Archive for application tips – Page 28

Top 10 Communication Tips 2011 – #10

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Thursday, September 15th, 2011 
· No Comments

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

Number 10 – Subscribe to this blog

The best way to stay up-to-date regarding matters of admission is to subscribe to this blog.  Yes the SIPA Web site is a great source of information and you should scour it for information, but for the most part the Web site is static and is rarely updated.  We try to update it as needed, but the blog is much more informative as far as the day-to-day things going on in our office.

Over in the right menu of the blog there is an empty box with “Subscribe” written below it.  Simply enter your email and each and every time this blog is updated, you will receive an email message letting you know there is new content.

Why is it a good idea to subscribe?  Well for one we try to monitor common questions and post answers to the site for mass consumption.  Two, this is your window into the admission cycle.  We will update you on what is going on in our office.  And finally, this is a great way to find out more about what is going on at SIPA and to learn about fellowship opportunities.  You can consider this to be the most frequently updated Web space concerning matters of admission and financial aid.

No Comments
Categories : Admissions, Application Tips
Tags : , ,

Top 10 Communication Tips 2011 – #9

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Wednesday, September 14th, 2011 
· No Comments

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

Number 9 – Attend an information session or recruitment event.

While I realize not everyone can make it to New York, if you can the best way to obtain information is to attend an information session.  If you live nearby or are visiting New York this is probably the best way to learn about our programs and how to put together a competitive application.  Due to the large number of visitors and our small staff we are unable to arrange walk in appointments.  You are always welcome to visit and someone will assist you, however we are rarely able to provide extensive individual counseling appointments.

If you would like to attend an information session, which are held every Monday at 6pm and every Friday at 12pm excluding holidays, it is best to send an email to [email protected] and we will respond with a confirmation message and directions.

We also attend recruitment events in the U.S. and abroad.  You can view our fall 2011 recruitment schedule by clicking here.

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

Top 10 Communication Tips 2011 – #6

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Thursday, September 8th, 2011 
· No Comments

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

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

Columbia is a huge university with one central mail room.  All “standard” mail is funneled to the main mail room and it can take a week or more for mail to be sorted and sent on to us.  This spells D-E-L-A-Y.

By utilizing a private mail carrier the parcel will be sent directly to our office, avoiding delays.  Also, we highly recommend getting a tracking number or receipt confirmation whenever something is mailed to our office.  This way the moment we sign for the package the courier will log delivery and you will be notified if you have signed up for email notification.

Even better, 100% of your documents needed for admission consideration may be submitted on our application site so you may want to consider uploading your information rather than sending anything by mail.  We want to make the process of applying as simple as possible so we accept self reported test scores and unofficial transcripts uploaded our application site.

It may sound funny to applicants but I cannot tell you how excited I get when we print an application and everything comes out in order.  When applicants upload all of the necessary documents and recommenders upload their letters as well, everything prints in one batch.  This means we can forward your application to the committee quickly.

If documents are mailed, after we print the application and review it we then have to go on a perilous search for missing documents.  The natural question you might ask is, “What is so perilous about searching for documents in an office?”  Well, I can tell you from lots of experience that paper and staples possess the unique capacity to slice human skin.  During the application season band-aids and hand lotion are a must and often times my hands look as if I got into fight with a cat.

No Comments
Categories : Admissions, Application Tips
Tags : , , , ,

Recommender Link on the Admission Application

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 
· No Comments

We field our fair share of questions regarding letters of recommendation and we will offer specific advice regarding letter content and choice of recommenders in some future blog entries.  To get the recommender conversation started I just wanted to highlight where the letter of recommendation section can be found in the online application.

Most of the data input for the application follows a “tree” starting with “Getting Started” and finishing with the checklist (see the white text below “Application for Admission” in the following screen shot).

Some applicants will cruise through the tree of information and then wonder where to input their recommender information.  Although the recommender link is in view, it is easy to miss.  Take a look at the screen shot above and see the end of the red arrow.  To enter the name and information pertaining to your recommenders just click on “Recommendations” and read the instructions and input the appropriate information.

Here are a couple of things to consider:

  • Each applicant must choose three recommenders – no more, no less.
  • Recommender information can be entered at any time.  Once you start an application you can enter the recommender information as soon as you like.  Note that when you enter the information and submit it the recommender will receive an email a very short time later with instructions on how to submit their letter.  You might want to let them know ahead of time that the email is coming.
  • An applicant does not need to wait for recommenders to submit their information prior to submitting the application.  There is no problem with an application being submitted before all of the recommendations have been submitted.  The opposite is true as well – there is no problem with a recommender submitting a letter before the application is submitted.

We will have more specific letter of recommendation advice in future entries.  The main purpose of this entry is to clarify where the information can be found.

No Comments
Categories : Admissions, Application Tips
Tags : , ,

Top 10 Communication Tips 2011 – #5

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 
· No Comments

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

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

As much as we would like to answer every call someone makes to our office, sometimes all of our lines are in use and you will be put through to voice mail.  Sometimes there is static or background noise when leaving your message and we may not be able to clearly hear your message.

Speaking slowly and stating your telephone number twice will help ensure that we can get back you.  Our recommendation is actually to email our office rather than leave a voice mail.  We can check email much more quickly and can provide very detailed information in email messages.  And we do not have to worry about time zones (see bonus tip below).  As a reminder our email address is [email protected].

It is also helpful to compile a list of questions prior to calling our office and after checking the Web site. We can work with you to answer all of your questions but the process is often more streamlined if you know beforehand what information you are looking for. It also helps if questions are specific.

For example, a question like “Can you tell me about financial aid?” is quite broad.  However a question like, “I am not a U.S. citizen, what aid can I qualify for?” is much more specific.

Bonus Tip:   If leaving a voice mail message, also state your city, country, and time zone if possible.  We get applications from over 100 countries each year and people call from all over the world.  Stating your location will assist us, however this is another reason we recommend email – we can respond any time and possibly will not wake you when calling at what may be business hours for us, and sleeping hours for you.

No Comments
Categories : Admissions, Application Tips
Tags : , , ,
« Previous Page
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