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1) How do I apply to the Latin American Studies Program
at UCSD?
2) What are the specific admissions requirements of
the Latin American Studies Program?
3) When is the admissions deadline?
4) Which specializations does your program offer?
5) How can I apply to a specialization?
6) Can I begin the Program at a time other than in the
Fall?
7) What do you look for in applicants to your program?
8) What if I didn't study Latin American issues as an
undergrad?
9) What is the GRE code for the Latin American Studies
program?
10) What is the GRE code for UCSD?
11) What is the average GRE score of applicants?
12) What is the average GPA of applicants?
13) What is the minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL
test?
14) What are the general guidelines for the Statement
of Purpose?
15) How many students apply and how many are accepted?
16) Which transcripts do I need to send?
17) How can I fulfill the language proficiency requirement?
18) Must I complete a Master's thesis or a comprehensive
exam to complete the degree?
19) What do most graduates do with an M.A. in Latin American
Studies from UCSD?
How do I apply to the Latin American Studies Program at UCSD?
In order to apply for the Program you need to:
- Fill out an online application at
http://graduateapp.ucsd.edu/
- Please note: Letters of recommendation are no longer accepted in paper
form. They must be submitted online with your application. Please read
the instructions on the graduate application online if you have questions
about this process.
- Be sure to mark the major code LA76 for Latin American Studies.
- If you are applying to more than one program at UCSD, you only have to
pay one application fee but you must submit an individual application to
each department that you are applying to. If you need to request a fee
waiver for this reason, please contact us at (858)534-7967.
- Please visit the following website for general guidelines:
http://ogs.ucsd.edu/admissions/programs/index.asp
What are the specific admissions requirements of the Latin American Studies
Program?
We request a writing sample in English that is no longer than 20 pages. This sample is in addition
to the statement of purpose and should preferably be from undergraduate work;
however we accept anything that is testament to your writing capability. If possible,
the sample should cover an issue related to Latin America.
You should submit the writing sample via regular mail.
When is the admissions deadline?
The deadline for Fall 2008 admission is Thursday, January 10, 2008
Which specializations does your program offer?
- Cultural Studies
- Gender Studies
- History
- International Migration
- Sociology
How can I apply to a specialization?
You apply by tailoring your statement of purpose to that particular specialization. You also select it in the drop down menu. Remember that the statement of purpose should be no longer that 1-2 pages or 800 words.
Can I begin the program at a time other than in the Fall?
No. Our program only accepts applicants for Fall admission each year.
What do you look for in applicants to your
program?
The Latin American Studies Program at UCSD looks at a variety of
factors when evaluating applicants for our program. Some factors
that may be considered are: dedication to the field, experience
in Latin America, research experience, previous academic performance,
and academic potential. Our
Admissions Committee gives equal weight to every part of your application
during the evaluation of your application.
What if I didn't study Latin American issues
as an undergrad?
Our students come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are
Biology, Theatre, or even Psychology majors as undergrads. These
students simply developed an interest in Latin America after their
undergraduate education when they began careers or traveled around
the world.
What is the GRE code for the Latin American
Studies program?
When taking the GREs, please mark "Area Studies-2201"
What is the GRE code for UCSD?
The GRE code for UCSD is 4836. Make sure to send the GRE scores
to this code because there are several universities in San Diego.
Applicants occassionally make the mistake of sending their GRE scores
to the University of San Diego.
What is the average GRE score of applicants?
The Admissions Committee prefers applicants who have GRE scores
over the 50th percentile. Because scores differ at each testing
period, we mainly consider percentile rankings instead of raw scores.
We take the highest of your GRE scores if the test has been taken
multiple times, and we encourage applicants to retake the GRE if
they feel it was not a good indicator of their ability.
What is the average GPA of applicants?
The Admissions Committee prefers applicants who have at least a
3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. We determine your GPA as the higher of your
final two years or your overall college GPA. In addition, international
applicants should be advised that GPA varies across the world. We
require that you professionally translate your transcripts into
English if they are in a different language. We will interpret the
marks based on the committee evaluation process because GPA varies
in each country.
What is the minimum acceptable score for
the TOEFL test?
1. 80 for internet-based test (IBT)
2. 213 for the computer-based test (CBT)
3. 550 for the paper-based test (PBT)
All applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate
education was conducted in a language other than English must take
the TOEFL examination.
What are the general guidelines for the Statement of Purpose?
Statement of Purpose should include the following:
- Your research interests (if you are interested in a concentration
you should also include a short statement explaining your intellectual
and career interests in the field).
- Relevant preparation for graduate study in Latin American Studies
(coursework, research experiences, or field work)
- Career goals after obtaining your M.A.
- Aspects of the UCSD Latin American Studies program that make
us a good match for your main interests and professional goals
- 800 word limit or 1-2 pages.
- Note: We only accept ONLINE statement of purpose
How many students apply and how many are accepted?
Every year, the number of applicants to the LAS Program at UCSD varies. Typically,
we receive about 80 applications. We generally admit about 15% of the total number of applicants.
Which transcripts do I need to send?
You need to send official transcripts of all universities that you have attended, including community colleges. This needs to be done even if you did not complete any kind of degree program. If you are an international student from a non English- speaking country, you must have your transcripts professionally translated and sent to UCSD.
How can I fulfill the language proficiency requirement?
The language proficiency for the M.A. can be fulfilled in 3 ways once you are admitted:
- Taking a test in Spanish, Portuguese or French similar to the Foreign Service
Language Exam and scoring at least a 2+ out of a possible 5.
- Taking an undergraduate upper-division or graduate course in
Spanish, Portuguese or French while at UCSD and getting a note from the Professor
attesting to your language ability.
- Proof that you were educated to the high-school level in a foreign country
where the instruction was in Spanish, Portuguese or French.
Must I complete a Master's thesis or a comprehensive exam to complete the degree?
In order to complete the M.A., a student must complete either a Master's thesis or a
comprehensive exam. In the past 3 years, only 3 students have completed the degree through
a comprehensive exam. Although a student can complete the degree with comprehensive exam,
the thesis option is strongly encouraged for all students because it greatly enhances writing
skills and prepares students for their career field.
What do most graduates do with an M.A. in Latin American Studies from UCSD?
Our graduates pursue a number of different career paths depending on their individual
interests. About half of our graduates go on in academia to pursue a Ph.D., usually in the disciplines
of History, Anthropology, and Sociology. Another quarter of our students pursue careers in the public sector such as teaching, U.S. and foreign government positions, and NGOs. The other quarter of our students
pursue various careers in the private sector, mostly in journalism.
Still not sure? Contact us at (858) 534-7967
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