Introduction

Welcome to this comprehensive course designed to unravel the complexities of the application process for the dual degree program. As we embark on this journey together, it is crucial to understand that your application is a cohesive narrative, not just a collection of isolated elements. Think of it as a mosaic, where each piece contributes to the overall picture of who you are as an applicant, striving to convey your readiness for the dual degree program.

Throughout this course, we will guide you through each application component, emphasizing the importance of their seamless integration. Your application will be evaluated by the admissions jury as a holistic reflection of your qualifications and aspirations.

So, without further delay, let’s dive into the core elements of the dual degree application, equipping you with the knowledge and skills you need to craft a compelling and unified presentation of your candidacy.

✏️ NB :

aux coaché.e.s préparant un double diplôme “Parcoursup”: Lisez le chapitre sur “Le Dossier” au lieu de ce cours.

Module 1: Understanding the Components of Your Dual Degree Application

Before we delve into each application component in detail, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the key elements typically required in dual degree applications. While we will provide insights and tips for preparing each component, it’s advisable to refer to your specific dual degree program’s website for precise application requirements. Keep in mind that not all components may be relevant to your application, so feel free to skip sections that don’t apply to your circumstances.

Exercise 1:

To kickstart your application journey, follow these steps:

Visit your dedicated dual degree program’s website and carefully review the application materials and requirements. Take note of each component and the associated deadlines.

Organize your application process by setting up reminders on your phone or Google Calendar. Create alerts for key deadlines, such as two weeks, one week, and two days before the submission date, to ensure you stay on track.

Establish a structured digital workspace by creating a Google Drive folder dedicated to your application. This folder will serve as a centralized hub for storing all your application materials.

If your application includes essay questions or prompts, copy and paste them into a separate document within your Google Drive. This document will serve as the starting point for crafting your initial drafts.

Sign up on your dual degree application portal, if applicable, to gain access to the submission platform and any additional resources provided by the program.

By completing these steps, you’ll establish a solid foundation for the application process, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of the requirements and a well-organized system for preparing and submitting your materials.

Module 2: Transcripts & academic trajectory

As an academic program, your dual degree will evaluate your academic trajectory with careful consideration. Maintaining a strong academic record throughout high school is advantageous, but don’t be discouraged if your grades aren’t perfect. The admissions jury takes a holistic view of your academic profile, considering not only your grades but also your class rank, academic progress, classroom leadership, and teacher recommendations.

In this section, we will explore the specific aspects of your academic trajectory that the admissions committee is interested in and provide guidance on how to optimize the way you present this information in your application.

Understanding What the Jury Is Looking For

Your dual degree admission committee will generally focus on your transcripts from the past two to three years. Sciences Po emphasizes that this review involves a “comprehensive and in-depth assessment of your high school journey.” This means a detailed analysis of your grades, teacher evaluations, academic progression, and course choices. While your average grade is important, other factors such as your class rank, your role in the class (achieving 90% with concerns about participation or interest isn’t necessarily better than a 75% with outstanding teacher feedback), and your dedication to specific subjects are equally significant.

Why the Jury Looks at Your Academic Performance

Taking these factors into consideration allows the jury to identify several key traits in applicants. Firstly, they seek proactive students whose teacher evaluations reflect active participation, quality work, and strong teamwork skills. Secondly, they are interested in your personal journey and your ability to progress academically. Significant improvement between the first and final year or a remarkable boost in a particular subject demonstrates your motivation and drive. It’s important to note that, conceptually, improving from a 70% to a 90% in history can be as valuable as maintaining an 80% average throughout the year.

The admissions committee also scrutinizes your course choices to find students whose high school journey already demonstrates an interest in the humanities. Subjects such as history, economics, geopolitics, and other law-related courses are particularly relevant.

However, there’s no need for hard science enthusiasts to be concerned. There is a place for you as a dual degree student, and here are two compelling reasons why. Firstly, Sciences Po dual degree programs explicitly value “excellence, regardless of the chosen path.” This means that being an exceptional mathematician or physicist is just as admirable as excelling in other fields. The key is to effectively articulate why you are transitioning from the world of test tubes to the realm of essays, showcasing your ability to bridge these seemingly disparate disciplines. Secondly, Sciences Po dual degree admissions committees are actively seeking open-minded and inquisitive students. This spirit of curiosity transcends the boundaries of traditional humanities. Admissions teams highly value well-rounded profiles—individuals who can be equally passionate about complex geopolitics, such as water resources, as they are about intricate optical systems. For those pursuing fields like sociology and economics, it’s essential not to abandon mathematics and hard sciences. Even if you encounter challenges in these subjects, aim to demonstrate a genuine appetite for learning, intellectual curiosity, and a resilient mindset. These qualities will convey to the jury your determination and adaptability when faced with academic difficulties.

How to Approach This Section

Grading systems and curriculums can vary across academic systems. It’s essential to check your dual degree program’s policy on translating grades and start the process early. Transcribing grades correctly can be challenging, so make sure you have ample time to reach out to admission advisors or alumni if you have any questions.

If your academic system includes professors’ comments in transcripts, consider meeting with your professors to explain that their comments will carry weight in your admissions decision. Ask them for advice on improving their comments on your academic records.

Additionally, take advantage of any remarks and comments boxes if your dual degree application platform provides them. These boxes can be a valuable tool for explaining inconsistencies or lower-than-expected grades to the jury if necessary. It’s important to note that these boxes are optional, and the admissions jury will not view it negatively if they are left blank.

Exercise 2:

To assess your strengths and weaknesses in high school, reflect on the following questions:

What is your strongest class in high school, and why? Does it seem easier to you, or have you worked harder on it?
What is your weakest class in high school, and why? Does it seem more difficult, or have you put in less effort?
Which classes in high school do you enjoy the most, and why? Do these align with the subjects where you have the best grades?
Examine your transcripts from the past two years. Do you notice significant improvement or decline in specific classes or subjects? What do you believe contributed to these changes?
Where do you rank in terms of the overall class average, and why? Are you attending a large or small school? Do you have any special options in your class?

Take time to consider your teachers’ and classmates’ perceptions of you. Are you more introverted or extroverted? Are you a generalist or a specialist?

Based on your answers to these questions, identify the strengths and weaknesses of your academic application. Are there subjects or aspects where you need to make progress? Do you need to explain any discrepancies in your grades to the admissions committee?

Module 3: Language Level Requirements

Language proficiency requirements are a crucial aspect of dual degree applications. The admissions committee wants to ensure that you have the language skills necessary to excel in classes, engage in discussions, and complete assignments in the language of instruction. If you are not a native speaker and have not exclusively studied in the required language for the past few years, most dual degree programs typically mandate a language proficiency level of C1 or higher.

To meet these requirements, you will likely need to take a standardized language proficiency test. However, it’s essential to carefully review which tests are accepted by your specific dual degree program. Plan well in advance and schedule your test with enough time for potential retakes, considering unexpected circumstances. Even if you are already proficient in the language, prepare by taking timed practice tests, as test formats and requirements can be very specific. If you lack confidence in your language skills, allocate time to improve your reading, listening, speaking, and writing abilities. Study vocabulary and grammar specific to the test, and consider enrolling in dedicated courses if necessary (The Prep offers one for the IELTS). Completing several practice tests can help you improve your scores, with a focus on your weakest areas.

Additionally, some dual degree programs may require fluency in languages, such as French. Ensure you understand the language requirements and follow a similar preparation process for those languages. Most application portals allow you to enter test scores for multiple languages, so consider taking language tests to demonstrate fluency in languages relevant to your dual degree program or Sciences Po campus.

Module 4: Personal Statement

The personal statement is the cornerstone of your dual degree application. While we will delve deeper into crafting the perfect personal statement in a later chapter, it’s crucial to understand its role in connection with other parts of your application.

Understanding the Jury’s Perspective

Through your personal statement, the admissions committee aims to gain insight into who you are as an individual, how you think, and what drives you beyond your academic achievements. This is an opportunity to reveal the more human side of yourself that cannot be fully understood through grades and transcripts. Essentially, the committee wants to know everything: who you are, why you are motivated to pursue a dual degree, and what you plan to accomplish if accepted. They will evaluate the coherence of your profile and the strength of your application. In other words, they want to hear your unique story and understand the reasons behind your decision to apply for a dual degree.

How to Approach It

While we’ll provide in-depth guidance on writing your personal statement later, there are three essential elements to succeeding in this crucial component: self-awareness, understanding the dual degree program, and establishing a logical connection between the two.

To accomplish this, we recommend revisiting introspection by reviewing your notes and engaging in guided exercises. Examine the educational framework offered by your dual degree program and solidify your “common thread.” Coherence is key.

Your “common thread” is your story, the essence of what you want to convey about yourself to the dual degree admissions committee. It doesn’t need to be dazzling or extraordinary, but it must be uniquely personal. Once you’ve identified your “common thread,” your “cement,” it will be easier to articulate your arguments and examples, your “bricks.”

💡 Illustration

Consider the following “common thread”:

“I was raised by two women at a time when same-sex marriage and adoption by homosexual couples were still illegal. This experience helped me understand the impact of legislation on various minorities and motivated my desire to work in the field of human rights to combat gender inequalities and sexual violence.”

Now, think about experiences and examples that align with this “common thread”:

– Comparative research work with Amnesty International on adoption and reproductive rights of same-sex couples in Western countries.

– Volunteering for “Nous Toutes” in sexual violence prevention.

– Internship at the San Francisco Superior Court, specializing in family law.

While all of your experiences don’t have to fit perfectly with your “common thread”, this concept helps you think about the coherence of your application.

Exercise 3:

In this exercise, we’ll delve into identifying your unique “common thread.” This is the unifying element that ties together your experiences and motivations, creating a cohesive narrative for your dual degree application. Think of it as the essence of who you are and what has led you to this point. Imagine you have just five minutes to introduce yourself to someone – what would you want them to know about you?

Self-Reflection: Start by pondering your values, significant life experiences, or strong interests. What drives you? What aspects of your life have shaped your aspirations?

Brainstorming: Jot down ideas as they come to you. Remember, this exercise is about conciseness, so aim to capture the core of who you are and what fuels your passion.

No Pressure: Don’t stress if you can’t immediately pinpoint a solid common thread. You’ll have time to refine your thoughts in the coming weeks.

Seek Input: Share your common thread ideas with people who know you well, such as friends and family. They may provide valuable insights and perspectives that can enhance your reflection.

The goal is to distill your essence into a clear and compelling narrative that will resonate with the admissions committee. Your common thread will be the guiding theme that connects all aspects of your application and showcases your unique identity and purpose.

Module 5: Supplementary Questions

Not all dual degree applications include supplementary questions or supplemental essays. However, when they do, these questions provide an opportunity to delve into specific details that may not have been covered in your personal statement.

The key is not to reiterate what you’ve already mentioned in your personal statement but to demonstrate your ideas through concrete examples or by showcasing your approach to a specific question. If you have strong opinions or compelling stories to share, this is the time to do so. Keep in mind that supplemental questions are typically shorter than your personal statement, so focus on one idea or example and explore it thoroughly.

Module 6: CV/Resume

Your CV is a concise and organized summary of your academic and extracurricular achievements. It should ideally fit onto one page and be divided into sections such as Education, Volunteering & Community Service, Work Experience, Skills & Other Interests, and Awards & Recognition.

To make your CV effective, be specific about the goals you achieved, provide numerical details when possible, and use action verbs to describe your activities.

💡 Illustration

Your CV should complement and reinforce the information presented in other parts of your application.

Module 7: Letters of Recommendation – The Other Side of the Mirror

Letters of recommendation provide an additional perspective on your application, offering insights into your academic and personal strengths. They are a crucial component of your application and should align with the narrative you’ve presented in your personal statement.

Think strategically about what you want to demonstrate through these letters. Consider what is most important to your application and what you want the admissions committee to have additional evidence of. If there are any weaknesses in your application that your professors can address, communicate these to them to ensure the letters of recommendation reinforce your candidacy.

Remember that these letters should come from individuals who know you well and can provide specific examples of your abilities and character. Discuss your aspirations and experiences with your recommenders to help them write compelling and tailored letters.

We will delve further into letters of recommendation in a subsequent chapter, but here are some things to keep in mind at this stage:

Inform Recommenders in Advance: Reach out to your potential recommenders well in advance. We recommend providing them with at least a month’s notice, but initiating this conversation even earlier is advisable. This allows them ample time to consider your request and craft thoughtful letters.

Language Barriers and Translations: If your chosen professors are not native English speakers, be sensitive to potential language barriers. In such cases, consider discussing the possibility of having the letter translated or offer assistance in refining the language if needed.

Contingency Planning: While you may have specific individuals in mind for recommendation letters, it’s wise to think about alternatives in case your initial choices are unable to provide the letters. Life can be unpredictable, and having backup options ensures that your application process remains on track.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these components of the dual degree application are essential in presenting a comprehensive and compelling case for your candidacy. Understanding the role of each element, refining your personal narrative, and seeking coherence across all components are key steps in crafting a successful application. As we proceed through this course, we will provide detailed guidance on how to tackle each of these elements effectively.