Congrats Bill! Bill de Blasio was elected mayor of New York City yesterday (read more). Did we mention he’s a SIPA alum — MIA 1987.
Archive for new york city – Page 4
Once students matriculate at SIPA, they are introduced to a new language spoken by those at the graduate school. From the names of concentrations (USP, EPD, and ISP, among them) to specializations (IMAC, ICR) to student organizations (SIPASA, LASA), members of the SIPA community can feel as though they are swimming in an alphabet soup.
For many New York City newcomers, residents of the Big Apple also seem to speak a unique foreign language. Many neighborhoods and places have names that befuddle tourists and those that are new here. But fear not, future New Yorkers! We have identified locations, abbreviations and acronyms that you should know but may mislead. Some of these terms are universally used, others are still finding their foothold in the City’s vernacular (FiDi, we’re looking at you). But use these names, and you’ll be mistaken for a local in no time.
Word: Alphabet City
Meaning: Alphabet City is part of the East Village, and derives its name from Avenues A, B, C, and D. Alphabet City is essentially a neighborhood within a neighborhood. In the past twenty years, the area has gentrified dramatically, and today is known for its hipster culture.
What To Do There: Alphabet City is home to a number of great bars and eateries. For dinner, be sure to check out La Lucha, known for its stellar Mexican street food. Then move the party to The Sunburnt Cow and Pouring Ribbons, both popular bars among locals.
Word: BQE
Meaning: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Why It Matters: A major thoroughfare connecting Brooklyn and Queens. You may hear people refer to the BQE when you’re hanging out in Williamsburg, New York’s hipster haven.
Word: DUMBO
Meaning: Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass
What To Do There: When in DUMBO, be sure to spend some time in Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of New York City’s celebrated greenspaces. Chocolate aficionados would be remiss to skip Jacques Torres Chocolate, a shop devoted to the glory of the cocoa bean.
Word: FiDi
Meaning: Financial District
Why It Matters: On the other end of the island from Columbia, you’ll find Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Federal Reserve Bank in this neighborhood. This is also where the Twin Towers once stood, and where the Freedom Tower is being built. The 9/11 Memorial in this neighborhood is unbelievably moving.
Word: GWB
Meaning: The George Washington Bridge
Why It Matters: The GWB is the mammoth double-decker bridge that connects Fort Lee, New Jersey to the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan. The bridge is usually tangled with traffic.
Word: NoHo
Meaning: North of Houston Street
What To Do There: NoHo is a small sliver of downtown, wedged between the East and West Villages. For the independent film critic, Angelika Film Center is one of the city’s best theaters.
Important Note: Houston is pronounced How-ston, not like the city in Texas.
Word: NoLiTa
Meaning: The area North of Little Italy
What To Do There: If you’re fortunate enough to visit New York City in September, the annual Feast of San Gennaro takes place in NoLiTa. At the festival, zeppoles and cannolis abound.
Word: SoHo
Meaning: The neighborhood South of Houston Street
What To Do There: SoHo is one of the city’s main destinations for great shopping and even better dining. The neighborhood’s cobblestone streets are charming (just be sure you’re equipped with the right footwear!) Broadway has big name brick and mortars, including H&M, J.Crew, and Club Monaco (not to mention Uniqlo and TopShop), but weave through the side streets for lesser-known brands and boutiques. Then refuel with some delicious dosas at Hampton Chutney Company.
Word: TriBeCa
Meaning: A downtown neighborhood, Triangle below Canal Street
What To Do There: Let TriBeCa’s trendy restaurants, converted warehouses, and inviting parks transport you to a New York City far from Columbia’s beloved Morningside Heights. Stop by Bubby’s for hearty American comfort food (the sourdough pancakes are a hit), then spend the day on the Hudson waterfront where there are basketball and beach volleyball courts, a mini golf course, and a scenic bike path.
New York City, the financial capital of the world and the commercial capital of the United States, is the logical location for the leading policy program on international finance and trade. Our faculty flourish here, as they could not do in places such as Maryland, Massachusetts, Paris or Singapore. Our faculty have both academic credentials suited to an Ivy League university and up-to-date experience with how markets function—-we do not have to compromise. Columbia has always drawn top students who would not want to study anywhere else, from Alexander Hamilton (the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury and founder of the New York Stock Exchange) to Warren Buffet.
Internships, capstone workshops and ultimately jobs for IFEP students that can be found in New York City are unrivaled. The top 5 banks or investment banks in the world in terms of fee revenues are headquartered here, as are 45 of the Fortune 500 companies. Two-thirds of the world’s hedge funds lie within 20 miles of SIPA.
Many things in New York City are big and so is the IFEP concentration.
With approximately 110 graduates each year, it is believed to be the largest such concentration among major policy schools. Scale means a bigger network of graduates, more courses and a bigger reputation.
While most IFEP students find satisfying jobs, no graduate education can guarantee a particular result. Students should keep in mind that job offers will depend on experience before coming to SIPA, immigration policies in the country where they wish to work, performance as a student, the economy at the time they graduate and a measure of good luck.
Many of our students move to New York City from far away lands and some not so far away places. But if you are going to be living in New York City for the first time, you should start your apartment search early. But keep in mind that landlords will not want to rent to you if you are not ready to take on a lease within a month or two. Regardless, you should at least visit so you have a sense of what neighborhood you would like to live in — There are five boroughs that make up New York City and within each borough, there are different and unique neighborhoods. Columbia University is located in Manhattan in Morningside Heights. Morningside Heights starts on 110th and runs to 125th Street from Morningside Drive/Columbus Avenue to Riverside Drive. Morningside is defined by the presence of its academic institutions, a group that is obviously anchored by Columbia. It has a relatively quiet, relaxed character, along with a good selection of businesses, bars, and restaurants that cater to students and faculty. Once you have settled on where to live, you’ll need to pack and get here. You may find yourself packing too much or packing too little.
Our resident admissions extraordinaire, Maggie Pittman, 
who you will pleasantly encounter several times during the admissions process, put together a lighthearted “Pack for New York – clothing essentials” guide for those who have inquired about how to pack for our seasonal weather.
The weather in New York City, particularly during the academic year (fall, winter and spring) is forever changing and so this post will provide you with some helpful tips on clothing and accessory essentials.
To start off, definitely read the SIPA Survival Guide if you haven’t already. Thank me later! Okay, on to the list:
These are general recommendations and knowledge that I have obtained through living here. Think of it this way, YOU are the all-terrain vehicle.
- An investment coat: a long coat that can be worn at night and during the day (or a nice pea coat), a winter/puffy coat: LL Bean or Land’s end (Macy’s has a huge selection too of all varying price ranges) – But get real. It gets COLD in New York; it’s one thing to look good, it’s another to FREEZE.
- Your feet, like the tires on a car, are essential to getting you around so treat them accordingly and provide the proper maintenance. Comfortable shoes are a staple!
- Boots: Difference between snow and rain boots.
- Rain boots and/or boot liners (waterproof)
- Winter boots (waterproof, with good tread and insulation)
- Gloves: touch screen gloves are especially useful!
- Wool/thick winter socks for boots
- Hat and/or ear muffs
- Umbrella (it’s worth investing in a good one)
- Sunglasses
- Scarf(s)
- A versatile, strong carry-all bag (because you don’t have a trunk) especially for those that want to wear nice/fancy shoes, CARRY THEM WITH YOU (I can’t even tell you how many ladies I see slipping and sliding their way through sidewalks and snow banks in heels.)
- Layers are your friend: the only way to cope with the cold above ground and the heat below
- T-shirts/ tank tops (and/or camisoles – for the ladies)
- Leggings and/or long underwear
- Sweaters, cardigans, hoodies
If you’re coming to New York (or live in the northern hemisphere) during the humid summer months, some quick clothing tips:
- Avoid wearing anything too tight, or jeans, especially skinny jeans. The days can be oppressively hot but bring a lightweight cardigan or hoodie for the nights (if you’re staying out all day) – temperatures can drop slightly at night.
- Avoid wearing flip-flops on city streets. The relaxed ease of flip-flops are tempting but they are rarely durable for the rough and pothole laden streets and, with the tourists pouring into the city, you risk getting your exposed foot stepped on. While socks and sneakers seem too hot to wear in the summer, try sandals with a thick sole. If you must wear open toe, make sure to watch out for crowds of people stopping in the middle of the street to read a map. You don’t want your feet stomped on accidentally.
- Sunglasses and a hat (for shade) are a must even with the skyscrapers and high rise buildings that may block the occasional rays.
If you don’t want to pack it, you can always buy it (but don’t forget to refer to our earlier post about living like a college student, and not like a rock star). For where to find these items, you can start with some of New York’s famed flagship stores: Century 21, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s. However, there is something to be said for getting great stuff on sale (such a rush!) so I recommend: TimeOut New York: Best Vintage/Thrift stores, Top 20 NYC Thrift stores, Racked: Ten Consignment Shops every sample sale junkie should know. Speaking of sample sales, HuffPost’s 7 tips for survival is a must read before you go! Goodwill and Salvation Army (via Yelp) locations also have affordable options.
There’s also online shopping – the easiest way to find, research and compare prices. Oh, be sure to sign up for Amazon Prime Student –free for 6 months!
It IS possible to be fashionable and practical!
The SIPA Admissions & Financial Aid Office is still under repairs (see earlier post) and so our tiny team has been temporarily jammed in
to the outer office space of two shared faculty offices on the 8th Floor of the International Affairs Building. At first glance when you step off the elevators, you’re not sure if you’re in the right place — we appear to be a call center of sorts (the opposite of our warm and fuzzy group) in the middle of a construction site (see photo). However
, you will still be greeted with warmth if you come by, although you probably will not hear us singing our version of Kumbaya –the Director of Financial Aid has banned us from singing while we are all sitting in close quarters; but we will share our Insomnia cookies or pastries from the Hungarian Pastry Shop (if there are any left).
So where is this going… Just to keep you in the loop of what’s to come… We’re still making sure all our incoming students are happy and getting all the necessary information needed to prepare them for their arrival on campus for Orientation in a month . We have set up a couple of community groups and updating the Welcome site — there has been a lot of chatter, which is always a good sign of people’s engagement and excitement. We are also in the process of putting together our 2014 program applications; the spring MIA/MPA application will be available by late-August and the application for the MIA/ MPA/ MPA DP fall term will be available in early September. In addition to the already planned fall trips we will make to meet you on the road at various graduate school fairs and APSIA forums, we are arranging times for you to come visit us in New York through class visits (will be offered beginning in late September after our students have settled into their classes), information sessions, and SIPA-sponsored events.
If you are thinking about graduate school, you should use this summer to research various schools and programs (because not all programs are the same — within a school there may be a few — at SIPA, we have seven), definitely invest time into searching for scholarships (every dollar helps) and you would hate to learn later you missed the deadline to apply. We will continue to post information about fellowships opportunities that we hear about too. And of course, plan your fall visits; make sure a stop at SIPA is on your travel itinerary — if we don’t have cookies, we’ll definitely offer you a good karma lollipop and some sound advice :).
"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
