Politics PhD

Princeton University The Graduate School · Princeton, NJ

Deadlines

Describe your academic and career plans and indicate your intended major field of research (in capital letters at the top of the first page).

A seminar paper or a couple of chapters of a senior thesis (with a thesis summary), ideally showing research ability and original thought.

Princeton admits only to the PhD (there is no separate MA), and the department reads the file without interviews and does not encourage contacting faculty before admission, so the application materials carry the whole case. Put your chosen field in capital letters at the top of the 1,000-word academic statement and use the rest to tie your research plans to that field and its faculty. GRE scores are mandatory here, so schedule the test early enough for scores to arrive by December 15. Choose a 25-page writing sample that goes beyond a literature review.