"What does it take to get in? It's a difficult question to answer. There has never been a shortage of high quality candidates dedicated to public service, even before applications doubled over the past two years. Because we are one of the most selective professional schools of public policy and international affairs, we do not use a matrix of GRE scores and grade point averages. We evaluate the strengths presented by each applicant: academic accomplishments, commitment to public service, depth of life and work experience, and values added by cultural and ethnic heritages. Merit, demonstrated in these and a variety of other areas, shapes the decision making of the admission committees as each entering class is selected."
— John Templeton, Assistant Dean for Graduate Admissions

"Princeton in the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations" is the unofficial motto of Princeton University and the Woodrow Wilson School. Our graduate programs offer extraordinary preparation for careers in public service, particularly in those areas of the government related to foreign affairs. Whether you have a passion for human rights, immigration issues, health policy, development economics, or foreign policy, you will be engaged in a vibrant community of world-renowned scholars, practitioners, and students.

"The Woodrow Wilson School is an institution with the energy and strength to tackle the most serious issues of the present day, and the vision and experience to prepare the leaders who will shape the public policies of the future. Our graduate programs provide a rigorous education for those with a practical desire to make the world a better place. Our graduate students are an energetic, cross-disciplinary, international community of future leaders."
— Anne-Marie Slaughter, Dean

Admission is based on a variety of factors and the weight given to each one always varies according to the strengths of each individual applicant. In general, we assess your previous academic performance and letters of recommendation to determine your readiness for the School's curriculum. We also evaluate the depth of your commitment to public service and your career goals as evident from your personal statement, professional experience, and volunteer interests.