Creative Projects
08. Creative Projects: Building a Public Policy Portfolio
For Political Science and Public Policy applicants, a strong “project portfolio” demonstrates that you can do more than discuss policy—you can investigate problems, analyze data, and propose solutions. The committee highlighted an opportunity for you to translate analytical work into tangible policy outputs such as formal reports and policy briefs. These artifacts can become portfolio pieces that you share with teachers, recommenders, advocacy groups, or even policymakers.
Because you have not yet provided details about independent research projects, journalism work, coding experience, or data analysis experience, the goal over the next 6–9 months is to create a small but rigorous policy portfolio. Each project should produce a concrete deliverable: a policy brief, a public report, and a documented analysis process.
The most compelling approach is to treat the projects as a multi‑stage investigation around one policy topic. This shows depth of engagement rather than scattered interests.
Project Architecture: A Three‑Stage Policy Investigation
Consider structuring your work as a policy investigation that produces three distinct outputs:
- A data‑driven investigative report
- A concise policy brief aimed at decision‑makers
- A public‑facing follow‑up analysis that expands the findings
Topics such as school funding disparities or voting access are particularly strong because they connect directly to public policy debates and can often be supported with publicly available data.
| Stage | Deliverable | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation | Structured research report | Demonstrates data analysis, interviews, and evidence gathering |
| Policy Translation | Formal policy brief | Shows ability to translate research into actionable policy recommendations |
| Public Engagement | Expanded public report or article | Demonstrates sustained engagement and communication to a broader audience |
Project 1: Policy Investigation Report
This first project should resemble a simplified version of investigative policy research. The goal is to produce a structured report that examines a real policy issue affecting communities.
Possible focus: disparities in school funding or barriers to voting access.
Core components of the report:
- Background section explaining the policy issue
- Data analysis using publicly available datasets
- Interviews with stakeholders (educators, students, community leaders, or election officials)
- A findings section highlighting key patterns or inequities
Suggested technical workflow:
- Data analysis: Python (Pandas), Excel, or Google Sheets
- Data sources: government databases, state education reports, election administration data
- Visualization: Tableau Public, Datawrapper, or Python (Matplotlib)
- Documentation: Google Docs or LaTeX for the final report
The final report should be approximately 12–20 pages and structured similarly to a policy institute publication.
Suggested report structure:
- Executive Summary (1 page)
- Background and Policy Context
- Data and Methodology
- Key Findings
- Interview Insights
- Policy Implications
This document becomes your first portfolio artifact.
Project 2: Policy Brief for Decision‑Makers
After completing the investigative report, the next step is to convert the research into a policy brief designed for policymakers or advocacy groups. This demonstrates a key public policy skill: translating complex research into concise recommendations.
Target format: 2–4 pages.
Core elements:
- Problem definition
- Key data points from your investigation
- Two or three concrete policy recommendations
- Implementation considerations
For example, if you investigate school funding disparities, the policy brief might propose specific changes to funding formulas or transparency measures.
Design tools:
- Canva or Adobe Express for professional layout
- Datawrapper or Tableau visuals embedded in the document
The finished brief should look similar to those produced by think tanks or policy research organizations. This format is particularly useful if you later choose to share your work with local advocacy groups or education policy organizations.
Project 3: Public‑Facing Follow‑Up Analysis
The third piece of the portfolio shows that your engagement did not stop with a single report. The committee noted the value of producing a follow‑up analysis or public‑facing publication that expands the investigation.
This could take several forms:
- A longer public report that updates the research with additional data
- A series of shorter articles explaining the issue to a general audience
- A visual policy explainer combining charts and commentary
The key goal is to demonstrate sustained engagement with the policy topic. Colleges often look for students who return to a problem and deepen their understanding over time.
Digital Portfolio and GitHub Strategy
Even for Political Science applicants, maintaining a transparent research workflow strengthens credibility.
Consider building a simple digital portfolio that documents how the work was done.
| Platform | Purpose |
|---|---|
| GitHub | Store datasets, analysis scripts, and version history |
| Notion or Google Sites | Host the portfolio and explain each project |
| Tableau Public / Datawrapper | Embed interactive charts |
Your GitHub repository might include:
- Raw datasets used for the analysis
- Python or spreadsheet analysis files
- Documentation explaining your methodology
- Visualizations used in the final reports
This level of transparency mirrors how policy researchers and data journalists publish their work.
Deliverable Specifications
| Portfolio Piece | Target Length | Key Skills Demonstrated |
|---|---|---|
| Investigative Policy Report | 12–20 pages | Research design, data analysis, interviews |
| Policy Brief | 2–4 pages | Policy translation, concise communication |
| Follow‑Up Analysis | 1 major report or 3 shorter articles | Long‑term engagement with the issue |
Portfolio Presentation for Applications
By the summer before senior year, aim to have a small but polished policy portfolio containing:
- One major investigative report
- One professional policy brief
- One follow‑up publication or expanded analysis
- A digital portfolio site linking all materials
These pieces can be referenced in applications and may also inform your narrative in §06 Essay Strategy.
Creative Project Timeline (Next 9 Months)
| Month | Actions |
|---|---|
| January |
• Select investigation topic (school funding disparities or voting access) • Identify public datasets and possible interview sources • Create project repository on GitHub |
| February |
• Collect and organize datasets • Begin preliminary data analysis • Outline investigative report structure |
| March |
• Conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders • Create charts and visualizations • Draft findings section |
| April |
• Complete full investigative report draft • Refine data visualizations • Begin drafting policy brief |
| May |
• Finalize policy brief design and layout • Upload project materials to portfolio site • Prepare summary that could inform essays (see §06 Essay Strategy) |
| June |
• Publish the investigative report online • Begin follow‑up analysis expanding the findings |
| July |
• Write additional analysis or commentary pieces • Expand data analysis if new information emerges |
| August |
• Finalize follow‑up publication • Ensure all materials are organized in your digital portfolio |
If executed carefully, this portfolio will show colleges that you are not just interested in public policy—you are already practicing the core skills of policy research, analysis, and communication.