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I am only applying to the School of Public Affairs at the University of XXXX. I hope to earn dual Master’s Degrees, the MPA & the MA in Economics as well as earning the Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Throughout my time at the University of XXXX, I have watched as my country has been torn apart by a variety of competing social and economic forces and worldviews that have left it in total chaos, much of the country destroyed, authentic political power existing only at the local level. Events on the ground suggest that security for Libyans is only temporary, sporadic and localized at best. My country needs a great deal of help and I hope to become fully prepared for the task at the University of XXXX. It is my sincere hope that by the time that I finish my graduate studies, Libya may have one, central, more-or-less functioning government to work with upon my return home. This is the best-case scenario.

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How do i write a personal statement for multiple courses, i wanted to apply for two different courses. how do i write a personal statement that covers two different subjects.

In the first place, we’d generally advise that where possible you choose courses in related subject areas. Many Admissions Tutors do use the personal statement as a key way of selecting applicants, so if part of your personal statement is about a completely unrelated subject area then you’re likely to be at a disadvantage compared to other applicants.

However, we recognise that many strong applicants may wish to apply for courses which are related but not exactly the same – and across different universities no two courses are completely identical anyway. In this case, we’d advise a topic-based approach, whereby you write about a topic/topics – maybe something in the news – which you can analyse from the perspective of the different disciplines of the courses you’re applying for. For example, there are many issues which can be viewed from both an economic and a political perspective, so you could write about e.g. Brexit, the Coronavirus pandemic, the US election, and many other topics from both these points of view.

In general we’d recommend avoiding dividing the personal statement into one half on subject A, the other half on subject B. Even for joint courses, we want to see how you can combine perspectives and apply your knowledge, so try to do this throughout the personal statement.

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  • How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

  • Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
  • Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
  • Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

  • A personal experience that changed your perspective
  • A story from your family’s history
  • A memorable teacher or learning experience
  • An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

  • Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
  • Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
  • How does it fit into the rest of your life?
  • What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

  • Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
  • Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

  • What first sparked your interest in the field?
  • Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
  • Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

  • Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
  • Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

  • Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
  • Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
  • Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

  • If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
  • If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
  • If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

  • Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
  • Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

  • Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
  • Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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No specific curriculum, major or courses are required for admission to Carolina Law. A broad educational background is encouraged. To apply, you must:

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  • Have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) within the last five years.
  • Register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) . Registration includes law school report preparation, letter of recommendation and transcript processing, and access to applications for all law schools accredited by the American Bar Association.

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Application materials are accepted through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) beginning October 1. All materials must be received by the school by May 1.

Your application will be considered once our Office of Admissions has received the following:

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  • Application fee. Your nonrefundable application fee of $75 must be submitted by credit card through LSAC.
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  • Personal statement. This is your opportunity to share why you want to join the legal profession, and why you are interested in Carolina Law. Please refer to the application for specific information regarding the personal statement requirement and the topics to be addressed.The personal statement should be double-spaced and in no less than 10-point type. The maximum number of pages for answering each required topic is three (3) pages and two (2) pages for the optional topic. Each topic should be addressed in its own word document.

The legal profession plays a vital role in the pursuit of justice and in sustaining the institutions of society, including governments, private corporations and organizations, nonprofit organizations, families, and individuals. Please write a statement discussing why you want to become a member of the legal profession and why you think you are prepared for the ethical, professional, and time demands of the profession. 

What is your reason for choosing the University of North Carolina School of Law? How does the institution meet your educational and/or your professional goals? Please include how your academic background, personal qualities, and life experiences inform your pursuit of a legal education at Carolina Law and how you will contribute to the breadth of perspectives in the law classroom and broader law school community. 

The School of Law is committed to a full evaluation of your credentials. Please set forth any circumstances you believe may have negatively affected your cumulative undergraduate grade-point average, your performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and/or your participation in service or extracurricular activities. 

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Writing the Personal Statement

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This handout provides information about writing personal statements for academic and other positions.

The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

  • What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
  • What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
  • When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
  • How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
  • If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
  • What are your career goals?
  • Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
  • Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
  • What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
  • What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
  • Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
  • What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

  • If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
  • Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

  • Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

  • Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

  • If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

  • The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

  • The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

  • There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

  • If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

  • Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

  • A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

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Writing Your Personal Statements

Your personal statement must demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have considered graduate school and their specific program seriously. It’s your opportunity to summarize your academic and research experiences. You must also communicate how your experiences are relevant to preparing you for the graduate degree that you will be pursuing and explain why a given program is the right one for you.

The personal statement is where you highlight your strengths. Make your strengths absolutely clear to the reviewers, because they will often be reading many other statements. Your self-assessments and honest conversations with peers and advisors should have also revealed your strengths. But you must also address (not blame others for) weaknesses or unusual aspects of your application or academic background.

Your personal statement should focus on two main aspects: your competence and commitment.

1. Identify your strengths in terms of competence that indicate that you will succeed in the grad program and provide examples to support your claims. Start your statement by describing your strengths immediately. Because faculty will be reading many statements, it’s important to start off with your strengths and not “bury your lede.” Consider traits of successful graduate students from your informational interviews, and identify which of these traits you have. These traits could involve research skills and experiences, expertise in working with techniques or instruments, familiarity with professional networks and resources in your field, etc.

  • Check your responses from the exercises in the self-assessment section. You may wish to consult notes from your informational interviews and your Seven Stories . Write concise summaries and stories that demonstrate your strengths, e.g. how your strengths helped you to achieve certain goals or overcome obstacles.
  • Summarize your research experience(s). What were the main project goals and the “big picture” questions? What was your role in this project? What did you accomplish? What did you learn, and how did you grow as a result of the experience(s)?

Vannessa Velez's portrait

My research examines the interplay between U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy during the Cold War. As a native New Yorker, I saw firsthand how dramatically my city changed after 9/11, which prompted my early interest in U.S. policy at home and abroad. As an undergraduate at the City College of New York, I planned to study international relations with a focus on U.S. foreign affairs. I also quickly became involved in student activist groups that focused on raising awareness about a wide range of human rights issues, from the Syrian refugee crisis to asylum seekers from Central America.

The more I learned about the crises in the present, the more I realized that I needed a deeper understanding of the past to fully grasp them. I decided to pursue a PhD in history in order to gain a clearer understanding of human rights issues in the present and to empower young student-activists like myself.

— Vannessa Velez, PhD candidate in History

Addressing weaknesses or unusual aspects

  • Identify weaknesses or unusual aspects in your application—e.g., a significant drop in your GPA during a term; weak GRE scores; changes in your academic trajectory, etc. Don’t ignore them, because ignoring them might be interpreted as blind spots for you. If you’re unsure if a particular issue is significant enough to address, seek advice from faculty mentors.
  • Explain how you’ll improve and strengthen those areas or work around your weakness. Determine how you will address them in a positive light, e.g., by discussing how you overcame obstacles through persistence, what you learned from challenges, and how you grew from failures. Focusing on a growth mindset  or grit  and this blog on weaknesses might also help.
  • Deal with any significant unusual aspects later in the statement to allow a positive impression to develop first.
  • Explain, rather than provide excuses—i.e., address the issue directly and don’t blame others (even if you believe someone else is responsible). Draft it and get feedback from others to see if the explanation is working as you want it to.
  • Provide supporting empirical evidence if possible. For example, “Adjusting to college was a major step for me, coming from a small high school and as a first-generation college student. My freshman GPA was not up to par with my typical achievements, as demonstrated by my improved  GPA of 3.8 during my second and third years in college."
  • Be concise (don’t dwell on the issues), but also be complete (don’t lead to other potentially unanswered questions). For example, if a drop in grades during a term was due to a health issue, explain whether the health issue is recurring, managed now with medication, resolved, etc.

2. Explain your commitment to research and their graduate program, including your motivation for why you are applying to this graduate program at this university. Be as specific as possible. Identify several faculty members with whom you are interested in working, and explain why their research interests you.

  • Descriptions of your commitment should explain why you’re passionate about this particular academic field and provide demonstrations of your commitment with stories (e.g., working long hours to solve a problem, overcoming challenges in research, resilience in pursuing problems). Don’t merely assert your commitment.
  • Explain why you are applying to graduate school, as opposed to seeking a professional degree or a job. Discuss your interest and motivation for grad school, along with your future career aspirations.

Jaime Fine's portrait

I am definitely not your traditional graduate student. As a biracial (Native American and white), first-generation PhD student from a military family, I had very limited guidance on how best to pursue my education, especially when I decided that graduate school was a good idea. I ended up coming to this PhD in a very circuitous manner, stopping first to get a JD and, later, an MFA in Young Adult Literature. With each degree, I took time to work and apply what I’d learned, as a lawyer and as an educator. Each time, I realized that I was circling around questions that I couldn’t let go of—not just because I found them to be fascinating, but because I did (and still do!) feel that my research could help to bridge a gap that desperately needs bridging. Because my work is quite interdisciplinary, I strongly feel that I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this line of research without the degrees and life experience I gained before coming to this program.

— Jamie Fine, PhD candidate in Modern Thought and Literature

Statement of Purpose: subtle aspects

  • Think in terms of engaging faculty in a conversation rather than pleading with them that you should be admitted. Ask reviewers to read drafts with this concern in mind.
  • With later drafts, try developing an overall narrative theme. See if one emerges as you work.
  • Write at least 10 drafts and expect your thinking and the essay to change quite a bit over time.
  • Read drafts out loud to help you catch errors.
  • Expect the "you' that emerges in your essay to be incomplete. . . that’s OK.
  • You’re sharing a professional/scholarly slice of "you."
  • Avoid humor (do you really know what senior academics find funny?) and flashy openings and closings. Think of pitching the essay to an educated person in the field, but not necessarily in your specialty. Avoid emotionally laden words (such as "love" or "passion"). Remember, your audience is a group of professors! Overly emotional appeals might make them uncomfortable. They are looking for scholarly colleagues.

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Home > Graduate Admissions: Tips and Tricks For Writing Your Letter of Motivation

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Graduate Admissions: Tips and Tricks For Writing Your Letter of Motivation

Applying for a master’s programme at Sciences Po for the upcoming intake? Read our best tips for writing your admissions letter.

As part of your application to one of Sciences Po's graduate schools , you will have to write a formal letter of motivation respecting the rules and guidelines given. Your letter should be written in the language of the programme you are applying to. For special focus and dual degree programmes, additional letters may be required. Here are our five essential tips for writing your letter. Best of luck!

Be professionally-minded

You are applying for a master’s programme that will set you on track to launch your career. What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years? What further milestones do you plan to reach? Your letter of motivation should mention in a maximum of a thousand words your goals and how they fit with the programme you have chosen.

Detail your plans, word your ambition, tell us all about how your academic journey, your values and your experiences are at the core of your decision to apply.

Defend your programme choice

Show us that you’ve done your research about Sciences Po and about the programme that interests you. A lot of ressources are available: the syllabus, curriculum, alumni testimonies and, of course, the career opportunities it provides.

It is of the utmost importance that you show how well you understand how the programme is built and how it fits perfectly with your professional goals.

Own your letter (and your letter should be your own)

While it is always helpful to get a second opinion on your letter, you shouldn’t get caught up in rewriting and having it edited by someone over and over again, and in the worst case scenario: by ChatGPT.  Your letter of motivation is the only part of your application that allows you to really introduce and express yourself. You know your strengths and skills better than anyone else.

For those applying through the domestic procedure, if you are admitted to the final interview you should be ready to answer any questions about your letter from the admissions committee.

Humility and marketability: find the right balance

At Sciences Po, we look for candidates who seek to become game-changers, who will use their talent to make the world a better place and contribute to their community in a meaningful way. We are seeking intellectually curious students, challenge-oriented, capable of facing complex situations.

You are invited to put forth your strengths and achievements, but be sure to temper them according to the context and the relevance they have to your academic and professional projects. Make sure to give specific examples that support and illustrate the image you want to portray.

Make a decision

Your letter of motivation is only a part of your overall application, along with your grades and résumé, among others.

It cannot tell your whole personal experience but is rather an opportunity to explain more precisely what your goals are, and why you are well-suited to the programme you are applying for. You are the one that decides what is the most relevant to tell us.

Edit, design and format

A letter of motivation cannot be written in one sitting. Give yourself time to brainstorm, to build your pitch, and then to review, edit, and format. UK English? US English? Realise or realize? Doesn’t matter - as long as you’re consistent.

Make sure your sentences are balanced, your ideas are well thought-out and relevant, and your document is easy to read. Keep it simple, but effective!

Please remind that the letter of motivation should be added in the designated space during the application process and that it should not exceed 1,000 words.

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MBA/MS in Business Analytics

Your path to becoming a business leader with strong analytical skills..

The MBA/MS dual degree program will give you a hands-on, real-world education. This immersive residential program builds a close-knit community; provides individualized career support; and enables you to strategize and lead in a data-centric world.

Every On-Campus MBA/MSBA student is awarded a Fellowship that fully funds MBA tuition, partially funds MSBA tuition, provides an annual stipend and health insurance. The Fellowship also provides valuable hands-on experience and resume-building skills. Fellows work in marketing analytics, finance, diversity, equity and inclusion, entrepreneurship, project management, product management and more, taking on real business opportunities and strategic initiatives for Isenberg and across campus.

Data is everywhere, and every organization needs to apply data analytics. As an MBA student, you need an analytics background and vocabulary to set strategy and lead in the data-centric business world. Coursework in Business Intelligence, Data Management, Data Mining, Data Science for Business, and Application Development with Python will prepare you to navigate the analytics landscape

The MBA/MSBA dual degree is ideal for international students. The STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training) classification allows students to extend their time in the U.S. to gain practical work experience, and the CPT (Curricular Practical Training) requirements allow them to accept paid internships. This STEM-designated degree offers students highly sought-after technical expertise and our Office of Career Success offers students the professional development they need to secure their career path.

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Career Focused

Students kick off their MBA/MSBA program with a three-day Leadership Orientation Session, where they are put through their paces on presentation skills, resume writing, and team-building exercises so they start networking and career development from day one. Isenberg's Office of Career Success provides access to career coaches and IConnect, an online professional development platform.

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Application Requirements

Online application.

All prospective students must complete a University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School  Graduate Admissions Online Application .

Personal Statement

A personal essay should be one to two pages in length, and include information about your past and current academic and professional history, your future goals and reasons for pursuing the MBA/MSBA dual degree, and other pertinent details that will help us evaluate you as a candidate.

We prefer our on-campus MBA/MSBA applicants have at least 3 years of experience in their field. Prior business education is not required to be admitted into the program. 

Official Transcripts

Please submit your transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, where nine (9) or more credits were earned. Unofficial transcripts uploaded to the 'Additional Materials' page of your application are acceptable. Upon admittance, official transcripts will need to be submitted, either electronically or in paper format, directly by each institution's Registrar to the Graduate Student Service Center. International transcripts must be submitted in paper format in order to be considered official. Review the instructions on  this page  for instructions on submitting official transcripts.

Letters of Recommendation

Your two letters of recommendation should be from individuals who know you on a professional level and well enough to provide specific examples and details regarding your past performance and competencies. Two professional references are encouraged, but one academic and one professional reference is acceptable.

GMAT/GRE Score

Our admissions process is competitive.  A strong GMAT/GRE score will enhance any application.  Candidates, however, can make a case for admission without a GMAT or GRE score by submitting application materials which demonstrate strong professional experience and/or academic accomplishments such as

  • Doctorate Degree, including a JD, PhD, PharmD, MD/DO, or international medical graduate with an ECFMG or Fifth Pathway.
  • Bachelor’s Degree with a 3.2 or higher cumulative GPA and 5+ years of professional work experience.

After the admissions committee’s review of a completed application for the On-Campus MBA, selected candidates will be invited to meet with members of the committee to discuss their professional and academic experiences. The interview is part of the admissions process for all candidates to the program.

Information for International Applicants

English Language Proficiency Exam Scores If your native language is not English, and you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, you must submit your official scores from a standardized English language proficiency test. Test scores must be submitted directly by the testing agency in order to be considered official. For admission to the MBA, the minimum scores for admission are as follows: the minimum combined TOEFL score is 100; the minimum IELTS Academic combined score is 7; the minimum Duolingo English Test overall score is 120; and the minimum PTE Academic overall score is 68. Please note, when reviewing an application, the UMass Graduate School does not superscore language tests (e.g. we do not accept the ETS MyBest Score set). Please consult the UMass Graduate School  international applicants page  for additional details. 

Degree Equivalency A three-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution may be considered sufficient if an official course-by-course credential evaluation from a member of the  National Association of Credential Evaluation Services  (NACES) indicates your education is equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. If you are not sure if your degree is equal to a U.S. four-year degree, please use this  free online degree equivalency tool  prior to submitting your application.

Transcripts and Degree Certificates If your transcript does not clearly indicate the awarding of your degree, with the degree title and date awarded, we need the diploma and/or degree certificate in addition to the official final transcripts.

English Translation Transcripts and degree documents that are in a language other than English must be accompanied with an official English translation or an official credential evaluation from a  NACES member .

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Follow our step-by-step process to complete your online application.

  • Review the program specific admissions requirements .
  • Click Apply Now to go to the University's Graduate School site where you can find a link to the secure online application.
  • First-time users will need to create an account to start a new application. Note: You can submit your application before you have all your materials ready, simply save and resume your application as you gather required materials.
  • After submitting, track your application at the Graduate School Status of Application page.

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Fill out the form to start the conversation and one of our program specialists will follow up with you directly. You'll also receive a link to download our brochure and program information emails.

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  • 4 Common UCAS Personal Statement Issues and How to Resolve Them

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  • 15 Mistakes That Will Ruin Your UCAS Application
  • The Complete Guide to University Open Days

The pressure is on, and it’s not helped by the fact that there are a few common problems making things more difficult for some students. We’ve previously given you some tips on how to write an effective personal statement , but in this article, we tackle some of the common issues head-on and show you how to make sure your personal statement still shines.

1. Writing a personal statement for a joint honours course

Image shows the Italian flag flying.

It’s notoriously tricky to write a personal statement for a joint honours course – that is, a course on which you study two different subjects. Those two subjects may be fairly similar – such as history and archaeology – in which case it should be fairly straightforward to talk about the two subjects and how they work effectively together. However, if the two subjects are very different – such as Birmingham’s Economics with Italian, or Oxford’s Computer Science and Philosophy – you face the challenge of trying to talk equally about your interests in both. It can be hard to know how to structure a personal statement that needs to cover two very different subjects, and it can also be difficult to explain your equal enthusiasm for both and how it came about. Many students writing joint honours personal statements end up talking too much about one and not enough about the other, or talking more naturally and enthusiastically about one than the other. The key points you need to get across when applying for a joint honours course are:

  • Your interest in both
  • Your aptitude for both, and what you’ve done to develop your interest in them
  • Why you want to study them together, and how the two might complement each other
  • How you see these two subjects fitting in with your longer-term aims

Rather than trying to talk about both at the same time, you might find it more straightforward to begin by talking about one subject, then the other, and then perhaps adding a line or two about why you think it would be beneficial to study them alongside each other. A slightly different way of doing it would be to talk about the first subject (what motivates you to study it, what aspects particularly interest you, and so on), and then discuss the second in relation to the first, immediately discussing why you think it complements the first and why you think a joint honours course is for you.

Image shows a laptop that someone is coding on.

To write an effective personal statement, you’ll need to make sure that you’re applying for the same combination of subjects at all your university choices. Your personal statement might sound great if you’re applying for Computer Science and Philosophy at University A, but it will make no sense to University B if you’re applying only for Philosophy. Alternatively, some students choose to write about just one of their joint honours subjects. This leaves them the flexibility to apply for different combinations of subjects, with one in common (such as English and French or English and Spanish). Approaching it this way has the advantage of allowing you to talk in more depth about the main subject; if you’re trying to talk about two subjects in a very limited amount of space, you may not be able to say everything you want to say. On the other hand, if you can show how keen you are on both subjects, and even talk about why you think it makes sense to study both, then your personal statement may come across stronger than that of a student who only talks about one subject, with no explanation as to why they have applied for the joint honours course rather than that one subject on its own.

2. Writing a personal statement for several subtly (or very) different courses

Image shows a scene from an Anglo-Saxon manuscript.

Unless you’re applying for a joint honours course, you’re not going to be able to choose two wildly different subjects, because your personal statement simply won’t work if you try to appeal to admissions tutors from different courses or departments. However, you can choose closely related subjects, and of course some courses are called different things at different universities and cover some different topics. The key here is to look for overlaps in the course content and talk about those. You’ll need to scrutinise the course content closely for each university and draw up a list of the topics that are covered by all of them. Don’t fall into the trap of stating your enthusiasm for studying a particular module if it’s not provided at all your university choices, because it will look odd to the universities who don’t cover it (and may be enough to lose you a potential offer). Avoid specifically naming any course in particular, as this is another dead giveaway to admissions tutors that another university may be your first choice. If you’re writing with your first choice university in mind, be careful that you don’t let slip any information that may reveal this; for example, if you know that the English course at your first-choice university places great emphasis on early English, but your other choices have less of a focus on this aspect, they may be able to tell that your heart lies elsewhere!

3. Explaining a bad grade (or many)

Whether it’s a below-par GCSE grade, or many, or a less-than-brilliant predicted A-level grade, or many, the ease with which you’ll be able to explain this shortfall on your personal statement depends very much on the circumstances surrounding it. Nevertheless, easy or not, it’s definitely worth acknowledging it in your personal statement, because the admissions tutor will have noticed – so it’s no use pretending it’s not the case and hoping they won’t notice. Let’s look at some of the possible reasons for low grades and consider each in turn.

Illness or family problems

Image shows a student asleep in a pile of cushions and duvets.

This may be a sensitive issue and it’s probably best not to dwell too much on in your personal statement; you don’t want to look as though you are angling for the ‘sympathy vote’. However, genuinely extenuating circumstances that explain a bad grade should be mentioned in passing, along with an explanation of what you’re doing to make up for it and, ideally, evidence to back up your claim that you’re trying to do better. For example, you might say something like: “Although my GCSE English grade was lower than I’d been aiming for due to my falling ill for several weeks during the term before exams, I’ve worked hard to make up for this at A-level, as you can see from my strong AS and predicted grades in this subject.” If you do have extenuating circumstances, your teachers will almost certainly mention them in your references , so you’ll have those to back up what you say. If you’re concerned about how your grades may look, talk to your teachers about it and remind them of the circumstances – this should jog their memory so that they remember to mention it in their references.

You didn’t work hard enough

This is clearly something you can’t admit to in your personal statement, as it will give a very poor impression to admissions tutors. It’s difficult to explain, though, and you may be at a disadvantage even if you’ve since got your act together and improved your grades ; there will be many other candidates whose grades are just as good as yours – and better than yours. You certainly can’t feign illness or personal problems as an excuse, because your personal statement then wouldn’t corroborate what your teachers say in your references, and that would arouse suspicion. Your best bet is to try to show what you’re doing to improve, rather than focusing on the reasons.

Image shows two students studying in the library together.

Acknowledge – briefly – that your grade(s) aren’t as good as you’d like, but tell them what you’re going to improve your forthcoming grades, and prove to them with your intelligent remarks in your personal statement that you are academically gifted. Explain that you’re taking on extra classes to bring your grades up to scratch, or that you’re reading around the subject even more in an effort to improve. Evidence of original thinking in your personal statement – for example, in your comments about what you’ve been reading – may be enough to counter the detrimental effect of a poor grade or grades. If you can provide some evidence that you’ve improved, even better; for instance, if your GCSE grade in Physics wasn’t as good as you were hoping for, but you’re predicted an A in A-level Physics, this is evidence that you are capable of doing better. Without this kind of evidence, you may find that it’s more difficult to win them over; but if the rest of your application is strong, you may just be able to do it.

You’re not academically up to it

This is the hardest reason to account for poor grades, because there isn’t really much you can do about it. If your grades are generally lower than the typical offers of universities you’re applying to, you should be questioning whether or not these universities are actually right for you. There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, within reason; but if you’re going to struggle academically, you’re probably not going to have a particularly enjoyable university experience. This is an issue that you should talk to your teachers about; you need a frank and objective opinion from someone who knows your academic standard. It’s a hard thing to face up to, but you’ll thank yourself in the long run.

4. Not enough extra-curricular activities

Image shows a man on a parachute.

Many students worry that they don’t have enough extra-curricular activities to talk about on their personal statements. This needn’t necessarily be a hindrance to you, as personal statements are there primarily to assess your academic interest in and suitability for the subject for which you are applying. In fact, students often make the mistake of devoting too much of their personal statement to talking about extra-curricular activities, which is worse than not having enough to talk about. Hobbies are useful for showing that you’re a well-rounded person, and they’re especially helpful if they have some relevance to your course (for instance, you play in an orchestra and you’re applying to read Music), but for universities in the UK, they’re not the be all and end all that you may have heard they are (American universities may place more importance on them, however). You certainly don’t need a huge long list of them. Here are some of the things you could do about this if you really feel it’s an issue:

  • Devote more of your personal statement to talking about aspects of your A-level courses you’ve enjoyed.
  • Discuss books you’ve read on the subject, and perhaps towards the end mention what kind of books you enjoy reading in your spare time (they don’t have to be relevant to the course in the context of general comments about your hobbies).
  • Spend more time highlighting aspects of the subject that you’re most looking forward to learning more about, and why.
  • Talk about the extra-curricular things you’re planning for the summer: you don’t necessarily have to be doing them now. For example, “I’m planning to spend the summer developing my French skills whilst touring France”.
  • Take up a new extra-curricular activity right now! They don’t need to know that you’ve only just started it. If you are going to do this, you could score extra brownie points by making it something that not only demonstrates key attributes such as teamwork, but that also has some relevance to the course you’re applying for. It could even be a blog dedicated to something related to your subject.

These are four of the most common issues students encounter when writing personal statements, but as we’ve seen, there is almost always a way around them. If you’re in need of extra advice, don’t be afraid to seek the help of a teacher who knows you and your work. Personal circumstances have a big part to play in university applications (that’s why they’re called ‘personal’ statements!); although it may not seem like it, universities aren’t looking for a generic ‘cookie cutter’ student, and your personal statement probably isn’t as bad as you fear.

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Juris Doctor Application Information

Duke Law School offers a JD program that is rigorous, relevant, innovative and interdisciplinary.

How to Apply

Early decision.

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From the first-year foundation, Duke has built an extensive upper-class curriculum that blends traditional coursework with an extensive array of practical skills courses and clinics and opportunities to study in small groups with faculty.

While the core curriculum is strong across the board, Duke has given special attention to those areas in which there is likely to be a growing demand for lawyers over the coming decades - business and finance law, international and comparative law, constitutional and public law, and fields relating to science and technology such as intellectual property, environmental, telecommunications, biotech, and health.

  • Read the JD Degree Requirements

Non-Discrimination Policy

Duke University is committed to encouraging and sustaining a learning and work community that is free from prohibited discrimination and harassment. Review the full policy to learn more.

Application Process and Timeline

We begin accepting First-Year JD Applications through LSAC on September 1. The application deadline for Regular Decision candidates is February 15. Applications may be submitted after the deadline if space is available in the class. Applications for the binding Early Decision option must be complete by early November (Round I) or early January (Round II).

Candidates will be notified once decisions are made on their admission applications. The time from an application's completion to a decision being reached may vary widely.

Admitted applicants who wish to be considered for scholarship assistance may apply based on a combination of merit and financial need or merit only. As part of the scholarship application process, candidates will have the option to participate in a virtual interview. Those who apply for scholarship consideration will receive their financial aid decision soon after the Scholarship Committee completes its review.

All candidates are welcome to visit the law school for a tour, and may make an appointment for a non-evaluative informational meeting with an admissions representative. 

2024 First-Year JD Application

Use this application for Early and Regular Decision cycles for the JD and dual degree programs for the 2024 entering class. A separate application for transfers and visiting students will be available through LSAC in Spring 2024.

DEGREE OPTIONS

In addition to the three-year JD program, you may also use this application to apply for:

JD/LLM in International and Comparative Law - No additional requirements; however, we encourage you to address your interest in international and comparative law either in your personal statement or the JD/LLM or JD/LLMLE attachment.

JD/LLM in Law and Entrepreneurship - No additional requirements; however, we encourage you to address your interest in law and entrepreneurship either in your personal statement or the JD/LLM or JD/LLMLE attachment.

When applying to the following dual degree programs, you are also required to submit a separate application. Contact the Duke graduate or professional school for application and admissions requirements. The applications will be reviewed independently by each school; you will be notified of the decisions separately and admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other. Do not select one of these programs on this application if you are not applying concurrently to both Duke schools.

JD/MBA - Requires separate application to Duke Fuqua School of Business JD/MD - Requires separate application to Duke School of Medicine JD/MEM - Requires separate application to Duke Nicholas School of the Environment JD/MPP - Requires separate application to Duke Sanford School of Public Policy JD/MTS - Requires separate application to Duke Divinity School

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

To be eligible for admission, you must receive a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution prior to enrollment at the Law School. A complete application consists of the following elements. Additional information about each item is below.

Submitted through the LSAC electronic application

  • JD application form
  • $80 non-refundable application processing fee
  • Personal statement
  • Short answer essay(s)
  • You may also choose to submit the optional essay

Submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report

We will request your CAS Report shortly after we receive your application.

  • Academic transcripts
  • Two required recommendation letters (LSAC will not send the CAS report until both letters are attached)
  • You may choose to submit up to four recommendation letters through the CAS report

Standardized test

  • LSAT (submitted as part of the CAS report) or
  • GRE (submitted to Duke from ETS)

Additional material that may be required

  • Character and fitness information : if you answer "yes" to any of the character and fitness questions, you must provide additional information. A letter from the school is also required if you have school-related conduct sanctions.
  • Letter from previous law school , if you have previously been enrolled in a JD program
  • InitialView interview or TOEFL , if your native language is not English and your undergraduate degree was not taught in English.

You will be notified by email once your application has been received. The email will include instructions on how to monitor your file status online. Incomplete files will be reviewed later in the cycle and final decisions will be rendered based on the material received at that time.

If you wish to send additional material after submitting the application, you may forward it to the Office of Admissions by email. Include your full name and LSAC account number for identification purposes. It would be more beneficial to submit a 1-2 page summary rather than lengthy material.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Application Review

The application review process includes a thorough evaluation of a candidate's academic record, including the rigor and breadth of the curriculum, overall grade trends, any graduate level work, and test scores. Duke Law School seeks to identify applicants who demonstrate leadership and engagement. Most successful candidates show sustained and meaningful commitment to one or more fields of interest to them. Although many applicants have had some exposure to the legal profession, this is not in itself a requirement. The Law School benefits from a student body that represents a broad range of experiences and interests. It is often helpful to indicate reasons for interest in law school in general and Duke in particular, especially when they relate to an applicant's specific experiences.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the date of their completion, but there is no strict timeline for when decisions will be made. We encourage you to apply as early as you can without compromising the overall strength of your application. Most offers of admission are typically made prior to March 1, and all decisions are completed by the end of April. All admission decisions will be sent by email.

Application Deadline

Please note that it can take several days/weeks to receive all of the required material in order to complete the file.

November 3, 2023 - Round I Early Decision complete deadline.

January 5, 2024 - Round II Early Decision complete deadline.

February 15, 2024 - Regular Decision submit deadline. We will continue to accept applications after the deadline if space is available.

Binding Early Decision Option

Highly interested candidates may choose to apply through one of two binding Early Decision (ED) rounds. The ED option is most appropriate if you have concluded that Duke is your first choice for law school and you do not anticipate the need to compare offers of financial aid in making a decision about where to matriculate. If you apply through the ED program, you may apply to other law schools through their regular decision process, but you may not have more than one binding ED application pending simultaneously. If you have already submitted an ED application to another law school, you may apply through Duke's ED program only if you are released from the binding commitment at the other school. If admitted to Duke Law School through the ED program, you will be required to immediately withdraw your applications at other law schools, refrain from submitting new applications, and submit a non-refundable $500 tuition deposit no later than ten days after the admission notification.

Round I ED applications must be complete no later than November 3, 2023; candidates will be notified about their status no later than December 31. Round II ED applications must be complete no later than January 5, 2024; candidates will be notified no later than January 31. Plan ahead if you intend to apply for the ED cycle. It can take several days or weeks to receive all of the required material to complete your file.

Application Fee Waivers

Application fee waivers are offered one-time-only. Requests will not be considered after the February 15 application deadline. We are unable to waive LSAC fees.

Based on LSAC fee waiver - Email the Office of Admissions. Include your full name, LSAC account number, and attach documentation that identifies you as the recipient of a valid LSAC fee waiver.

CRS-based: We extend fee waivers based on the results of periodic searches of LSAC's Candidate Referral Service (CRS). To be considered in the pool, be sure your CRS account is active, your intended enrollment year is set correctly, you have either a self-reported or LSAC-calculated GPA, and LSAT score.

Need-based: Submit the completed Fee Waiver form as an email attachment to the Office of Admissions. Include your full name and LSAC account number.

Service-based (military, Teach for America, Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps): Email the Office of Admissions. Include your full name, LSAC account number, and attach documentation that identifies your affiliation.

Resume, Personal Statement, Short Answer Essay(s), and Optional Essay

All writing samples must be your own work. This means that the ideas and expressions originated with you, and you wrote all drafts and the final product without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence. It does not preclude asking family members, friends, pre-law advisors, and others for proofreading assistance or general feedback.

Resume (required): Your resume should include your significant work experience, educational history, college and community activities, honors and awards you have received, any prior Duke affiliation, and dates for all items listed. Your resume does not need to be limited to one page.

Personal Statement (required): The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and should include (1) what you think have been your most significant personal experiences beyond what may be reflected in your academic transcripts and on your resume, and (2) your personal and career ambitions. Please use 2-3 pages, double-spaced, for your personal statement.

Short Answer Essay(s) (required): Our admissions process is guided by the view that a law school class that includes actively engaged students who possess a variety of skills, personal qualities, and life experiences helps to advance the Law School's mission, improves the learning process, and enriches the educational experience for all. Please write one or two short essays from the list below. Be sure to label the essay(s) you are answering and use only one attachment even if you submit two short answers. Please limit your answer(s) to approximately 250-500 words per essay.

  • What does the rule of law mean to you, and what special background or experience do you have that may help you contribute to its advancement or that underscores its importance to you personally?
  • The promise of equal justice is fundamental to our legal system. Why is equal justice important to you personally, and what personal experiences or knowledge do you have that may help you become an effective advocate for equal justice under law?
  • Exposure to a diversity of perspectives and experiences can enhance one's ability to deliver effective professional services. Please describe any opportunities you have had to serve clients or your community, either through work or on a volunteer basis, and how your own exposure to different perspectives and experiences helped you.
  • Lawyers are members of a learned profession, and are often called to serve the public in a variety of ways. Please describe your interest in public service and any experience that you have had to prepare you for a life of service in the public interest.
  • Please describe your interest in learning the law in an open, rigorous, and collaborative environment. Why is a commitment to the free expression of ideas so important in the learning process?
  • What does ethical leadership mean to you? Please provide examples of how you have prepared yourself to become an ethical leader.

Optional Essay: You may submit an essay providing additional information about why you have chosen to apply to law school in general and Duke in particular. We are interested in the factors that have prompted your interest in a legal career and the ways in which you think Duke can further that interest. Please use 1-2 pages, double-spaced, for this optional essay.

Recommendation Letters

Two recommendation letters are required and must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, which is included in your LSAC CAS registration. LSAC will accept up to four generic or school-specific letters. Letters from friends, family friends, and relatives are discouraged. Unless you have been out of school for some time, at least one letter should come from an academic instructor who has personal knowledge of your performance and potential. A second letter should come from someone who can address your professional and work-related accomplishments, interpersonal skills, leadership, and involvement, such as a supervisor or advisor from a job, internship, or student organization. Additional letters from either source may also be submitted. If you have been out of school for long enough that an academic reference is not available, you may submit an employment letter in its place.

Standardized Testing

All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Duke Law School does not prefer one test over the other, and either will be given equal consideration as part of a holistic review of the application. If you take both tests, you may choose to report only LSAT scores or both LSAT and GRE scores (we will not hold your file for the GRE once the LSAT is received). If you do not take the LSAT, that requirement setting for the LSAC CAS report will change automatically once you indicate that you will take the GRE only (Section 8).

Notify the Office of Admissions by email if you choose to take the LSAT after you submit the application. If a decision is made based on a GRE score-only and an LSAT score is subsequently received, your file will be reevaluated, and we reserve the right to change the initial decision based on the additional information.

Select a test date that provides sufficient time for thorough preparation, preferably so the score will be available by the February 15 application deadline. Later test dates will also be accepted. Duke considers all test scores that are received in the context of the entire application (transcripts, personal statement, letters of recommendation, evidence of leadership and engagement, and other information). If you feel that one or more of your test scores does not accurately reflect your ability or potential, use the Miscellaneous Addendum attachment to explain this disparity.

LSAT - LSAT scores will be included in the CAS report. You may submit the application prior to taking (or retaking) the LSAT. If you are planning to retake the LSAT, and you would like to have your file placed on hold to await the new score, select the test date in Section 8. Notify the Office of Admissions if you decide to retake the LSAT after you submit the application and you would like to have your file placed on hold until the new score is received.

GRE - Contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at ets.org/gre for GRE registration and information. Request all valid scores be sent to Duke University School of Law - institution code 4916 . We do not receive scores sent to other Duke University codes.

Academic Transcripts

Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work must be submitted to LSAC CAS. Questions about transcripts can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001 or [email protected] .

International Transcripts - Transcripts must be submitted through the LSAC CAS if you received your degree from an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, or if you completed the equivalent of more than one year of undergraduate study outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada. This service is included in the LSAC CAS registration fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LSAC CAS report. Log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it to them promptly. Additional time may be required for LSAC to receive and process international transcripts, so please plan accordingly.

Character and Fitness

Duke Law requires that you reveal knowledge of all disciplinary charges, arrests, criminal charges, or criminal convictions (except arrests, criminal charges or criminal convictions that have been expunged from your record). When in doubt, err on the side of full disclosure as subsequent discovery of a failure to fully, and accurately, answer these questions may have serious consequences. You have an ongoing obligation to report any conduct that would require you to answer "Yes" to any of the questions in this section during the pendency of your application. If you are admitted, the obligation to report conduct applicable to the questions in this section continues until your first day of class at Duke Law School.

If you answer "Yes" to any questions in the Character and Fitness section, you will be required to provide an explanation. Include details, the status of any disciplinary action or judicial sanctions, and the final resolution of the issues involved.

In addition, if you answer "Yes" to the school-related conduct question (Section 13, question 2), you will be required to have the dean, registrar, department supervisor, judicial officer, or academic officer with access to official records from your institution submit a letter directly to the Office of Admissions providing complete information about the incident. If your institution has no record of any disciplinary action, have them submit a letter indicating so.

International Applicants - InitialView Interview or TOEFL

If your native language is not English and your undergraduate degree was not taught in English, you will be required to participate in an InitialView interview or have your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score submitted to LSAC by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). International applicants with graduate degrees in the U.S. must also satisfy this requirement. We strongly recommend international applicants participate in the interview.

InitialView: Contact InitialView at initialview.com to schedule your interview session. Since many international students come from educational systems that are different from that of the U.S., we find it valuable to be able to view an unscripted interview where applicants may discuss their unique backgrounds and goals. InitialView will conduct the interview, record the conversation, and notify our office once the interview is available.

TOEFL: Request ETS to submit your TOEFL score to LSAC - institution code 8395 . The score will be included in the LSAC CAS report.

International Students and Visa Applications

Admitted applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents will receive information, after submitting the enrollment material, about applying for a Duke-sponsored F-1 visa. International students will be required to submit copies of their passport, previous visa documents, and proof of financial support. Duke University policy states that graduate and professional students who are not in lawful immigration status will not be enrolled. Non-U.S. citizens granted deferred action under DACA are considered to be in lawful immigration status under Duke's policy.

Previous Law School Matriculation

If you attended the JD program at another law school, you must include an addendum to explain why you did not complete the program. You are also required to have your previous law school submit a letter to the Office of Admissions indicating your dates of attendance, reason for withdrawal, and academic standing.

Reapplication

To reapply, you must submit a new application and update all supporting material. Include the year for which you last sought admission in Section 7. You will also be required to reassign letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Reviewers may not have access to your prior application materials, so please be sure that all information you would like considered is included in the current application.

Bar Admission

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. For additional information, visit americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/bar_admissions.html .

Duke University is committed to encouraging and sustaining a learning and work community that is free from prohibited discrimination and harassment. Visit the Office of Institutional Equity's website at oie.duke.edu to learn more and review the full policy.

The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report include institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, as well as statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Duke University property and on public property adjacent to campus and fires that have occurred in residence halls. A copy of this Report can be obtained by contacting the Duke Police Department at 684-4602 or writing to 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708 or by accessing  https://police.duke.edu/news-stats/clery .

In this section

  • JD Application Information
  • JD/LLM in International & Comparative Law
  • JD/LLM in Law & Entrepreneurship
  • JD/MA in Bioethics & Science Policy
  • JD/MBA & Accelerated JD/MBA
  • JD/Master of Environmental Management
  • JD/Master of Public Policy
  • JD/Master in Global Business Law
  • JD/Master of Theological Studies
  • Class Profile
  • Tuition & Fees
  • Loan Repayment Assistance Program
  • Mordecai Scholars
  • Robert Davies Scholarship
  • Financial Aid Handbook
  • Transfers and Visitors
  • Meet our Students
  • Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
  • Corporate and Financial Law
  • Criminal Law and Policy
  • Environmental Law and Policy
  • Health Law and Policy
  • International Law and Human Rights
  • Technology, Science, and Innovation
  • Legal Theory and Critical Legal Studies
  • Litigation and the Courts

September 1, 2023 Applications for the 2024 entering class may be submitted via LSAC

November 3, 2023 (Round I) January 5, 2024 (Round II) Deadlines to complete Early Decision application

February 15, 2024 Regular Decision application deadline

August 2024 - Mandatory LEAD Week (orientation) program for new students - Classes begin

Duke's LRAP program covers 100% of federal loan payments for graduates making $65,000 or less in a public service career. Graduates making between $65,000 and $90,000 can receive assistance on a sliding scale.

MSE in Data Science

MSE in Data Science

Admission Requirements

General admission requirements, transfer requirements, additional application requirement, dual master's degrees within penn engineering requirements, requirements for penn engineering master’s students interested in pursuing a dual degree with the data science program include:, accelerated master's requirements, requirements for penn undergraduate students applying for accelerated master's  status in the data science program:.

  • Graduate Admissions

Admissions FAQs

Prospective student questions, where do i go to find out more information about a specific program.

Begin with the department’s listing under  Graduate Programs . This will provide you with the best initial overview of the program, as well as information on program requirements and deadlines. From there, you can link directly to the department’s own website for more comprehensive information.

If I have other questions, whom do I need to contact?

For general questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions .

For program-specific questions, please contact your program of interest directly.

For questions concerning the application process, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions by phone at (202) 687.5568 or by email at  [email protected] .

Where do I go for information about law, medicine, business, or continuing studies programs?

The law center, medical school and business school all have separate admissions processes. Their respective offices can be contacted at:

Georgetown Univ Law Center

Georgetown Univ School of Medicine

Georgetown Univ McDonough School of Business

Georgetown Univ School of Continuing Studies

Can I take graduate classes as a non-degree student? I just want to take a class or two.

All non-degree classes are administered by the  School of Continuing Studies . Learn more about non-degree status .

Where can I find out about the minimum GRE scores for my prospective department? What was the average GRE score from last year?

Many departments do not have a set minimum score. They are interested in the “whole student” and will compare a student’s other strengths against any testing weakness, and vice versa. However, some departments might give an average score or preferred range on their website . Consider contacting the department directly to inquire about GRE policies.

How many people were accepted to my department last year? How many from my country?

Admissions statistics for the various departments within the Graduate School vary from year to year. Please visit the specific program website or contact the appropriate program representative .

Do you offer pre-screening of candidates’ resumes, achievements and transcripts by email?

No, the admissions office does not offer any type of pre-screening. Check the program website or reach out to your program contact to find out information on statistics such as average GRE scores, GPA, years of work experience, etc. Many departments offer information sessions for prospective students where you can also find out this information.

Does the Graduate School offer tours or information sessions?

The Graduate School Admissions team offers virtual information sessions periodically. You can register for any Admissions Events as well as view our virtual tour here .

Is there campus housing available for Graduate Students? Yes, as of Fall 2022, there is limited graduate student housing available at the 55 H Street, N.W. apartment residences.  Learn more about this exciting new graduate housing option.

What is graduate student life like at Georgetown?

To learn more about graduate student life at Georgetown, please visit the Student Life section of the website.

Applicant Questions

Do all the graduate school of arts and sciences programs use the same application form.

Yes, all of the Graduate School programs use the same application form. Some programs require additional information, a writing sample, etc. Check your program of interest for additional requirements.

Note that not all graduate programs are in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  The Georgetown Law Center , the School of Medicine , the McDonough School of Business , and the School of Continuing Studies schools all offer graduate degrees but have separate application processes.

Can I apply to more than one program? How do I apply to a joint program?

You may apply to more than one program, but you must complete a separate application and pay a separate application fee for each program to which you apply. Similarly for dual degree programs, you must submit a separate application and pay a separate application fee for each program.

Please refer to the list of approved  dual degree programs for specific dual degree offerings. Applicants who submit materials for dual graduate programs with the Medical School, Law School, or MBA program should complete the application process for both the Graduate School and the corresponding program from the Law Center, School of Medicine, or McDonough School of Business.

Using the online application, what do I do with my supplemental materials?

All supplemental materials must be submitted online, and test scores should be sent directly from the testing agency.

Do all of my application materials need to be received by the deadline?

Yes. Deadlines vary by department, and some programs offer multiple deadlines. Please review the program pages carefully to meet the specific deadline.

How do I know if my application materials have been received?

Once you have applied online, you will have access to an online checklist where you can view the status of materials. Please note that it may take up to 24 hours to reflect the receipt of materials.

What should I say in my Academic Statement of Purpose?

In general, your statement of purpose should be approximately 500 words and should state your goals and objectives for graduate study overall, and at Georgetown University specifically.  A few programs require more specific personal statements that address questions pertinent to the program.  Review the program admission requirements for more details.

The statement of purpose allows you to highlight areas of your background or interests that may not be clear in other areas of your application.  Therefore, it is very important to write a clear and concise statement that expresses your interest in the program, and what you hope to gain from, or bring to, the program of study.  You may address special features of the program that made it the right fit for you, or you may address specific topics that you are interested in studying.  You may wish to address aspects of your personal, academic, and work-related experiences that would make effective contributions to the program or would showcase your knowledge and interest in your chosen area of study.

Whom should I ask to write my recommendation letters?

A professor, advisor, supervisor, or someone with authority should write recommendation letters on an applicant’s academic and/or professional experience. Some programs also have specific requirements about recommendation providers.

My recommendation provider’s email has changed. How can this be updated?

Applicants can update their recommendation providers’ information through the application status portal. Once on the status page, navigate to the bottom of the application checklist. Here, you will find an option to re-visit the recommendation section of your submitted application. Select the recommendation provider and then submit the “ Exclude ” button. You will then need to re-add the recommendation provider using the new email address.

Can I submit my application before my recommenders submit their letters?

Yes, you do not have to wait for your recommendation letters to be uploaded, to submit your application. However, please note that recommendation letters should be submitted prior to the deadline like any other application material.

How do I report my official test scores?

To report your official test scores, you will need to have your scores sent directly by the test agency. We are unable to accept copies or unofficial score reports sent by applicants. 

GRE and TOEFL: You need to request that ETS (Educational Testing Services) send your GRE or TOEFL scores to Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ( ETS Code: 5244 ).  You do not need to specify any departmental code. You may contact ETS at 1-800-473-2255 in regard to GRE scores and at 1-800-468-6335 regarding the TOEFL . From the time you request for your scores to be sent from ETS, it takes about a month for them to be received and then processed in the admissions office.  Please plan ahead!

IELTS: The IELTS is administered by Cambridge ESOL, British Council, and IDP:IELTS Australia.  Official score reports should be sent electronically by the testing center to Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

GMAT: Some programs allow students to take the GMAT in lieu of the GRE. Please request that GMAT send your scores and use the following codes:

  • School of Nursing and Health Studies: JT7-VN-43
  • McCourt School of Public Policy: JT7-D8-97
  • All other programs: JT7-GJ-96

LSAT: LSAT scores taken in lieu of the GRE for relevant programs can only be sent to the Georgetown Law Center. You will need to complete the LSAT Release Form in order to have your scores shared with the Office of Graduate Admissions.

MCAT : MCAT scores can be reported the following ways: PDF AMCAS Report, Score Report with verification link, report scores through AMCAS.

Is the GRE required?

The GRE requirement varies by program. Please consult the program pages to see what your program requires. As the GRE is a program-specific requirement, please reach out to the program directly if you have any questions. 

Can I update materials in my application after it has been submitted (i.e. resume, statement of purpose)?

Please note that materials submitted with your application are considered final and cannot be amended once you have submitted your application. Prior to submission, changes can be made to your application. Once submitted, the application is considered final and will be reviewed as submitted. Please check your work carefully before submitting the application.

What is the process once the application has been sent to the Graduate School?

After initial processing in the Graduate Admissions Office, the application is available for the graduate department to review.

Once the department committee has reviewed the file, they will recommend a decision on the application to the Graduate Admissions Office, which will then conduct a final review of the application and make a final admissions decision.

Once a final decision has been made, applicants will be notified by email to login to their application to view their online decision letter.  Applicants will be able to print their official letter from this site and confirm their enrollment online.

Is an interview part of the admissions process?

The vast majority of applicants will not be interviewed prior to an admissions decision. Applicants will be contacted by the program directly, if they feel that an interview would be helpful.

Can I check on the status of my application while I’m waiting for a decision?

Yes. Once you have applied online, you can check the status of your materials by viewing the online status checklist within the online application.

The Admissions Office cannot give you specific information regarding the date of a decision, as the schedule for each departmental committee varies. The Admissions Office also cannot release admissions decisions over the phone.

When will I know the decision on my application?

While application review dates vary greatly by department, the best general indicator is the deadline for applications.  Most decisions are released within 6-10 weeks   after the deadline , though some programs may release decisions sooner or later than this range.

The majority of the Graduate School’s decisions are sent out from mid-March to late May for applications with early January and February deadlines. For a more exact report time, you should contact your program directly.

Can Georgetown return my admissions documents to me or send them to another institution?

All materials (original, photocopied, or electronic documents) submitted in support of an application become property of Georgetown University’s application records. Documents cannot be released to the student or a third party except where law requires otherwise.

Transcript Questions

What is a transcript and what should it include.

A transcript is an academic record from an institution that provides a listing of all courses taken by a student along with the grades received for each.

What is an acceptable transcript to upload to my application?

An acceptable transcript upload is a copy of an official transcript produced by the institution. (We consider these uploaded transcripts to be “unofficial” as they are submitted by the applicant). This includes:

  • Scanned copies of paper transcripts issued by the institution to the student
  • Electronic transcripts issued by the institution to the student (not a download from your institution’s web portal)

We do not accept screenshots or photos, and we do not accept downloads of the “student’s view” from your institution’s website.

See the samples below of what transcripts are acceptable vs. unacceptable for submission in the application:

Acceptable:

personal statement for dual degree

Unacceptable:

personal statement for dual degree

Do I need to upload transcripts from every school I’ve attended?

Applicants are required to upload to the application copies of the following:

  • Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions (where 16 or more credits of coursework have been completed)
  • Transcripts containing program prerequisites coursework
  • Transcripts from all graduate institutions attended

My transcript won’t upload. What should I do?

We recommend saving the transcript as another file type (e.g. PDF, JPEG, etc.) and uploading. Attempt to refresh the webpage or logout and access using a different browser.

If you have exhausted all troubleshooting options and still have an issue uploading, please contact our office for additional support:

Office of Graduate Admissions

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 202-687-5568

Do not have your institution send official transcripts before receiving an offer of admission.

I mailed my transcript to you. Do I need to upload a copy as well?

Please do NOT mail your transcripts to us. All transcripts must be uploaded to the application. The online application and supported documents submitted online will be immediately available to the admissions committee for their review.

The transcript I uploaded to the application indicates completion of my degree. If admitted, do I need to provide another transcript? 

If an offer of admission is made, we must receive a final official transcript directly from your institution. Transcripts must be sent electronically or by mail. Details for submission can be found on our Admitted Students page.

Self-Reported GPA

What do i need to include in the calculation of my gpa.

You will be required to self-report the grade point averages (GPA) for undergraduate coursework in the Academic History portion of the application. The GPA represents the combined GPA of all credits applied toward the primary undergraduate degree. Please note that if you attended an institution outside of the U.S. you should not calculate your GPA. Simply report your GPA as CBC (can not be calculated).

If you only attended one U.S. college or university and the GPA is already calculated on a 4.0 scale on that transcript, simply use that GPA. Otherwise, use the steps below to calculate your cumulative GPA.

If you have multiple undergraduate degrees, the most relevant degree GPA should be reported.

  • If you transferred 16 or more credits from one or more U.S. schools, grades from those schools should be combined to calculate the undergraduate GPA.
  • If the primary undergraduate institution accepted only some of the courses taken and specifies which courses were accepted, only the grades for courses transferred should be included in the calculation.

How do I calculate my GPA for self-reporting in the application?

  • Download the GPA Calculation Form.
  • GPA must be calculated based upon a 4.0 grade scale.
  • If your degree transcript and any other transcripts where 16 or more credits are earned are not based on a 4.0 grade scale, then you must recalculate grades using the calculation form.
  • If you have attended two schools and one school uses 1 unit as a semester hour and the other school uses 3 units as a semester hour, the first school’s values should be multiplied by 3 so that the grades are given equal weight.
  • Determine which grading scale matches your institutions.
  • If one of the schools is on the quarter system and the other is on the semester system, the credit hours are not equivalent and must be converted. To convert semester hours into quarter hours, multiply by 1.5. To convert quarter hours into semester hours, multiply by .667
  • GPA must be calculated to the hundredth decimal point (i.e. 3.15) rounding up or down as necessary.
  •  Select the appropriate tab on the GPA Calculation Form and begin entering the credit hours as required.
  • When completed, save the GPA Calculation Form and upload to the Self-Reported GPA section of the online application.
  • An A+ should not be counted as 4.3 grade points, as Georgetown does not calculate as such.  An A+ should be counted as 4 grade points.
  • Failures should be calculated in the GPA.
  • Pass/Fail credit hours: Some institutions will include Pass/Fail credit hours in the total hours, even though they are not included in the GPA. As a consequence, you will enter the data in the spreadsheet and the resulting GPA will not match the GPA on the transcript.
  • You should always check to see if this is the case when entering data.
  • You can determine if P/F grade hours are included by checking the individual semester totals.
  • Adjust the total number of credit hours as appropriate, and double-check to make sure the GPA for that school is now calculating correctly.
  • Other Notes:
  • Failed courses that appear on your transcript but are not included in the institution’s calculation of the GPA should be included in your calculation.
  • If a course was repeated, both grades should be included in the calculation.
  • If you attended a U.S. school that does not calculate GPAs, or if the school does not issue standard letter grades, the GPA should be self-reported as CBC (can not be calculated).
  • The following should not be included in the calculation:
  • Study abroad credits
  • Pass/Fail grades
  • Withdraw or dropped coursework/grades
  • Graduate coursework should not be included in undergraduate GPA calculation unless counted towards undergraduate degree requirements.
  • 15 or fewer credits that were completed at another institution, even If those credits were applied to the degree.

International Applicant Questions

Do you accept international funds for the application fee.

No. The Office of Graduate Admissions does not accept international funds for the application fee. When you apply online, you will pay with a Visa or MasterCard credit card.

Are international students eligible for financial aid?

International students are eligible for internal institutional funds (such as assistantships, fellowships and scholarships) and for support drawn from federal and other research grants; however, international students are generally not eligible for federal loan money from the United States government

Internal Graduate School financial aid is merit-based and all applicants are eligible to compete for available funds. Merit-based scholarships are available to students registered in most doctoral and many master’s programs and these funding sources pay part or all of tuition. Assistantships and fellowships normally include a stipend and a full tuition scholarship.  To be considered for merit-based aid, simply answer “yes” to the financial aid question within the application. Please note that some programs have a priority deadline for scholarship consideration.

For further information and resources on available funding for international students, please visit the  Financial Aid for International Students  page.

How do I secure a student visa for study in the United States?

The  Office of Global Services assists with the student visa process and supports you throughout your time in University-based immigration status. Soon after you confirm your enrollment, a link to activate your international student portal will be sent to your Georgetown email address . You will need to upload required documentation to the portal in order to request your Form I-20 (F1) or Form DS-2019 (J1). This process requires you to submit the same proof of funding  documentation you will eventually use as part of your student visa application at the U.S. embassy or consulate.

I completed my bachelor’s from University where English was the primary language of instruction. Do I need to sit for the TOEFL or IELTS?

All applicants are required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in the English language sufficient to meet the admission requirement of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. If you have received or will receive a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or where English is the primary language of instruction, you are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Please note that applicants receiving degrees at universities in U.S territories, such as Puerto Rico, are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores unless the primary language is English. If you have a letter from the registrar office stating that the primary language of instruction is English, please attach the letter to your transcript and upload it to your online application.

Additional information pertaining to the English proficiency requirements can be found on our Application Information page .

What is a transcript evaluation? Am I required to submit an evaluation for my foreign transcript?

For applicants who earned their bachelor’s degree outside of the United States, a transcript evaluation ensures that U.S. accreditation standards, degree, course, and credit equivalencies are met. Many programs at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences require a transcript evaluation while others strongly encourage one. The transcript evaluation can be done by World Education Services (WES) or any credential evaluation services that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). 

What should I do if I have a visa already?

Students who will transfer their active F-1 or J-1 status to Georgetown from another school must complete this same  request process, even if they do not need a new visa.

International students who already hold  another status  valid for full-time study have no OGS reporting requirements.

Do I need to provide proof of funding during the application process?

You do not need to provide a proof of funding during your application process. A proof of funding will be required at the time of requesting your I-20 or DS-2019.

Accelerated Applicant Questions

What is the process of applying as a georgetown accelerated applicant.

Current Georgetown University undergraduate students pursuing certain majors are able to apply as an accelerated student. In order to apply:

  • you must be a current Georgetown undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Foreign Service, or the School of Health
  • you must be pursuing an undergraduate major that is eligible for application to an accelerated degree
  • you must have your advising dean complete this endoresement form prior to receiving an admissions decision

As an accelerated student, a total of two courses may double count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degree. Eligible courses must be at the 350 / 4000 level or above and approved by both the undergraduate advising dean and the director of graduate studies for the master’s program. It is the student’s responsibility to secure the necessary approvals for double-counted courses. Additionally, in some cases master’s programs will permit up to two additional courses — taken above the 120 credit hours necessary for the bachelor’s degree — to count towards the master’s degree as transfer credits. Like the double-counted courses, students must receive advance approval to have these courses count towards their graduate degree. Both double-counted and transfer courses, if permitted, must be added to the graduate transcript before the student graduates with their undergraduate degree. If admitted as an accelerated student, you will remain an undergraduate student until you graduate with your bachelor’s degree. It is the student’s responsibility to inform their dean’s office of their interest in pursuing an accelerated program, before submitting an application. Additionally, where appropriate, students are advised to consult with the Office of Global Services (OGS) and the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS) regarding their interest in applying to an accelerated program.

Transfer Credit Questions

How do i apply to the graduate school as a transfer student and what percent of my credits will transfer.

Transfer students must follow the same application process as all other applicants. It is possible to transfer up to 25 percent of the credits required for a Georgetown graduate program. However, the department and the Graduate School will make the final determination as to which credits are acceptable for transfer credit, including any Georgetown courses taken prior to admittance to the degree program.

Reapplication Questions

I applied previously and would like to do so again. how do i reapply.

If you have previously applied to the Georgetown Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, you must submit a new application and new application materials. Materials from a prior application such as letters of recommendation, transcripts and statements of purpose will not be re-used.  However, official test scores that were previously sent to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and have not expired can be re-used.  (GRE and GMAT scores are valid for 5 years from the date of the test.  TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the date of the test.)  If you have retaken any of these tests, be sure to request the testing agency to send official scores to Georgetown.

Non-Degree Student Questions

How do i take a class at georgetown without being admitted to, and enrolled in, a degree program.

You can enroll in a credit-earning graduate class as a non-degree student through our School of Continuing Studies (SCS). You must fill out their application form and receive permission from the Department in which you are taking the class. To see which classes are available and to apply online, please visit the SCS Non-Degree Credit Courses website at http://scs.georgetown.edu .

To see the schedule of classes, visit the University Registrar website at  http://registrar.georgetown.edu .  Please note that due to United States immigration restrictions, international students are not likely to be granted a student visa as a non-degree student.

Admitted Student Questions

How do i confirm my intent to enroll.

Please complete the online Enrollment Response Form found in your admission letter in the  application portal . If you are required to submit a non-refundable deposit, you will be able to pay it online by credit card.  This payment is credited to your tuition.

Once I confirm my intended enrollment at Georgetown University, what do I do next?

We strongly suggest that you review our Admitted Students page. There you will find all the steps that need to be completed including the Admitted Student Checklist, Enrollment Checklist, and details about graduate student life.

Please visit your application portal to fulfill your admission conditions and check out the Enrollment Checklist to complete final administrative and health forms and participate in registration/advising.

I received a merit-based scholarship from my program, where can I find the award amount?

If you have been admitted to a program and the department has decided to offer you a fellowship, assistantship, or scholarship, the amount of your award will be in MyAccess .

What is the process for applying for need-based aid?

Need-based aid is administered through the  Office of Student Financial Services . The amount of aid awarded is based on the required financial forms and the estimated cost of attendance at Georgetown. The Office of Student Financial Services will notify you of your award shortly after all required forms have been completed.

How do I apply for a deferral and when will I be notified of a decision?

You can apply for a deferral using our  online deferral request form .  Please note that not all departments allow deferral requests. You may wish to talk over your decision to defer admission with your department prior to completing the deferral request form.  Once we receive the form, we will contact your department for a decision on your deferral request. If the department approves your deferral, you will receive a confirmation from the Graduate Admissions Office.  Deferral processing normally takes 4-6 weeks.

Where can I start my search for housing?

Washington, D.C. can be a challenging place to find suitable housing, so start your search early! Visit our Graduate Housing page to learn about University housing for graduate students at 55 H Street or review off-campus housing options through the Office of Neighborhood Life .

What steps should I follow to complete my immunization form?

You may want to schedule a medical check-up with a doctor to ensure all your immunizations are up-to-date. Access the Immunization form and student health requirements .

University Accreditation

Where can i learn more about georgetown’s accreditation.

Georgetown University is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.  View information about Georgetown’s accreditation .

How to Write a Personal Statement for Dual Degree Program

personal statement for dual degree

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Personal Statements for MSW MPA Dual Degree Programs

Applying for a degree in both a Masters of Social Welfare and a Masters of Public Administration will require writing a dual degree personal statement. Depending on the program and school a separate personal statement may have to be written for each program, or one personal statement may be accepted by both. The personal statement allows admissions to assess your motivation and commitment to completing a course of study and provides you with an opportunity to directly address admissions boards and make a case for your acceptance into the programs involved.

Issues to Address in the Personal Statement for MSW MPA Dual Degree Programs

The MPA/MSW dual degree personal statement should address several key questions that admissions will be seeking answers for. These are:

dual masters degree

Guidelines for Writing the MSW MPA Dual Degree Personal Statement

The personal statement is about you and can be written any way that you feel is best for your situation. There is some basic personal statement writing guidelines for MSW MPA dual degree programs that you may want to follow when writing your personal statement:

  • Show equal enthusiasm and interest in both programs when writing your personal statement. Favoring one program over the other may make it more difficult to get accepted to the program that is less discussed. Admissions will want to see a genuine interest in both.
  • Provide examples that show your interest. Saying you are interested in the field isn’t very convincing. Show how you have displayed your interest. Have you worked in related fields, performed related volunteer work or something else that indicates you are really interested in the field? For admissions boards, evidence of your interest is a definite bonus.
  • Show a direct relationship to your future career plans and the dual degree . This will show you have put some serious thought and consideration into the MSW/MPA dual degree and how you will use it.
  • Always be specific. Provide specific examples and answers. General or generic answers that could apply to anybody don’t make much of an impression or relate anything personal about you. Admissions want specifics that help them to know the unique person that is you.

dual masters degree

Our Service Can Help with Your Dual Degree Personal Statement

We specialize in writing personal statements for college and graduate school application. Our professional personal statement writers come from many different fields and have graduate degrees in their area of study. They also possess a great deal of personal statement writing experience, you should hire personal statement writers . Their academic backgrounds and writing experience gives them expertise in writing personal statements that work to your benefit. They know what information to include and how that information should be presented to make the best impression. Benefits of using our service include:

  • Original writing customized to fit your specific needs. We provide free plagiarism checks on every personal statement.
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When you need dual masters degree help, contact us and make use of our personal statement writing expertise.

  • Penn Engineering Online Degrees
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Application Instructions: Writing a Strong Personal Statement

As part of your admissions application to a Penn Engineering Online degree program, you’ll need to write a personal statement—an essay designed to help us get to know the real person behind your grades and test scores. A strong personal statement can tip the scales in your favor, so we encourage you to give it your best effort.

What is the personal statement?

The personal statement is a 1,000-1,500 word essay that answers the following questions for your selected program. We encourage you to include detailed, specific examples from your academic, research or industry work if possible.

MCIT Online

  • What makes you interested in the MCIT Online program?
  • How will you benefit from the program?
  • Why will you succeed in the program?
  • How will you contribute to the MCIT Online community?
  • How do you plan to incorporate an average of 15 hours per week per course of studies into your lifestyle?
  • Please describe your career goals and how the MCIT Online curriculum will help to achieve them.
  • Given that the program is designed for people without a CS background, if you feel that your resume could be perceived as overqualified, please explain why MCIT Online is right for you.

MSE-DS Online:

  • What makes you interested in the MSE-DS Online program?
  • Describe your career goals and how the MSE-DS Online curriculum will help to achieve them.
  • How will you contribute to the MSE-DS Online community?
  • Given the time commitment required to successfully complete the program, how do you plan to incorporate an average of 15 hours per week per course of studies into your lifestyle?

Reapplicants:

Please address this additional required question to your respective essay (250 words): 

  • Please discuss any updates to your candidacy since you last applied (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). If after reading our online materials you think your application may have been perceived as overqualified, please explain why this program is right for you.

How can I make my personal statement stand out?

Write authentically, from the heart. Express your passion for computer science and explain why you are a good fit for the program. We won’t have the opportunity to interview you, so the personal statement is your chance to showcase your strengths and explain discrepancies.

  • Address potential weaknesses in your application. Are there gaps or inconsistent grades in your academic history, particularly in quantitative ability ? Use the personal statement to provide context—and to give examples of how you will do better. It’s also an opportunity to explain why you’re a good fit for the program even if you appear to be overqualified.
  • Read the questions carefully. A personal statement that doesn’t fully address the questions could hurt your chances of admittance.
  • Explain how you will manage your time during the program. Each course requires a commitment of about 15-18 hours a week . How will you juggle that with your other commitments, especially if you are currently enrolled in another degree program?
  • Share your accomplishments. Have you done any online learning or taken additional coursework to prepare for the program?  The personal statement is an opportunity to highlight those achievements.
  • Get a second opinion. Once you’ve written a draft, ask someone who knows you well to read it. An extra set of eyes is essential to help you avoid typos and make a clear and compelling case for your candidacy.

Get more tips on the application process by watching this Admissions Webinar , checking our MCIT Online or MSE-DS Online admission pages, or contacting us .

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Online Dual MSW/MPA

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Program Overview

  • Course Offerings
  • Admission Requirements
  • Career Outcomes
  • How To Apply
  • Get Started

Discover Your Online Program

Prepare for careers at the intersection of social work and public administration with the online MSW/MPA dual degree from the  George Williams School of Social Work at Aurora University. Because the MSW curriculum is the foundation of this program, you will gain a solid background in generalist social work practice and field work as you develop specialized skills for careers in public administration, nonprofit management, and more. This dual program is designed for efficient completion of two graduate degrees, preparing you to make a positive impact in your community.

Instructors in the MSW/MPA program use open education resources (OER) in place of traditional textbooks for some courses. This means digital, openly licensed content is available free of charge to students.

Begin your journey today with our premier-clinical, CSWE-accredited social work program.

Accredited by the CSWE Board of Accreditation

Aurora University’s online MSW/MPA dual degree program provides you with a comprehensive graduate education that combines in-depth social work study with advanced public administration coursework. Each class is taught by expert faculty members with extensive real-world experience.

  • Transfer Credit

Program Details

  • Next Start Date: March 11, 2024
  • Est. Program Length: 4-5 Years
  • Credit Hours: 84
  • Course Length: 8 Weeks
  • Cost Per Credit: $618
  • SWK6140 Social Welfare Policy and Institutions – 3 hours
  • SWK6150 HBSE I: Infancy to Adolescence Human Behavior in the Social Environment – 3 hours
  • SWK6160 HBSE II: Adult Lifespan Human Behavior in the Social Environment – 3 hours
  • SWK6370 Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families – 3 hours
  • SWK6381 Social Work Practice II: Group Work – 3 hours
  • SWK6382 Social Work Practice II: Community Practice – 3 hours
  • SWK6250 Social Work Research Methods – 3 hours
  • SWK6730 Field Instruction I: Generalist Internship – 3 hours
  • SWK6740 Field Instruction II: Generalist Internship – 3 hours
  • SWK6533 Advanced Social Policy – 3 hours
  • SWK6500 Social Work Perspectives on Psychopathology – 3 hours
  • SWK6511 Social Work Practice III: Clinical Theory and Methods – 3 hours
  • SWK6521 Social Work Practice IV: Advanced Clinical Knowledge and Application – 3 hours
  • SWK-6575 Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity in Social Work Practice – 3 hours
  • SWK6750 Field Instruction III: Specialization Internship – 3 hours
  • SWK6760 Field Instruction IV: Specialization Internship – 3 hours
  • Social Work Electives – 3 hours
  • MBA6130 Economics – 3 hours
  • MPA6110 Administration of Public Institutions – 3 hours
  • MPA6120 Public Policy and Analysis – 3 hours
  • MPA6130 Government and Community Relations – 3 hours
  • MPA6140 Public Finance and Budgeting – 3 hours
  • MBA6170 Applied Research, Insights, and Evaluation – 3 hours
  • MPA6200 Advanced Seminar in Applied Public Administration – 3 hours
  • MPA6360 Grant Writing, Philanthropy, and Advancement – 3 hours

Social Work Leadership Administration Track (9 hours)

  • MBA6030 Leadership and Organizational Behavior – 3 hours
  • MPA6350 Nonprofit Management and Leadership – 3 hours
  • MBA6200 Human Resource Management – 3 hours

Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact the Office of Student Accounts for questions or information on current tuition, fees, room, board and other rates.

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college and/or university (minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale). Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Why have you chosen to pursue an MSW/MPA degree, and what are your professional aspirations?
  • Why have you chosen Aurora University to pursue your MSW/MPA?
  • If your GPA is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, were there extenuating circumstances that affected your past academic performance? Please explain.
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts (official, sealed in envelope) from all previously attended colleges or universities

Information About State Licensure

All AU Online students must have unrestricted access to a computer or mobile device with high-speed internet to participate in online courses. AU Online uses Moodle to host its online classes.

Graduate-level course credit is transferable, allowing students to earn their degree faster than ever. Graduate-level credit earned at regionally accredited institutions of higher education graded “B” or better may be transferred to Aurora University and applied toward a master’s or other post-baccalaureate programs prior to enrollment into Aurora University.

Check your credits with our Transfer Evaluation System.

Learn more about Transfer Credits

Online MSW/MPA Career Outcomes

  • Clinical social work
  • Nonprofit leadership
  • City manager
  • Urban and regional planning
  • Community leader
  • Social service director
  • Research analyst

Discover the Aurora University Online program that will help you reach your goals.

Apply Today

Fill out the free application to get started with your online dual MSW/MPA degree program.

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personal statement for dual degree

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Related Discussions

  • Applications, Personal Statement, Addendum, diversity statement I am taking the December LSAT & because a couple of the schools I am applying to have a December deadline for the majority of their better schola…

Personal Statement/Diversity Statement Question Should the PS and the DS be clearly distinct, or is overlap ok? I want to hone in on my adverse experiences and how they have shaped me in my PS, but…

  • Personal Statement/Diversity Statement Combo Swap Hey! Does anyone want to swap personal statements and/or diversity statements for some feedback?<br /> <br /> If so pm me for my email!

Does personal insecuirty have to be "explained" in a personal statement? My essay is about how I overcame insecure instincts that tried to keep me from a volunteering experience. The experience ended up being worthwhile an…

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Christina Walton

I am hoping to do a dual degree at Boston College to get both a JD and an MSW. I am wondering if in my personal statement if I should mention that I want to do the dual degree and why, or should I just make it about law school?

Applications, Personal Statement, Addendum, diversity statement I am taking the December LSAT & because a couple of the schools I am applying to have a December deadline for the majority of their better scholarshi…

Sheri123

Personal Statement/Diversity Statement Combo Swap Hey! Does anyone want to swap personal statements and/or diversity statements for some feedback? If so pm me for my email!

jonw.khan

I'm looking to apply for dual degrees as well and from what I've read (nothing about Boston College though), is to keep the applications separate. If I were you I might briefly mention your desire to get a Master's as well if it's relevant but I wouldn't go too in depth. After all, this is a statement for law school, and I assume that when you apply for the MSW you'd write some kind of statement for that, too.

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  3. 💄 General personal statement examples. Examples. 2022-10-27

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COMMENTS

  1. How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses

    1. If there are only slight differences, or you've chosen joint or combined degrees with slightly different subject combinations... This shouldn't be a problem. Just try to make everything in your statement as relevant as possible to all five choices.

  2. Dual Masters Degrees

    Statements of Excellence for Dual Degree Programs Search by Discipline, Degree, Ethnicity, or Country of Origin Should you get 2 Master's Degrees? Should You Get Two Masters Degrees Most Valuable Master's Degrees Which Master's Degrees Are Worth It? | Forbes

  3. How do I write a personal statement for multiple courses?

    In general we'd recommend avoiding dividing the personal statement into one half on subject A, the other half on subject B. Even for joint courses, we want to see how you can combine perspectives and apply your knowledge, so try to do this throughout the personal statement. Answered by the Admissions Team Answer published: December 2020.

  4. How to Write Your Personal Statement

    Revised on July 3, 2023. A personal statement is a short essay of around 500-1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you're applying.

  5. How to Write a Personal Statement

    Degree Advice How to Write a Personal Statement How to Write a Personal Statement Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on Jan 9, 2024 A personal statement can be a key part of your college application, and you can really make yours shine by following a few tips.

  6. Application Insights: Make the Most of Your Personal Statement

    January 19, 2022 Application Insights: Make the Most of Your Personal Statement As part of your admissions application to Penn Engineering's MCIT Online program, you'll need to write a personal statement—an essay designed to help us get to know the real person behind your grades and test scores.

  7. JD and Dual Degree Applicants

    Personal statement. This is your opportunity to share why you want to join the legal profession, and why you are interested in Carolina Law.

  8. The Personal Statement

    The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories: 1. The general, comprehensive personal statement: This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms. 2.

  9. Writing the Perfect Personal Statement for Your Master's or PhD

    Don't use the same personal statement for 10 different Master's or PhD applications. A common mistake among applicants is applying to multiple study programmes using the same personal statement. I've personally heard advisors and tutors recommend 'writing one personal statement' and 'changing the name of the university' for each one.

  10. Writing Your Personal Statements

    Your personal statement should focus on two main aspects: your competence and commitment. 1. Identify your strengths in terms of competence that indicate that you will succeed in the grad program and provide examples to support your claims. Start your statement by describing your strengths immediately. Because faculty will be reading many ...

  11. Graduate Admissions: Tips and Tricks For Writing Your Letter of

    For special focus and dual degree programmes, additional letters may be required. Here are our five essential tips for writing your letter. Best of luck! ... It cannot tell your whole personal experience but is rather an opportunity to explain more precisely what your goals are, and why you are well-suited to the programme you are applying for. ...

  12. MBA/MS in Business Analytics : Isenberg School of Management

    Online Application. All prospective students must complete a University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School Graduate Admissions Online Application.. Personal Statement. A personal essay should be one to two pages in length, and include information about your past and current academic and professional history, your future goals and reasons for pursuing the MBA/MSBA dual degree, and other ...

  13. How to write a winning master's personal statement

    Each university should offer specific advice on the length of your application. However, personal statements for a master's are usually: In the UK: 500 words (1 side of A4) but some universities may ask for personal statements of two sides of A4 or more. In the US: 500-750 words (1-1.5 sides of A4) but this will, again, vary from university ...

  14. 4 Common UCAS Personal Statement Issues and How to Resolve Them

    1. Writing a personal statement for a joint honours course Economics and Italian sounds like a great course, but the connection is not obvious. It's notoriously tricky to write a personal statement for a joint honours course - that is, a course on which you study two different subjects.

  15. Juris Doctor Application Information

    When applying to the following dual degree programs, you are also required to submit a separate application. ... Personal Statement (required): The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and should include (1) what you think have been your most significant personal experiences beyond what may be ...

  16. Apply for the J.D. program

    Steps to Apply 1. Submit Your Application 2. Credential Assembly Service 3. Submit Personal Statement 4. Submit College/University Transcripts 5. Standardized Test 6. Submit Letters of Recommendation 7. Letter of Good Standing & Class Rank 8. Decision Notification Submit Your Application

  17. Admission Requirements

    The Personal Statement must clearly explain why the candidate wishes to transfer into the Data Science Program and how their background prepares them. Dual Master's Degrees Within Penn Engineering Requirements Highly qualified Penn Engineering master's students interested in pursuing the dual master degree with the Data Science Program can ...

  18. Admissions FAQs

    The law center, medical school and business school all have separate admissions processes. Their respective offices can be contacted at: Georgetown Univ Law Center. +1 202-662-9010. [email protected]. Georgetown Univ School of Medicine. +1 202-687-1154. [email protected]. Georgetown Univ McDonough School of Business.

  19. How to Write a Personal Statement for Dual Degree Program

    Personal Statements for MSW MPA Dual Degree Programs. Applying for a degree in both a Masters of Social Welfare and a Masters of Public Administration will require writing a dual degree personal statement. Depending on the program and school a separate personal statement may have to be written for each program, or one personal statement may be ...

  20. Application Instructions: Writing a Strong Personal Statement

    Application Instructions: Writing a Strong Personal Statement. As part of your admissions application to a Penn Engineering Online degree program, you'll need to write a personal statement—an essay designed to help us get to know the real person behind your grades and test scores. A strong personal statement can tip the scales in your favor ...

  21. MSW/MS-DRL Dual Degree Admissions

    A grade-point average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale (preferred) Please note that while the GRE is an admission requirement for the MS-DRL degree, that requirement is waived for dual degree applicants. In addition to submitting an online application for admission to the Tulane University School of Social Work, applicants to the MSW/MS-DRL ...

  22. MSW

    Aurora University's online MSW/MPA dual degree program provides you with a comprehensive graduate education that combines in-depth social work study with advanced public administration coursework. Each class is taught by expert faculty members with extensive real-world experience. ... Personal statement. Your personal statement should be a ...

  23. Personal Statement Dual Degrees

    Personal Statement Dual Degrees Christina Walton August 2020 769 karma I am hoping to do a dual degree at Boston College to get both a JD and an MSW. I am wondering if in my personal statement if I should mention that I want to do the dual degree and why, or should I just make it about law school? Show Related Discussions