Transcript: An unofficial transcript. If you are accepted and decide to attend UVA, you will have to submit an official transcript before you start. Personal Statement: A statement of purpose. This should describe your research interests and contain any other information that would help us accurately assess your application. Recommendation Letter: Letters of recommendation. Please note that we require three letters, although GSAS will consider your application complete with only two. Letters from philosophers who have taught you will carry more weight than letters from others. Other Document: A sample of some of your best philosophical work. Ideally, this will be a short, focused paper that displays your philosophical understanding, reasoning, and argumentative skills.