Admission Requirements

Yomaira Tomayo

The non-profit sector is changing. It is up to us to decide what this sector will look like. This program at Penn is a vehicle to help students do this.

- Yomaira G. Tamayo

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Requirements

Applicants for admission to the masters degree in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program at the School of Social Policy & Practice must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. hold at least a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university anywhere in the world and have at least two (2) years of professional work experience prior to starting this degree program;
  2. have a grade point average (GPA) that reflects strong academic ability (minimum of a 3.0 GPA) and submit an official copy of a transcript from all colleges and universities attended;
  3. receive competitive scores on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT); or Law School Admission Test (LSAT) indicating requisite analytic ability.  The Institutional Code for reporting such test scores is 2926 and the Department Code is 5001;
  4. for international applicants whose first language is not English, we require you to take the TOEFL exam.  TOEFL scores must be at a level appropriate for advanced graduate work.  The Institutional Code for reporting TOEFL scores is 2926 and the Department Code is 5001;
  5. provide at least three (3) professional letters of recommendation by individuals who can speak to your leadership skills and leadership potential;
  6. complete a formal application for admission including the application essay;
  7. submit a financial plan form; and
  8. submit payment of a nonrefundable application fee (if payment is by check or money order, must be payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania”).

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Application Essay

The application essay must address the following questions:

  1. State three or four of your core values and describe the key developmental experiences that made them central for you.
  2. What motivates you to want to serve as a leader in the nonprofit or nongovernmental organization (NGO) arena?
  3. What do you hope to gain from being a student in this program?
  4. How do you think the University of Pennsylvania can best help you become a leader who is skilled, focused, collaborative and committed to creating an environment which guarantees human rights, sustainable livelihoods and social justice?

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Transcripts

Transcripts of all academic work completed at the baccalaureate/undergraduate level and beyond, whether or not for credit or a degree, are required.  If sent directly to the School of Social Policy & Practice, please have them sent to the following:

Office of Admissions
School of Social Policy & Practice
University of Pennsylvania
3701 Locust Walk
The Caster Building, 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6214

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Interviews

Interviews are by invitation upon a complete review of the application.  Interviews are conducted by the Associate Director of the Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program and may include a member of the NPL faculty.  Interviews can be either in person, here on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, or by telephone (to accommodate applicants who live a distance from Philadelphia, PA).  Either interview option carries equal weight in the admission process.  No applicant is admitted without an interview.

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Application Deadline

Highest consideration will be given to those applications completed and ready for review by April 15th. It is strongly encouraged that applicants interested in the Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program submit their applications as early as possible due to the small number of students admitted each year.

Applications will be accepted and considered AFTER April 15th if there are any open slots to be filled in the program. Admission to the Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program is done on a rolling basis until a class of 25 highly qualified students is admitted and students have paid a nonrefundable deposit of $250.00.

Any questions with respect to the application process, contact Eric Ashton, Associate Director of the Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program at either (215) 898-1857 or ashtoned@sp2.upenn.edu.

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Application Fee

The application fee for Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program is currently $65.00.  It is the same whether you submit an on-line or paper application.

If you submit a check or money order as payment for the application fee, have the check/money order payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.”  You also have the option of making payment through a major credit card.

Applicants from outside the United States must make payment either by U.S. check or international check drawn on a bank; international postal money order; or through a major credit card.  Again, the check or money order must be payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.”

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