Application Procedures
If you've attended one of our Program II information sessions and/or met with Dean Keul to confirm that Program II is appropriate for you, you may be ready to begin to prepare your application, following the procedures outlined below. For your convenience, we have developed an application checklist that you may wish to print out and follow as you prepare your application.
Before you actually prepare your formal application to Program II, it will be crucially important for you to meet and get to know at least some of the faculty who share your academic interests. This "networking phase" can be exciting and will help you immeasurably to clarify your goals within Program II and better define how you want to approach the application. Presumably, you will find a suitable Program II advisor among the faculty who teach courses in areas outlined in your proposal. This person should be able to help you prepare a suitable list of core courses for your program of study.
Once you have an advisor and a list of core courses, you should be ready to prepare a formal application, which includes the following six parts:
- a cover page with abstract;
- a list of your core courses;
- a Program II check sheet, i.e., a chronological listing of your proposed program of study;
- a personal statement (4-5 pages long);
- a letter of support from your faculty advisor; and
- a statement of support from the DUS in the department or program of your faculty advisor.
Note: Your name and the title of your program should appear on each page of your application.
The Program II committee values the inclusion of a senior capstone experience (e.g., an independent study or project) as a culmination of your self-designed curriculum. It is a way for you to tie together the various strands that constitute your program of study.
Sample Applications
As you prepare your application for Program II, you may find it helpful to look at one or more of the following examples of successful applications from the past. Additional examples are available in the Program II office in 011 Allen Building.