Author Archive for Matt Clemons

Farewell

Posted by Matt Clemons 
· Thursday, September 29th, 2011 
· No Comments

The SIPA Admissions Blog started in 2008 and has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my job since starting as the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at SIPA in the spring of 2006.  All posts to date note Matt Clemons as the author and this will actually be the last blog entry with my name.  I am leaving SIPA but will not be leaving the admissions community.  As of next week I will be the Director of Admissions at the Harvard Kennedy School.

If you have contacted me via email in the past please note that my Columbia email account will no longer be active.  Any questions applicants have can be directed to [email protected].  The new Director will likely take the opportunity to make an introduction on the blog sometime soon.   My hope is that the previous content can continue to inform applicants about the application process, financial aid, and all of the wonderful opportunities afforded by a SIPA education.  It has been an honor to serve SIPA for the past five-plus years and I wish readers all the best.

No Comments
Categories : SIPA
Tags :

MPA in Environmental Science and Policy

Posted by Matt Clemons 
· Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 
· No Comments

In total SIPA offers 7 degrees.  A full listing of our degrees can be found by clicking here.  Applicants are welcome to apply to multiple degree programs at SIPA.  There is only one thing SIPA does not allow – we do not allow applicants to apply to the two-year full-time MIA program and the two-year full-time MPA program.  Other than this, there are no restrictions.  If an applicant does want to apply to more than one degree program it does require a different application for each program and each application requires the application fee.

All of our programs use the same application system except for the PhD program.  PhD applicants must use a different application site (details available here).  If applying to more than one program at SIPA please make sure to create a different PIN for each application.  Applicants may not use the same PIN for multiple applications to SIPA.

One SIPA program, the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy, has three different deadlines.  The first deadline, November 1st, is quickly approaching.   There are many opportunities to speak with representatives of the program and details are below.

– – – – – – – – –

Campus Recruiting Across the U.S.

by Earth Institute | 9.21.2011 at 10:00am

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Environmental Science and Policy program will be traveling across the country this fall to talk to prospective students at graduate fairs and college campuses.

The program was jointly developed by Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and the Earth Institute, and it trains sophisticated managers and policymakers to apply innovative, interdisciplinary and sustainable solutions to environmental issues. Our approach reflects the system-level thinking that is needed to understand ecological interactions and maintain the health of Earth’s interconnected systems.

Graduates are working in diverse organizations domestically and globally as consultants, environmental protection and restoration specialists, project managers, policy analysts, directors of environmental services, environmental and public health advisors, teachers, researchers, and environmental biologists and engineers.

Please come visit us at one of the following information sessions to learn more about our program. If we will not be in your area and you would like to set up a session, or if you have any questions, please contact Sarah Tweedie at [email protected] or by phone at (212) 854-3142.

October 7, 2011, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Princeton University Graduate School Fair, Princeton, NJ
Princeton University Dillon Gym

October 10, 2011, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Chicago, IL Idealist Fair
University of Illinois, Chicago
UIC Forum, Hall A and B
725 W Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL, 60608

October 11, 2011, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Michigan State University Graduate School Fair, East Lansing, MI
MSU Union, 2nd Floor

October 18, 2011, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Columbia University Morningside Campus
Faculty House, 64 Morningside Drive (between West 116th St. and West 118th St.)
New York, New York 10027

October 21, 2011, 11:15 am
Pitzer College Information Session, Claremont, CA
McConnell Center – Dining Hall

October 24, 2011, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
University of California Irvine Graduate School Fair, Irvine, CA
Location: TBD

October 24, 2011, 7:00pm
Pomona College Information Session, Claremont, CA
Smith Campus Center, Room 208

October 25, 2011, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
UC Santa Barbara Graduate School Fair, Santa Barbara, CA
UCSB’s Arbor Mall

October 25, 2011, 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Colby College Graduate School Fair, Waterville, ME
Location: TBD

October 26, 2011, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Bates College Graduate School Fair, Lewiston, ME
Location: TBD

October 26, 2011, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Bowdoin College Graduate School Fair, Brunswick, ME
Location: TBD

October 27, 2011, 6:00pm
UC Davis Information Session, Davis, CA
Location: TBD

December 8, 2011, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Columbia University Morningside Campus
Faculty House, 64 Morningside Drive (between West 116th St. and West 118th St.)
New York, New York 10027

No Comments
Categories : Admissions, News
Tags : , , , , , , ,

APSIA Fairs In NYC and DC

Posted by Matt Clemons 
· Monday, September 26th, 2011 
· No Comments

Next week APSIA will hold graduate school fairs in New York and Washington DC.  The fairs provide a great opportunity to speak with representatives of graduate school programs focused on public policy and international affairs.  Free registration links for NYC and DC are below and the rest of the APSIA travel schedule can be found by clicking here.

New York City Free Registration:  Monday, October 3rd from 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Washington D.C. Free Registration:  Wednesday, October 5th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM

No Comments
Categories : Admissions, News
Tags : , , ,

Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity

Posted by Matt Clemons 
· Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 
· No Comments

One of the great things about being a student at SIPA is the vast number of activities and resources that are part of Columbia University.  One great example is the Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity (or AC4) housed at the Earth Institute.  AC4 is a consortium of existing programs, centers, institutes, and faculty at Columbia.

AC4 brings together faculty, students, scholars, researchers, and practitioners to stimulate innovative and interdisciplinary research in conflict resolution, violence, peace-building, and sustainable development.   There are many tangible benefits for SIPA students, including the funding of projects.  Each fall as many as 12 projects are funded by AC4.   Below is a flyer for an upcoming event and for more information please visit their web site.

No Comments
Categories : Columbia University, SIPA
Tags : , , ,

Top 10 Communication Tips 2011 – #8

Posted by Matt Clemons 
· Monday, September 12th, 2011 
· No Comments

This is the eighth entry in our “Top 10″ list for you to consider when communicating with our office and applying.

Number 8 – Familiarize Yourself with Expenses and Start searching for fellowships/scholarships/grants as soon as possible!

There is no doubt about the fact that graduate school can be expensive.  We will do as much as we can to educate you on financial options, but by far the number one thing you can do is to be diligent in searching for fellowships and grants.  Do not wait to search until you have applied, you should start the search long before applying.  Each applicant should follow what I call the “rule of 2.”  Basically my assertion is that applicants should spend twice as much time applying for fellowships as time spent working on an admission application.  If it takes you 10 hours to prepare your admission application, you would be well served to spend 20 hours looking for fellowships – minimum.  A great resource to get you started is our external fellowship database.

Most of the information you need concerning the cost to attend is available on our Web site, such as cost of attendance, types of aid, scholarship information, and information specifically for international students.  Please do note that SIPA scholarships come from one general pool – there is no difference in the scholarship award process at SIPA for domestic and international students – all students are equally considered no matter the country of origin.  Everyone that applies for admission is considered for scholarship funding.

No Comments
Categories : Admissions, Paying for SIPA
Tags : , , , , , , ,
Next Page »

"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

Boiler Image