Admission is granted only to those with high promise for success in graduate study. Potential may be demonstrated by previous schooling, test scores on the GRE, letters of recommendation, work experience, and leadership experience.

If the student chooses to submit GRE scores, then the student must achieve the minimum Academic Index required for regular admission. The Index score is based on the following:

GPA x Average GRE Score [(Verbal + Quantitative)/2] = 1350 AND a minimum of 4.0 on Analytical Writing.

If the student chooses not to take the GRE, the student must submit a writing sample. The required writing sample consists of a persuasive essay on "Why Politics Matter," and should be 500 words in length. The essay will be scored using criteria of completeness, coherence and analytic ability. Each criterion is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with a 5 being the highest score. A minimally acceptable score for admission is 10 points out of a total of 15 possible. Scores below 10 points are unacceptable.

An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above (final two years) and a 3.0 in the undergraduate major are required, as are letters of recommendation. St. Mary's undergraduates are not required to submit letters of recommendation. Students applying who already possess a Master Degree from another institution are not required to submit GRE scores or a writing sample. Only an official transcript with the degree appended, and letters of recommendation from faculty are needed for students who possess a Masters Degree.

Conditional status may be considered for those with less than the minimum index score, provided letters of recommendation, work experience, and leadership experience are favorable.