Apply to Graduate Leadership

Ready to apply?

Congratulations! The link below will allow you to apply online to both the M.A. in Leadership and the Ed.S. in Leadership:

ONLINE APPLICATION

What is the difference between the M.A. in Leadership and Ed.S. in Leadership?

• The M.A. in Leadership is for someone who earned a B.A. or B.S. degree.
• The Ed.S. application is for someone who already earned a master's degree and is seeking an advanced degree.

A list of requirements and more detailed instructions are included in the application. 

Once all of your application materials have been submitted, it will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Upon acceptance, you will receive an acceptance email followed by a mailed letter and acceptance packet.

Questions?
Contact us at [email protected] or 978.867.4113.

Application Instructions

These instructions have been prepared as a guide for completing Gordon's Graduate Leadership program application. Please use the links below for specific information.

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General Information

As you complete your application, please keep in mind the following Gordon Admissions policies:

• Gordon expects that the work contained in your application, including the essay and all accompanying materials, is completely accurate and exclusively your own. Content should not be provided by outside sources, such as consultants.
   
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs) are to be completed by the recommender and no one else. Drafting, writing or translating your own reference, even if asked to do so by your recommender, is inappropriate. Applicants are expected to inform recommenders of this policy.
   
• All applications and supplemental material submitted become the property of Gordon College and cannot be returned.
   
• If you experience technical problems with the application or have any questions, please contact the Graduate Leadership office at [email protected].
   
• Gordon reserves the right to verify all information and references contained within your application. Gordon further reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission or terminate a student’s enrollment should it discover that any misrepresentation or omission occurred in the application process, or if it learns that you have engaged in behavior prior to matriculation that indicates a lack of judgment or integrity. In some cases, Gordon may require an applicant to provide additional verification of the information and documents submitted as part of his or her application and/or may require authorization for the release of such information. If an applicant is unable or unwilling to do so, Gordon reserves the right to cease consideration of the application, to withdraw any offer of admission already made, and/or to terminate a student’s enrollment.

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Degree Requirements

Students entering in Gordon’s Graduate Leadership program are required to hold a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an equivalent degree from a foreign country (in some cases, this is a three-year degree).

If you submit your application prior to the conferral of your bachelor's degree or equivalent, we will accept and evaluate your application. If an offer of admission is made, it will be contingent upon receiving your degree conferral prior to enrollment.

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Essay

The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest you be yourself as you explain your purpose in applying for the Graduate Leadership program.

The essay question provides you with an opportunity to help the Admissions Committee gain greater insight about you as a potential member of the Gordon community. We do not allow substitution or replacement of an essay response after an application has been submitted. Please be clear, succinct, forthright, and thoughtful in your response. Additionally, we ask that you share what you truly feel, as opposed to writing what you think the Admissions Committee would like to read. There are no right or wrong answers. Gordon expects that the work contained in the essay is completely accurate and exclusively your own. Use of professional essay writing services violates Gordon’s admissions policies.

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Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

You should request references from three people:

• Two who speak to your ability to complete work at the graduate level.
• One who speaks to your character.

References should be capable of commenting on your professional, leadership, and intellectual capabilities. We have found that the most useful evaluations are those from people who are able to speak with certainty about your leadership, maturity, team orientation, communication skills, intellectual ability, and interpersonal skills. We prefer that you submit LORs from people who know you well and are in a position to judge your professional performance and leadership, such as your direct supervisor. 

Getting an independent perspective about your qualifications from a third party is very valuable to the Admissions Committee, therefore the LORs are to be completed by the recommender and no one else. Drafting, writing, or translating your own reference, even if asked to do so by your recommender, is a violation of the terms of our application process and could result in rescission of our offer of admission or termination of a student’s enrollment. Applicants are expected to inform recommenders of this policy.

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Resume / CV

Please email us a one-page resume in PDF format. Send it to [email protected] with the subject line “Resume for Graduate Leadership applicant [insert name]”.

We are interested in your functional job skills, breadth and depth of experience, demonstrated leadership and management skills, and your potential for growth. We are more concerned with what you have learned in your positions than we are with the length of time you’ve been in the workplace.

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Transcripts

Transcripts of all academic work completed at the baccalaureate/undergraduate level and beyond, whether or not for credit or a degree, are required.

You will be required to submit official academic transcripts (not diplomas) issued by the institution(s) from which you obtained your undergraduate (bachelor’s or first) degree and any advanced/graduate degrees. If you attended institutions other than those from which your degrees were granted, you will be required to submit your academic transcripts from these institutions too (i.e. transfer coursework, domestic or study-abroad programs, post-graduate non-degree coursework, etc.).

If your official transcript is not in English, you must make arrangements to have all academic records translated by World Education Services (WES) and sent to Gordon with the originals. For information on how to utilize WES’ credential evaluation, please visit www.wes.org.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission or terminate a student’s enrollment should any misrepresentation or omission occur.

Please direct Transcripts to:

Gordon College
Graduate Leadership
255 Grapevine Road
Wenham, MA 01984

For electronic transcripts using Parchment or other e-transcript services, please select "enter recipient manually" and direct the transcript to [email protected].

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Application Fee

Gordon requires each applicant to submit a non-refundable application fee of $75, paid by credit card. The application fee is waived for students and alums of partner schools as well as U.S. military personnel past and present. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions about payment.

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Contact Information

If you have additional questions regarding the application process, please email the Graduate Leadership office at [email protected].