So you’ve submitted an application for admission. Now what? Read this post and view the infographic below for more information and guidance. 

What We’re Doing: Application Processing

Once the application deadline passes, we begin processing applications.  

Staff members need to manually review all applications to confirm that all required materials have been received. There are certain application materials on the application status checklist that require manual intervention – GRE/GMAT scores, for example. This means you shouldn’t panic if there is a red X next to one or more of your application status checklist items at this stage. All applicants will see a red X and the “Awaiting” status next to “All documents have been checked and verified” until the application is manually reviewed.

Once your application is processed, you will receive an email regarding the status of your application. We advise you to pay close attention to emails from our office, as we may need clarification or additional information to complete your file.

If your application is confirmed to be complete after being processed, the red X next to “All documents have been checked and verified” will change to a green check mark.  

While we certainly understand that you will be anxiously awaiting an update from our office about the status of your application, we ask that you please refrain from emailing us regarding the status of individual application documents.

Our goal is to complete application processing as quickly as possible. It may take us several weeks after the deadline to process all application materials. Rest assured that the order in which an application is processed has no bearing on the admission decision.  

What You Can Do: Complete the Financial Aid Application and Explore Additional Avenues for Funding Your Degree  

Now that you’ve submitted your application for admission, you can turn your attention toward the application for financial assistance. We encourage you to apply regardless of financial need, as most of our scholarships and fellowships are awarded primarily based upon merit.

Financial aid applications are submitted through the same website through which you applied for admission. Please visit your application status page and select the Financial Aid tab, which should be available to all applicants within 36 hours of submitting an admission application.  

The deadline for applying for financial assistance is 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, January 24, 2022. Keep in mind that this deadline means you must apply for financial assistance before you receive a decision on your application for admission.  

We also encourage U.S. citizens and permanent residents to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The deadline for filing a FAFSA is January 15, 2022. FAFSAs should be submitted to the Harvard Kennedy School using the HKS school code of E00215 – please be careful not to use the very similar code for Harvard University (Undergraduate).  

Most students must rely on several funding sources, including external resources, to cover their cost of attendance. Explore our Funding Resource Database, which is a valuable tool for helping you research both Harvard-based and external funding opportunities.

Infographic: 

What Happens After Submitting an Application?