Have each institution where you earned an undergraduate or graduate degree send us your official transcript.

If your transcript is not in English, provide a notarized translation of it.

If you’re enrolled in a degree program when you apply, submit your transcript of the courses you’ve taken to date. Submit your final official transcript once you’ve completed the degree program.

If your degree is from outside of the United States, you will be required to submit a Foreign Academic Credentials Evaluation to demonstrate U.S. bachelor's degree equivalency. A bachelor's degree or U.S. equivalency to a bachelor's degree is required for all graduate programs.  

Evaluation Agencies

Contact one of these agencies to get your credentials evaluated:

• World Education Services 
• Center for Educational Documentation 
• Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. 
• Global Credential Evaluators 

You’ll need a document-by-document evaluation. Exception: Expressive Therapies master's degree programs require a course-by-course evaluation instead.

If you’re submitting a foreign academic credential evaluation, unofficial transcripts are acceptable for your transcript requirement if official transcripts were provided to the evaluation agency. Please note that graduate programs will only accept three-year bachelor’s degrees from member institutions within the Bologna Process. However, certain licensure-track graduate programs may still require a four-year bachelor’s degree, even from a member within the Bologna process, so please check with your admissions counselor before applying.

Include 3 recent recommendations from those you’ve worked with closely in an academic or professional setting.

• At least one of your recommendations should come from a present or former supervisor.
• If you’re in school, or are a recent graduate, one recommendation should come from a professor.
• We don’t accept recommendations written by friends or family, or that were written more 2 years before your application date.

Within your online application form, include the names and emails of the people writing your letters of recommendation. They'll receive an email from you with an electronic recommendation form, and they can upload a letter if they choose.

Our graduate programs require that you write a personal statement. Your written personal statement gives us insight into your motivation, purpose in pursuing a degree program, writing skills, and communication style. It’s an important part of our review process.

Write a 750-1250 word statement (3–5 pages).

Please address all of these areas in your statement:

1. In 1 to 2 paragraphs, explain why you are interested in the Lesley University Master of Social Work (MSW) program. As you describe your interest, please also provide an in-depth discussion of your understanding of the skills and resources needed for advanced graduate study. For example, how you will manage the time, emotional, and cognitive challenges of this program?
2. Discuss the populations or social issues that you would like to address as a professional social worker. If you have a particular reason for this interest, please include this information in your statement.
3. What volunteer, work, role models, or life experiences draw you to social work? How do these influence your interest in this field?
4. Are there any populations with whom you would be uncomfortable working based on factors such as gender, culture, ethnicity, morals, values, or sexual orientation? If so, please explain.
5. What strengths—as a person and as a social work graduate student—do you believe make you a good match for this profession?
6. What are your areas in need of growth, as a person and as a student? Self-reflection, a commitment to personal growth, a willingness to engage with others, and the ability to seek and use constructive feedback are essential qualities for this profession.
7. Is there additional information about you as a candidate for the MSW degree that you would like for the Admissions Committee to consider?
8. Candidates with a GPA of 3.0 or lower must answer the following: Please address why you believe you are academically prepared for the MSW program. Reference your undergraduate transcript or any academic work for which you have submitted a transcript.

Show relevant work, volunteer, or academic experience on your résumé. Please also show all of the languages you speak and your level of proficiency in each one.