Archive for IELTS – Page 3

The 2010 Application is Live

My staff did a great job during crunch time this past week and we were able to meet our deadline to make the new application for this year available. We are most excited about the fact that 100% of the required documents and information required to be considered for admission can be submitted on the application site – there is no need to send us a single document via postal mail.

We changed our philosophy this year and rather than requiring official documents from every single applicant, we will only require that official copies of transcripts and test scores be submitted if an applicant is admitted and chooses to enroll. It did not make a lot of sense for us to require official documents from everyone when in the end, required documents are only really necessary for those who enroll.

So, applicants now have the ability to upload academic transcripts and we will allow applicants to self report test scores – official score reports are not required to be considered for admission.

The application is broken into two sections:  Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1 is comprised of three sections:

  1. Application form (mostly biographical information)
  2. Names of those who will be submitting letters of recommendation
  3. Application fee

That’s it.  Part 1 is quite simple and does not take long to fill out. We recommend that you complete Part 1 as soon as possible so that you become an active applicant in our system and so that the system can send out messages with detailed instructions to those that will be writing recommendation letters for you.

Part 2 will not become visible until Part 1 is submitted.  Part 2 will allow you to:

  1. Upload your personal statement
  2. Upload the two required résumés
  3. Indicate your native language and second language ability
  4. Submit your test scores
  5. Upload academic transcripts

Please note that test scores can be updated anytime in the system up to the deadline.  This means that you can submit Part 2 anytime you like, and come back before the deadline to update scores.

Let’s say that it is early December and you have everything finished, have taken the GRE previously, but will be taking the GRE again in late December. In this example there is no need to wait to submit Part 2.

You can go ahead and submit/upload everything and return later in December to indicate your new test scores.  Do note that once you submit Part 2 the only section you will be able to update is the test score section.  The system will not allow you to update your personal statement, résumé, or transcripts once Part 2 has been submitted.

That’s it.  Be sure to read the instructions on the site carefully and to get started simply click here.  The deadline for spring consideration is October 1st and the fall deadline is January 5th.  We look forward to working with you!

2010 Application Information Post #5: Test Score Submission

The last major change that is being made to the application process for the 2010 cycle is that the Admissions Committee will allow for the submission of unofficial test scores for application review.  Similar to the policy of accepting unofficial copies of transcripts for admission review, if an applicant is offered admission official copies of test reports will then need to be submitted to confirm enrollment.  Specific dates by which official test scores need to be submitted will be communicated after admission offers are made.

This requirement includes the submission of the following tests:  GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, or IELTS.  SIPA will not accept LSAT scores in lieu of the GRE or GMAT.

In the past we required that a waiver form be filled out to submit the GMAT in lieu of the GRE.  Starting this year the waiver form is no longer required – we will accept either the GRE or the GMAT.

Applicants will have the ability to update scores achieved on the application Web site up to the deadline date.  Applicants should not wait until a test has been taken to submit the application.  The priority should be to submit the admission application as soon as possible.  It is not important that all admission documents be submitted at the same time.

For example, let’s say an applicant has all of the required documents ready, including a test score, on December 2nd and the official submission deadline is January 5th.  The applicant has another test scheduled for December 10th.  It is fine for the applicant to submit the application package via our application Web site and then later return to add additional test scores.  We will allow for test scores to be updated until the deadline, we will not allow for other documents once they have been submitted to be updated.

Once again we are hopeful that by allowing applicants to submit scores via the application Web site that we will be able to expedite the admission review process.  In previous years one of the great complications has been the receipt of official test scores by the deadline and we are pleased to offer a solution that should better serve both applicants and the Admissions Committee.

"The most global public policy school, where an international community of students and faculty address world challenges."

—Merit E. Janow, Dean, SIPA, Professor of Practice, International and Economic Law and International Affairs

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