Student Perspectives
"From the very beginning of the application process, the admissions staff was available, responsive and understanding. Additionally, the Hornstein Program and the Heller School were clearly in constant contact, ensuring clear and accurate information at all times. These two factors made applying to Hornstein as smooth, streamlined and simple as possible. Thank You!"
Elisheva Massel '14
MA/MBA from Australia
“At Brandeis I found the professors with whom I met to be welcoming and interested in me as a prospective student. They were familiar with my CV and letters of recommendation and intent, and knew who I was as an applicant to their program. The staff and faculty members were helpful and kind during my visit. The warmth they showed me and their passion for their field of study and knowledge left me with a really good intuition about Brandeis. I felt as though it was my bashert graduate school.”
Shira Zeliger '09
Dual MA
Admissions
The Hornstein Program enrolls a select group of talented students each year. We consider students who care deeply about the Jewish future, and who have demonstrated leadership capacity and academic accomplishments.
How to Apply
Application Timeline
Applications for Fall 2019 are currently being accepted. The Admissions Committee will begin reviewing completed applications on January 15, 2019 and will continue to receive and consider them on a rolling, first-come-first-served basis until the class is full.
Application Form
Click here to apply electronically to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Please indicate clearly which of our three programs you are applying for: the MBA/MA or MPP/MA in Jewish Professional Leadership, or the dual MA in Jewish Professional Leadership and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Only one application is required to apply for the dual degree programs. The Hornstein application form and material should be submitted through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and will be shared with the other degree program in order to come to a joint decision.
The online application cannot be submitted until you have entered all of the required data and uploaded all of the required attachments. If you don't finish the application, you may return to it at a later date to add information. Upon completion, you will receive an email acknowledgement of your application.
Scholarships and Fellowships
In addition to the generous scholarships and fellowships that the Hornstein Program provides, we strongly encourage all applicants to apply for the Wexner Graduate Fellowship or others, such as JCCA. Please review their sites carefully for application deadlines.
Application Fee
Excluding Brandeis students and alumni; a $75 fee is required of all on-line applicants, $100 for those submitting paper applications. On line applications are strongly preferred. If applying online, provide credit card information when requested. If you must mail a check, it should be made payable to Brandeis University. Be sure that your name appears on the check. Your application will be processed only after payment is received.
Transcript
Written Material
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Statement of Purpose (required for all degree programs): Please upload a 2 to 3-page statement of purpose that describes your career goals. Discuss experiences that have shaped your interests and commitments and how you hope to address these in your professional career
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Writing Sample (required for all degree programs) : Please upload a paper or other piece of work (3-5 pages, typed, double spaced) that demonstrates your ability to think and write articulately.
Three Letters of Recommendation
One letter of recommendation should be from an employer or supervisor and one should be from a professor with whom you have studied. The third may be from another employer or professor, or from a professional of your choice.
The electronic application will ask you to list the names and email addresses of your referees. Each referee will be directed to a secure website to upload a document to your application. Please note that your referees are contacted once you have entered and saved their information. Please notify your referees that they should expect an email instructing them on how to upload their letters of recommendation.
Standardized Tests
Scores must be less than five years old.
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MBA/MA in Jewish Professional Leadership: applicants must submit scores from either the GRE or GMAT.
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MPP/MA in Jewish Professional Leadership: GRE required.
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MA/MA in Jewish Professional Leadership and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies: GRE required.
For more information about the GRE, call 609-771-7670 or go to www.gre.org. The Brandeis code is 3092; no department code is necessary.
For more information about the GMAT, call 609-771-7330, 800-462-8669 or go to www.mba.com. The Brandeis school code is 3097.
Campus Visit and Interview
We encourage applicants, whenever possible, to visit campus, sit in on classes and meet our faculty members and students. A formal interview, preferably at Brandeis, is required and may take place at any time during the application process. Please call the Hornstein Program at 781-736-2990 or e-mail hornstein@brandeis.edu to arrange.
International Students
International applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an English-speaking institution within an English-speaking country must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS), or Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic). Test scores should not be more than two years old.
The GSAS TOEFL school code is 3261. Students who have graduated from a university in the following English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand) are exempt from the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE requirement. Minimum scores for each exam are:
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600 (paper-based TOEFL)
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250 (computer-based TOEFL)
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100 (internet-based TOEFL)
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7 (IELTS)
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68 (PTE)
You may submit a photocopy of your score report to expedite the review of your application, but an official report sent directly from ETS, IELTS or PTE must be received to finalize any offer of admission.
