Overwhelmed by Graduate School Applications? Bring All Your Questions: AMA

Thinking about applying to an Ivy League or other top graduate program, and suddenly realizing you have A MILLION QUESTIONS? Where do I start? Which schools should I even be looking at? Am I competitive? Do I need to take the GRE? Who should write my recommendations? What am I supposed to say in my essays? Am I already behind? Bring all your questions. SERIOUSLY. This Ask Me Anything is for anyone considering graduate school who feels overwhelmed, confused, stuck, or just wants to talk the process through with someone who understands it. You do not need to have your school list figured out, and you do not need to have written a single word of an essay. As a Harvard Kennedy School alumna with admissions committee experience, I will answer your questions, help you make sense of the process, and help you figure out what actually deserves your attention right now. We can talk about: How to figure out which programs are right for you How to position your background (especially if it's unconventional or you're changing careers) Where to start if you haven't done anything yet What matters most in a strong application What admissions committees actually care about Your story: why this degree, why now Essays, recommendations, résumé, testing, and timelines What to prioritize first and what can wait Come as you are, with whatever is swirling around in your head. No polished application required. No perfect question required. Bring the messy questions, the half-formed ideas, the things you've been Googling at midnight, and the decisions you can't seem to make on your own. The goal is simple: leave feeling less overwhelmed, and much clearer about what to do next.