Make your CIPA Application Stand Out

Applications are time consuming, especially if you approach them the right way. Putting aside a dedicated chunk of time to think strategically about your approach is a good starting point.

CIPA offers rolling admission, but we encourage you to submit your material in early-to-mid January to receive full consideration for fellowship awards. That gives you just over a month to get your materials together.

I’d like to make the process a little easier by walking you through a few areas of the application that others have requested additional information about in the past. These tips are intended to help you make your application stand out!

Personal Statement
The statement of purpose is your opportunity to shine. Tell us why you think the CIPA MPA program is a good fit for you. What skills, interests, and past experiences will you be bringing to the program? Have you completed internships, done volunteer projects, served an organization in a leadership capacity, and/or worked full or part- time? If so, talk about these experiences and explain how they have shaped your current interests and career aspirations. On the flip side, what program offerings does CIPA have that you believe you’ll benefit from most? While you don’t need to know exactly what concentration you will choose, you could mention which one(s) speaks to you now and why. What are your (general) long-term goals? How can our program best help you meet those?

As you write your statement, stay focused on your experience and motivation for applying to the program (avoid clichés such as “grad school was a “logical next step”). Try to tailor your statement specifically to our program. We want to know that you’ve done your homework and know why you are interested in CIPA. And finally, don’t be afraid to be creative! Tired eyes will be grateful.

The personal statement is also an opportunity to show off your writing abilities. Convey your points clearly, concisely and coherently. The quality of your writing includes not just what you say, but also how it is presented. This means grammar is important! Also, don’t underestimate the importance of proofreading. Watch out for typos and other grammatical mistakes that may serve to reduce the professionalism and credibility of your statement.

The Video Interview
When you submit your application material, you will be asked to complete an online interview. You will receive an e-mail containing login information and detailed instructions.
One purpose of the video interview is to see how well an applicant is able to think on her/his feet in responding to a public policy query. This is your opportunity to present yourself as a poised professional, committed to pursuing a career in the public realm. The question you will be asked is not meant to “trick” you, nor will it require any specific prior knowledge. Take advantage of this opportunity to show off your passion and professionalism.

Letters of Recommendation
Unfortunately much of this process is out of your control. Every recommender has their own process of writing these letters. Some keep templates and will simply plug your name in, while others will write personal and well thought-out recommendations. To enhance your chances of receiving a letter that will make the best case for your admission, you can take a few steps:

• Have in-depth conversations with your recommenders, sharing your long-term goals and objectives. Educate them about the MPA degree you’re seeking so they can address your preparation for both the grad program and your proposed career. (This process may be enlightening for you, as well, offering insight into how highly this person values your skills and abilities.)

• Don’t wait until the last minute to request letters of recommendation. You want the best possible letters, so give your recommenders a reasonable amount of time to produce these for you (remember that they may have numerous recommendations to write for others, in addition to yours).

• To ensure the likelihood of quality recommendations, choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your strengths. (High-profile professors or industry experts who barely know your name will end up writing generic letters that diminish the quality of your application.)

Other Questions?
I hope that this information has been useful to you. As always, you are more than welcome to reach out with additional queries. Jennifer Evangelista, our Admission specialist, is available on e-mail at: jld21@cornell.edu. Or, you may reach her by phone at: 607-255-2243.

We look forward to reading your application!