Candidate Statement

A candidate statement should discuss your academic and career objectives in a concise, sharply-focused, and well-crafted essay. Within the online application you will find specific instructions for what should be included in your essay. Generally speaking, this should include what you plan to research, how you plan to research it, how your work fits within the department or program, and how you have prepared for further graduate study. MA programs are also interested to know how the MA program fits with your future academic or professional goals.

Typically, a statement is 2 to 4 pages in length, depending on spacing and formatting. The exception to this is our Economics PhD program, which prefer statements no longer than one page.