PS The Admissions Committee is very interested in learning about you personally- including any noteworthy or formative aspects of your background and what attracted you to the field of public policy. In 250 words or less, please provide any information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about yourself and/or your future goals. You may also use this optional essay to provide further explanation of any unusual circumstances, such as a period of poor academic performance or a large gap in your resume. If you choose to submit an Optional Statement, please upload it to the Writing Sample section of the application. CV Applicants for admission to the McCourt School must upload a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) with their online application. Please feel free to include a list of published work. Fee An $90.00 non-refundable fee is payable by credit card or electronic check at the time of application submission. RL Three recommendations are required. Ideally, applicants should submit at least one each from an academic and professional (work-related) source. The online application utilizes a secure online recommendation system which will: automatically email your recommendation providers with instructions for online submission of the recommendation; allow applicants to track recommendations received or not received and follow up with recommenders who still need to submit their appraisals; expedite the processing of the recommendations, which will be included in the online application once submitted. In the event your reference cannot access the online recommendation, please contact McCourt School Admissions staff for instructions. Transcript Applicants for admission to McCourt School must provide official transcripts of ALL work beyond secondary school—undergraduate coursework, graduate coursework, study abroad courses, and non-degree courses. This requirement also includes any transfer credits that may have been completed at another institution other than the degree awarding institution. Official transcripts are those issued by the institution in a signed and sealed envelope. We require that all transcripts be submitted in English. Most major foreign universities will issue official transcripts in English themselves. However, if your institution is unable to do this, you are responsible for providing the McCourt School Office of Admissions with an English translation of your transcript. Your translator must certify that the original documentation was received in a sealed envelope from your university or issuing institution. After translating, your translator should enclose both the original and the certified translation in an envelope and seal and sign the envelope. The transcript should be enclosed in the signed, sealed envelope and submitted by mail to McCourt School Admissions. As an alternative to a individual translator providing certified translations, international applicants who attend institutions outside of the United States may submit their transcripts in the form of World Education Services (WES) ICAP evaluations. You should note that official transcripts are delivered electronically with their evaluations through WES. WES evaluations may take the place of official transcripts as long as they come to McCourt School directly from WES and include a copy of the official transcripts you had evaluated. Use of the WES service is not required. We require proof a degree was conferred and the date of graduation. Some international transcripts do not explicitly state that a degree was conferred or the date of graduation. If your transcript does not explicitly state that a degree was conferred or the date of graduation, you should obtain an official letter from your university indicating the date of your graduation and the degree conferral date. This letter should be enclosed in a signed, sealed envelope and included with your transcript.