Masters in Environmental Data Science

Letters of recommendation help admissions committee members understand how others perceive the applicant. Since graduate school requires successful performance in rigorous academic courses as well as applied research, it is helpful to the admissions committee if applicants select at least one former university-level instructor and one former employer to provide letters of recommendation. It is important to select references who know the applicant well and can write about their intellectual ability, imagination/creativity, oral expression, and writing ability.

In your Personal Achievements/Contributions, please describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that you feel are important in evaluating your application for graduate study. This is your chance to describe if you have experienced economic challenges or any unusual or varied life experiences that might contribute to the diversity of the graduate student population. Examples include but are not limited to the following: lived experience as part of an under-represented group, being financially responsible for family members or dependents, having to work significant hours during undergraduate schooling, coming from a family background of limited income, speaking multiple languages, or living in bi-cultural communities. You may also include any academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal, or educational problems as they affect under-served segments of society, or if you have intentions to use your graduate degree toward serving disadvantaged individuals or populations. It may also be a good opportunity to address any discrepancy in your application (e.g. low grades or gaps in your resume). If you wish, you may discuss any discrepancy in the Personal Achievements/Contributions essay to help the admissions committee better understand what circumstances might have affected your academic or professional performance at the time. If you have experienced any challenges related to COVID-19, this section would be an appropriate place to indicate them. Please explain how you’ve addressed the issue(s) and why you are prepared now to be successful in a rigorous graduate school program.

While work experience is not a requirement for admission, it is highly valued and significantly strengthens your application. Although professional experience in the environmental field suggests that your goals are well-matched to the Bren School, we also highly value experience in other professional settings provided you have an environmental background through other means, such as coursework. If your experience is in an area that is not related to environmental science, make sure to provide an explanation in your Statement of Purpose that clearly conveys how the Master of Environmental Data Science will help you pursue an environmentally-related career path. Please include all relevant academic, work, volunteer, or leadership experience. Formatting style (e.g., line spacing, typeface, and font size) is up to your discretion.

The Statement of Purpose essay is your chance to explain why you want to attend a graduate program and earn a MEDS degree from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara. You should include your specific interest in applying data science to environmental issues and how it relates to your ambitions. Explain how your past experiences have prepared you for a rigorous graduate program and how the MEDS program will help you achieve your professional goals. Please review the UCSB Graduate Division’s statement prompts before applying.

1- TOEFL/IELTS 2- GRE scores* Please note the GRE scores requirement has been waived in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bren School does not require a subject test for its applicants. The Bren School does not accept scores from other exams, such as the GMAT, in lieu of the GRE.