FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Application process
What undergraduate GPA do I need to be considered for admission?
The University of Minnesota Graduate School prefers a 3.0 or better undergraduate GPA. The average GPA of incoming MPP, MURP, and MS students is 3.5 (3.2 for MPA students). The Humphrey Institute admissions committee may, in exceptional cases, recommend admission for a candidate whose GPA falls below 3.0 but whose application materials show promise of success in our program.
How long should my statement of purpose be?
Your statement of purpose should be approximately 500 words (two typed, double-spaced pages).
Whom should I ask to write a letter of recommendation for me?
Preferably, at least one letter of recommendation should be from a former undergraduate (or graduate) professor with whom you have studied. Other references could include work supervisors or directors or board members of organizations for which you have volunteered, etc. Avoid asking family members or personal friends who have not direct ly supervised your professional or academic work.
Do I need to submit letters of recommendation to both the Graduate School and the Humphrey Institute?
You can either have recommenders use the online form on the Graduate School application to submit their letters of recommendation, or you can use the traditional hard copy procedure to submit them directly to the Humphrey Institute. There is no need to submit them in both formats. Directions for using the online form can be found within the Graduate School application, and directions for submitting hard copies can be found on the letter of recommendation form.
When is the application deadline?
January 5 is the postmarked deadline for MPP, MURP, and MS applicants who wish to be considered for merit-based financial aid. All application materials postmarked by January 5 must be received in the Humphrey Institute admissions office no later than January 10. If you choose to bring your application to the admissions office in person, you must do so no later than the end of the business day on January 5 (or the first business day after January 5 when that date falls on a weekend or holiday). April 1 is the deadline for MPP, MURP, and MS applicants who do not wish to be considered for merit-based financial aid. April 1 is the admission and financial aid deadline for MPA applicants. October 15 is the admission deadline for MPA applicants for spring semester.
What GRE scores do I need to be considered for admission?
Because the GRE score is one of several criteria considered for admission and not used as single criteria, there is no official minimum score or combination of scores required. Average GRE scores for incoming Humphrey Institute students are: 550 on the verbal, 630 on the quantitative, and 5.2 on the analytical writing section of the exam. If your scores are below these levels, we like to see evidence of your potential to succeed in our graduate programs in other parts of your application (i.e., recommendations, transcripts). GRE test scores that are more than five years old are not accepted. Other test scores (LSAT, GMAT) cannot be substituted for the GRE. Applicants to the MPA degree program are not required to take the GRE unless their undergraduate institutions did not report letter grades.
Do I need to take the TOEFL?
International students whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be considered for admission to the University of Minnesota Graduate School. The requirements for admission to the Humphrey Institute include a TOEFL score of at least 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test, and 100 on the internet-based test. International applicants who have taken at least 16 semester/24 quarter credits at an academic program at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States within the past 24 months may have this requirement waived. TOEFL scores more than two years old are not accepted.
Is there an economics prerequisite?
Yes, completion of an introductory course in microeconomics (with a grade of B-minus or better) is required for MPP and MS students and strongly recommended for MURP students. If this course is not taken prior to application submission, a one sentence statement may be submitted with your application materials, indicating when you plan on taking an introductory course in microeconomics prior to the desired semester of matriculation. The introductory course in microeconomics may be taken at any accredited college of university (including correspondence courses).
When should I take the GRE or the TOEFL?
All application materials must be postmarked no later than January 5 (and received no later than January 10) to be considered for merit-based financial aid and April 1 for admission only, so please plan accordingly. Allow 4 weeks for test scores to arrive at the Humphrey Institute.
Can I apply for admission to the spring semester or summer session?
The Humphrey Institute only admits new MPP, MURP, and MS students into the fall semester of each academic year. Mid-career MPA applicants may apply to enter in either the fall or spring semester. The spring semester application deadline is October 15. Merit-based financial aid is not available for spring semester enrollment.
If I am admitted, can I defer my enrollment at the Humphrey Institute?
You may defer your enrollment for up to one academic year.
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What types of financial aid are available?
The Humphrey Institute offers merit-based financial aid in the form of scholarships, fellowships, and graduate assistantships. Please review the application packet for detailed information about each type of assistance. If you are interested in applying for this highly competitive, merit-based aid, you must have complete applications on file with the Humphrey Institute and the University of Minnesota Graduate School by January 5 for MPP, MURP, and MS students and April 1 for MPA students. The Graduate School has information about other scholarship/fellowship opportunities.
What about need-based financial aid?
You should submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Note: Graduate students are eligible for student loans only and not for federal grants (as are undergraduates). For more information, please contact the One Stop Student Services office by phone at 612-624-1111 or toll-free at 1-800-400-8636.
Is there any financial aid for international applicants?
Although some of our financial aid is limited to U.S. citizens, international students are eligible for several of our merit-based financial aid packages. Please see the Humphrey Institute application packet to determine which financial aid awards may apply to you.
Are graduate assistantships available?
The Humphrey Institute houses several policy research and outreach centers, each directed by one our professors or senior fellows. Some research centers receive grant money to hire research assistants. These opportunities are on our website (http://www.hhh.umn.edu/career). The Institute also hires students as teaching assistants. In some cases, Humphrey Institute students possess skills or qualifications that make them eligible to apply for graduate assistantships in other departments at the University of Minnesota and are encouraged to explore those opportunities. For example, the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (http://www.cura.umn.edu) often hires Humphrey Institute students.
What are the benefits of finding an assistantship?
In addition to invaluable research experience, assistantships provide partial tuition benefits (including a non-resident tuition waiver for out- of-state students), a competitive wage, and partial health insurance. http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/gae/benefits
How easy is it to find an assistantship?
Competition for assistantships varies, depending on the Institute's current grant funds, as well as overall funding for teaching assistantships. Competition is increasingly intense, as there are many highly qualified applicants. You should have an alternate plan to fund your first year of study in case you do not receive an assistantship. There is a better chance of finding an assistantship your second year, though it is not guaranteed. http://www.hhh.umn.edu/career
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Academics
Can I transfer credits from another college or university toward a degree program at the Humphrey Institute?
Forty percent of your Humphrey Institute degree program credits can be comprised of graduate-level Humphrey Institute (or other approved graduate-level) courses taken prior to entering the Humphrey Institute or coursework taken with a college other than the University of Minnesota Graduate School while you are a Humphrey Institute student (provided these did not apply toward an already completed graduate degree). For example, 18 credits can be transferred as part of the required 45 credits for the MPP program. A maximum of eight semester credits can be transferred from another completed graduate degree program. Graduate courses taken before receiving your bachelor's degree cannot be applied toward a graduate degree at the University of Minnesota.
If I decide to apply to a dual degree program, do I have to submit both applications at the same time?
You do not have to submit applications to both programs of a dual degree in the same year. Even if you are admitted to both programs in the same year, it is recommended that you complete your first year in one program before taking courses in the other.
Is it possible to take Humphrey Institute classes before I apply to a degree program?
You can take courses at the Humphrey Institute as a non-degree seeking student. Some classes have prerequisites in order to register and all courses require instructor permission. In registering as a non-degree seeking student, you must register for graduate credit and for a grade (A-F) if you might later wish to transfer the credits into a graduate degree program. Please visit our website for more information.
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Student life
If I applied to the Humphrey Institute as a full-time student, can I switch to part-time status?
You can switch from full- to part-time status and back, as needed, to in order to complete your degree while managing other responsibilities and activities in your life. The Graduate School has created a new registration option (GRAD999) to allow students to register for zero credits for a semester in order to "hold their place" in the program if they need to take a semester "leave" for personal or professional reasons.
Can I complete my degree by attending part-time?
Most students are able to complete their coursework within two years. However, some take three or four years as a part-time student to complete all the necessary requirements to graduate. Although most mid-career MPA students attend part-time, the degree can be completed within a calendar year of full-time study.
Are there resources at the Humphrey Institute to help me find an internship or a job?
The Humphrey Institute's Career Services staff supports students in their career planning and job and internship searches. Staff actively provide information on internships and can assist you in exploring different opportunities. As a Humphrey Institute student (and later, as an alumnus or alumna), you also will have access to a specialized career development website. The Career Services Office also hosts on-campus recruitment events and career fairs and conducts career planning and professional development workshops.
How accessible are computers for students?
The Humphrey Institute is equipped with our own study lounge and computer labs, with access only for Humphrey Institute students. In addition, wireless access to the University of Minnesota Ethernet is available for those with laptop computers.
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Visitation and recruitment
How can I sit in on a class?
If you are interested in sitting in on a class, please check out our class schedule. (Once there, click the appropriate semester hyperlink in the quick links box on the right). Email a list of classes you are interested in attending and dates available to HHHadmit@umn.edu . Email at least 1 – 2 weeks in advance of your proposed visit.
How can I find out the Humphrey Institute’s recruitment schedule?
View our recruitment calendar.
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