Admissions

How many applicants does JSP receive?

Between 80 to 110 applications are received. About 8 to 12% of applicants are admitted and about 70 to 80% of admitted students are accepted.

Are there interviews for the application process?

No, however applicants can visit Berkeley and meet with faculty and students. In addition, there is an admit day in March for admitted students to come and visit Berkeley, check out the program, meet their cohort, and get a feel for the place.

What are you looking for in terms of an applicant’s qualifications?

We do holistic reviews of each applicant, but most important are indications for the applicant’s qualifications to be an outstanding academic. Thus, we will look at an applicant’s grades and the courses that they’ve taken in previous programs. A JD or MA could help aid this signalling process, but it’s certainly not the key factor in the decision. Furthermore, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and samples of academic writing will help the admissions committee decide how committed the applicant is to the high-level research done in the program. The...

Do applicants need to have a dissertation topic picked out by the time they apply?

No, it is actually preferred to come into the program with no thorough plan prepared. This process of deciding on research questions that are important to the field, in addition to, especially at JSP, policy and law is one of the most important aspects to a Ph.D. program.

Does an applicant need to have academic writing experience past college classes before applying?

While a few students have already published a paper, about 80 to 90% of our students have not done so before.

Who should one ask for a letter of recommendation?

It’s best to choose someone who can comment truthfully and thoroughly on an applicant’s academic experience, rather than someone who is well-known in the field.

Is work experience preferential in the application process?

Work experience is certainly not necessary for the application and is only helpful when a student’s experience helps them with regards to research direction or access to settings for research.

Are certain academic areas more preferred than others?

No, all are equally preferred. The admission committee does try to balance out the areas that students are accepted for. Furthermore, students are especially encouraged to experiment with different academic areas during their time in the program.