The Inside Scoop: Interview with Admissions for Application Tips

Ever wondered what the people who review your application to SIPA are actually thinking about when they’re looking over your materials? Me too. I asked two members of the admissions committee my burning questions so you don’t have to. Here’s what they said: 

What is the most common mistake you see students making in their application? 

• Respondent 1:
  • Spelling - when you’re applying to a graduate program, you want your materials to be cohesive and professional 
  • Lack of specificity with their essays - providing as much detail as possible with a great amount of detail helps us build and understand their profile. It’s important to have a good story and a clear path to public service. There is always a reason why these individuals are applying to this program, and we want to see that they have a clear path in mind and a desire to make a positive impact. 
• Respondent 2:
  • Spelling “Columbia” as the country - Colombia
  • Speaking about a different school in their materials
  • Not using all 500 words in the personal statement to identify their “why.” Why can be very expansive - those are your 500 words to tell us why you make a good fit and why you want to be in their field, so it's a mistake when someone doesn't take the time to flesh that out. Why now? Why here? I need to be able to understand the motivation behind why you're applying. This is the part of your application that you have the most control over.  

Can you remember a student or applicant that really stood out, what about their application made them stand out?

• Respondent 1:
  • The people who we see applying to SIPA and ultimately admitting are all incredible and each person has their own unique stories and desire to make the world a better place. Those that stand out among the applications we receive with a clear message are the ones we end up taking because they can explain through their application how SIPA can help them reach their end goals. 
• Respondent 2: 
  • I read an incredible application from a student who was a first-generation, queer Mexican-American and they had a strong desire to go to Latin America to work on helping the HIV/AIDS crisis supporting the queer community. What stood out was a consistent theme across all this applicant's materials, the message in the letters of recommendation, their goals, it all aligned and came full circle. 
  • There are interesting stories of international students who have one definition of what it means to achieve the “American Dream,” and describe how their version of fulfilling it is different than they had expected, tying it back to their motivation for pursuing International Relations. 

If someone doesn’t have an international affairs or international relations background, should they still apply? 

• Respondent 1: 
  • Yes! A lot, of if not most applicants don't have any policy background and have careers in other things like the arts, engineering, music, lawyering, and our goal at SIPA is to equip those people with the skills they need to make an impact, whether that's at the local, state, federal, or international level. 
• Respondent 2: 
  • Yes! Our programs are not one size fits all. We see people from all backgrounds - engineering, education, behavioral sciences. Each person brings a different approach to this field, and that's what makes SIPA great. The program is truly interdisciplinary. 

If there is one thing you wish you could say to every person who is just starting their application, what would that be? 

• Respondent 1: 
  • Don't overthink it and don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Focus on making your application the best reflection of who you are as a person, how you want to make an impact, and painting a holistic picture of your skills, background, and interests that you can bring to SIPA. 
• Respondent 2: 
  • Take your time and think about your “why.” Where do you want to be in 5 years? Think about what this investment of your time is going to look like in the next 5 years. The degree shouldn’t just be another bullet point on your resume. I always tell students it’s half the time as undergrad and twice as focused. Grad school is not about finding yourself, it's about applying yourself, so why is now the right time to do that?

What are some application green flags you see when you’re looking over an applicant’s materials? 

• Respondent 1: 
  • Someone who has at least a very basic intro to macroeconomics and microeconomics. Most policy schools and policy programs will have some level of econ requirements, so it’s good to have a background in that subject. And of course, we will encourage you to take it if you don’t already have it. 
  • Relevant internship or volunteer experience
  • Strong and detailed supportive recommendations 
  • Strong writing in the essays
• Respondent 2:
  • Letters of recommendation are further within an applicant's control than they realize, those that shine are those that had authentic, true conversations with the recommender, gave them enough time to write the letter, gave them their statement to look over, and the recommender understood the applicant and their goals
  • Applicants who read the prompts and follow instructions
  • Individuals who have attended events virtually and in-person and have gone out of their way to see us in the office

Is there any other advice you would want to give applicants or those who are interested in SIPA? 

• Respondent 1: 
  • For funding, you should start the process early because the cost of living in NYC and the tuition costs are important to consider. Explore our financial aid resources that we have available online. There is a lot that students can do to close the funding gap, so be intentional, block out time to look for scholarships, and block out the noise of what everyone else is doing. 
• Respondent 2:
  • It's an exhilarating time to be in this space and study this field. This time has unique challenges, but putting that into action and learning about why you want to study IR here and now will be really cool to see in the applications.  
  • With grad school there is a stigma that you need to have every box checked off, but there is no linear path to get here. We see all different backgrounds, cultures, and no two students are alike, so why not take a shot on yourself? Everyone has their own story to tell. You never know who is reading your application, so telling them your story is important. 

TLRD: Block out the external noise, tell your story in a compelling way, and run spell check before you hit “submit.”

Thank you to the two fantastic interviewees for their time, and thank you for taking the time to read these tips. Best of luck with your applications! 

If you have any additional admissions questions, feel free to reach out to our office at [email protected]