Is it just me or are HKS grads insufferable?

[Anonymous]

Of this list:

Sais, Fletcher, sipa, hks, woodywoo, gtown, gdub —

Hks is mid pack in terms of being insufferable. I’d say Fletcher is the worst followed by sipa

Woodywoo is best to work with
Sais
Gtown/gw
Hks
Sipa
Fletcher

From best alums to worst alums

[Anonymous]

New grad social skills, and proper work place etiquette are among the big macro issues HR teams are currently trying to tackle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It can vary greatly, OP. There are people who go to HKS because they are smart and competent and interested in policy work and want to attend the best school they can get into. The faculty and program is top notch.

But every class also has a TON of people who are there due to money and connections (often both). Much more true for HKS than for any Ivy League undergrad program, including Harvard. Senators' kids, lots of people from wealthy/prominent foreign families. And a lot of them are horrible, plus this horribleness can rub off on some of the more normal people there.

Anyway, some of the smartest, most thoughtful, and genuinely public-interest-minded people I know went to HKS. But also a lot of complete a$$holes who think they are god's gift.

You just have to judge each on the merits. I do think if you write of HKS grads as all terrible, you risk missing out on some truly exceptional people.

(I didn't go to HKS, but my spouse did)

I haven't written anyone off. It just so happens that every HKS grad I've encountered at work is horrible.

Maybe The best students are getting better offers and yiur company is getting the leftovers at the bottom of the barrel. You’d prob do better to aim for top students at “lesser” schools.

We're not targeting HKS grads specifically. They just apply. We hire people from "lesser" schools that are awesome. Due to politics, some HKS grads end up in leadership positions.

[Anonymous]

I went HKS. I have always been committed to public service and am happy with my role (apolitical GS-15 fed focused on a subject I enjoy) but its definitely not grand enough for most HKS graduates.

When I attended HKS I felt like two things were going on:

1) classmates arrived thinking a Harvard degree would provide keys to some elusive kingdom that would allow them to skip through the ranks to elite status. But the sheer numbers of students prevent that and its disheartening.

2) a HKS masters is not that elite a degree that leads to financial security. You can be admitted to HKS from many college backgrounds as long as you write a decent essay, do well on admissions test, and can stomach the student loans.

The school is not nearly as competitive as Harvard Business school, law school or medical school. Its also not a terminal degree (Phd) and its definitely not not the rarefied air of a Harvard ab.

I think the disillusionment of those realities gives HKS graduates a combination of arrogance and insecurity that comes off as particularly annoying.

[Anonymous]

HKS is a modern day mrs. degree

Degree inflation happened for Mrs degrees just as it did for other jobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went HKS. I have always been committed to public service and am happy with my role (apolitical GS-15 fed focused on a subject I enjoy) but its definitely not grand enough for most HKS graduates.

When I attended HKS I felt like two things were going on:

1) classmates arrived thinking a Harvard degree would provide keys to some elusive kingdom that would allow them to skip through the ranks to elite status. But the sheer numbers of students prevent that and its disheartening.

2) a HKS masters is not that elite a degree that leads to financial security. You can be admitted to HKS from many college backgrounds as long as you write a decent essay, do well on admissions test, and can stomach the student loans.

The school is not nearly as competitive as Harvard Business school, law school or medical school. Its also not a terminal degree (Phd) and its definitely not not the rarefied air of a Harvard ab.

I think the disillusionment of those realities gives HKS graduates a combination of arrogance and insecurity that comes off as particularly annoying.

Thanks, this makes sense. Part of the issue is where I work is considered by most as even less "grand" than federal government (though the pay + benefits + job security are comparable or better and the work is very interesting) so I do think many HKS types really feel they are above this place. The people in leadership positions don't seem to know how to engage with us "regular" people except to be rude and overbearing.

[Anonymous]

I get this. They're not quite up to snuff for HBS or HLS but they have the connections so they're entitled. I totally get where you're coming from OP. Not all the HKS grads of course but it is a noticible.

[Anonymous]

They are the most likely to wear Harvard-branded clothing. Without a doubt.

I feel like the program is a grift to get those foreign dollars. They admit anyone with a pulse and deep pockets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can vary greatly, OP. There are people who go to HKS because they are smart and competent and interested in policy work and want to attend the best school they can get into. The faculty and program is top notch.

But every class also has a TON of people who are there due to money and connections (often both). Much more true for HKS than for any Ivy League undergrad program, including Harvard. Senators' kids, lots of people from wealthy/prominent foreign families. And a lot of them are horrible, plus this horribleness can rub off on some of the more normal people there.

Anyway, some of the smartest, most thoughtful, and genuinely public-interest-minded people I know went to HKS. But also a lot of complete a$$holes who think they are god's gift.

You just have to judge each on the merits. I do think if you write of HKS grads as all terrible, you risk missing out on some truly exceptional people.

(I didn't go to HKS, but my spouse did)

I thought the majority went because they could not get into HBS and they think an MPA is just like an MBA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went HKS. I have always been committed to public service and am happy with my role (apolitical GS-15 fed focused on a subject I enjoy) but its definitely not grand enough for most HKS graduates.

When I attended HKS I felt like two things were going on:

1) classmates arrived thinking a Harvard degree would provide keys to some elusive kingdom that would allow them to skip through the ranks to elite status. But the sheer numbers of students prevent that and its disheartening.

2) a HKS masters is not that elite a degree that leads to financial security. You can be admitted to HKS from many college backgrounds as long as you write a decent essay, do well on admissions test, and can stomach the student loans.

The school is not nearly as competitive as Harvard Business school, law school or medical school. Its also not a terminal degree (Phd) and its definitely not not the rarefied air of a Harvard ab.

I think the disillusionment of those realities gives HKS graduates a combination of arrogance and insecurity that comes off as particularly annoying.

This was my suspicion about HKS and is why I didn't apply.

[Anonymous]

Also a KSG grad and TOTALLY agree with the pp. It was the most disappointing educational experience I've had (and I went to a mediocre public school system until I went to college). I also graduated with a ton of debt and wasn't notified about changes in the public service repayment program that I would have been eligible for immediately after graduating. I don't bother going to alum event and would NEVER give any money to KSG.

Also I roll my eyes whenever I hear people refer to it as HKS or Harvard Kennedy School. That rebranding happened towards the end of my time there and it just makes it reek even more of desperation to be associated with the Harvard name. Barf.

[Anonymous]

I have found that HKS grads should have just saved their money and actually worked on a campaign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went HKS. I have always been committed to public service and am happy with my role (apolitical GS-15 fed focused on a subject I enjoy) but its definitely not grand enough for most HKS graduates.

When I attended HKS I felt like two things were going on:

1) classmates arrived thinking a Harvard degree would provide keys to some elusive kingdom that would allow them to skip through the ranks to elite status. But the sheer numbers of students prevent that and its disheartening.

2) a HKS masters is not that elite a degree that leads to financial security. You can be admitted to HKS from many college backgrounds as long as you write a decent essay, do well on admissions test, and can stomach the student loans.

The school is not nearly as competitive as Harvard Business school, law school or medical school. Its also not a terminal degree (Phd) and its definitely not not the rarefied air of a Harvard ab.

I think the disillusionment of those realities gives HKS graduates a combination of arrogance and insecurity that comes off as particularly annoying.

This is the most spot on explanation! Thank you, now it makes sense!

[Anonymous]

Miss America 2024 is an HKS student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also a KSG grad and TOTALLY agree with the pp. It was the most disappointing educational experience I've had (and I went to a mediocre public school system until I went to college). I also graduated with a ton of debt and wasn't notified about changes in the public service repayment program that I would have been eligible for immediately after graduating. I don't bother going to alum event and would NEVER give any money to KSG.

Also I roll my eyes whenever I hear people refer to it as HKS or Harvard Kennedy School. That rebranding happened towards the end of my time there and it just makes it reek even more of desperation to be associated with the Harvard name. Barf.

I like you. Spot on.