Matt Clemons

Author Archive for Matt Clemons – Page 39

New Student Orientation Schedules

Posted by Matt Clemons

· Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

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Mandatory orientation for new students joining for fall 2010 starts on Monday, August 30th. The schedules have been released by the Office of Student Affairs and I am happy to share the schedules here. MPA-DP Orientation details will be made available during the required MPA-DP “Getting Started Program” that commences on August 16th.

Questions such as the following, and many more, will all be answered during Orientation:

When do I register for classes?
How do I register for classes?
How many courses can I take per term?
When/how do I declare my concentration?
Are certain prerequisites required for particular courses?
Can/should I register for language courses?
How do I access career services?
Can I use facilities across campus?
Who do I talk to/where do I go if I need medical attention?
What safety services are available?

Plenty of returning students will be available, there are sure to be events in the evenings that are not part of the official schedule, and faculty/administrators will be available as well. Business casual attire should be worn during Orientation. We look forward to seeing new students soon and here are the schedules:

MIA Orientation Schedule

MPA Orientation Schedule

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Categories : Admissions

Tags : classes, orientation, registration

2011 Personal Statement Questions

Posted by Matt Clemons

· Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

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While we likely will not have our application live for another week, the questions/topics we are going ask applicants to respond to as part of the personal statement have been decided and I wanted to share them for your consideration. I will dedicate some future entries to breaking down the questions and offering some advice so stay tuned.

For spring 2011 and fall 2011 applicants will be asked to compose three responses. Below you find details and the associated word limits.

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First Question (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 Question/Topic (300 Word Maximum)

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

1. Describe a policy issue that has impacted your life, either in a negative or positive way. If given the opportunity to amend the policy, what action would you take and why?

2. Describe a conversation or experience that challenged your beliefs or caused you to reevaluate your perspective on life.

Third Question/Response (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.

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One typical question concerning this requirement comes up each year and I will answer it now. Applicants often ask something along the lines of the following:

“Do I have to follow the format of three questions or can I answer the questions I wish as long as I stay within the overall word limit?”

Answer: Applicants should follow the instructions and provide responses to each section and follow the word limits. The Committee has picked the topics/questions for specific purposes and we want each applicant to follow the instructions as given. So, please pay attention to the word limits and instructions.

Do not follow the logic that 500 + 300 +200 add up to 1,000 so you can freelance one answer as long as it is within the word limit. This is not what the Committee is looking for. Following instructions is an important part of the process so stick to the instructions and you will be fine. More advice in some future entries . . .

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Categories : Admissions

Tags : Application, personal statement

Career Services – A Preview

Posted by Matt Clemons

· Monday, August 9th, 2010

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Part of being a professional school is taking the career development of students seriously. From the day a student arrives at SIPA the Office of Career Services is involved in making sure there is a strong focus on developing career management skills.

The message below was recently sent out to incoming SIPA students. I thought I would post it here for students interested in our program to provide a glimpse of the type of resources available. Note that most of the links in this message require a user name and password that is only provided to incoming students.

So, if you are an admitted student please take advantage of the links. If you are a prospective student, this message is just meant to provide general information about the first steps new students take with our Office of Career services when they join us for Orientation.

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Dear incoming SIPA students:

We in the Office of Career Services at SIPA are looking forward to meeting you upon your arrival for Orientation on Monday, August 30, 2010. It will be an exciting time as you embark on this journey to prepare for careers in international and public affairs. Obtaining internships and getting the opportunity to apply your new knowledge will be an important part of your experience at SIPA.

Many private sector employers and some federal government agencies begin recruiting for interns as early as September, while other public and nonprofit recruitment begins in the spring. You will be able to prepare for your internship search through various OCS programs available throughout the fall, including the Professional Development Class, career-related workshops and career advising appointments. Those of you interested in the private sector should register for the Private Sector Professional Development Class which will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2010. A schedule of additional classes will be available during Orientation.

We suggest you review the following information to ensure a successful internship search.

SIPAlink: OCS uses SIPAlink to advertise job and internship opportunities, career events, employer information sessions and on-campus interviews. As an incoming student, you will be able to register with SIPAlink at http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/find_job.html on Monday, August 30, 2010.

Resume: Make sure you have a well written and clearly formatted one page resume. You may refer to our Online Career Resources for sample resumes and fact sheets, such as Resume Writing-General Tips and Resume Writing Tips for Positions in Finance and Banking, listed online at http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/career_resources/fact_sheets.html.

Business Attire: If you’re interested in private sector employers, be sure to have a conservative business suit to wear to all business/finance employer information sessions and on-campus interviews. For some public sector and nonprofit employer presentations, business casual attire is acceptable.

Employer Information Sessions: These sessions offer a company/organization overview and provide excellent networking opportunities with employers. You should conduct prior research on the employer and arrive with well formulated questions. This will demonstrate your seriousness and interest in the particular employer and their industry. Once you have registered on SIPAlink, you will be able to view and sign up for employer information sessions of interest to you. In order to see a list of recruiters who came to campus last year, please look for a document entitled On-Campus Recruiters 2009-2010 in the SIPAlink Resource Library.

All students attending employer information sessions should order professional name tags through OCS. They can be ordered by logging into your SIPAlink account at https://www.myinterfase.com/cusipa/student/. Under On-Campus Recruiting and Career Events, click Career Events. From there go to the event labeled Office of Career Services: Getting a Name Tag First-Year Students Only (Class 2012) and sign up for this event by clicking the RSVP button. The deadline for the orders will be Monday, September 13. In addition, it is a good idea to order business cards to give to employers after their formal presentations. These can be ordered during your first week at SIPA through the Journalism School or Printing Services at SIPA.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to seeing you on during Orientation!

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Categories : Career Services

Tags : Career Services, jobs, networking

New Student Photo Series 2010 – Post #23

Posted by Matt Clemons

· Friday, August 6th, 2010

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Two sets of photos today, enjoy!

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My name is Phoebe Leung and I am going to pursue an MPA-DP at Columbia this Fall. I am a student from Hong Kong. My pictures are all taken from Cambodia, where I have been working for about one year.

Cambodia is a country of contrasts. Some people see the country as one of the least developed in the region, while others speak of the country’s rich cultural heritage. Developers talk about business opportunities with the newly rich, while many others are still left behind in the rural areas and remain reliant on subsistence agriculture. The country’s most renowned province, Siem Reap, is also part of these contrasts. Tourism developments around the Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have brought in many foreigners, such as those waiting for the sunset on Bakheng Mountain in this photograph. However, the province remains the second poorest in the country.

The Mekong River is the country’s lifeline, providing an essential source of water and food. The river meanders through Kampong Chhnang province, where houses built right on top of the river are commonly found. As indicated in this picture, many houses are raised above water and boats very often sail by under them in search of fish, lotus and other aquatic plants.

Many Cambodian families live by the Thai border and travel between the two countries every day as day labourers and porters. This picture is taken in the K’bal Koh Village of Poipet, a border town where many residents are poor migrant workers. Since the adult members of these communities tend to move around with their work, they can only afford makeshift houses made with wood, metal, plastic, etc.

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The next set of photos was submitted by Justin Eldridge Otero, an incoming MIA student.

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Arbol de Piedra – Salaar de Uyuni, Bolivia

During a 2008 backpacking trip to my mother´s native Bolivia, I escaped the hustle and bustle of La Paz and ventured south to the world´s largest salt flats, located in the states of Potosi and Oruro. These salt flats contain 50 to 70% of the world’s lithium reserves, an interesting fact that will surely come into play as battery powered cars become more popular.

El Progreso, Honduras

This photo is one of my favorites. During my years founding the Organization for Youth Empowerment (OYE) one of my soccer stars, Moises, had just learned how to ride a bike and was speeding around the orphanage on the grumpy security guard´s bike. Happy is an understatement.

Cordillera Blanca – Ancash, Peru

Peruvian family resting before the long treck home. Typical scene at one of the many watering holes in the Ancash. The Cordillera Blanca is full of streams, rivers, waterfalls, and thermal waters.

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Categories : Admissions

Tags : art, culture, photography, Travel

New Student Photo Series 2010 – Post #22

Posted by Matt Clemons

· Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

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There is still plenty of time for new students to submit photos for the blog. This is a great way to share about some of your experiences and get to know you new classmates. Submission information here.

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The photos today are from Priyam Saraf, an incoming MPA student.

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Ganges, the largest river in India passes through my hometowm, Kolkata. I like this picture because it captures the two faces of the Ganges – a spiritual lifeline where hundreds of devotees go to pray and take a dip in the river and the centre of commerce/transport for many people. However, years of neglect and industrial discharge currently make it one of the most polluted rivers in India necessitating government efforts for clean up.

I backpacked through Vietnam this summer and this is a picture of the Reunification express that connects Saigon in South Vietnam to Hanoi in the North. During the War, this track was the target of bombardments and was severely damaged. It was restored post fall of Saigon in 1975-1976. The train is frequently used by the middle class in Vietnam, esp. if they are travelling heavy. For a traveller, it’s a lovely way to witness rapid landscape changes from south to the north, taste local cuisines at station-stops and exchange stories with co-passengers.

A self sufficient entity in Hue where they conserve their plants, grow vegetables, educate young monks and teach them a vocational skill. I find Vietnam fascinating – preserve old practices while working hard to be one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.