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Yellow Ribbon Program Instructions 2012

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

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The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs provides significant financial aid opportunities to students who served in the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001, as well as the dependents of these veterans. More information about the bill’s benefits and eligibility requirements is available at http://www.gibill.va.gov/.

In addition, through an initiative authorized by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, higher education institutions can provide eligible student veterans with a tuition waiver or grant that is matched by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This program, known as the Yellow Ribbon Program, enhances the base tuition benefits provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill for those students that qualify at the 100% level for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

SIPA is happy to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Qualifying veterans and qualifying dependents of veterans may apply for consideration beginning Friday, June 15, 2012, at 1p.m. EDT. Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program is determined on a first-come, first-served basis. The application will be available at: http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/financial_aid/index.html. Please check the site on June 15th.

For details about the Yellow Ribbon Program, visit The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website. If you have questions about your eligibility level for The Post 9/11 GI Bill, please contact the VA at www.va.gov or 1-888-442-4551.

For general information about veteran affairs at Columbia University, please visit: www.veteranaffairs.columbia.edu.

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Categories : Admissions, Paying for SIPA

Tags : Financial Aid, GI Bill, military, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Summer Math Tutorial

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Tuesday, June 5th, 2012

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SIPA offers incoming students an opportunity to brush up on their quantitative skills before arriving in August. The first year at SIPA is fillled with required quantitative courses that are building blocks in effective policy making and execution. The summer math tutorial, while it is not required, it will help students prepare for their math placement exam especially for those who have not sat in a classroom in years.

Admitted applicants who have paid the deposit and confirmed enrollment for this fall were sent an email advising them on how to access the math tutorial. It is administered online so no matter where you are in the world, as long as you have internet connection, you will be able to participate. If you have been admitted and paid a deposit, you can also access the math tutorial on the Welcome Page.

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Categories : Admissions, Columbia University, SIPA

Tags : math, summer, tutorial

We’re on the road… again

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Monday, June 4th, 2012

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We will be at the Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) on WEDNESDAY, June 6th (9:00AM – 6:00PM) and THURSDAY, June 7th (9:00AM – 4:30PM) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Hall D in Washington, DC. If you plan to attend the forum, come by and say hello to Alvin Carter, our newest member to the SIPA Admissions family. He’ll be waiting in E1 in the Education Zone.

directions & parking to Washington Convention Center

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Categories : Admissions, News

Tags : Washington DC

Commencement and visiting SIPA this week

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Friday, May 11th, 2012

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Next week (May 14^th– 17^th) the Columbia University campus will be bustling with commencement activities. Graduation is a time of celebration, reflection and also particularly limited access to campus. A Columbia University ID card is required to enter campus only at specific points and during specific times. Guests of graduating students must have a ticket and graduating students must arrive at the appointed time to line up and prepare to walk onto the great lawn for the ceremony.

President Obama is the commencement speaker for Barnard College on Monday, May 14^th on the great lawn. As a result, campus security is heightened and many streets will be closed off to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

As you can imagine, a lot of planning, preparation and execution is required for such a large event and Columbia’s great lawn will hold hundreds of people for multiple events before the week is over. Commencement week 2012 is a website dedicated specifically to provide information about the graduation ceremonies being held all week. You can even catch some of the commencement festivities on the campus webcam.

As a result, we advise anyone planning to visit SIPA during this time to make alternate arrangements. You are welcome to call our office or send an email to receive answers to your inquiries or make other visiting arrangements.

The commencement ceremony for SIPA is being held on Thursday, May 17^th. We wish our students the absolute best of luck and congratulations!!

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Categories : Admissions, News, SIPA

Tags : event, graduation

Have you made plans to be in NYC for Admitted Students Day?

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Friday, March 30th, 2012

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The following post is an interview with Carolina Escalera from Tallahassee, Florida. She’s a first year MPA student concentrating in Urban and Social Policy.

Why did you attend Admitted Students Day?

I wanted to get a feel of the school; to literally feel how I felt on campus, the environment, and most importantly meet current students so that I could get their personal feedback. A lot of times a school sounds great on paper, but to me it is important to see how I fit in and if I felt it was a place I could thrive in. Admitted Students Day is a great way to meet current students and ask “real” questions.

What was the best information you learned?

The best information I learned was getting a better understanding of the concentration and specializations. During Admitted Students Day, I was able to meet the director of the Urban and Social Policy concentration and talk to students about the classes they were taking and their experience at SIPA overall.

How did it help you decide to come to SIPA?

Meeting the students and learning more about the concentration is what helped me decide to come to SIPA. I liked the flexibility of the concentration and the positive experience of the students.

What else did you do besides visit the school to make your decision?

As a student of color, I wanted to be comfortable in graduate school. The diversity of classes, students and the New York City experience led me to choose SIPA. I wanted to be able to fit in and feel comfortable in school and just being in New York City where there is a diversity in the population, I knew the dialogue would be stimulating and studying urban policy, there would be no better place. Moreover, SIPA has a student organization SIPA Students of Color (SSOC) and to me having a safe space to talk about issues that affect my community was important. I am now currently on the board of the organization.

What’s one word of advice you would give to a newly admitted applicant this year?

Network! SIPA Students of Color (SSOC) will be hosting a happy hour for admitted students on Monday April 9, 2012 at Havana Central. Come network with current students and get to know SIPA better!