Archive for Application – Page 6

be in it to win it

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Wednesday, February 5th, 2014 
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So you want to serve the global community?  Get the skills and the network to be a leader.

The SIPA MIA/MPA application deadline is tonight, February 5, 2014 [at 23:59:59 EST].

We are gearing up for the final rush of applications.   Materials are coming in every day.  We are processing them quickly so they make it to the Admission Committee for review.  Our readers have been pleased with those who submitted earlier last month; they anticipate a good show this time around too.

Your application must be complete in order for it to move to the next stage of the process.  Check your application status for received materials by logging into your application.  If you are uncertain, review our recent post on application status.  Keep in mind if you mail in your materials, it may take a few days before your application status is updated.

If you want to shape policy and lead change, you need to be at SIPA.  But first you need to apply.  So what are you waiting for?  Don’t delay.  Submit.

 

 

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Categories : Admissions, Application Tips
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Is my application complete?

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Tuesday, January 28th, 2014 
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It is that time of year again when we receive calls and emails regarding application status with the same one liner, “is my application complete?”

Here are some few easy steps to check your application status (after you have “submitted”) that will ease your stress and give you peace of mind while you wait for the ‘decision’.

We will use Maggie Pittman’s application as a reference – No worries, it’s a fabricated application that we created for this blog post.

Step 1: Breathe. Now, let’s begin.

Step 2: Log into your application.  Already removed the link from your bookmarks, no worries, click here.  The link will take you to this page (see below).

Step 3:  Access your application status page.  Select “Log in” under Returning users and enter your application log in information.

You will be directed to the page below. Click Fall 2014 and then click “open application” in the pop up window.

 

Step 4: Check Application Status.

You will be automatically directed to the “Application Status” page, which will indicate if any document(s) are missing. Our example below shows that there are recommendation letters missing (as indicated by the red “x” marks).  If the application is complete – the “√” marks will be green:

EXAMPLE 1: INCOMPLETE APPLICATION

If you have missing documents, please submit as soon as possible.

We will accept letters of recommendation and self-reported GRE/GMAT scores past the deadline, within reason, so that your application can be completed and forwarded to the Committee for review. However, we cannot guarantee materials received after the February 5th deadline will be reviewed.  If a recommendation letter is missing, it is usually fine and should not impact the decision if it is received a little later.

EXAMPLE 2: COMPLETE APPLICATION

If you do not have missing documents, take a deep breath and smile – your application is complete and is being reviewed by the Admissions Committee as we speak.

Step 5: Once your application is complete…do the happy dance!

 

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Categories : Admissions, Application Tips
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more words of advice (because we can’t help ourselves)

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 
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As a SIPA representative who has interacted with applicants hoping to get into SIPA, I know that the final stage of the application process yields both relief and stress for prospective students who have not yet completed the application.  Here are a few tips for those of you who are still working on your SIPA applications:

Follow directions:  Often times, it is the simplest thing that can hinder ones application. Be sure to follow instructions carefully and thoroughly. If there is a word limit for personal statements, follow it. If you are asked for three letters of recommendation, do not send more or less. If you are asked not to send anything additional, don’t.

Focus on content and presentation: A candidate might have the highest standardized test scores, a great GPA, and excellent references, but if the application contains obvious misspellings or grammatical mistakes, it may be a problem. Please make sure to carefully review your materials before hitting the submit button. The most common mistake is submitting a statement of purpose that was meant for another school – Don’t confuse SIPA with other schools.  If you do, the Admissions Committee will assume you are careless and not entirely serious about your application.

Be yourself: It is important that you present yourself in a genuine and honest way. No one is perfect, so the Committee might be a bit skeptical about applicants who present themselves as having no flaws. Don’t exaggerate your accomplishment or make up excuses for weaknesses in your application.

Allow yourself enough time:  Take some time to gather and collect all of the required materials for your application. Our online application portal allows you to frequently check the status of your application. Check and recheck to make sure that there are no more supporting and supplemental documents you need to submit.

Stay positive and try to relax:  We realize that it is a very anxious time for you and we’ll do our best to help you through the process.  Feel free to visit the office if you are in the New York City area. Our office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm, excluding holidays – No appointment is needed to speak to someone in the Admissions Office.  Of course, you can always email or call us if you need assistance.

Good luck!

 

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Categories : Admissions, Application Tips
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aye carumba!

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 
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Application materials continue to come in… flooding our mailboxes.  We receive a lot of paper for an application that allows applicants to upload everything electronically.  These documents will all be processed and uploaded into the applicants’ files.

We continue to respond to emails and voice mails — proudly I can say we are finally all caught up, which means that there are no email/voice mails sitting in our main SIPA Admissions mailbox for more than 24 hours — a huge feat during this BUSY season with messages hitting us day and night.  We are lucky to have super students and admissions counselors responding to them as quickly as they can — because we all know how frustrating it can be to wait for a response when you are trying to decide what to upload into your application.  Hopefully we can stay at this pace for the next few months.

To help us comb through the paper and emails faster, please do not send any additional supplemental materials that we do not require from you.  And again, official documents do not need to be submitted for your application to be reviewed.  You may submit copies.  Official documents are only required if you have been admitted into our program.  Also, it will be helpful if you send us an email attachment with materials, to include your name and the program you are applying in the subject line.  Many thanks.

Reading process has started and is going well with our new application system — Readers seem to be happier; it’s always better to have a happy reader.  Looking forward to getting through some of my reads this week (happily).

 

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Four days post the MIA/MPA App Deadline (with fellowship consideration)

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Friday, January 10th, 2014 
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The first application deadline has passed and the admissions staff is busily processing all submitted applications.   A few of the submitted applications are missing a couple of items so they are in our “Awaiting materials” bin until ‘completion’.  However, the majority of the applications submitted are complete and have already moved forward for review.   Congrats!

But we did notice a couple of applicants mistakenly did not complete all three required essays:

If you are a re-applicant, you will also need to respond to the “Re-applicants Only” essay: How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application?  Please detail your progress since you .

There is also an optional essay for any applicant who has something more to say about their candidacy.  There is no word limit; however, use some discretion and keep it within reason.

Please make sure all your materials are submitted by the indicated deadlines for consideration.  If you forgot to upload required materials and clicked the “submit” button — No worries, you may still upload them into your application.  If you have trouble doing it yourself, please let us know.  You can find a checklist of required admission-related items on our website.

You may track your application status by logging back into your application account any time.  Materials submitted and received will be reflected as we process them — this may take up to 10 days.   If you are reading this post over the weekend, don’t check now and freak yourself out — there was a glitch in the system today that changed all received materials to “awaiting material” status so if you submitted and you see this in your application status, relax.  We got you.  The tech team is working on this and will have it resolved early next week. 

An application that is (submitted and) complete goes to the Admissions Committee for review.  Once an admission decision is reached, you will receive an email to check your account again (this will happen in March); so don’t lose your application log in information.

For now, don’t lose sleep and enjoy your weekend.
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Categories : Admissions, Application Tips, SIPA
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"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

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