Who is eligible to Apply?

• Applicants will have earned a Baccalaureate degree by June 2013

• Applicants are required to take the GRE

• While there are no prerequisite courses required of applicants, it is advantageous to have taken an introductory economics course, other social science courses, and an introductory calculus or introductory statistics course prior to admission.
  • The Batten School offers a “math camp” before classes begin in the fall to help students brush up on their quantitative skills

What will the admissions committee review to make its admissions decisions?

• We will consider each applicant's complete application. See the Batten Application Checklist below for the complete list of application requirements.  

When is the Application Deadline?

The application deadline for the Class of 2015 MPP program (enrolling in fall 2013) is January 7, 2013.

Application & Application Instructions

Read These Instructions Before Starting the Online Application:

Thank you for choosing to apply for admission to the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy!

DEADLINES:
The deadline to submit the online application is January 7, 2013.  Additionally, all supplemental materials (official transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores) must be submitted or postmarked by January 7, 2013. 

Your application may be completed online and submitted electronically once you have answered all the required questions.  You do not have to complete the online application in one sitting – you may access your application and change your answers as many times as you like.  To do that, use the Username and Password that you created when you first completed our interest page and/or started your application.

ITEMS TO SUBMIT THROUGH THE ONLINE APPLICATION:

The following items will be collected through the online application:

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae.  You will be prompted to upload this document in the application system.  A word or .pdf document is fine.

• Two (2) Mandatory Essays.  You may answer both questions separately in the same document – just be sure to address the particular focus of each question according to the parameters below:
  • What work, activity, or education experience has best equipped you for work on public policy?  In what way?  Please limit your answer to 250 words.
  • Why do you want to study leadership and public policy?  In other words, what motivates you?  Please limit your answer to 500 words.

• Application Addendum (OPTIONAL).  There is no penalty for not submitting an application addendum!  However, some applicants may have additional information that would be useful for the admissions committee.  Feel free to amplify the positive dimensions of your background that are not covered in other parts of this application.  Similarly, you may wish to put some seemingly negative information in your application into context for the admissions committee.  Please format this application addendum as a letter to the admissions committee, not to exceed one page.

• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation.  You are required to submit two letters of recommendation.  Your recommenders must submit their letters of recommendation via this online application module.  There will be more instructions regarding letters of recommendation within the application itself.

• $60 Non-Refundable Application Fee.  You must submit your application fee with a credit card via the online application.  For questions about payment by credit card or if you believe you qualify for an application fee waiver, please call 434.924.3477.

ITEMS TO SUBMIT VIA MAIL OR ALTERNATE AGENCY:

• Official Transcripts.  Official transcripts are required for all undergraduate and graduate schools attended.  Transcripts should be sent directly to the Batten School by the registrar of each school.  Transcripts submitted which are not in the original, unopened envelope provided by the registrar of each school will not be considered official and will need to be replaced.

• Official GRE Scores.  You are required to take the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  Test scores should be forwarded directly from Educational Testing Services to the University of Virginia (Code 5820).  We will accept either the old or new format test scores.  However, you must retake the GRE if your scores are more than five (5) years old.
  • For dual degree applicants:  We will accept your LSAT scores in lieu of the GRE if you are also applying to the University of Virginia School of Law and the dual JD/MPP degree program.  We will accept your GMAT scores in lieu of the GRE if you are also applying to the Darden School of Business and the dual MBA/MPP degree program.  
  • If you will be submitting an alternate standardized test score in lieu of the GRE, please alert the admissions team at FBSAdmissions@eservices.virginia.edu or 434.924.3477 after you have started but before you submit your application.  You will not be able to submit your application until we note in the system that it will be receiving an alternate test score.

• Official TOEFL Scores.  If you are an international applicant whose primary language is not English, you are also required to take the TOEFL examination.  Test scores should be forwarded directly from Educational Testing Services to the University of Virginia (Code 5820).  You must retake the TOEFL if the scores are more than two (2) years old.

Postal Mail should go to:
Your official transcript(s) should be sent to the address below:

Assistant Dean for Admissions and Strategic Initiatives
Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
235 McCormick Rd, PO Box 400893
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4893

Physical Address (for overnight of mail, FEDEX, UPS, and DHL):

Assistant Dean for Admissions and Strategic Initiatives
Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
Garrett Hall
235 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, VA 22904

FINAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• To navigate through the application system, please use the navigational links located on the left of your screen when you are in the application system.

• Once you have completed the application forms to your satisfaction, click the Submit button at the top of the page.  This will guide you through the final steps necessary to electronically submit your application to the Batten School.

• Please note that you may submit your application only once, and that once submitted, you will not be able to make changes to your application!

• We look forward to receiving your application!

START YOUR APPLICATION!

If you have not previously completed our interest page and do not have a username and password that we have provided to you in an email, click here to START YOUR APPLICATION NOW!

If you already have a username and password from us, or have previously started your application, click here to START OR CONTINUE WORK ON YOUR APPLICATION!

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT OUR APPLICATION PROCESS:

• While the base application document asks about your intention to apply for financial aid, you will not apply for financial aid at this time.  We will follow up with you directly at a later date to give you instructions on applying for financial aid.

• If you are applying for any of the five dual degrees that we offer, remember that you must apply to both schools separately and gain admission to both schools separately before you can be admitted to the dual degree program.

• If you are an international student who will require visa documents from UVa, you must also submit a Financial Guarantee Form for graduate students with your application.  You may obtain the Financial Guarantee Form for graduate students at this link:  http://www.virginia.edu/iso/issp/generalinfo/forms.html

• For all non-U.S. citizens, if the Batten School ultimately makes an offer of admission to you and you express your intention to matriculate, you will be required to submit a Confirmation of Lawful Presence Form.  While you will not submit this form with your application, you should be prepared to complete this form as an additional requirement preceding your enrollment at the University of Virginia and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.

• If you have any questions at all about completing the application, please contact our Admissions Team, 434.924.3477 or FBSAdmissions@eservices.virginia.edu

Questions?  Contact our Admissions Team, 434.924.3477 or FBSAdmissions@eservices.virginia.edu