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Your personal statement is an integral part of your application to the School of International Service (SIS) and is a space where we get to know you on a more individual basis. Please select your academic level and application semester (if applicable) to read your specific essay prompt(s) and download the essay template.

Selected
Master's
PhD
Graduate Certificate

Instructions:

Please review the three admission essay questions below. When you are ready to begin your essays, use the PDF template at the end of this page or respond to each question in a single word document and save as a PDF. Upload your completed PDF to the SIS Statement of Purpose Supplemental Item within your application portal.

Note that the Supplemental Items section is only available for upload after you have submitted the online application form.

Master's applicants: pay close attention to the 400 word limit for each question as you write your responses. While we do not run a word count check on submitted documents, this strongly recommended response length is specifically designed to help you narrow the focus of your writing. You should think of the three question prompts as distinct but interrelated; spend some time considering which aspects of your experiences, qualifications, future goals, etc. fit best within each question, and keep each response focused on a few key points.

Question 1: Personal Narrative/Overview Length: 400 words

Please share the story of how your background, experiences, and academic interests have led you to pursue graduate school at this time and in this field. What has prepared you for this endeavor and what unique skills, experiences, or perspectives would you bring to SIS?

Question 2: SIS Graduate Program Length: 400 word

The field of International Affairs is broad, and SIS has a wide range of degree options reflecting that breadth. Please tell us (1) why you are applying to the specific program you have chosen and (2) how you think this degree will serve your academic and professional aspirations.

A substantive answer to this prompt should consider the following: how does this program connect to issues/problems that you would like to impact; what curricular opportunities (e.g. courses/concentration options, study abroad, skills-building, etc.) are you most interested in, and why; who are the faculty you'd like to work with, and why.

Question 3: Values Length: 400 words

The professional field of International Affairs continues to be limited by its lack of diversity, especially—but not only—racial, ethnic, and gender diversity. SIS is committed to making the field more closely resemble the diversity of our population by training our students to recognize inclusion as a key to identifying innovative solutions for the global challenges we face. With this aspect of SIS' mission in mind, please respond to one of the following questions:

  1. How would your understanding of the global challenges of social inequality and inequity inform your studies at SIS, your role in the SIS community, and your future work?
  2. How have you engaged with racial/ethnic diversity in your past school or work environments, and/or how do you envision yourself contributing to a more inclusive workplace in graduate school and your future career?
Download essay template

Instructions:

Please review the essay question below. When you are ready to begin your essay, use the PDF template at the end of this page. If you are unable to download the PDF template, you may use Microsoft Word or another commonly accessible word processor. Upload your document file to the SIS Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose Supplemental Item within your application portal. Note that the Supplemental Items section is only available after you have submitted the online application form.

Your statement of purpose should clearly state your reason for undertaking graduate studies in your chosen field, what you expect from the program and how you can contribute to the program. It should include your research interests and your academic and career objectives. As the statement is an opportunity for the committee to know you, discussions of your relevant qualifications and experiences will be highly helpful. The statement should also demonstrate your composition skills and analytical ability. While there is no minimum or maximum length, we suggest a length of approximately 1,200 words.

Download essay template

Instructions:

Please review the essay question below. When you are ready to begin your essay, use the PDF template at the end of this page. If you are unable to download the PDF template, you may use Microsoft Word or another commonly accessible word processor. Upload your document file to the SIS Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose Supplemental Item within your application portal. Note that the Supplemental Items section is only available after you have submitted the online application form.

Your statement of purpose should clearly state your reason for undertaking graduate studies in your chosen field, what you expect from the program and how you can contribute to the program. It should include your research interests and your academic and career objectives. As the statement is an opportunity for the committee to know you, discussions of your relevant qualifications and experiences will be highly helpful. The statement should also demonstrate your composition skills and analytical ability. While there is no minimum or maximum length, we suggest a length of approximately 800 words.

Download essay template

Instructions:

Please review the essay question below. When you are ready to begin your essay, use the PDF template at the end of this page. If you are unable to download the PDF template, you may use Microsoft Word or another commonly accessible word processor. Upload your document file to the "SIS Statement of Purpose" Supplemental Item within your application portal. Note that the Supplemental Items section is only available after you have submitted the online application form.

Your statement of purpose should clearly state your reason for undertaking graduate studies in your chosen field, what you expect from the program and how you can contribute to the program. It should include your research interests and your academic and career objectives. As the statement is an opportunity for the committee to know you, discussions of your relevant qualifications and experiences will be highly helpful. The statement should also demonstrate your composition skills and analytical ability. While there is no minimum or maximum length, we suggest a length of approximately 800 words.

Download essay template

Essay Tips:

  • Your application will be reviewed for admission by a faculty committee from your selected degree program. Be sure to address each statement prompt through the lens of the specific degree program to which you are applying.
  • As you prepare your written responses, we encourage you to explore your degree program's curriculum, community, and affiliated faculty, as well as the SIS Study Abroad, Practica, Skills Institutes, and Office of Career Development pages to learn more about the graduate student experience both inside and outside the classroom.