How to Apply

Successful applicants will have the following characteristics:

• Civic-minded and committed to public service: Uses their voice and time to lift up those around them. Actively engages in voting, volunteering, and has the capacity to lead toward meaningful change.
• Significant, meaningful experience: Has a strong track record of success in their career or personal endeavors, showing readiness to take on larger leadership roles.
• Can apply what they learn in the program: Have clearly defined goals for how they will utilize the education in the next one to three years. This may include running for office or staffing a campaign during the 2026, 2027, or 2028 election cycles. If you plan to run for office in 2025, this program is likely not a good fit for you, due to the time commitment.
• Skilled communicator: Inspires those around them through their communication skills, authenticity, and vision.

Applicants need to provide:

Three application materials:

• A current résumé or CV highlighting relevant experience
• One letter of recommendation
• Three application essays (prompts below):
   

1. Why are you applying to the LBJ Women's Campaign School? Tell us a story about why you care about being in public life or working in politics. This response can be written or be submitted via a one-minute video. (2,500 characters)
    
2. Upon completion, how do you plan to use your Campaign School experience? This is your opportunity to share what office you plan to run for or campaign you plan to manage. Please also share your long-term political ambitions. (2,000 characters)
    
3. At the LBJ Women's Campaign School, we value diversity of all kinds (geographic, ideological, race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, age, socioeconomic status, and many others). Please share with us anything in your background or life experiences that has shaped your perspectives and your desire to entire the political arena. (1,000 characters)

All applicants must complete their application here. All application materials, including a CV, three short essay questions, and a letter of recommendation, are submitted online.

Round 1 applications (priority funding) are due Dec. 16, 2024. Round 2 applications (final round) are due Feb. 10, 2025.

Recommendation letters should come from individuals who can speak to your professional accomplishments and potential for growth as a campaign worker or candidate. Your recommender will receive an email from the UT Admissions system with a link to submit their letter. You can monitor the status of your recommendation through the UT admissions portal.

You can prepare your recommender by sharing with them the following questions:

1. In what capacity do you know the applicant? (300 characters)
    
2. What would make this applicant an excellent candidate or campaign manager? (1,000 characters)
    
3. Our program is designed to build the skills necessary to run for office or manage campaigns. With this in mind, what aspect of the applicant's leadership needs the most improvement and why? (1,000 characters)

Letters of recommendation will also include a multiple-choice section rating the applicant's public service, leadership, and communication skills. If your recommender would like to include their own written and signed letter, there will be an option to upload it online.

Yes, current candidates and elected officials are welcome to apply to the program. However, we are unable to provide philanthropic funding to subsidize their participation. As a result, current candidates and elected officials are responsible for the full tuition amount of $5,000.