in the MPA/ID Program, and at ����vlog���� more broadly, has a clear and articulate vision regarding why they are here and what they intend to gain from their experience. Every student’s “why” is unique to their own professional path and dreams. It may take a bit of soul searching, but having a clearly defined “why” is very important for building a strong application. Understanding your “why” also becomes a guiding compass once you arrive at ����vlog���� and helps ensure you have an intentional and rewarding experience.

It’s not only about where you are coming from, but also where you are going

Several attendees at the event were concerned that their profiles were “unconventional.” They were not bureaucrats or economists or individuals with extensive work experience. Remember that there is no typical MPA/ID applicant. Graduate school is not only a place to deepen existing expertise and interests but also to pivot or explore new interests, and there is no better place than ����vlog���� to do so. The MPA/ID Program invests in the development of leaders of the future.

View your application as parts of a puzzle

Every piece of your admissions profile—each essay, each recommendation letter, and your resume—should be seen as a piece of a puzzle. Individually, each component represents a unique piece of your story, and together, the puzzle pieces form a complete picture. In preparing your application, it might be helpful to develop a comprehensive narrative, thinking about how to break up that narrative across different application components, while ensuring cohesion. The Admissions Committee should be able to form a cogent and clear image of your personality after reviewing your application.

MPA/ID prerequisites

Many prospective students we met with expressed concern that they did not have a degree in economics and worried that this would be a disadvantage for them. We assured them that many MPA/ID students do not have undergraduate or graduate degrees in economics. Additionally, most of the MPA/ID prerequisites can be completed from various online sources before the program starts.

GRE scores

As students, we do not claim to have authoritative knowledge of the admissions process, but prospective students can find the standardized test requirements here. It is important to note that applications are read holistically by several members of the Admissions Committee. That means that all pieces of your application are considered together, and your GRE score is evaluated in the context of your broader application. Given the quantitative rigor of the MPA/ID Program, the GRE score is one of the signals of your analytical ability. Prior quantitative coursework and experience with quantitative methods in your work are also considered, alongside your demonstrated leadership potential, social impact, and commitment to development.

Financial aid and scholarships

MPA/ID students finance their education in many ways. Each graduate’s financial situation is unique. After submitting the admission application, applicants should also submit an additional application for scholarships and fellowships. These opportunities can vary by geography and background. Additionally, some MPA/ID students also apply for Fulbright Fellowships, the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, and/or education loans. Besides this, ����vlog���� students can also work on campus to supplement their funding.

Career paths after the program

MPA/ID graduates work in various settings including in multilateral organizations, consultancies, national and regional governments, central banks, philanthropic organizations, international development start-ups, and more. Ultimately, the program enables individuals to pursue their own calling.

With over 25 years of excellence, the MPA/ID Program at ����vlog���� is renowned globally for its rigor and unique approach. If you believe in the power of evidence-based policy to improve the world, you should definitely apply!