CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Application Checklist

Submission Deadline: January 2, 2009

• CUNY Graduate Center Online Application including:
  • Personal Statement
    In 1,000 words or fewer, tell us about your personal background, professional interests, strengths and perceived weaknesses, and what you hope to gain from studying at CUNY's Graduate School of Journalism.
  • Signature Page
    This form is the last step in the on-line application, and it is made available to you once you submit the application. It must be downloaded and mailed with your supporting materials.

Supporting Materials

Supporting materials should be mailed in one envelope along with the signature page and should be post-marked on or before January 2, 2009:

• Academic Transcripts
  Please forward the transcript request form to all academic institutions attended even if you did not enroll in courses in your field.
• Three Letters of Recommendation
  Please forward the recommendation request form to three recommenders. They will need to submit this form, along with their letter of recommendation in the same envelope. The envelope should be sealed and signed by the recommender across the back flap. Recommenders can also mail letters directly to the Graduate Center. Your recommenders may include professors, editors and employers who can appraise your academic and professional achievements and can speak to your journalistic potential.
• Current One-Page Resume
• Three Work Samples
  A minimum of three work samples must be submitted, two of these must be writing samples. These can include published news clips, academic papers, or unpublished writing (a maximum of five pages for each written work.) One of the three required samples can be an audio/visual file on CD/DVD or tape, a photographic portfolio, a blog or Web site. Work samples must be clearly labeled with your name and date of birth and will not be returned. If possible, please scan your work samples and send them by email to admissions@gc.cuny.edu
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
  To schedule a test date, call 800-GRE-CALL or visit http://www.gre.org. Scores should be sent to CUNY’s Graduate Center, Code 2113. Because it takes about 15 days for scores to reach us, we require that you take the test on or before December 15, 2008.
• Application Fee ($65)
  Payments can be made with a credit card or by check payable to: The Graduate Center. (Please note candidates to the Journalism School should disregard the $125 application fee listed on the Graduate Center's website.)

International Applicants

International applicants should submit original post-secondary documents. If you attended an institution where the language of instruction is not English, all documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Documents cannot be returned. Recommendation letters written in languages other than English must also be translated by certified English translation services. You should provide translations of work samples written in languages other than English.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  International applicants must take the TOEFL in addition to the GRE. Please note the minimum score requirement on the TOEFL Computer-Based Test (CBT) is 260, and the Internet-Based Test (iBT) is 105. To schedule a test date, call 1-800-GO-TOEFL or visit http://www.toefl.org. International applicants are required to take the TOEFL on or before December 15, 2008.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Forms for applicants who wish to be considered for federal loans and/or need-based scholarships:

• CUNY Application for Financial Assistance
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  FAFSA must be filed with the U.S. Department of Education on or before March 1, 2009.
• Federal Direct Loan Application is needed if you are applying for federal loans. The 2009-2010 application will become available in Spring 2009.