You haven't won a Nobel Prize? That's okay; neither have I!

Applying to grad school is intimidating and often scary. Sometimes the questions feel so intense it can make you second-guess and overthink everything. Like what do you mean, what’s my greatest accomplishment? Or how many outstanding awards have I received?

It can be a scary process, but do not let it intimidate you. Because while these questions seem overly intense, if you are applying to SIPA, I am positive that you have what it takes to answer them, and that you have done something in your life that you are proud of and that could show a reflection of who you are and what you’ve accomplished so far. And even if you still feel like you haven’t accomplished much yet, you can speak about what you plan to accomplish in the written personal statement section and how this SIPA degree will allow you to make that impact.

Similarly, while you may not have a Nobel Peace Prize to add to your list of accomplishments, maybe you’ve earned awards based on dedication, attendance, community service, advocacy projects, or research prizes. No matter how small, these awards may show a part of you that may even be more impressive than a Nobel Peace Prize. These awards tell the review committee that you spend your time helping others, creating positive change, researching critical topics, and/or helping the people around you, not because you have to, but because you choose to.

These essays are not meant to intimidate you but to encourage you to think deeper about the amazing things you’ve done.

1 Read the question, 2 understand what it’s truly asking you, 3 and then answer based on the incredible and unique experiences you have had. It is trying to uncover who you are and what you could bring to this program. So, instead of running away from it, go into the question ready to tell your story, what you hope to achieve, and what you’ve learned so far in your career or academic journey.

I also have never won a Nobel Prize (at least not yet haha), so these are all tips I used myself when I was completing my application. I made sure to stay calm and to focus on what I have done, the impact I have made, and the impact that I want to continue to make. In my personal statement, I expressed my interest in studying trauma and grief in post-conflict Africa and how my direct experiences doing research in Sub-Saharan Africa transformed my understanding of research, bias, and generational trauma. 

Illustrating to the review committee these experiences that are uniquely yours will set you apart and will give them the chance to see who you truly are.