SIPA MIA/MPA 2013 Admissions Timeline
Application goes live: August
Application Deadline: January 5, with fellowship consideration; February 5, final deadline
Decision Notification: begins March 18
Admitted Students Day: April 9
Enrollment Deposit Deadline: April 20
Mandatory Orientation: late August
We had a rather quiet summer after saying goodbye to our 2012 graduates in May. You know the summer is over once the hallways begin to buzz with chatter in 44 different languages.
The SIPA MIA/MPA Orientation week got underway on Monday. We welcomed over 400 enthusiastic new students to New York from all over the world. Students, faculty and administrators were introduced to one another over briefings, peer/faculty advising, lunches, program sessions, math camp, and various social activities throughout the week. Today they register for fall classes and on September 4th, classes begin.
But before we close the summer, below are a few photos from our new arrivals — our final photo postings for 2012. Enjoy!
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The first set of photos were submitted by Aline Sara, MIA 2014. The photos were taken in Cairo, Egypt, during the country’s historic first presidential election since Mubarak’s toppling during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. It is also the second presidential election in Egypt’s history with more than a single candidate.
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My colleague Fernande, along with some locals, on the way to the polling station. The sign above reads Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate who won the election run-off against candidate Ahmad Shafiq, considered a remnant of the former regime.
Kids hang out while waiting for the boat that takes them back to Cairo for a meager 25 Egyptian piasters . (USD 1= EGP 6) 
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The second set was sent to us by Dhwani Bafna, an incoming MIA student. The photographs were taken during a class trip to Sikkim, a north-east Indian state in January 2010.
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We were lucky enough to get a permission to spend a few hours with the Army personnel at the base. We were shown some of the arms and ammunition. The army men also showed us their residential units and the conference room where the Indian and Chinese officials generally meet.
A picture of the Khecheopalri Lake in Pelling, Sikkim.
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The third (and final) photo submission comes from Jiayu Chen, MIA degree candidate.
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On the Beach of Batukalas: not a well known island in Indonesia, but it was definitely heaven to me: beach, sunshine, surfing, bear, and friends!
Tibet: A toast with an Tibetan old father. 
The Night Train to the Mountains: We were heading for a under-developed mountain region for a voluntary teaching project.
The night train was also full of people who bought a “standing” ticket and had to stand during the 3 days/2 nights trip back to their hometown: This is part of China that is often neglected by those who are amazed or terrified by China’s rise.
Mandatory orientation for new students joining for fall 2010 starts on Monday, August 30th. The schedules have been released by the Office of Student Affairs and I am happy to share the schedules here. MPA-DP Orientation details will be made available during the required MPA-DP “Getting Started Program” that commences on August 16th.
Questions such as the following, and many more, will all be answered during Orientation:
Plenty of returning students will be available, there are sure to be events in the evenings that are not part of the official schedule, and faculty/administrators will be available as well. Business casual attire should be worn during Orientation. We look forward to seeing new students soon and here are the schedules:
Very soon those that have paid deposits to enroll will start to receive communications from our Student Affairs Office, or SAO. SAO is the main office responsible for helping to shepherd students during their time at SIPA. Among other things SAO is where you go to register for classes, set up language tests, set up a student group, or apply for second year fellowship funding.
You could say that SAO is the administrative hub of the building for students. Students of course work with faculty, the plethora of institutes and centers in our building, and staff members like those in our library, but the SAO Office is the place where everything comes together.
SAO will help to coordinate a summer email series so that each week you will get important information about your first year at SIPA. These emails will likely kick off with a notice about our summer math tutorial. Achieving a good GPA in your first year is important for second year fellowship consideration and the first year does have many quantitative requirements. Thus the math tutorial will help to make sure you get started on the right foot. A host of other topics will follow including information about billing, career services, health insurance, orientation, etc.
So stay tuned to both this blog as well as to your email in box as we continue to busy ourselves with making sure you are as prepared as possible for the fall.
This is a reminder for admitted students to thoroughly review our Welcome Page for important information regarding enrollment. Information on how to access the Welcome Page is included in the online admission letter. We have been fielding questions in our email in box such as:
My staff and I are experts is some matters, but other matters we leave to experts who are in charge of different departments and processes. I hope that applicants can quickly find contact information and help on the Welcome Page, but if you have a question that you feel is not covered there please let us know and we will try to help you the best we are able.
"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
