Archive for December 2011

A friendly reminder…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year has been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It’s a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.  Usually “help others” and “learn something new” make the list of things to accomplish in the new year — what better way to achieve those goals than to be at SIPA.  Our mission is to empower people to serve the greater public interest so as a student here; you will learn new skills that will prepare you to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be considered for 2012 admission.  Learn more about our programs at:  www.sipa.columbia.edu.  Our application deadline for our two-year MIA/MPA program is this Thursday, January 5th.  Our MPA-DP application deadline is Friday, January 20th.  Please keep in mind that all materials must be received by the due date.   You can check online if we received documents you have submitted.

As always, feel free to contact the Office of Admission with any questions or concerns.

Good luck everyone!

Money for your studies

If you’re interested in pursuing a degree at SIPA, don’t let financial concerns be an obstacle to your goals.  The majority of SIPA students receive some type of financial assistance, including institutionally-funded Fellowships and Scholarships, student loans, and on-campus Work Study jobs.  Other students are supported by their employers or other third parties…so for many of our students, there are a number of financing options available.

Fellowships

SIPA fellowships provide students with varying combinations of tuition assistance (much like a grant or scholarship), stipends for living expenses, and part-time jobs on campus.  Fellowships are merit-based and competitive, and all you need to do is complete the Fellowship section of the SIPA Application for Admission and you’ll be considered (some programs have additional requirements, which are identified on the application).   If you haven’t completed your application yet, visit the SIPA Admissions page and click on either “Online Application” or “Download Application” to review; essays will be required, so it’s time to write!   If you are awarded a Fellowship, you must enroll for a full-time course load.

Whether you’re a domestic or international student, you can apply for a SIPA Fellowship or Scholarship.  For more information on these awards, click here.

Student Loans

Many long-term financing options are available in the form of loans from the Federal government and various private sources (the Federal loans typically offer better rates and terms).  Most loans are only available to domestic students.  To be considered, domestic students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, at www.fafsa.gov.  The information collected on the FAFSA is used by Financial Aid staff to determine your eligibility for various types of loans.  We will notify you about what types of Federal student loans you qualify for and the amount.

There are also privately funded student loans available to use to supplement Federal student loans or in place of Federal loans for students who don’t qualify (including some for international students, with co-borrowers).  Most are credit-based.  For more information on private loans, click here.

Work-Study Employment

If you’re a domestic student, you might also qualify for a part-time position on campus under the Federal Work-Study program.  Click here for more information.

 

You’ll probably have questions about financing your education along the way.  The Financial Aid Office is available to assist you in any way we can.  Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or 212-854-6216.

Office hours

Applications are continuously being printed as files are compiled and reviewed.

But we’re taking a break.  If you need to reach us, please note that the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid will be closed, December 23 – December 27.  Our office will close again for the New Year on December 31.  We will be back on January 3, 2012 (shortly before the application deadline).

Happy Holidays!


SIPA Application Checklist

The application deadline for our MIA/MPA two year program is Thursday, January 5th.

Below is a check list of all the documents we will need to receive by the deadline so go through the list as you edit your essays (for the third time) or rewrite your CV and make sure nothing is forgotten.

  • Application form – it’s online — All documents, including transcripts and test scores can be uploaded to the application Web site for admission consideration. We will use unofficial copies of transcripts and test scores for admission consideration. Candidates offered admission will later be required to supply official transcripts and test scores prior to enrollment. Sending hard copy materials can delay the evaluation of your application so we recommend that you submit as many materials via the online application site as possible.
  • Personal Statement – Questions are subject to change each year. The following questions are for those applying for 2012 admission.

First Topic (500 Word Maximum)

What distinct impact do you hope to have on the world in the future? Please be as clear as possible about your future goals, the policy/public service issue(s) you are passionate about, and your personal motivation(s). Be sure to include details regarding the features of SIPA that you believe are integral to helping you in your pursuits and what skills you need to develop to achieve a lasting impact.

Second Topic (300 Word Maximum)

Please CHOOSE ONE of these options to write about – do not address both, pick one or the other.

A competition is being conducted that will provide one million dollars as seed funding to start a new organization.  The competition requires a 300 word essay/statement.  Compose a 300 word essay/statement to submit in order to be considered for this seed funding.

You have just read a news story that has deeply moved you.  Compose a 300 word response in the form of a letter to the editor.  The news story you are responding to can be real or fictional and does not need to be limited to the present time – it can be framed in the past, present, or future.

Third Topic (200 Word Maximum)

Please share any additional information about yourself that you believe would be of interest to the Admissions Committee. Please focus on information that is not already reflected in the other parts of your application or might not be clear in the information submitted

  • Standard Résumé/CV
  • Test Scores

GRE or GMAT (GRE/GMAT scores are valid for five years.)

    • GRE Code: 2161 (do not list a department code)
    • GMAT for MIA: QF8-64-56
    • GMAT for MPA: QF8-64-99

TOEFL or IELTS exam for applicants whose native language is not English (TOEFL/IELTS scores are valid for two years.)

    • TOEFL code is 2161
  • Three letters of recommendation: If a person writing a letter of recommendation for you wishes to do so in another language, please have the letter sent to an official translator. The translator should include both the translated copy and the official copy of the letter in a sealed envelope, along with their contact information – these letters must be sent to us.
  •  Academic Transcripts: You are required to submit transcripts from all colleges, professional schools and universities attended (including Columbia University).

Our preferred method is that you upload unofficial copies of your transcripts to the application Web site. When scanning transcripts to upload, be sure to scan the reverse side of the transcripts if applicable or any additional pages that include comments on the grading system used.  Transcripts not in English must be translated into English prior to uploading.   If you cannot read the transcripts, we will not be able to either. Thus after scanning your transcript you should print it to see if it is legible. Once you have determined that it is legible please upload the transcripts.

Transcripts may also be mailed to our office; the registrar should seal the transcript in an envelope, sign across the seal and return it to you. Do not open these envelopes or break the seals. Some universities may prefer to send transcripts directly to our office. If this is the case, please have official transcripts sent to:

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
420 West 118th Street, 4th Floor
Mail Code 3325
408 International Affairs Building
New York, NY 10027

All documents, except foreign transcripts judged irreplaceable, become the property of Columbia and cannot be returned.  All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations.

  • Application fee – $85

One final note… The Admissions Committee only accepts documents that are specifically asked for in our instructions. As much as we would like to be able to read writing samples and other information you might wish to submit, our tight time line and desire to treat every applicant fairly means that we will only put required documents in your file for review – all other documents will be discarded.

Good luck!  And Happy Holidays!

It’s December 9th!

Happy Friday!  SIPA students are finishing their semester.  Finals are around the corner and then many will go home for the holidays, some will attend the Annual DC Career Conference, while others may travel and begin work on their capstone projects.   The halls may be quieter without the chatter of faculty and students but our Admissions Office will remain busy as we begin to match documents to applications.  The deadline for fall 2012 admission consideration for our MIA, MPA, and MPA-DP programs is quickly approaching.  The application and all required documents must be submitted to our office by January 5th, 2012… a little less than a month away.

The sooner an application is submitted, the better.  Once an application is submitted and the fee is paid we print the application and start a file in our office.  This will allow us to track documents associated with each application.  Applicants can then view the documents received by logging in to the application site.  The tracking process does not begin until an application is submitted.  Submitting your application well before the deadline will ensure that we have the most time possible to communicate with you and can start reviewing files soon after the January 5th deadline.

If you have questions about the program or about your application, please contact our office at +1.212.854.6216 or at [email protected].

"The most global public policy school, where an international community of students and faculty address world challenges."

—Merit E. Janow, Dean, SIPA, Professor of Practice, International and Economic Law and International Affairs

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