Now is the perfect time to start preparing your Ford School application! Remember, fee waivers are available for military service members and alumni of our partnership programs. Read about each step by visiting our application checklist page.

Here are five key tips:

1.   Answer “Why” with two complementary essays. The personal statement and the academic statement of purpose are different ways to show the admissions committee the reasons behind your educational and career choices and why the Ford School is the next logical step in your career.
2.   A new, additional question in the application asks about your quantitative and analytical preparation. Respond with information about courses you may have taken in college and/or work experiences where you have utilized quantitative skills. This information will be helpful particularly if you are not submitting GRE scores (GRE scores are not required this year).
3.   Use the space in your resume to provide details and context about the organizations with which you worked.
4.   Three letters of recommendation are required and should reflect your academic and job capabilities and experience. Prepare your recommenders by giving them plenty of time and a copy of your resume and academic statement of purpose.
5.   Transcripts: You can upload an official or unofficial transcript with your online application. Please do not upload a copy of your grade report.

Still have questions? Other important information can be found here:

• International applicant materials
• Dual degree applicant requirements
• View frequently asked questions

12/10/20 @ 8pm: Join us for upcoming webinars about the Ford School! Register for the “Hands-on, practical experiences” webinar, featuring faculty and admissions staff.

Watch: Science, Technology, and Public Policy Graduate Certificate Program

Watch: PCLP & Detroit Hives: An Engaged Learning Project in Detroit

Want to hear from a current student about life at the Ford School? Connect with one now!

Did you know you can save your application as you go? Now is a great time to update your resume and upload it as part of your application.

NOTE: This announcement was released on December 8, 2020.

You are someone who cares deeply about the public good.

We know you are eager to lead, to find creative solutions, and to make a big impact on your communities. The University of Michigan’s Ford School is the right place for you—at a most urgent time.

We invite you to get to know us. Take the next step.With a Ford School education, you will be leading the institutions and organizations that will shape our public policies for decades to come.

• Register for an information session to learn how a masters degree from the Ford School can help you make an impact on the public good. Join us on Thursday, November 19 at NOON EST, with Luke Shaefer, director of Poverty Solutions and associate dean for research and policy engagement, and Paula Lantz, the James B. Hudak Professor of Health Policy and associate dean for academic affairs.

We look forward to meeting you!

The Ford School difference

Follow us on social media

PS: Sign-up here for a special weekly email from our admissions team.

NOTE: This announcement was released on November 17, 2020.

Interested in speaking with a Ford School alumni? Join us for a coffee hour chat with alumni on November 13, 2020 at 12-1pm ET. Please click here for additional information and registration.

We also invite you to join us for the remaining session of a series of webinars about applying to graduate school, funding, research opportunities, and careers in international affairs, policy, and research. Click the link below to register.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 4:30-5:30pm PT 

 

The sessions, Public Partnership for Policy and International Affairs Education, will include representatives from:

University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

University of Maryland School of Public Policy

University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs

University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Policy and International Affairs

University of Washington The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies

 

Have questions or would like to be connected with a current student? Email fspp-admissions@umich.edu.

Thank you and we look forward to connecting with you.

NOTE: This announcement was released on November 12, 2020.

Looking for ways to learn more about the Ford School of Public Policy?

We invite you to join us for the remaining two sessions of a series of webinars, Public Partnership for Policy and International Affairs Education, about applying to graduate school, funding, research opportunities, and careers in international affairs, policy, and research. Click the links below to register:

Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 5:30-6:30pm ET

Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 4:30-5:30pm PT

 

The sessions will include representatives from:

University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

University of Maryland School of Public Policy

University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs

University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Policy and International Affairs

University of Washington The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies

 

Interested in speaking with Ford School alumni? Join us for a coffee hour chat with alumni on November 13, 2020 at 12-1pm ET. Please click here for additional information and registration.

Have questions or would like to be connected with a current student? Email us at fspp-admissions@umich.edu.

Thank you and we look forward to connecting with you.

NOTE: This announcement was released on November 6, 2020.

Master’s applications are now open for fall 2021

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy has opened applications for fall 2021 for our top-ranked graduate programs: Master’s of Public Policy and Master’s of Public Affairs.

The Ford School community is engaged in public policy at a critical time in our world’s history. The challenges—pandemic, rising inequality, climate change, refugee crises, a rancorous political landscape, and so much more—are complex. And so our opportunities for impact are enormous.

We are looking for students who are eager to lead, to find creative solutions, and to take on our communities’ and our world’s most pressing challenges.

Applications are due January 15, 2021.

How to apply

The application is available online through the Rackham Graduate School website. Review our application checklist for detailed information. You will need:

1.     An academic statement of purpose about your professional and academic goals
2.     A personal statement
3.     Your resume
4.     Three letters of recommendation
5.     Transcripts

Recognizing the disruptions and hardships many are experiencing in the context of COVID-19, the Ford School will not require GRE scores from students applying to enroll in its master of public policy program for fall 2021.

Beth Soboleski, associate director of Student & Academic Services, says that in a typical year, “GRE scores are useful indicators of academic preparation for our core curriculum. But the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many promising students to prepare for and take the GRE.” Applications without GRE scores will not be disadvantaged in the Ford School’s holistic application review process, Soboleski notes.

View additional information for International applicants and dual degree applicants on our website.

More questions? See our FAQs for master’s applicants or contact us at fspp-admissions@umich.edu.

Get to know us

Attend one of the upcoming virtual graduate school fairs or schedule an individual appointment with a member of our admissions team. And follow us on social media to get a better feel for all the news and events happening at the Ford School.

Why choose the Ford School?

We are a top-ranked policy school located within one of the world’s premier research universities—in one of America’s best college towns. Our rigorous curriculum prepares graduates to shape policies that affect their neighborhoods, their countries, and people around the globe. Our prominent and accessible faculty are world-class scholars—and also enthusiastic teachers and mentors. And we believe in a hands-on approach that provides practical policy experiences that help our students become better leaders.

We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of smart, engaged leaders to our community!

NOTE: This announcement was first released on October 2, 2020.

Congratulations on submitting your application to the Ford School! After months of researching schools, drafting essays, and studying for exams you’ve officially applied to grad school.

We know this can be a stressful time as you wait for admissions decisions to return in mid-March, and may have some questions about what comes next. Below are a few recommendations to keep top of mind over the next few months.

1. Submit outstanding application materials: The admissions committee will reach out to you via email if you have any missing documents (i.e transcripts, letters of recommendation, TOEFL exam). Please be sure to email these items to fspp-admissions@umich.edu. Applications missing required documentation, such as GRE scores, will be considered incomplete, but may be reviewed as documents arrive. We welcome your application, but any delay in the submission of documentation may delay its review.

2. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, don’t forget to fill out the FAFSA by March 31st. If you intend to apply for federal student loans and other sources of funding, you’ll want to submit a completed 2019-20 FAFSA application by the deadline.

3. Check out resources to search for scholarships. Pursuing a graduate degree is an investment and can be overwhelming when planning how to finance. There are many resources out there to search for scholarship opportunities – below are a few to kickstart your search:

   • Check out the fellowships offered through the Ford School.
   • University of Michigan Rackham School for graduate studies also offers funding opportunities to Master’s and Ph.D students.
   • Some students find it helpful to subscribe to search engines such as FastWeb and College Board’s Scholarship Search.  *You should never pay a fee in order to compete for a scholarship.  Any group that asks for even a small payment is suspect.

4. Interested in speaking with a current Fordie? Fill out this survey if you’d like to be virtually connected with a student. They were in your exact shoes not so long ago. Whether you’re curious about what it’s like to attend a football game in the Big House or wonder how the internship process works, it’s always helpful to hear firsthand from your peers.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact our staff in Student and Academic Services Office by calling 734-764-0453 or by emailing fspp-admissions@umich.edu.