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Deadline to apply: January 17, 2023
Learn more at an admissions event
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| U.S. Applicants | International Applicants | Brown University Seniors | |
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Transcripts from all |
required |
required: see below for transcript verification requirement |
required |
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Letters of recommendation |
3 required |
3 required |
2 required |
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Resume |
required |
required |
required |
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GRE scores Allow 4 weeks for scores to transmit and upload into your application file |
GRE test scores optional. Applicants who do not submit official GRE scores are required to submit a quantitative resume. |
GRE test scores optional. Applicants who do not submit official GRE scores are required to submit a quantitative resume. |
not required |
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optional if official GRE scores submitted |
optional if official GRE scores submitted |
optional | |
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Personal statement |
required |
required |
required |
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TOEFL or IELTS scores |
not required |
required* |
not required |
Important Dates
Application deadline for all students, including Brown seniors:
January 17, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EDT
The application portal will reopen in early September 2022 for the next admissions cycle.
Application Fee
The application fee is $100.
Quantitative Resume
The MPA curriculum includes graduate level coursework in economics and statistics. You may submit a quantitative resume summarizing any relevant academic experience in quantitative study. Applicants are encouraged to list quantitative and analytical classes taken with corresponding course descriptions and grades earned. Applicants may also include information about work or volunteer projects that required significant quantitative analysis or use of programming languages such as Stata, SQL, and Python. Sample quantitative resume
Personal Statement
Your statement should outline why you have decided to pursue graduate work in policy. Discuss your interest in the policy field with specific focus on the policy area you are most interested in pursuing and how study at Brown will further your professional goals. You will have the opportunity to upload a copy of your personal statement document directly to the application portal. There is no minimum word limit, but we encourage you to stay below 1500 words.
Mathematical Fluency
To ensure your success in the MPA program, and the quantitative core in particular, we strongly encourage students to consider their mathematical fluency and take additional preparatory steps if their undergraduate coursework did not include algebra or pre-calculus.
General fluency with the algebraic representation of math will be helpful in letting students focus on new material for the first summer courses. Incoming MPA students should be prepared for a rigorous program with a focus on these three areas:
- Algebraic manipulation, e.g. knowing that [X/Y + X/(X+Y)] = (X^2 + 2XY)/(Y^2 + XY)
- Graphing and Data (e.g. histograms, scatterplots)
- Calculus, with a focus on knowing how to take derivatives of a few simple forms
There are many online courses or less-formal YouTube videos (e.g. Khan academy) that go through each of these concepts. The program also has a math prep module in May to help assess student’s math abilities and bring them up to speed. It should be noted, however, that the May module will not focus on algebraic or calculus skills.
Finally, it is very useful for students to have an understanding of how to use Excel. The program also has an Excel prep course during orientation week, but it’s more of a refresher, so getting comfortable in this program in advance is useful.
Merit-Based Scholarships
For full consideration for merit-based financial awards, your application must be complete, including all supplemental materials (unofficial transcripts, and if applicable, GRE and TOEFL scores). International students are eligible for merit awards. There is no additional paperwork required. Most matriculated students receive some level of merit aid. Student loans are also available through our Office of Financial Aid to eligible applicants who submit the FAFSA by April 15.
Transcript Verification for International Applicants
In order to apply, all applicants must provide, at a minimum, unofficial transcripts of all past or current post-secondary institutions attended.
Brown requires verified transcripts if:
- You have attended or are completing a degree at a post-secondary institution outside of the United States AND
- You are admitted to the MPA program AND
- You accept your offer of admission.
We only accept WES evaluations. Please request the course-by-course report.
Admissions Questions
See our frequently asked questions page.