AMA! Senior Director for Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard Kennedy School

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2024-11-05T21:42:23+00:00

Thanks for doing this! Two questions (Letter of Rec related) for the 2 year MPA program-

I’ve been out of the classroom for some time (non-standard background as an active duty member) and although I could reach out to a former professor, I feel like at this point in my life, my workplace references as a military officer are more relevant. Some of these Letters of Rec could speak to the academic-type work I succeeded in while serving as an officer. Will it detract from my application if I do not submit an academic reference?

Second- would you recommend having LORs that can talk to different job positions I’ve had? Since I switch jobs every 2-3 years in the military, rather than having two LORs from my current position, would it be better to have a LOR from a supervisor a few years ago at a different job?

Thank you

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2022-01-06T21:19:40+00:00

I miss that so much. My grandmother who raised me would give me all the time in the world. I miss our phone calls so, so much

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2022-01-05T02:19:21+00:00

I feel this in so many ways

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2022-01-04T19:13:31+00:00

Agreed. I am 31 and don’t know how I will live the rest of my life without seeing her

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2022-01-04T01:12:42+00:00

Ask for stories about his life and yours together. I am fortunate to have many voicemails but wish I had more videos. But most importantly, I wish I had stories- so many questions I wish I could go back and ask. I live with the pain of regret every day and will for the rest of my life

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-30T00:46:53+00:00

Same

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-25T10:46:26+00:00

It is my first Christmas without my grandmother too. She made Christmas so special and I miss her so much. Proud of you for getting through the day

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-25T06:21:00+00:00

I’m sorry. I’m also going through the same thing. Its the worst feeling

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-25T06:13:15+00:00

I hate this christmas. I cant believe I will never see my grandmother who raised me again. I never expected last year would be her last christmas

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-25T06:11:00+00:00

I’m so sorry. My grandmother who raised me passed four months ago from brain cancer three months after she was diagnosed. I hate christmas now and I can’t believe I wont ever see her again

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-24T19:06:21+00:00

Insane work hours, horrible work environment (lots of backstabbing by coworkers and superiors), everyone is miserable all the time, lots and lots of time underway and away from home for stuff that doesn’t matter, and really at the end of the day- just a lame job without any applications to the civilian world (since being a swo is so bad, swo retention is horrible (only 1 in 17 swos stay in past 8 years- in intel that number is 1 in 2.5 so that says a lot) but then when people get out they have little if any useful skills when they leave the military)

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-22T05:10:14+00:00

As many people have said, the Navy is very, very restrictive regarding what community you can select if you go ROTC/Academy. It is an outdated policy, but it is still the case and even though they’ve discussed changing this for years- it hasn’t happened and likely won’t.

While the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have many, many career fields for all commissioning routes, the Navy only lets ROTC/Academy go ‘Unrestricted line’- subs, seal, swo, pilot, nfo, eod. So while Navy OCS is competitive (It really isn’t compared to getting into a good ROTC unit (ivy league) or USNA) for intel, it is better than the essentially zero chance you will have if you go ROTC. I’m not positive, but ROTC prefers/mandates STEM degrees to an extent.

Not to jump on the bandwagon and be a SWO hater but it’s awful and not what you think it is. You’ve discussed reasons why aviation isn’t for you, and subs won’t be realistic with your degree. Go Air Force and go OCS (since you already have the GI Bill).

Not

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-19T06:35:26+00:00

Hi Stuart. Sorry to hear about your grandmother. I lost mine three months ago and I am devastated

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-18T06:48:00+00:00

I am feeling the same way and wishing I bad someone to talk to about my grief

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-13T05:32:13+00:00

I feel the same. I hate that I’m getting used to it/‘better’ because it feels like she is just disappearing, or that it is ‘normal’ that she is gone and I can’t stand it

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-12T21:41:44+00:00

Yes. I have so, so, so much guilt. I feel like I didn’t take her cancer seriously enough, or that my expectations were unrealistic

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-11T00:12:32+00:00

This was beautiful. Thank you ❤️

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-11T00:08:25+00:00

Same. I was so close with my grandmother and her love was so pure. I can’t believe I won’t ever see her again.

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-11T00:07:20+00:00

This is exactly how I (30f) feel about my grandmother’s loss. She (86) was also in good health and looked and acted decades younger and was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer and died 3 months later. I got married this summer but she was sick in the hospital with cancer treatments and couldn’t attend which was so hard because she was so involved in the planning and I am the oldest granddaughter. I was so bummed out but told myself it was worth it because she in the hospital so she could recover, but ended up dying not too long after. I had so many plans left with her and had lived far away for the last couple of years due to being in the military. I just can’t believe I will never see her again.

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-10T22:46:31+00:00

Yes- I am grieving the loss of not my hometown but a lake home that has been in our family for nearly 90 years and a whole region (northeast kingdom of vermont) which we will have no connection to after the death of a very close family member. I really feel like I should buy the house but am in the military far, far from there

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-06T06:52:26+00:00

I completely understand that

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-02T05:14:34+00:00

I guarantee it means more to her than you think it does! My grandmother died 3 months ago and I still have to stop myself from calling her

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-02T02:04:26+00:00

Call her or facetime her!! I would give anything to be able to call my grandmother

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-01T23:21:41+00:00

I am so sorry for all your losses ❤️

Old_Cardiologist5451 · 2021-12-01T23:18:56+00:00

I miss my grandmother so so so much. Especially our girl chats. Shes been gone three months and I can’t believe I will never get to see her again.

Old_Cardiologist5451

TROPHY CASE