Admissions
Overview
 Please read these guidelines carefully, as they are integral to the application process. After reading this page, you may continue on to apply online.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
The Admissions Committee looks for well-rounded students who demonstrate ambition, strong academic performance, leadership ability, maturity, and involvement in campus and community activities. The committee prefers applicants who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a strong letter of recommendation, relevant professional or volunteer experience and well-written essays.
ADMISSIONS & ENROLLMENT TIMELINE
The Admissions Committee will review applications on a rolling basis. Applicants will be accepted, declined or put on a waiting list within three weeks of completing an application. Applicants may check their application status and confirm the receipt of supporting documents at any time through the online application system. Notifications will be sent via email and regular mail when an admissions decision is available.
After a student is accepted into the program, he or she will be given 2-3 weeks to accept or decline the offer of admission. At the time of enrollment, students will be required to make a non-refundable $750 deposit payment to hold their position in the institute.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis, so students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Students who apply early will receive first consideration for both admission and scholarship decisions as well as internship placement. Many internship placements are very competitive, so the earlier a student is admitted, the greater his or her chance is of receiving a top internship placement.
| December 2, 2011 |
Early Application Deadline, Summer 2012 Programs
Apply by this date to receive a 5% discount on tuition balance |
| January 13, 2012 |
International Student Application Deadline, Summer 2012 Programs
Click here for further information specific to international applicants
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| February 7, 2012 |
Priority Application Deadline for Scholarships |
| March 7, 2012 |
Final Application Deadline |
Please note: Freshmen are not eligible to apply for the Early Deadline, but may apply for the Priority and Final Deadlines.
To qualify for a deadline, the applicant must submit the online application form by 11:59PM EST on the deadline. All supporting materials must also be received by the deadline.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants must submit all of the following materials to complete an application. Please see below for the mailing address, fax number and email address to which materials may be sent. An application will not be passed on to the Admissions Committee for review until all required materials have been received.
| Application Requirement |
Instructions |
Method of Submission |
| Online Application Form |
Including contact information, program selection, writing samples and resume. |
Must be submitted through Apply Yourself application system. |
| Letter of Recommendation |
One letter must be from a professor, dean or academic advisor. A second letter is strongly recommended as many ICPES internship sites require an additional letter during the placement process. An additional letter may be from a work supervisor. No letters from family members will be accepted. |
May be submitted via mail, email, fax or through the online application system. |
Official
Transcript |
Documentation of all college credits received, including transfer credits that are not reflected on current university's transcript. |
Must be mailed in sealed envelope or faxed/emailed directly from the home university’s registrar.
|
| Professional Resume |
One page resume should include information about any professional experiences or activities that illustrate an interest in politics, public policy or international affairs. |
Must be uploaded into the online application system. |
| Writing Sample |
250-500 words on the following topic: "Identify the most important economic, political or social issue facing your country. Please explain its significance and offer at least one solution." |
Must be uploaded into the online application system. |
| Statement of Purpose |
400-500 words answering the following: “State your reasons for applying to the Institute, and what you would gain personally, professionally and academically by attending.” Part 2: ”Describe the type of internship that is a good fit for your skills, interests and experiences. Please be as specific as possible." |
Must be uploaded into the online application system. |
| $50 Application Fee |
Non-refundable fee must be paid for each institute to which a student applies. |
May be paid online with Visa or MasterCard at the time of application submission, or via mailed check or money order payable to The Fund for American Studies. |
| Economics Prerequisite |
Three credits of macro or microeconomics is required. Students seeking a waiver for this requirement may email admissions@tfas.org.
|
Should be listed in the online application and documented in the official transcript. |
A pdf version of the application checklist for ICPES may be found by clicking here.
U.S. Programs Admissions Committee
The Fund for American Studies
1621 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202.986.0384 or 800.741.6964
Fax: 202.318.0441
Email: admissions@tfas.org
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Scholarship awards are based on a combination of factors including financial need, academic excellence, extracurricular achievement, and leadership activities. For scholarship consideration, students must submit the following via the online application system Apply Yourself, mail or fax (202.318.0441) in addition to the aforementioned application requirements:
- A 250 word statement explaining the applicant's need for a scholarship. (Must be uploaded into the online application system Apply Yourself)
- Personal Financial Materials: Please click here for a detailed explanation of what is required.
Please see the Costs & Financing page for full program costs and scholarship information.
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