REECA Admissions FAQ

Your statement of purpose (maximum 1,000 words) should convey to the reader your motivation and preparation for the program, as well as why the program is a good fit for your academic and professional goals. The statement of purpose is the one place in the application where you can express yourself as an individual and reveal your personality. Take advantage of that and let readers get to know you!

The best letters of recommendation come from faculty who know you well and who can convey to the selection committee their assessment of your potential for success in a rigorous program of study. Avoid the temptation to include letters of reference from prominent individuals who are not able to offer specifics about your abilities. Remember that the selection committee is primarily concerned with identifying applicants who will succeed academically in a demanding graduate program.

Prepare your recommenders so they can write the best possible letter of support for you. Be sure that they know what the REECA program requires and why you want to pursue a master’s degree. You may wish to provide your recommenders with a copy of your statement of purpose, your resume, undergraduate transcript, and a program description. Think holistically about the picture the rest of your application conveys, and whether your recommender may be able to fill in any gaps that you identify.

Yes, but be sure you have a specific reason for doing so. If three references have already established that you are an excellent student, you don’t need another one re-stating that fact. However, if you have work experience that demonstrates your potential for post-graduation success in a relevant field, by all means, include a letter of reference from your supervisor. Most applicants are well-served by three letters of reference. If you feel inclined to submit additional letters of reference, think carefully about why you are doing so. Large numbers of letters may distract from the rest of your application.

No. GRE scores are one component of your application, and they are weighed in combination with your undergraduate transcript, your statement of purpose, and your letters of recommendation. Low GRE scores may prompt reviewers to consider whether they are consistent with the rest of your application. If they are viewed as an aberration from an otherwise strong record, their negative impact will be reduced. By the same token, low GRE scores that are in keeping with weaknesses in other areas of the application may reinforce an overall lower rating. To give you an idea of typical GRE scores, over the past ten years, GRE scores of enrolled REECA students (the average of Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing percentile scores) have ranged from 50-95% with the average being 75%. Average GRE scores are 73% Analytical Writing, 66% Quantitative, and 90% Verbal. Median GRE scores are 84% Analytical Writing, 69% Quantitative, and 95% Verbal.

In a typical year we issue approximately ten offers of admission to enroll a target cohort of eight students.

The REECA application requires a sample of  academic writing, preferably on a topic related to the field. Please limit your writing sample to 10-15 pages, double-spaced. If you would like to submit an excerpt or chapter from your undergraduate thesis, be sure to provide the context, for example, by including the table of contents and abstract of the longer work.

We welcome your application, but if your language preparation proves to be insufficient, you will be required to take extra coursework to compensate. Russian language study below Harvard’s third-year level (Russian 101) is not counted toward the REECA degree. If you place into first- or second-year Russian (Russian A or B), you will have to prioritize language study and make up any missed credits. This may delay your graduation from the program. Intensive Russian language study during the summer before enrollment is an excellent way to prepare for enrollment. US citizens and permanent residents enrolling in the REECA program may be eligible for a Harvard Summer FLAS Fellowship for intensive language study during the summer prior to starting the degree.

Financial aid is awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Unfortunately, our resources are not sufficient to meet the full financial need of all our students. Therefore, we strongly encourage all applicants to seek outside sources of funding.

All students, regardless of citizenship, are eligible for Harvard and Davis Center grants, which may be renewed at the same level for a second year of study if the student is making satisfactory progress toward the degree.

Official offers of admission are issued by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and are posted to your online admissions account.  Please login to your application in late February or early March to check for updates.

You may pursue the study of non-Russian regions to the extent that course offerings and faculty availability permit. All REECA students are expected to demonstrate a high level proficiency in Russian or (by petition) a regularly taught non-Russian language of the region.

Graduates of the REECA program pursue a variety of careers in government, NGO’s, the private sector, and academia. Common professional fields include: intelligence analysis, diplomacy, development, promotion of civil society, cultural and educational exchange, law, international business, consulting, and investment banking.