September always seems to start and end too soon.  Students arrive and the School is buzzing.  Work piles on and project deadlines seem shorter. But the best part is meeting new applicants on the road and at home.  The academic year has begun, our students finalized their fall class schedules on Friday after two weeks of course “shopping”.  For prospective students, September is a month when they start pulling together their application materials and narrow down their searches for the best school for them.   Applications are also beginning to roll in — giving us a glimpse to what the applicants are interested in and what they’ve done.

This fall should be even more interesting, as we re-open the Spring class after a two year hiatus.  Interested applicants who know they want to pursue a Master of Public Administration or Master of International Affairs at SIPA, have an opportunity to begin their studies nine months early.  Fall applications are due on January 5th, but if you apply and are admitted for Spring, you will be getting ready to start classes in January  (instead of twiddling your thumbs waiting for an admission decision).  Applicants interested in being considered for Spring 2013 admission to our two year masters program have until October 15th to submit their application (application is live, just make sure you select the appropriate program/term of interest).

One difference (and recent change) between the Spring and Fall admissions is that for those applying to start in January 2013, you do not need to wait until a specific date to hear back from us.  The Admissions Committee will review applications as they are submitted and completed.  Once a decision is rendered, you will get news immediately.  So for those who have active calendars or events pending an admissions decision and want to plan ahead – early, get your applications in so we can get reading.  Our goal is to notify all Spring applicants (who turn in a completed application) by November 30th but again, if you want a decision earlier, you should submit before the deadline.  Also, unlike years past (when we offered a Spring entry term — before the spring option was taken away), this year we will review Spring applicants for SIPA fellowship consideration (there is no separate application) — so like the Fall term, a small percentage of our incoming Spring students will also have  a chance of receiving a merit award.  Small as it may be, it’s better than the old policy of NO MONEY for new Spring enrolled students.  It’s one feat we’ve won for our new students.