In addition to the statement of objectives and personal statement, applicants must submit a resume and a separate writing sample of no more than 50 pages. Writing samples and resumes should be uploaded as PDF attachments to the online application.
Official transcripts should be scanned and uploaded as PDF attachments to the online application. Accepted applicants will be required to provide an official sealed transcript from each college attended.
Eligible applicants may sign up for the Political Science Application Mentorship Program (PS AMP), a volunteer initiative started by graduate students in the department and specifically intended for PhD applicants from communities that have historically been underrepresented in higher education. This includes, but is not limited to, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), non-cisgender individuals, members of the LGBTQIA+/queer community, individuals with disabilities, first-generation college students, and individuals from low-income backgrounds.
If you think you fall into one of these groups but aren’t sure, we still encourage you to sign up. Applicants will be paired with graduate student mentors who can answer questions about MIT PoliSci and provide application assistance. Participating in PS AMP is completely voluntary and will not affect your graduate admissions decision.
