JSI APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Demographics, Financial Details, Academics
- A key part of your application are sections that capture information about you, your educational background, and financial situation. To complete this you will need the following information:
- Percent breakdown of college costs being paid by loans, grants, parents/guardians, yourself, and/or other sources.
- Your parent/guardian’s gross income and savings/assets from the previous year.
- Your gross income and savings/assets from the previous year.
- Unofficial academic transcripts from all colleges or universities that you have attended so that you can enter information about relevant courses and GPA.
- Your preferred ranking for the Junior Summer Institutes.
- A list of all paid work positions, volunteer/service positions, and extracurricular activities in which you have participated since starting your undergraduate studies, including the experiences you have listed on your resume AND the positions/ experiences you did not include on your resume.
Letters of Recommendation
- One letter should be from someone familiar with your educational accomplishments (i.e. professor, academic advisor, etc.).
- One letter should be from someone familiar with your public service activities or interests.
- Once you submit this information, an email will be sent to the individuals with instructions for writing and submitting their letter.
- These letters will be submitted through our online system, but it is your responsibility to remain in contact with the individuals you ask for letters of recommendation and ensure they submit those letters by the November 1 deadline. For additional questions regarding the recommendation process, please see our FAQ section.
- Applications without two letters of recommendation submitted will not be reviewed for admission.
Personal Statements
Essay 1: All Applicants
Please upload a statement of approximately 800-1,000 words, double-spaced, 12-point font that addresses the following questions regarding your background and goals:
- What are your public service career goals?
- How has your background influenced those goals (you may include family, community, education, obstacles that you have overcome and other relevant life and work experiences)?
- What experiences will you bring to this program that will enable your fellow participants to have a fuller understanding of your commitment to public service, cross-cultural and social issues?
Essay 2: All Applicants
Please upload a statement of approximately 500-600 words, double-spaced, 12-point font that addresses the following questions regarding your motivation for applying to PPIA and your interest in pursuing a master’s degree:
- How will participating in a PPIA Junior Summer Institute help you achieve your career goals? What specific skills do you want to gain this summer?
- Given your interest in PPIA, why do you want to pursue a master’s degree related to Public Policy or International Affairs?
Essay 3: All Applicants
Please upload a statement of approximately 500-600 words, double-spaced, 12-point font about the following:
- Your experience working with diverse communities, particularly American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders communities.
Essay 4: UC Berkeley Law Fellow Applicants
Please prepare a brief statement, approximately 1 page, double-spaced, 12-point font about the following:
- Your interests for wanting to pursue joint degrees in law and public policy, what skills you would be seeking to acquire and how you will apply such skills to further your public service career goals.
Essay 5: Carnegie Mellon, Policy + Data Analytics Track
Please prepare a brief statement, approximately 1 page, double-spaced, 12-point font about the following:
- Please describe your interests for wanting to pursue a policy + data analytics degree and how you will apply such skills to further your public service career goals
Extenuating Circumstances Statement – Optional (word limit 250)
- If you have any extenuating circumstances that you would like to share with the admissions committee.
Resume (PDF Format)
- Please include, in two pages or less, all professional experiences you’ve had since the start of your undergraduate education.
Transcripts (PDF Format)
- Unofficial academic transcript from all colleges or universities that you have attended. Note: Students who are accepted to the Junior Summer Institutes will be required to submit official academic transcripts.
Financial Documents
Please include the following information:
- A copy of your financial aid award letter issued by your school for 2022-2023.
- A copy of the FAFSA Student AID Report (SAR) OR your parent/guardian’s tax forms for 2021. If you are classified as an independent student for financial aid purposes, you may upload your own tax forms for 2021 instead.
- Please only upload the first few pages of the tax form such as the 1040 form.
- Remember to black out all social security number information before uploading the documents.
- Do not mail or email any financial documents to PPIA. They must be submitted through this application system to be considered.