Posts in the Admissions Category at Heller Admissions Blog

Category: Admissions (page 1 of 11)

Heller Hacks: Pro Tips from the Inside (Heller Enrichment Funds)

Welcome to the first installment of “Heller Hacks: Pro Tips from the Inside”! As an admissions professional at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, I have the privilege of working with students from the moment they first consider pursuing a degree at Heller. Through my interactions with prospective and current students, I have seen firsthand what contributes to their success in the program.

In this blog series, I will be sharing practical tips that I’ve noticed many of our most successful students take advantage of during their time at Heller. These won’t be typical advice like “manage your time wisely”, but rather, specific, actionable things that you can take advantage of during your time at Heller to make sure you’re making the most out of your time here. First up: Heller Enrichment Funds.

The Heller Enrichment Funds are a way for eligible students to apply for financial support for their academic and professional development. The funds are generously supported by Heller alumni and friends and earmarked exclusively for student support. Heller Enrichment funds can help you to cover a variety of expenses, including reading materials or expenses related to attending a professional conference relevant to your areas of professional and scholarly interest.

Master’s students are eligible to apply for book awards up to $250 to help the costs of reading materials for the semester. The Book Award can cover the cost of materials that are a course requirement, such as textbooks, books, software, and coursepacks. Masters students can also apply for a grant to pay expenses related to attending a professional conference relevant to their areas of professional and scholarly interest and which could provide valuable career networking opportunities. The Conference Award can help to cover registration, lodging, and travel; students presenting original work can receive a maximum award up to $700, and students who are attending without presenting original work can receive up to $300.

PhD students can apply for up to two conference grants of up to $700 each during their time at Heller, one pre-proposal approval and one post-proposal approval. Additionally, post-proposal doctoral students may apply for a grant to assist in the final stages of conducting research and writing dissertations. These grants ($3,000 maximum) are intended to help students who have made
substantial progress in their work, and to relieve specific dissertation-related expenses (e.g., transcriptions, travel outside of the Boston area related to collecting data, software purchases, consulting or other direct research costs).

I encourage all eligible students to take advantage of these funds, which are exclusively earmarked for student support. Applying for these funds can help reduce financial stress and provide you with valuable opportunities for your academic and professional development. Heller Enrichment Funds are just one example of how we support our students at Heller. By providing financial assistance so that students can take advantage of professional opportunities, we ensure that our students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Plan for an Admitted Student Day

February 23, 2023 / amandamiller / 0 Comments

If you’re one of our newly admitted students, congratulations! This is a great achievement, and we are excited to welcome you to Heller. As a newly admitted student, you’re no doubt wondering what the next steps are, or trying to imagine your life as a Heller student. To help you make such a big decision, Heller is offering a variety of events just for admitted students, both in-person and virtually, and this blog post, we will explore why we strongly recommend trying to attend one of these events.

Learn More About the Program
While you no doubt researched the Heller School extensively prior to applying, now that you’re admitted, you’ll find that there is more to learn because now there’s more to plan! By attending admitted student events, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about more details of the program. These events, whether in person or online, gives admitted students the chance to learn about the program’s curriculum, research opportunities, experiential learning opportunities, and career services. Having this information early on will help you start to make more informed decisions about your academic and professional goals.

Get to Know Your Future Classmates
Graduate school is not just about academics, it’s also about building your network and forging relationships. During many of these admitted student events, you’ll have the opportunity to start getting to know your future classmates and forming these friendships. You will be spending a significant amount of time with them, so it’s essential to start building relationships early. Having these connections even before the school year begins will allow you to start building a support system that will follow you through your academic journey and into your career.

Meet Your Professors
At the Heller School, our faculty members are not just accomplished academics but also practitioners in their fields. By attending admitted student events, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your future professors, ask them questions, and learn about their research interests. Building relationships with your professors is an important first step to finding a mentor, and admitted student days are a great time to start forging these connections. This is extremely important, as the faculty members at Heller are able to provide you with valuable guidance throughout your academic and professional career.

Experience the Heller Community
Lastly, attending admitted student events will give you a glimpse into the Heller School’s unique community. The Heller community is diverse, supportive, and passionate about social justice. By attending these events, you will get a sense of our community’s values and culture. At many of these events, you’ll also have the opportunity to hear from current students about their experiences at Heller.

Reasons to Fall in Love with Heller

February 14, 2023 / amandamiller / 0 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day, blog readers! On this day, where we celebrate love, I want to take a moment to recognize what lies at the root of this community: a genuine belief in the power of people to effect good in the world. In a world that so often feels chaotic or stagnant (or worse, deteriorating), everyone at Heller not only believes that positive change is possible, but are actively working to improve it. Over the past year, our students, alumni, faculty, and staff have done amazing things, so here’s my Valentine to the Heller community: these are some of the reasons why I love Heller.

From July 2021 to June 2022…

Heller faculty and director of the Institute for Children, Youth, and Family Policy Dolores Acevedo-Garcia was appointed to the Societal Experts Action Network, a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to bring timely, actionable guidance to the critical and complex questions facing decision-makers.
Sandy Ho, MPP’22, co-wrote an article for the Winter 2O22 issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, “Time for Philanthropy to Confront Ableism.” She argues that if philanthropy is to build a more just and equal society, it must combat ableism in its own institutions and practices. Sam Hyun, MPP/MBA’22, was the subject of a Dec. 15, 2O21, profile in The Boston Globe, “Sam Hyun Is Tireless in Amplifying Long Silenced AAPI Voices”.
The Master of Public Policy program sponsored a talk by Robert Kuttner, Meyer and Ida Kirstein Professor in Social Planning and Administration, on April 28, 2O22, in which Kuttner discussed his book “Going Big: FDR’s Legacy, Biden’s New Deal, and the Struggle to Save Democracy.”
Phillip Aitken, MA COEX’22, Ruya Akar, MA SID/ COEX’22, Gabriella Lanzi, MA SID/COEX’22, and Whitney Wehrle, MA SID/COEX’22, received Boren Awards to further their international and language studies. Making use of these grants, Phillip studied Portuguese in Cabo Verde; Ruya studied Arabic in Amman, Jordan, and Gabriella in Rabat, Morocco; and Whitney continued her studies of Armenian, which she began in country as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2O18.
Heller faculty and PhD Alumna Alexandra Piñeros-Shields, PhD’07, was honored at the White House’s Fourth of July Celebration (2O21) for her work in defending the rights of immigrants and promoting humane immigration reform.
PhD student Janelle Ridley was quoted in a Sept. 28, 2O21, Boston Globe story about The Run Around, a tabletop game about the juvenile justice system that is designed to be impossible to win.
A bill proposed in California (AB-2832) recommended the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy’s Child Opportunity Index as a potential screening tool for collecting data on racial and economic equity in order to provide the state’s highest-need communities with additional investments for early childhood infrastructure and resources.
Samantha Berlus, MPP’23, and Armando Vizcardo, MPP’23, were among the recipients of the 2O22 Harvard Kennedy School Rappaport Public Policy Fellowship. During the summer of 2O22, Samantha worked with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and Armando worked in the Massachusetts Office of the Treasurer and Receiver General’s Office of Economic Empowerment.
In March 2O22, Heller faculty member Peter Dixon facilitated “Restorative Justice in Concord,” a reconciliation dialogue between a local private school and The Robbins House, a local museum run by interim dean Maria Madison, around the history of slavery in Concord, Massachusetts.
Heller faculty Anita Hill’s April 7, 2O22, op-ed, “The Senate Judiciary Committee Mistreated Judge Jackson. I Should Know,” appeared in The Washington Post.

I’m Admitted, Now What: Choosing the Right Program

February 7, 2023 / amandamiller / 0 Comments

Deciding what graduate programs to apply to is hard enough. But deciding what school to attend after you’ve received multiple offers? That can feel almost impossible. Today, I’d like to share some tips to help you choose which graduate school to attend.

Get your facts straight. Even though you most likely did a significant amount of research when choosing which schools to apply to, now’s the time to dig even deeper. Many programs host Admitted Student Days, or connect accepted prospective students to current students or faculty members in other ways. Take advantage of this opportunity, and don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. Ask current students what their cost of living is, how available faculty are outside of classroom hours, and what their workload is. Ask faculty what mentorship opportunities exist, what their current research projects are, and what their expectations of their students are. Try to get a feel for what the environment of the program is: is it more collaborative or competitive? What activities are available to students outside of classes? What are the relationships between students and faculty like? Remember that there are no right answers; only what would fit you best.

Compare financial aid packages. Take a close look at the financial aid packages you’ve been offered. Some packages cover fees, while others don’t. Similar programs can vary in length, so a longer program may end up costing more in the long run, even if they’ve given you a higher scholarship. Some packages or stipends are contingent on being a teaching or research assistant, so factor that in as well. If you live out of state, you might also want to consider the cost of traveling home to visit family during your time in the program. The College Board has a great tool for comparing different financial aid packages, although it is intended for undergraduate programs, so you’ll need to substitute estimated living expenses for room and board, and you’ll want to factor in the length of the program as well.

Weigh your options. For some students, it comes down to a gut decision. But for the more indecisive among us, it can be helpful to create a spreadsheet that takes into account your priorities. Here’s a sample one that I made to help illustrate this, but remember, the weight that you give each category is totally up to you, and you may have other priorities that I didn’t even list.

College A				College B
Factor	Score	Weight	Weighted Score	Factor	Score	Weight	Weighted Score
Research Opportunities	10	10%	1	Research Opportunities	9	10%	0.9
Community Feel	6	10%	0.6	Community Feel	8	10%	0.8
Academic Rigor	8	40%	3.2	Academic Rigor	6	40%	2.4
Cost	9	30%	2.7	Cost	7	30%	2.1
Student Life	8	10%	0.8	Student Life	5	10%	0.5

By adding the weighted scores together, you should get a total out of ten. In this example, College A scores an 8.3 out of 10, while College B gets a 6.7. Looks like School A is the place for me!

How to Tell if Heller Might NOT be for You

January 31, 2023 / amandamiller / 0 Comments

Many graduate schools will tell you why their school is the best place for you, but today I thought I’d do something a little differently. This is a little unorthodox, but bear with me: today I’ve put together how to know if Heller might not be the best place for you.

Heller might not be the right fit for you if…

You’re comfortable with the status quo. At Heller, the students, faculty, and staff are all committed to promoting social justice and creating a better world. This passion and drive can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if you’re content with the way things are now. Our commitment to making the world a better place is reflected in everything we do at Heller: from our motto to the curriculum, from the research being done in our institutes to the student organizations and events. We strive to create an atmosphere at Heller that inspires and challenges our students, and if you’re not open to that type of environment, it might not be the right fit for you.
You’re already completely satisfied in your career. Although many of our students come to us having already accomplished great things, if you’re entirely satisfied in your job right now, you might not find the opportunities at Heller to be particularly appealing. At Heller, we work hard to make sure that our students go on to do great things. Our curricula are designed to equip students with both the theoretical knowledge and the hands on tools that will allow them grow and develop professionally, and to enable them to pursue careers that make a positive impact. Our Career Development Center also provides resources, workshops, and one-on-one coaching appointments to help students reach their personal and professional goals. In other words, at Heller, we don’t just care about your success while you’re in school: we’re looking further, to the next five, ten and twenty years after you graduate. If you’re already in a job that you love, and you’re not looking for new opportunities or challenges, the opportunities that Heller offers to grow your career might not be up your alley.
You’re not comfortable being a part of a dynamic community. Heller students come from all walks of life: the person sitting next to you in class might be a optometrist from Nigeria in the United States for the first time, an active duty National Guard service member who will be getting on a helicopter later that day to help put out wildfires, or a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who was evacuated from their post during the COVID epidemic. These experiences make for a diverse classroom atmosphere, and students come to Heller because they’re passionate about the causes they care about. That combination often means that classroom discussions are full of healthy, respectful debate, and if you’re not comfortable in a dynamic environment, you might find that you feel out of place. Additionally, the focus on social justice at Heller means that there are many discussions aimed at creating a more inclusive and supportive community, and if you’re not comfortable with this type of atmosphere, you might find it difficult to thrive at Heller.

Like I said– a little unorthodox, but as I hope I’ve made clear, Heller is all about doing things a little bit differently. If any of the things I’ve listed above apply to you, then the Heller School for Social Policy and Management might not be the best fit for you. But if you’re excited about growing your career while challenging the status quo in a collaborative community working towards a common goal of making the world a better place, Heller is the place to be.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in the Application Process

January 24, 2023 / cmcquarters / 0 Comments

Calah McQuarters, MBA’23

“Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological occurrence in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.”

Recently, a prospective student asked how my application process for Heller was. I chuckled to myself and responded, “dramatic”.

I quickly let her know this was not because of anything Heller had done. Every student and admissions director I spoke to during my application process was kind and engaging (shout-out to the admissions office!). But that left the question, why was it so dramatic?

Well, the short answer is: me. However, the longer answer speaks to something I believe we all feel at some point in our lives, especially when trying something new.

Prior to attending Heller, I worked in my hometown, helping to open a museum about the Historic Greenwood District and 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre (if you haven’t heard of this before, take some time today to learn about it!). Prior to that, I was in school, double majoring in Afro-American Studies and Political Science.

I tell you this to show how far my interests were from anything related to business! But when I decided to pursue an MBA, I did so with the same enthusiasm and vigor I had when pursuing my love of history and politics. Starting September 2021, I signed up for any and all virtual MBA fairs, signed up to take the GMAT, and got to work.

About a month later, all my work had stalled or stopped. I dreaded going to MBA fairs, just to be told I should think about not pursuing an MBA until I knew exactly what I wanted to do post-graduation. I got anxious every time I thought about studying for the GMAT. I felt so unmotivated. And as I reflect on that time now, I can see I was really just afraid. Afraid of not knowing, afraid of failing, and afraid of rejection.

I don’t know about you, but oftentimes when I am trying something new in life, I tend to come down with a serious case of amnesia. I forget about all the accomplishments, skills, and lessons learned I have acquired over the years. Impostor syndrome starts to creep in, and sometimes it wins. But if I could go back and talk to myself during my one too many crying sessions, I would shake myself and say “REMEMBER!”

And that’s what I say to you now. The process of applying to anything, let alone a master’s program, can be daunting, but remember. Remember that everything on your resume was not an accident or chance (maybe a little grace in my case), but it was your talent meeting your hard work. The words your recommenders have to say about you are not lies, but reflections of the value you’ve brought to each room you’ve entered. And maybe you lack some experience and you just barely scraped together three recommendation letters, that’s okay! Remember your why and start planning for the memories you will create.

Please don’t let the application process for you be as dramatic as it was for me! Breathe, take your time, and remember. (You should especially remember that the second application deadline for most programs is March 1st for domestic students, and the final application deadline for international students is February 1st :P)

The Waiting Game

January 19, 2023 / amandamiller / 0 Comments

With the first round deadline behind us, many applicants may find themselves with a lot more extra time… to worry. What if I don’t get in? How will I manage a move in eight months? How much will it cost?

I won’t lie: anxiety can definitely get the best of me. One sign that something might be wrong is sometimes enough to send me into a spiral, so I get it. It’s tempting to tell myself that the anxiety is somehow productive, that by thinking through every possible worst-case scenario, I’m actually preparing myself for said bad outcome, or that by imagining the worst-case scenario, I’m somehow preventing it. But the truth is, worrying about something completely out of my hands has no impact on the situation, and if I ever actually do get the bad news I was anticipating, I’m still just as upset. All I’ve really done is make the intervening days, or weeks, or months just a little bit worse for myself. Trust me when I say: I’ve been there, and I get it. But I’ve also learned a little bit about how to manage anxious thoughts during stressful situations, so with that in mind, I want to share a few tips to manage your anxiety during this time.

1. Channel your nervous energy. Have you been catching yourself refreshing your email for hours on end? Chewing your nails down to the quick? Tapping your foot so long it wears a hole in your carpet? While some people shut down when they’re anxious, other people find themselves absolutely bursting with energy. Find a way to redirect this energy, like taking a long walk while listening to a podcast or doing a quick work-out in your living room to let off some steam. You can also put that energy to a productive use by writing a thank you email to your recommenders or by engaging in some volunteer work (which will look great on any future graduate school or job applications).

2. Indulge in smart self-care. Self care doesn’t always look like giving yourself permission to eat that entire gallon of ice cream (although sometimes it certainly can!). Take this time to indulge in self-care that actually makes you feel good and energized afterwards, like taking a bath, meditating, calling a loved one, getting coffee or dinner with a close friend, treating yourself to a healthy new recipe (whether you make it yourself or order take-out), or taking yourself out on a movie or museum date.

3. Put things in perspective. Imagine the absolute worst-case scenario: you’re rejected from every single school you’ve applied to. What then? I don’t mean to downplay the feelings of rejection and sadness that receiving a denial can induce, but at the end of the day, it truly isn’t the end of the world, and it doesn’t even mean you won’t ever go to grad school. Sometimes when you think the universe is saying “No”, it’s really only saying “Not yet”. You can spend the next year making sure you’re prepared for the next round of applications, and you’ll have a head-start on everyone applying for the first time.

4. Take break from social media. There’s nothing worse than taking a break from relentlessly refreshing your email only to go onto Instagram and be immediately confronted with someone else’s post about their acceptance. Especially if a lot of people in your immediate circle are going through the same process as you, consider taking a break, or at least setting limitations for yourself when it comes to social media. By the way, this goes double for sites like GradCafe, CollegeConfidential, or Reddit discussion boards. Remember: everyone’s situation is unique, and trying to “hack” the application process by following the tips that worked for a stranger on the internet is unlikely to actually pay off.

5. Put an embargo on app-talk. Everyone has that one great-aunt is probably just dying to tell you about how her friend’s sister’s son-in-law got into every single graduate school with a full ride. Get out ahead of it by giving a quick update, setting a boundary, and moving the conversation along (“There are a couple of schools I’m excited to hear back from, but I don’t want to talk about graduate school when I have all this delicious food in front of me. Aunt Betsy, tell me more about how your vacation was?”). The same tip goes for your friends, even if they’re in the same boat as you. Set aside ten minutes at the top of the gathering to compare notes, and then change the subject.

Happy Holidays from Heller!

December 22, 2022 / amandamiller / 0 Comments

Heller’s Office of Admissions wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season! The Office of Admissions will be closed from December 24th through January 3rd and will be taking a little hiatus from the blog during this time, but we’ll be back with fresh content on January 3rd. In the meantime, I’ve compiled a list of five resources that prospective students and applicants may find helpful, as well as three things that I’ll be doing over the break that I would recommend that you do too!

Resources:

How to Apply – find details on how to apply for each of our programs as well as the deadlines to submit your application.
English Proficiency and Application Fee Waivers for International Students – international applicants can check if they will need to submit IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo test scores and whether they are eligible to have their application fee waived.
Upcoming Events – coming up in January, we’ll be hosting several virtual sessions, including Is the Social Impact MBA Right for Me?, Is the MPP Program Right for Me?, and The Heller Experience: Master’s Programs Current Student Panel.
Financial Aid – Learn about the cost of tuition, our 100% tuition scholarships, and national service scholarships.
Our Commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Diversity – Find information about Heller initiatives to further EID, EID research at Heller, diversity events, and much more.

Take a Break!

Get some fresh air! During winter break, it’s so easy to just curl up and hibernate, but I’m planning to take at least one outdoor walk a day. Make an activity of it by ranking your neighborhood’s holiday decorations, going to a tree or menorah lighting, or window shopping.
Have a spa day. This isn’t just for the ladies– men and non-binary folks, you deserve a little love and self-care too. I’m prescribing everyone reading this one required pampering day where you take a long bath or shower, throw on a face mask (homemade is fine), and relax for once.
Do the thing you never have time for. Read a book, do yoga, go to the gym, whatever it is you normally don’t have time for, make time for it over this break.

I hope all of that helps; and I look forward to welcoming you all back to the blog in January!

3 Reasons Why You Should Schedule an Ambassador Appointment

December 13, 2022 / rclark / 0 Comments

Ronunique Clark, MPP’23

As a graduate assistant with the Heller Admissions Office for a 2nd year, I can say that I have enjoyed learning the ins and out of the admissions office. Being able to assist prospective students for programs at Heller and current students enrolled at Heller has allowed me to engage effectively with the process of higher academia. One cool part about my role as a graduate assistant is that I am able to dedicate time to speaking with applicants or potential applicants through what we call Ambassador Appointments. I am here to tell you three reasons why scheduling an Admissions Ambassador Appointment may be helpful!

1. Connecting with a student who is currently in your program of interest

Currently in our office we have a student connected to the following programs: Public Policy , Social Impact MBA, Global Health Policy and Management, Conflict Resolution and Coexistence , and Sustainable International Development, with two of our graduate ambassadors in a dual program offered by the school. Speaking directly to someone who is currently a full time student in your program of interest seems like a cheat code to the game. My co-workers and I are full time students navigating our respective programs everyday, so we know first hand what our program is about such as concentrations, classes, professors, and general student body life.

2. Get the answer to your questions

We love being able to answer any questions you have regarding the application process such statement of purpose, recommendation letters, or work experience. Or answering your general questions like “Why did you decide to choose Heller?” “What did you do before coming to Heller?” Just as we do when we are responding to your emails or answering your phone calls, we always want to provide you with the most adequate, updated information. Now remember, we are employed by the Admissions office, which works directly with sensitive information, so most questions may not be answered such as “Could you tell me if I got admitted or not?” or “Has my application been reviewed yet?” To make sure everyone is on a equal playing field, there is certain information that we can not provide. In addition to this, sometimes sending emails can be hassle waiting on a response, making sure it made it to the correct individual, and just overall technical difficulties. Meeting with an graduate ambassador, you are able to receive answers to most of your questions whether they are big or small and if we do not know the answer at the moment we will work to find it and follow up with you about it.

3. Booking an appointment is easy because we are flexible!

Making an appointment with a graduate ambassador is super easy and we are more then flexible. We utilize a Ambassador Portal link that lists all of our ambassadors and our available appointment slots. Don’t see a time that works for you? No worries, we will work with you to find a suitable time. Once you have registered for an Ambassador Appointment you will receive three confirmation emails; first email is confirming that your appointment has been made the second email will be your reminder email which you will receive 24 hours before the appointment, and the final email will be sent 2 hours before your appointment time with a link to connect us via video. Yes, I know, a lot of emails but we don’t want to miss you! Also, if you do not want to utilize our virtual option we will be more then happy to chat with you over the phone. We understand life can get in a way of a lot and sometimes we do not have control over what can happen in our day. These meetings are not mandatory so you can schedule whenever you need.

What I think is the most fun part for prospective students is getting to know us, as we all come from different backgrounds in our educational and work experience sometimes you may be surprised to hear that you had or have the same career and academic goals or that are educational and work experience focused on a different path but led us here. Conversations with graduate ambassadors are suppose to be relaxed, engaging, and ultimately helpful for you as you are making your decision regarding graduate school. If this has relieved your anxiety of what an Ambassador Appointment entails then sign up for one using this link here. We look forward to connecting with you 🙂

Hello Heller! Shiko Rugene’s Acceptance Story

December 1, 2022 / amandamiller / 0 Comments

Shiko Rugene, Social Impact MBA’22

I received my acceptance letter on July 20th, 2020. As I sit here and try to rack my brain to remember the feelings I had when I received the decision letter, it feels almost impossible. I know I’m speaking to the choir when I say how out of this world 2020 was. In June, we were at the height of the pandemic, still sanitizing our groceries with Clorox wipes and trying to wrap our brains around this new way of life. I was spending all my time in my studio apartment in Berkeley, California, having recently lost my job due to the pandemic like many others. Around that same time, in May, the whole world witnessed such horrific police brutality, leading many of us to the streets in response. With the world on lockdown, everything seemed to be falling apart, but we finally had a moment to reckon with and question many of the injustices around us.

I applied to Heller because I wanted to be part of an institution where social justice was front and center. A place where I could be with peers who were driven and persistent about challenging systems and influencing change. The Social Impact MBA program felt ideal to me for two reasons: 1) I wanted to learn what it would look like to influence business to be more accountable to our society and 2) more practically, I knew I needed the hard skills that would position me to take on the management and leadership positions I sought after.

With Heller operating remotely and so much uncertainty looming, my decision to join felt a lot more challenging than I hoped when I applied. When I thought about graduate school, I imagined being in community with other students, with faculty and professors. I imagined study sessions with classmates, being in a large lecture hall and the buzz of being in a place like Zinner forum where students share ideas and meals together. I knew that I wanted to be at Heller, but I was afraid that learning remotely just wasn’t going to fulfill me. I had to make a decision soon.

As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I knew that I had a strong network of peers who I could lean on to help me with my decision. Many were completing their degrees remotely at the time and had first hand experience. Though they spoke of the flexibility afforded to them by Heller, they also spoke of the challenges of not being amongst other students and with community. With that in mind, I chose to defer and start my degree in 2021, a decision that I’m so glad I chose.

Heller Admissions Blog

Category: Admissions (page 1 of 11)

Heller Hacks: Pro Tips from the Inside (Heller Enrichment Funds)

Plan for an Admitted Student Day

Reasons to Fall in Love with Heller

I’m Admitted, Now What: Choosing the Right Program

How to Tell if Heller Might NOT be for You

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in the Application Process

The Waiting Game

Happy Holidays from Heller!

3 Reasons Why You Should Schedule an Ambassador Appointment

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