Today I hosted a special Facebook Live session with MPA in Development Practice Director Glenn Denning. Professor Denning teaches the “Global Food Systems,” a required DP course, and has been with DP since its inception in 2009.
For those of you who have been following me on the blog and social media, you know this isn’t the first time the Admissions Office has used Facebook Live, but we’re still testing out the waters. Glenn was kind enough to test out the platform with me so we can give applicants like you the opportunity to connect with us on another platform.
MPA-DP has the same deadlines as the MIA and MPA programs, but it’s essay prompts and characteristics of the students are a little bit different. To learn what I mean by that make sure you watch the recording of the session below (or click here). If you have any questions about the program, feel free to email the program directly at [email protected]. As always, send admissions questions my way to [email protected].
Oh, and if you’d like to get reminders about future sessions, check out the Recruitment Calendar. (I’ve got lots of great stuff in the pipeline!)
The morning after the United States elected its 45th president Seeples were full of emotions concerning the future of, well, just about everything. The Republic didn’t elect the person many of them thought would come out on top. And it seemed the results of this year’s election would have a resounding impact on them, more so than in other elections.
To help students process their feelings, both positive and negative, SIPA Dean Merit E. Janow and Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger issued separate statements regarding the results of the U.S. Presidential Elections. Here’s what they had to say on Wednesday:
Dear SIPA students, faculty and staff,
Yesterday’s U.S. Presidential election has left me and many in our community with great uncertainty and concern about what the results mean for each of us and a host of important public policies in the United States and globally.
While we have a number of events already planned at SIPA in the coming weeks to discuss the elections, we will convene a conversation tomorrow, Thursday, November 10, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in Room 1512 of the International Affairs Building. Although I am returning from University business in China and am unable to attend, I have invited several faculty members to share their thoughts about the election and its implications for policy. I welcome you to join in this session, which will include an open microphone for those in attendance. You may find additional information below.
As always, please know that the Office of Student Affairs and its advising deans are available to meet with students individually about these or any other issues, and can also provide information to you on available University resources should you need them.
Sincerely yours,
Merit E. Janow
Dean, School of International and Public Affairs
Professor of Practice, International Economic Law and International Affairs
The discussion is closed to members of the SIPA community. I’ll be there on Thursday and will share any highlights with all of you on the blog. To continue the conversation, you’re all invited to the first Diversity Spotlight Series event, either in-person or on Facebook Live, Monday, Nov. 14.
***
Dear fellow members of the Columbia community:
I am writing because of concerns for our community arising out of yesterday’s national election. Certainly, not in my lifetime has there been a choice that is embraced by so many while also causing feelings of apprehension and vulnerability among so many others, including many students, faculty, and staff across our diverse University community.
There are three primary challenges for the country and, more importantly for purposes of this letter, for our community. The first is that those in distress have the right opportunities to raise and discuss whatever anxieties they are feeling now. I will be personally engaged in this dialogue, and I strongly urge you to seek out the discussions and meetings being planned throughout the University by all schools and departments. The second is that we not let different viewpoints about this election, strong as the feelings on every side might be, descend into intolerance or intimidation. This requires strong intellectual character on all our parts. And the third point is that we all have to make sure that we are able to continue on with the work of scholarship and teaching, which is not only our central mission but ultimately the best answer to overcoming divisions and even the risk, feared by many, that our principles may be violated.
In these moments, we must turn to our fundamental values, among them a commitment to freedom of thought and expression, dedication to tolerance and reason, respect for diversity and differing points of view, and a determination to do what we do with the utmost integrity and courage.
Sincerely,
Lee C. Bollinger
As Dean Janow’s statement mentions, SIPA will host a series of special lectures in the coming weeks, all centered around the implications of the election results. These events were previously planned (no matter who won), and I’ll share more details as the public events approach.
In the meantime, if you want to know just what Seeples were thinking the day before the elections, review this video by SIPA’s student-run newspaper, The Morningside Post.
There’s also this Facebook post, in which, after reflecting on last night’s election results, Thomas C. Guerra, MPA ’17 and President of the SIPA Student Association, reminded his classmates on Facebook the importance of leveraging the policy school as a key asset in educating tomorrow’s leaders and enhancing his peers’ abilities to shape the future in a positive way.
And here are some recent tweets mentioning our professors in the news sharing their opinions on the outcome.
The Office of Admissions & Financial Aid is closed today for a university-wide holiday — Election Day. We’ll reopen during normal business hours on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016.
In the interim, I know you’ve got questions; especially if you’ve applied to the Spring 2017. So see below some of the common questions (with answers) we’ve gotten in the last week.
When will Spring 2017 admissions decisions be released? Keep an eye on your inbox as decisions will go out in the next 2-3 weeks.
If admitted, how long will I have to make my decision? Refer to the details in your admission letter, but typically for spring it’s a tight turnaround and most applicants are given two weeks.
If I’m not admitted, can I reapply? Of course! I just wouldn’t recommend reapplying for Fall 2017 admission. Basically, you’re only giving yourself 3-4 months between applications, and I’m looking to see how you’ve enhanced your candidacy since your last application. In the eyes of the Admissions Committee its tough to make a compelling case in only a couple of months, so take a full year, year-and-a-half, or longer to strengthen your application and gain greater focus on what you exactly want to do. (And reference your admissions decision letter and the Evaluation Criteria page for details on what we look for in a strong candidate.)
How can I stay involved with SIPA before I start the program (if admitted or I’m applying to Fall 2017)? Great question! First, don’t unsubscribeto our emails because when you do you unsubscribe from EVERYTHING emailed by the Admissions Office, join us for the kick-off Diversity Spotlight Series event on Nov. 14, and browse SIPA’s Calendar of Events for more upcoming events. I’m also hosting a series of Facebook Live sessions with our concentration directors, so check the Recruitment Calendar frequently as the list will be updated throughout the winter.
I’m often asked what SIPA looks for in a candidate. We answer this question frequently on the Admissions Blog, during information sessions, Twitter Talk Thursdays, and while on the road. Last week I even hosted a Facebook Live session on how you can stand out to the Admissions Committee. If you need some additional application advice, make sure you review our Evaluation Criteria webpage. To save you a click, here’s what it says:
The Admissions Committee favors candidates with both proven academic ability and relevant work experience. All applicants must submit GRE or GMAT scores.
Academic Background
Because SIPA’s core curriculum includes economics, statistics, and financial management, the Admissions Committee looks for evidence of a candidate’s ability to undertake quantitative coursework at the graduate level.
There are no specific prerequisites for admission, but the Committee prefers applicants who have completed introductory courses in macro- and microeconomics. (Note: A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution is required to enroll at Columbia SIPA.) Broadly speaking, courses in economics, statistics, and mathematics will bolster an applicant’s candidacy and provide a helpful foundation for study here.
To complete the (optional) higher-level economics sequence requires familiarity with calculus, and even the lower-level sequence assumes an understanding of algebra. Applicants lacking any quantitative background are therefore encouraged to consider enrolling in high-level mathematics courses above all else, and if possible a statistics course as well.
To pursue careers in certain fields — development economics, quantitative policy analysis, trade, finance, environmental economics, energy policy, and international banking — requires an even higher level of preparation before enrolling at SIPA — namely, completion of calculus and an intermediate micro- and macroeconomic sequence at the undergraduate or graduate level. Students without an economics background who are interested in pursuing these fields are strongly encouraged to make up this deficiency before applying to SIPA.
No particular undergraduate major is required, but those looking ahead to possible study at SIPA can take courses in international relations, political science, foreign languages, and history. Applicants whose fields of study were far from the international relations or public administration fields are advised to address with extra care in their essay why they now wish to “change gears” and study at SIPA.
Professional Experience
The only truly common thread uniting successful applicants to SIPA is that most have had at least three years of work or internship experience relevant to their intended course of study.
Our students come from every corner of the globe, with vastly different professional backgrounds and work experience. But experience at an international relief organization, a government agency, a nonprofit or nongovernmental organization, or a corporation with operations in the international sphere (to name a few examples) will certainly make your application more competitive.
Each year, 5 to 10 percent of accepted students come directly from undergraduate institutions. These are individuals with extraordinary academic records who have also had significant internship or study abroad experience. In some cases, recent undergraduates with very strong academic credentials are not offered admission but are encouraged to reapply after they have gained at least one year or more of relevant work experience.
P.S. Don’t forget that today’s the early-action deadline! If you want an admission decision by January 2017, make sure you submit a completed application by 11:59 p.m. EST.
Every October, Columbians around the world—alumni, students, parents, friends, neighbors, faculty, and staff—come together for Columbia Giving Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event on Oct. 26, 2016. Our alumni are deeply committed to making a real difference in the world. To support Giving Day, the work our alumni do, and to virtually say “thanks” to all of SIPA’s alumni who take on global issues, big and small, I’ll share one alumni story a week every Friday this month. The videos highlight the work of especially distinguished SIPA alumni, underscoring their various contributions to our society in the US and abroad.
In 10 years at the World Bank, John Porter, IF ’82, MIA ’83 rose to become chief investment officer. Because developing countries can’t borrow in capital markets, he says, the World Bank plays a key role in in helping them to implement reforms, work out of debt, and gain freedom in planning for the future.
"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
