This is a reminder to new students that the message board referenced on the welcome page is, and will continue to be, a great resource to reference.  Relevant questions and inquiries continue to roll in to our email box, and there is a plethora of information on the message board that relates to most of the inquiries.

Content on the message board is driven by newly admitted students and current students.  Therefore most of the content is very practical.  Specific administrative questions can continue to be emailed to our office, however if you are looking for information relevant to the student experience I highly recommend using the message board as a resource and communication tool.

For example, many new students are emailing us about housing.  A enterprising new student actually created a Google Document that everyone has access to for people seeking roommates.  It does not get much more practical than that.  If you wish to view the document, open the Housing folder in the message board and view the thread labeled, “SIPA 1st years looking for roommates.”

Do note that the last day of classes at SIPA was May 2nd and finals will finish up today, May 13th.  Therefore current student participation is likely to slow down, but do not let that keep all the new students from keeping the message board active.  Instructions for logging in to the message board are included on the Welcome Page.  Welcome Page log in information is in your admission letter.

Erisha Suwal will be graduating from SIPA soon and she composed this entry to provide insight to international applicants and students.  On a side note, culture shock is not limited to international students, even for someone that grew up in the United States moving to NYC can be a shock.  Do not worry though, as the famous quote goes, “This is New York, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”

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SIPA is a very international school, academically and in terms of its student body. About 60% of the students in the MPA and about 40% of students in the MIA program come from outside of the US. Being an international student is exciting. Living in a new country, in one of the biggest cities in the world can be quite an adventure. As an international student about to complete my SIPA education, I want to share a few experiences and give a few tips, especially to those international students who will be leaving home for the first time.

Applying to SIPA

For those reading this blog that will apply in the future, language can be a major hurdle for non-native English speakers. If you did not complete your undergraduate in an English-medium institution, you have to take TOEFL or IELTS. If you have ample time before the test, read anything you can find in English. Watch as many English movies as possible to improve your listening skills. Then you have the GREs. The verbal for non-native English speakers is usually challenging. So work extra hard.

On the other hand, your mother tongue or national language can also exempt you from taking language classes. All students enrolled in the MIA program must be fluent in a second language in addition to English.  The language requirement also applies to MPA students concentrating in Economic and Political Development. However, you can get language exemption by proving proficiency either by taking a test offered at SIPA or elsewhere. In my case, I am a native Nepali speaker and I had taken a language exemption test during my undergraduate studies at Wellesley College.

I had my dean from Wellesley write to the deans at SIPA and was exempted. Not having to take a second language frees up a lot of time to take other classes. At the same time, it could be fun and beneficial to take a second language, especially languages needed for UN and World Bank jobs.

Once Accepted

If you need to take a loan, you need to apply to a private lender, usually CitiBank or Sallie Mae. Loans from private lenders have higher interest rates and they require an American co-signer to act as a guarantor. Finding a co-signer maybe difficult for many international students. Even if you do have an American co-signer, whether or not the loan will be approved is up to the lender. Dealing with these issues from outside of the US can cause much anxiety. Make sure you go through the information provided by the private lenders thoroughly to understand the system. Read the fine prints. Talk to anybody you know who has gone through this before.

Another option to secure financial support, at least partially, is to explore other funding sources such as your undergraduate institution, foundations, and fellowships.  You never know when an opportunity will appear. I contacted undergraduate alums to find out if the organizations they work for such as the Ford Foundation or even Pepsi Co. would fund students pursuing a master’s degree. Funds from outside are competitive to receive, but it is worth exploring all options.

On a side note: having been in the US for almost eight years now, I have learned that it is always important to ask unequivocally for something if you need it; without being an annoyance of course. Sometimes, international students come from cultures where asking directly for something is considered rude, selfish, inconsiderate or against the cultural norm. However, unless you ask, no one knows your needs. The worst that can happen is that you will get no for an answer. 

Visa

After you have your finances taken care of, its time to get a visa. The visa process varies depending on your country of origin. It is smooth for some and rocky for others. Give yourself ample time.  If you encounter any problems, reach out to the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). They are very helpful with the immigration process and have tips on how to prepare for the visa interview as well. For those applying for visa for the first time, remember that how you finance your education and whether or not you plan to come back to the country in the future matters to embassy staff.

For those traveling for the first time, keep in mind that the US immigration laws have changed since 9/11. Do not be surprised at random checks and it can be a lengthy process.

Experience at SIPA and New York

Culture shock is inevitable for first timers. I remember my first days in the US. People spoke English too fast and with an accent I wasn’t familiar with. Public display of affection was acceptable. Dance floors were a whole different world. I constantly converted dollars to Nepali rupees. Early experiences in New York can be even more intense with its fast-paced life, crowded subways, and people dressed up in crazy attire.

I asked a few other international friends to share their experiences. A friend from Japan said, “I did not have culture shock since the way of modern life does not change regardless of where we are…oh, the staffs in restaurants are friendlier than in Japan and attendants in supermarkets are much more impolite.”

Another friend from China mentioned that it took her time to adjust to the social scene in New York. She said that she was not used to the idea of going to bars to drink a lot.   A few other friends mentioned that coming a few days prior to orientation is good idea. It gives time to explore the city on your own and to get used to the place before your schedule fills up with orientation events and then classes. Coming earlier is also a good way to make some friends before classes start. After the first two months or so, you will adapt to the place and its pace.

Some international students have mentioned that they continue to struggle with English, and at times it can get frustrating not to be able to express yourself.  However, they say that perseverance is the key.

SIPA has numerous events throughout the years to help students socialize and have a good time. There are also many student organizations based on regions, cultures and interest. ISSO also organizes many events for international students. For those who only have their passports as the official identification card, get a New York state ID or maybe even a driver’s license. If you are going to bars or buying alcohol, it is easier and less risky to have an ID than carry your passport around.

Other Tips

If you need to find an on-campus job, reach out to people. Check libraries and IT centers for vacancies. Email professors you find interesting not just in SIPA but in the whole University, and ask them if they need a research assistant. I found a research assistant position in my first semester by emailing a professor. Advertise to teach your national language or any other skills you might have. Some students babysit to make some cash.

Be prepared for cold weather. This winter New York had 20 inches of snow!

Finding an apartment in New York can be stressful, but there are ways to get cheaper housing besides campus housing. The loan serves as an income guarantee. Check out http://newyork.craigslist.org/ but be careful of scams.

Explore not just New York, but most of the US, if you have the chance.

What would a discussion of attending graduate school in New York City be without mentioning housing?  SIPA is able to offer housing to a select few students that apply for spring admission, but it is highly recommended that those applying for spring admission do some advanced housing research.

Columbia University is comprised of 17 schools and there is one central housing office that allocates housing slots for each school.  Each school has a housing representative, but we have little control over how many spaces our students are assigned.  In the spring we are often only allowed to offer housing slots if current students in SIPA housing complete their program in the middle of the year.

This is a hard number to finalize and I will not put a number on it, I will just say that slots are “limited.”  We do try to give priority for SIPA housing to those coming from the greatest distance.  This means that someone moving from Hong Kong would have an advantage over someone moving from Chicago.

The vast majority of SIPA students find housing through craigslist.  If you are not familiar with craigslist, it is basically a site used to share information concerning things that are for sale or rent.  Craigslist is actually how I found my apartment when I moved to New York (in case you were wondering I am the Director of Admissions, not a student).  Some advanced research on the craigslist site would be very wise.  Our housing representative will provide further advice to applicants that are admitted to the program once decisions are posted.

I will not say that it is hard to find housing in NYC, there are lots and lots of places for rent.  I will say that it can be hard to find a place where you want to live and for the price you want.  Living as close to SIPA as possible is highly recommended because students do engage in a lot of group work and a long commute does not make group work easy.

I do not claim to be a housing expert, but a one piece of advice to consider is to look for a room to rent rather than an apartment.  The reason for this is that you might be able to avoid dealing with brokers or landlords that charge fees.  Everyone who has lived in NYC has their own stories and advice, and a simple internet search will give you enough fodder for hours of reading.

This concludes my planned series of entries specifically geared toward the nuts and bolts of the admission process for spring but keep following the blog for updates and information as it happens.

In case you did not follow it as it happened, a SIPA May 2010 graduate, John Hughes, blogged over the summer while working for our office prior to starting his job at the State Department in Washington, D.C.

I thought I would dedicate an entry to compiling all of his entries in one place for easy access.  His entries are full of great advice and provide some perspective on what it is like to attend SIPA and live in New York City.  Enjoy the entries if you missed them.

Post 1 – Advice for Admitted Students

Post 2 – Selecting Courses

Post 3 – Job Prospects and Career Services

Post 4 – Multiculturalism and SIPA

Post 5 – A “Typical” Week

Post 6 – Housing

Post 7 – What Sets SIPA Apart?

Post 8 – NYC and Food!

Post 9 – SIPA Fellowships

Post 10 – Missing NYC

John Hughes just graduated from SIPA and during his second year of study worked in our office.  He is spending the better part of the summer in the office to assist with projects and help fill in for a staff member on maternity leave.  John is set up for a job in Washington, D.C. and will be moving there in August (our second largest alumni network in the world is in D.C if you were interested).

I asked John to reflect a bit on his experience as a SIPA student and contribute to the blog over the summer.  This is his sixth entry.

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Many incoming students have called us recently to inquire about housing.  Thus, I thought I’d give my two cents on some housing options and what to consider when looking for a place.

First of all, if you are lucky enough to get Columbia housing I’d say go ahead and take it.  I know many of you are hoping for this option, and just to be clear it is not easy to get.  SIPA gets a certain number of housing allocations from the University, and there are not nearly enough of these to go around.  Allocations are generally based on the distance a candidate lives from New York at the time of application, with those living further away given preference.  This is further broken down into three types of housing: single housing in which students are allocated a bedroom in a shared 2-4 bedroom apartment, couples/married housing in which a couple is given a studio or one-bedroom, and family housing for those students who are coming with children.

Most of you will fit into the single student category.  If you do fall into this category and already live in the U.S. I would say it’s extremely unlikely that you will get a spot.  If you are living abroad you have a much better shot, though you still very well may not get it.  If you are a couple or have kids you have a much higher likelihood of getting a place, though this is still based on distance at time of application.  I was lucky enough to get a one-bedroom because I am married and lived in California at the time of application.  I was fully expecting not to get this housing, however, and was prepared to go on an apartment search in August if it didn’t work out.

The bottom line is that most of you will not get Columbia housing.  Have no fear, however, as this is true every year and students always find places to live.  All it takes is a little effort on your part:  The neighborhoods around Columbia (Morningside Heights/Harlem/Hamilton Heights/Upper West Side) have thousands of apartments, and most of these neighborhoods (except for the Upper West Side) have relatively cheap rents compared to the rest of Manhattan.  The section of the Upper West Side north of 96^th street (until 110^th street where it becomes Morningside Heights/Harlem) usually has comparable rents to the places I mentioned further north, especially the further you live from Broadway.  Broadway itself, and the streets west of it towards the river, are just as expensive as the rest of the Upper West Side further south.

Many students choose to live in the neighborhoods I mentioned above since they are either within walking distance or a short subway/bus ride to campus.  Such closeness has many advantages since students tend to spend quite a lot of time at SIPA (see my previous blog post) and it’s nice to not have to go far to get home after a long day.  I lived two blocks from school and really enjoyed the convenience, though the tradeoff was that Morningside Heights is not a very exciting place.  Nevertheless, all of the neighborhoods I’ve mentioned thus far have easy access to the rest of the city on the subway so they’re not so bad.  Expect to pay between $800-$1200 for a shared place in one of these neighborhoods.

Some students at SIPA decide that being close to school is less important to them than living in an exciting neighborhood where they can fully enjoy New York.  These students live further downtown in Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, the west/central/east Village, Soho etc.  Though these neighborhoods certainly have much more to offer in terms of bars/restaurants etc., they are also significantly more expensive than the neighborhoods I mentioned before.  Some students are able to find shared apartments in these neighborhoods that are not much more expensive than the neighborhoods further north, but the tradeoff is that they generally get a shoebox-sized apartment.

If you decide to live in one of these neighborhoods you should carefully consider transportation.  Living in a neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan will make commuting much easier and faster than living in a neighborhood on the east side (you can get from the West Village to Morningside Heights in 25 minutes door-to-door during rush hour).  That said, the east side has some cool spots that could make the extra 10-15 minutes worth it for you.

Some students also decide to move to other parts of New York City.  Though I knew a couple people in Astoria, Queens (which is a nice spot if you don’t mind a 45 minute bus to school), the vast majority of these students move to the inner parts of Brooklyn.  Though rents in Brooklyn can be a bit cheaper than Manhattan, this isn’t really true for the good neighborhoods with easy subway access.  It’s true that these neighborhoods are still cheaper than luxury Manhattan places, but for your typical walk-up that a grad student is looking for the rent savings will be minimal.  However, there are many really great neighborhoods in the closer parts of Brooklyn and students who choose to live here do so because the neighborhoods actually feel like neighborhoods and are a bit more laid back than Manhattan.

If you choose this route expect your commute to take 45 minutes to an hour, though this isn’t so bad if you’re the type of person who can get homework done on the train.  Others like the fact that their life down there is completely separate from their SIPA life, and it gives them a good escape.  If you do go for Brooklyn I would highly recommend finding a place that is within a few blocks of a subway stop or else your commute will be even longer.

Regardless of where you decide to live, it’s a good idea to give yourself at least a couple weeks to find a place if you don’t get Columbia housing.  The New York rental market is very tight and can be cutthroat, so it’s a good idea to be somewhat aggressive in your search.  Most good places will rent within a few days of them being posted, so be prepared to take a place right away if you like it.  This means bringing a copy of your letter stating that you’ll be a student at Columbia (they usually ask for job proof but obviously as students you don’t have this) and your checkbook.  It’s also a good idea to have a bank statement and/or other proof that you are able to pay the rent (a copy of your financial aid statement showing that you’ll be receiving loans might work for this purpose though I’m not sure).  Make sure to look at a few places, but at the same time you should go for a place if you like it, even if it’s the first one you see.

The best place to look for apartments in New York is on Craigslist:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/apartments.cgi

It’s a good idea to look for no-fee apartments, since if you use a broker you’ll usually have to pay them 15% of the annual rent.  Also, if you do plan to live with roommates I highly recommend reaching out to other SIPA students.  Those of you starting in the Fall should have access to a Google Group for the Class of 2012 where you can post that you are looking for roommates.  Many students in my class did this and most found it fairly easy to link up with like-minded SIPA folks.

Despite the seeming difficulty of finding a place, everybody I knew at SIPA found a good one.  People chose to live in different parts of the city for different reasons, but regardless of where they lived I don’t know anybody who lived in a bad place.  If you put in the effort you’ll find a good place, too.

As the title of this entry indicates, I hope you will read this message carefully as I explain where we are in the application review process.  My goal is to answer questions you might have, assuage any fears, and give you the detailed information you need regarding the release of decisions.

First, as I have stated before on the blog, we do not publish all of our admission decisions on a single day.  The structure of our Committee and the coordination involved causes us to spend more time on some applications than others.  How long it takes to review a file is largely dependent upon scheduling and coordination among the Committee members and it should not be a cause of concern if you have to wait longer than some other individuals to receive a decision.

I know this is easy for me to say since I am not the one waiting to receive a decision, however because of the coordination required, neither I nor my staff can tell you the exact date when you will receive your decision.  Our goal is to release decisions as soon as possible, but if you email or call with this question, our answer will be that we are working as quickly as we are able and you will be notified by email once a decision has been posted.

I am happy to share that the Committee has finalized decisions for approximately 40% of those in the applicant pool.  A group of those decisions was posted late Thursday and another group will be posted today (March 5^th).   When a decision has been posted an email will be sent to the address you listed when filling out the application.

The process of releasing decisions can be described as “rolling” in the sense that as decisions are finalized and approved by the Committee, we will post them and send out email notifications.  As hard as it is to wait, we kindly ask for your patience as we work as quickly as we are able.

If your admission decision is favorable, I ask that you pay special attention to the Welcome Page that is referenced in the admission letter.  Admitted applicants are likely to have many, many questions and the purpose of the Welcome Page is to provide answers.

The Welcome Page contains information on a variety of topics including, but not limited to:  housing, Admitted Student Day, Orientation, visa processing for international students, and our summer math tutorial.

Thank you for your attention and we look forward to rolling decisions out as they are finalized.

Bill de Blasio (MIA ’87) was elected New York City public advocate in the 2009 general election. De Blasio previously served as a New York City councilman, worked in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and managed Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2000 campaign for the U.S. Senate. Read more from the New York Observer.

This week the Office of Student Affairs at SIPA started to send a series of emails to admitted students who have paid an enrollment deposit for fall 2009.  The emails contain important information pertaining to enrollment and preparation for classes in the fall.

I just wanted to make an annoucement because the emails will be coming from a different address than the Admissions Office at SIPA.  If you have yet to receive an email please check your spam or junk mail folders and ensure that your settings allow for messages from sipa_osa@columbia.edu.

If you were admitted and paid your enrollment deposit you are probably wondering what happens next.  First let me say that if you did pay your deposit, we are thrilled to have you join the SIPA class of 2011.  Second, let me say that your number one source of information at this time should still be the Welcome Page referenced in your admissions letter.

Have a housing question?  The contact email is there.  Question about a Visa application?  The contact email is there.  Question about when the summer math tutorial begins?  You guessed it – referenced on the Welcome Page.

From this point on the Admissions Office does start to pass the baton on so to speak to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). OSA will begin to send a series of emails in May that deal with a variety of topics releted to your enrollment.  OSA will be a large part of your life at SIPA because they run the class registration process, second year fellowship application process, and act as the student point of contact for a variety of other academic issues.

This does not mean that you cannot continue to email the Admissions Office with questions, we welcome you to and you probably should because you may have not yet met those who work in OSA.  Just do not be surprised if we start to pass you on to those who work OSA and you start to see names like Ubrano, Caroline, Stefan, Mona, Cassandra, Allejandro, and Alleyne.

I want to pass on some important advice to applicants who are admitted to SIPA.  In the admission letter you are provided with instructions on how to visit our Welcome Page.  There is a hyperlink as well as a username and password listed in your admission letter that will give you entry to the Welcome Page.

Why is the Welcome Page so important?  Well, it provides answers to the most frequently asked questions newly admitted applicants typically have.  We want you to be able to get answers and instructions quickly, hopefully without a lot of runaround.

Lately many admitted applicants have been emailing us questions that are answered on the Welcome Page.  Questions such as the following have recently been sent to our email accounts and information and specific email addresses are provided on the Welcome Page to put you on the right track:

• How do I register for the admitted student Open House?
• How do I apply for housing?
• When do I have to report to campus?
• How can I start my Visa application process?
• Is there any academic work you recommend I complete this summer?

So please reference your admission letter and for the Welcome Page information and read it carefully . . . there is lots of good stuff there.