Just a heads up that the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid is closing early today at 2:00 p.m. EST (UTC -5) for the Christmas holiday and will remain closed until Dec. 28. We will operate on a holiday schedule for the next two weeks. Here’s a look at when we’re open:

Office Hours
Dec. 23 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Dec. 28 – 29 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 30 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 4 (and onward) from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Since I know some of you are worried that we’re closed this close to the fellowship deadline — Jan. 5 — I want to remind you of some recent blog posts you may have missed. All offer great insights into the application process, academics, and student life, which you may find valuable as you finalize your applications for admission. Some are familiar, yet noteworthy posts every applicant should read at least once.

• Facebook Live: Application Tips – If you’re on Facebook, you can watch this video of when I walked through the Application Checklist and shared some wisdom straight from the horse’s mouth, or rather, my own mouth. Honest and unfiltered. What more can you ask for?
• 5 Tips for a stress-free admissions essay writing experience  – The gist: Relax. Breathe. Plan Ahead.
• Tips on the short essay policy question – The prompt changes annually, and this year we ask you to focus in on a topic that relates to your course of study. Current student Sadia Afreen explains how you should tackle the topic.
• How to access (and prepare for) the admissions video essay – I walk you through the video essay portal in a handy-dandy video recording (complete with a written transcript)
• Some advice on the optional essay prompt – It may be an optional essay, but there’s definitely value to it. Read to learn what I mean.
• How to plan for your recommendation letters – We’re chalk full of advice this season, including how to get the strongest letters from your references. Current student Rena Sung explains how she did it.
• Don’t forget about these helpful blog posts – This is a great roundup of application tips from last January, and it includes everything from test scores to reference letters. So as a Spring 2017 the information is still extremely relevant since many of the posts directly address the essay questions for the current round. Bookmark this post if you haven’t already!
• Eloy’s Top 12 Application Questions – This one is mentioned in the blog post above, but it’s so great at answering those common email questions, I had to share it twice.
• Our PAs’ favorite courses at SIPA – short blurbs on the courses our PAs really liked last year. A quick read, but it’ll give you some great insights into the types of courses offered at SIPA.
• A follow-up note to recent applicant emails & Some Admissions FAQs to keep you company this Election Day – If you’ve previously applied to SIPA, this’ll be useful as well
• A look at the MIA curriculum – Current student Rena Sung shares a little bit about what the classes she’s taken over the last three semesters.
• Here’s SIPA’s evaluation criteria – Taken straight from the website, but it can be difficult to find.
• BONUS! #SeepleTip – One of my personal favorites is a series of Instagram videos that I produced last year, called #SeepleTip. We’ll be picking up the series sometime this year, but until then make sure you check these out!

Well that’s all I’ve got for now. And that looks like PLENTY of reading (and watching) to me. Happy Holidays!