Harvard University Reviews

"Harvard University is a great academic environment. You will encounter mainly excellent professors, some of whom are truly brilliant, a very supportive environment and a cohort of students who are serious about their studies, intelligent and generally friendly. The Kennedy School of Government invests a great deal in ensuring that students bond with each other and develop interlocking relationships that help students navigate the campus and the tough courses. I participated in the Graduate Commons program which provides meal service for students so at every meal students ate together, which created relationships across schools and connected me to other students in the Kennedy School program. The only problem with Cronkhite, where I stayed, is that there is no air conditioning and it can be incredibly uncomfortable, humid and hot from July - late September. Fans are provided but at times it was very uncomfortable. Otherwise the facilities were great. We had two fully stocked kitchens where we could cook, store food, and eat on weekends when meals were not served. The Kennedy School program is short, so it's best to enter with a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. I am a mid-career student, but the school has a two-year MPP degree for students who are coming straight out of undergrad and have a few years experience. Kennedy has a new dean, so it is in a bit of a transition. It remains to be seen whether this dean will have as a dynamic an interpretation of the school's role as the last dean. With the turmoil we are experiencing in politics in this country, I do think there should be more focus on the challenges we are facing in America. Fifty percent of the mid-career students are international, and a lot of Harvard students are international in general. It's really great to meet people from other countries. It's very enriching, but also there seems to be a bit of a brain drain. The talents of our best professors are training students who take that knowledge back to their homes countries, so that intelligence is not serving American interests, especially now when our own society is experiencing political turmoil. Sometimes international students are not even interested in discussing American issues. Other than this concern I would say the Kennedy School is an excellent experience. It is a great place to incubate an new ngo or a new venture. There are a lot of supports for creating new businesses, both non and for-profit. The expertise available at the law school, business school, MIT, the design school are all accessible to anyone seeking to create a new business.. And several schools, including Kennedy, have innovation labs. Also, a lot of celebrated journalists, scientists, comedians, writers and scholars come to Harvard so it is a great place to hear from the greatest minds of our time. Harvard is expensive, and a lot of people don't go because of the cost. Harvard does have funding for students that can cut costs in half and a few students receive a full ride. If you are working on a degree that can allow you to pull in a high salary after you leave, it will pay for itself. If you are not, you may want to weigh the cost benefits. I'd say do it. It will pay maximum dividends in the future, and you will have a network of very supportive people who will help you throughout your career for the rest of your life.Read Less"

"The Harvard University network is incredibly powerful. To be able to access the alumni and faculty of the school is the most powerful resource I will take away from the program. Additionally, intellectual stimulation from incredible classmates and world renown faculty make this school unbeatable. Financial aid support was poor. However, I must admit that every dollar I spent on my education and interest on my student loans....were worth it! The quality of the program is second to none."

"The MPA will enhance my work experience and educational qualifications of MD and MPH with a better understanding of public policy, leadership and governance issues. It will help me work towards poverty alleviation through better global health."