Knowing your SIPA "Why" as an Undergraduate

If you are coming right out of undergrad, you need to add your SIPA why. The admissions committee wants to see why SIPA and why this is the time for you to start at SIPA.

Now, why do they want to see this?

You could have gone on other paths instead of SIPA. Many people come to SIPA because they are making a career pivot or they want to build their career. As an applicant right out of undergrad, you are not making this switch. This does it inherently make you a bad or good applicant. It just makes you different. 

So, why did I take this path into SIPA right after undergrad? 

I came directly after undergrad because I knew that I wanted to work in policy that affects migrants and workplace inclusion. For me, SIPA was the right path to expand my understanding and gain professional experience through capstone. When I applied I was so captivated by the BetterWork capstone project, which is a collaboration between the International Labour Organization and the World Bank. In the past SIPA students worked on increasing the economic inclusion of migrants and women in the garment industry. As an undergraduate student, I could envision myself in this capstone, especially as I worked on improving diversity, equity and inclusion policies for companies in Canada and focused my studies on migrants. Now, in my second year at SIPA, I work for BetterWork. By continuing to immerse myself in this field through my internships, studies, and capstone project while at SIPA, I am naturally enhancing my fluency and expertise in addressing policy issues related to migrants and workplace inclusion.

But also don’t worry if you are not 100% sure. Nobody is ever 100% sure about their career path. You don’t have to be 100% sure about SIPA. 

At the end of the day, you just need to provide a good argument as to why you are choosing SIPA now. Here are some points to consider when considering your SIPA why:

• Future Plans: Outline your plans after graduating from SIPA. Discuss how the skills and knowledge gained at SIPA will help you achieve your short-term and long-term career objectives, whether in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors.
• Academic and Research Interests: Discuss your academic background and how it has prepared you for SIPA. Mention any relevant courses, research projects, or academic achievements that demonstrate your readiness for graduate-level work.
• Personal Motivation: Share personal experiences or motivations that drive your interest in public policy or international affairs. This could include volunteer work, internships, or personal experiences that have shaped your perspective on these fields.
• SIPA's Unique Offerings: Highlight what makes SIPA the best place for you to study. Think about this compared to other graduate programs or other locations. For example, the fact that SIPA is located in New York City, near the United Nations, cultural diversity of our program, and its strong alumni network, or its capstone projects that provide hands-on experience.

If you have questions, attend an information session this summer! Our admissions team would be happy to offer their advice on how to best craft your application.