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Top 10 Tips for 2012 Application – # 4 Résumés

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

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This is the fourth entry in our “Top 10″ list to assist you with understanding the process of submitting your 2102 admission application to SIPA. This entry is focused on advice regarding our résumé requirements.

The first thing to take note of is that we require applicants to submit two separate résumés. This may seem strange at first but I believe this entry will clear up any confusion.

Traditional Résumé

The first résumé is no surprise. You could refer to this as your “traditional” résumé and everyone applying probably has had a working résumé for some time. A traditional résumé includes, but is not limited to, information such as:

Positions held (employment and internships) – include specific dates please

Academic degrees and other academic achievements

Volunteer, public service, political work completed

Memberships in honorary societies and awards for service or leadership

Extracurricular activities and particularly if an MIA applicant – foreign travel undertaken, including purpose and length of stay.

Please note that readability is very important. We do no recommend using very small font and extended margins. When applying for a job many people feel compelled to use these tactics to keep their résumé to a page or two. This résumé is for graduate school consideration and the Committee encourages applicants to list all relevant information and to not use a small font or extended margins in an attempt to cram a great deal of information into a very small space. A résumé that is longer but easier to read is much preferred over a short résumé that is hard to read.

Put another way – we like white space. Committee members have to read several hundred applications and small fonts and cramped formats are very difficult on the eyes. When it doubt, use 12 point font and normal margins – the Committee will thank you for it.

On a final note, we do not recommend that applicants use graphics or non-standard fonts. Let the content of your résumé speak for you. The font chosen should be easy to read and graphics (other than bullets and bold face) do not enhance the readability of a résumé. Common fonts that are easy to read include Arial, Calibri, and Tahoma.

Quantitative/Language Résumé

The second résumé will focus exclusively on an applicant’s background with quantitative methods and language learning/ability.

Quantitative Methods

The core curriculum at SIPA includes required coursework in economics, statistics, and financial management. The Committee is therefore quite interested in the quantitative aptitude of applicants to our program. This most typically includes coursework and/or professional experience related to mathematics, statistics, and economics. Also of note can be quantitative experience as it pertains to areas such as science or engineering.

Unfortunately, academic transcripts rarely provide in depth descriptions of the actual content of coursework completed. For example, a class labeled as “Principles of Economics” on a transcript provides little detail on how much focus was placed on the use of quantitative methods. And with the large number of international applicants to SIPA, often times transcripts translated into English will just list a class as “Mathematics” thus giving the Committee little information on the actual content/level of math studied.

Providing the opportunity for applicants to list detailed information pertaining to quantitative preparation/experience will allow for better explanations of past academic and professional experience. The goal is to be able to allow applicants to list full descriptions of courses included in a course catalog or in the syllabus used in a class.

Language Learning/Ability

Proficiency in a second language is a graduation requirement of the MIA program but is not a requirement of the MPA program (unless an MPA student chooses to major in Economic and Political Development). Proficiency is defined as the ability to use a second language at an intermediate level. Academically this is defined as the ability to achieve a grade of “B” or better in an intermediate level 2 language course.

Incoming MIA students who speak English as a native language will be tested in a second language of their choice upon entering into the program. Due to the intensity of the MIA program at SIPA, it would be quite difficult for an applicant with no previous language study to achieve intermediate level proficiency in two years of study. The Committee therefore wishes to see at least elementary level proficiency in a second language when evaluating an MIA applicant for admission.

If an incoming native English speaker passes the proficiency exam administered shortly after beginning the program, no additional language study is required. If the grade achieved on the exam is not sufficient, to prove proficiency a grade of “B” or better must be achieved in an intermediate level 2 language course during the time at SIPA in order to graduate.

For MPA students that speak English as a native language, second language learning is optional so it is not required to include language learning information in the second résumé. However, if an MPA applicant does have experience in a second language we encourage them to provide this information because it provides us with additional information on your background.

Please do note that there is one exception to the language requirement for the MPA program. If an MPA applicant chooses the Economic and Political Development concentration, second language proficiency is a requirement just like in the MIA program.

For applicants that do not speak English as a native language, the second résumé will provide an opportunity to elaborate further on time spent studying English and other languages. This can of course include academic study but can also include additional information not included in transcripts or test scores such as time spent living in English speaking environments.

Details on Quantitative/Language Learning

The second résumé is meant to provide applicants with the ability to provide detailed information which can include:

Name/level/grade/institution pertaining to classroom courses.

For classroom courses, a description of the course and specific learning objectives (best done by providing a description from a course catalog or a syllabus that was used for the class). If it has been a number of years since you graduated, a description from a current course catalog found on your school web site can suffice.

Examples of working knowledge of the subject matter as demonstrated in academic or professional settings.

Tests taken and grades/scores achieved.

Specific certificates earned.

In the case of second language learning, the following information is useful:

Information on time spent in a foreign country where the language is spoken. Or, if the second language was spoken in your home country please provide the context (i.e. did you grow up in a home where a second language was spoken but your academic training was in another language?).
Details regarding professional/volunteer/personal use of the language.
Specific details/examples regarding writing, reading, speaking, and listening ability.

One question you might have is, “If the course is listed on my transcripts or noted in another part of my application, is it necessary to include it in the Quantitative/Language résumé?”

The answer is yes. It is okay to be redundant or to include the same information that might be listed in another part of the application in this section. Seeing the information twice, but in more detailed format in the résumé portion, is what the Committee is seeking to achieve.

You can view samples of this résumé by clicking here. Do note that the sample is only a guide. The level of detail you wish to include is entirely up to you.

If you have been out of school for a while, do not feel compelled to spend hours and hours trying to search for old syllabus or text book titles/authors. The point of the résumé is not to put you through some sort of time trial, it is meant to provide information on the core learning from the course/experience. The example résumé was borrowed from an applicant that applied to SIPA while still in college, and is meant to only be a sample. Simply provide as much information as you can and you will be fine.

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Top 10 Tips for 2012 Application – #3 The Personal Statement

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

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This is the third entry in our “Top 10″ list to assist you with understanding the process of submitting your 2012 admission application to SIPA. This entry is focused on advice regarding the personal statement.

The personal statement is probably the most important part of an application because it helps us to learn about your passion, goals, and the impact you wish to make. As much as we would like to, we are unable to conduct interviews with applicants as part of the admission process and you can think of your personal statement as a type of interview.

If you could only spend 10-15 minutes in front of the Admissions Committee, what would you say to ensure us that you would be a contributing student in our program? Your personal statement is your opportunity to “speak” to the Admissions Committee.

Question: Do I have to follow the format of the personal statement?

Answer: Yes. Our personal statement is broken into three parts, each with an associated word limit (one year PESP applicants see special note below). Applicants should follow the instructions and keep within the stated word limits. Applicants that obviously try to substitute a statement written according to another school’s requirements are judged harshly in the admissions process. Following directions is an important part of the process of applying.

The majority of this entry addresses the first part of the personal statement. We generally do not provide instructions regarding the second part because we want each applicant to answer in their own way. For the second part, we are interested in how applicants choose to respond to the question and thus have no specific advice on what constitutes a “good” part 2 answer.

The third part of the personal statement is wide open. We provide space where you can include information you wish for the Committee to be aware of that might not be highlighted in other parts of your application or that you feel will shed light on some aspect of your past or future goals. Part three can focus on things you are proud of, or perhaps not so proud of. The Admissions Committee would prefer to see something in section 3 so please try not to leave it blank.

Question: Do you have any general advice regarding the personal statement?

Answer: Yes, and the rest of this entry will focus on advice for you to consider.

For one, I would not quote anyone in your personal statement. For example, it would not be wise to say something along the lines of the following –

I want to join SIPA because like Gandhi said, “I wish to be the change I wish to see in the world.”

While this is a nice quote and Gandhi was an incredible person, the Admissions Committee is not making a decision to admit Gandhi to SIPA – we are considering admitting you to our program. Thus we are not so interested in what Gandhi has to say, rather we are interested in what you have to say. Also, when you quote someone else it in essence says, “I could not think of anything on my own to say, so let me let someone else do it for me.”

At SIPA we are looking for creative, passionate, smart, driven, and competent people. The best personal statements are just that – personal. We want to hear from you. The best applicants each year become quotable. When an Admissions Committee member is impressed with what an applicant has written, they will often call attention to this when discussing the application. So your goal should be to become quotable, not to quote someone else.

Another note is that your answer to section one should not simply be your résumé in paragraph format. In order to get your point across in your personal statement it might be necessary to restate information already included in your résumé, however do not restate information without a specific reason or goal.

One thing not to do for example is to tell us in your personal statement where you went to school. Many applicants will mention the name of their school in the personal statement. What is wrong with this? Well, you sent us your transcript and you state where you went to school in your résumé, why would we need to be told a third time where you went to school? Use your personal statement to get across new information that might not be contained in other parts of your application.

Your answer to part one of the personal statement should particularly be about what you hope to accomplish in the future. What are you passionate about? What are your goals? What impact do you hope to make on the world? Most of the contents of your application are about your past, we want a glimpse into your future.

One thing we are trying to determine is if SIPA is the right program for you. We are also trying to determine the type of contribution you will make as a student and alumnus of our program. We do understand that you might not know exactly what you wish to do, however you should try to be as specific as you can. For example, if you are interested in development, is there a region or particular group of people you wish to focus on?

Strong responses to part one are focused and clear. An example of not being focused is to say that you wish to work for the United Nations. Just saying this alone is too vague. The United Nations is comprised of a multitude of organizations, doing a multitude of different things, in a multitude of different places. Listing a broad policy objective without context is also a common mistake. Whatever you hope to do, you should integrate the who, what, where, how, and why elements into your statement.

Address questions such as: Who do you wish to impact? Is there a specific region, city, country, locality you are passionate about? What population do you hope to serve? What concerns you about the future and how do you hope to address policy questions to make a difference? What skills will SIPA help you to develop? Is there a sector that is most appealing to you? (Non-profit, multilateral, for profit, public). Do you hope to go in a new direction and why? Specificity is important.

The most outstanding personal statements each year become a part of discussions amongst members of the Admissions Committee. Each person is different and has a different history and goals. Make sure to pour yourself into your personal statement and it will likely stand out because no two people are the same.

Here again are the three parts of the personal statement we are asking applicants for the fall 2012 semester to respond to. SPECIAL NOTE: applicants to our one year Program in Environmental Science and Policy should ONLY respond to section one and have 1,000 words to do so. All other Master degree applicants should address all three sections.

Section One (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.

Section Two – (300 Word Maximum)

Please CHOOSE ONE of these options to write about – do not address both, pick one or the other. All relevant information should be included in the statement. For example, the organization information (option 1) or issue you are responding to (option 2) should be included in the 300 words. In other words, you may not submit more than 300 words so include everything in your response.

1. A competition is being conducted that will provide one million dollars as seed funding to start a new organization. The competition requires a 300 word essay/statement. Compose a 300 word essay/statement to submit in order to be considered for this seed funding.

2. You have just read a news story that has deeply moved you. Compose a 300 word response in the form of a letter to the editor. The news story you are responding to can be real or fictional and does not need to be limited to the present time – it can be framed in the past, present, or future.

Section Three (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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Top 10 Tips for 2012 Application – #2 Recommendation Letters

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

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This is the second entry in our “Top 10″ list to assist you with understanding the process of submitting your 2012 admission application to SIPA. This entry is focused on many of the questions we receive regarding the submission of letters of recommendation.

Question: Can I submit more than three letters?

Answer: No, we will only accept three letters of recommendation. We wish to be fair to all applicants and thus hold everyone to the same standard.

Question: What is the ideal combination of recommendation letters?

Answer: There is no real ideal combination, it really depends on the applicant; however let me elaborate a bit on the subject. Recommendation letters should come from one of two sources: academic or professional. In other words, from individuals who have supervised you in the classroom or in the work place. “Work place” is a broad term.

The work place could include internships, volunteer work, or paid full-time work. Sometimes unpaid work is much more in alignment with an applicant’s goals and if you are choosing to do something and not get paid for it this shows a great deal of dedication and commitment.

Since SIPA is a professional school it makes sense that we would like to see at least one professional letter of recommendation. The only combination we really do not recommend is three academic letters of recommendation. An applicant that submits three academic letters is basically telling us that there is no one from the professional world that can comment on their ability and qualifications for graduate school.

Beyond this advice, any combination will do. If you have been out of school for several years do not feel compelled to go back and get a letter of recommendation from a professor who did not really know you or that you have not been in contact with. We would much rather receive letters from those that know you and that you have been in contact with in some capacity. If you had fabulous relationships with a few professors two letters of recommendation from professors is fine.

Question: Do you have general advice concerning the content of the letters?

Answer: Yes! The best letters of recommendation go beyond addressing your character and include specific information on your potential to succeed in our program. This is best accomplished through specific examples of academic or professional competence. When you talk with those writing letters for you, please tell them to include specific examples of your competence.

It is one thing to say that someone is smart and capable; it is another to provide solid examples of intelligence and ability in the workplace or in the classroom. Be sure that you speak with those writing letters on your behalf and clarify this point.

If you put yourself in my shoes, my job as the Director of Admission is to quantify your ability to do well in our program. A letter that contains examples of work performed will better allow me to identify your ability and potential. The Admissions Committee has to make tough calls (admission is a competition after all) and sometimes it can come down to the quality of the content contained in the recommendation letters.

Question: How can those submitting the letters submit them?

Answer: When you start your online application you will be asked to enter the names and emails addresses of the three individuals you have chosen to submit letters on your behalf. When you submit this information our system automatically sends the person an email with specific details on how to submit their letter. See this entry for information on where to access the letter of recommendation section of the application.

Our preference is that those submitting letters do so through our application site. In the email that is sent when you enter the name of your recommender(s), there are specific instructions for the recommender(s) to follow. They will visit a web site and upload a copy of the letter. This is the fastest and most convenient way. We are not into ceremony – pretty letterhead and a “wet” signature are of no consequence in our decision making.

When a letter is uploaded, it will be matched to your application and you will be able to see that it has been submitted. Thus this method is also nice for you, because if your recommender submits the letter via the web site, you will know in real time (if you log into your application) if it has been received.

Yes, recommenders can mail letters to us, but this slows the process down. If a letter is delivered to our office we generally do not seek to match it to a file until after the deadline (January 5th) passes. Thus there will be a little bit of tension on your part. You will think, “Have all of my letters arrived?” Unfortunately we cannot dedicate the time to tracking letters prior to the submission of an admission application. If a letter is mailed, it can be sent to the following address:

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Columbia University – SIPA
420 West 118th Street – 4th Floor Room 408
New York, NY 10027

As far as to whom to address the letter to, it does not really matter. Popular choices include The Admissions Committee, To Whom it May Concern, or the Director of Admissions.

Question: Should I wait to submit my application until all of the letters of recommendation have been received?

Answer: No. Applicants should not be concerned if an application is submitted before a letter or letters of recommendation have been received. What ultimately matters is that both your application and the letters are submitted by the deadline of January 5th at midnight EST.

So, do not worry if letters of recommendation have yet to be submitted when submitting your application, you may submit your application prior to letters of recommendation being received.

Question: What if a person wishes to write a letter in a language other than English? Is this okay?

Answer: Yes, it is okay if a person writes a letter in a language other than English, however that letter will need to be translated into English, and not by you. Letters of recommendation are confidential and you cannot translate your own letter.

If someone wishes to write a letter in another language, ask that they have the letter translated by either an employee they work with or a certified translator. The person who translates the letter should include their name and email address so we can get in touch with him/her if necessary.

____________________

A final note is to encourage those submitting letters on your behalf to do so as early as possible. An application that does not have all documents submitted by the deadline does not look professional. We understand that the submission of letters of recommendation is beyond the control of applicants and we are willing to work with applicants when unusual circumstances lead to the late submission of letters, however we do take note when documents come in after the stated deadline.

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Top 10 Tips for 2012 Application – #1 Test Score Reporting

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Monday, September 19th, 2011

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We just finished one top 10 list and now we are on to another. The first list dealt mostly with communication advice, this list will provide insight on the process of submitting your admission application to SIPA.

One of the ways we seek to make the application process fast and easy is to accept self reported test scores for admission application review. To repeat, to be considered for admission to SIPA we do not require that official test score reports be on file. This includes the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS.

At SIPA, we only require official test scores reports if an admitted applicant chooses to enroll. Here are a few common questions we receive and reminders of how the process works in our office.

Question: I sent my scores to SIPA some time ago, can you tell me if they have been received?

Answer: Applicants self report test scores as a part of the online application process. When assembling a file for admission we do not look for official reports. When you request that official test reports be sent to SIPA, they are downloaded into a centralized computer system. We will not match application records to this system until after admission decisions have been made.

Therefore, you should self report your scores when applying online. We print your application, do a manual check to make sure the necessary information has been included and then will update your record accordingly. We appreciate your patience as we work as quickly as possible to print and manually check each application after it has been submitted.

Question: I emailed my scores to your office or mailed a paper copy, do I still need to self report the scores when submitting my application?

Answer: Yes. Every applicant should self report the results of each test taken when filling in the online application. If the scores are not entered they do not appear when we print the application and this slows down the process.

Question: I took the (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS) several times. How should I report my scores? Should I only list my top scores?

Answer: As you can see in the screen shot below you can self report the total results for thee different exams for both the GRE/GMAT section and the English as a Second Language section. You should therefore report each test individually.

Let us say that you take the GRE three times. We DO NOT want you to take your top three scores achieved and enter them as one exam. You should report your scores from all three exams in the three separate sections that are available to you. If you have taken a test more than three times, report your most recent three scores.

Screen Shot From Application Site Showing Multiple Entry Areas to Report Test Scores

Question: How late can I report my test scores?

Answer: The application deadline is January 5th at 11:59:59 PM EST. This means that all of your application and all of the associated information should be submitted by this time. Therefore, you can report your test scores up until this time. Because we do not need official test scores to consider an applicant for admission, you do not need to worry about how long it will take the testing agency to report the scores to us, only concern yourself with being able to self report your scores by the deadline.

Question: If I am admitted, when will my test scores need to be received by SIPA?

Answer: Applicants that are admitted and pay a deposit to enroll are required to have official test scores in our office by June 15th. We will provide guidance on this process after admission decisions go out. If you have listed our test code when taking the exam more than likely we will have an electronic record in our mainframe system.

Question: Is there a time limit on how long scores are acceptable?

Answer: TOEFL and IELTS scores up to two years old are acceptable. GRE and GMAT scores up to five years old are acceptable. The year periods relate to the admission deadline – January 5th. The tests must have been taken within 2 or 5 years of this date respectively.

Question: When I am taking the exam and it asks for your school code, what number should I enter?

Answer: See below – we highly encourage you to list our code so that if you are admitted, we can work through the process faster.

GRE Code: 2161 (do not list a department code)

GMAT Code for MIA: QF8-64-56

GMAT Code for MPA: QF8-64-99

TOEFL Code: 2161

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Top 10 Communication Tips 2011 – Summary

Posted by Columbia SIPA

· Friday, September 16th, 2011

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Shortly after the 2012 application for admission went “live” we published 10 tips to assist with communicating with our office and obtaining information. For ease of reference all 10 tips are summarized here for easy reference. Each is a hyperlink to the full entry. We hope this allows you to obtain information quickly and communicate clearly with our office.

1. Always use the same email address when communicating with our office – this includes the email you use when you start your application. In addition we recommend NOT using an employer email address and always including your email address in the signature of your message (below your name).

2. Avoid Unnecessarily Creating a Duplicate Online Application.

3. Avoid copying several parties on the same email and avoid long emails.

4. Thoroughly review our FAQ Page.

5. When leaving a voice mail message speak slowly and clearly, state your telephone number twice, and note your city/time zone.

6. If you must mail something to our office use a private mail courier and request receipt confirmation.

7. Check out our student, alumni, faculty, staff interview page.

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

9. Attend an information session or recruitment event.

10. Subscribe to this Blog.

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Categories : Admissions, Application Tips