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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Admissions
Vital Statistics
Program Questions
Preparing to Apply
Submitting an Application
Waiting for and Responding to an Admissions Offer
Miscellaneous Questions
- What are the application deadlines?
- What am I required to submit?
- How long are the programs?
- How many applications do you receive each year? How many are accepted?
- What is the minimum or average GPA or GRE score for successful applicants?
- How many students are in each program?
- How many international students attend SIPA?
- How much does the program cost each year?
- What is the average age of a SIPA student?
- What courses are required to complete the Master of International Affairs (MIA)? Master of Public Administration (MPA)?
- Does SIPA offer a PhD program?
- Do you have a dual degree program?
- Can I study part-time?
- Do you offer evening classes?
- Do you have an online or distance-learning program?
- Can I take classes at other schools or departments within Columbia University?
- What's the difference between the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) and the Executive Masters of Public Administration programs (EMPA)?
- What do you look for in an applicant?
- Can I visit the campus?
- Can I arrange a personal interview with an admissions adviser to discuss my application? Do you have information sessions about the MIA and MPA programs?
- Is a personal interview required or recommended?
- I wasn't accepted / I declined my offer. Can I reapply?
- Do you accept transfer students?
- May I take courses as a nonmatriculated student?
- Do I have to apply to a concentration or institute?
- Do you have any special requirements for international applicants?
- Do I have to take the TOEFL?
- Do I need to have my foreign documents translated?
- Do you know of any translation and evaluation services for foreign credentials?
- Do I have to be fluent in a foreign language?
- Can I waive my application fee?
- What forms of payment do you accept for the application fee?
- What is your GRE policy?
- Can I substitute the GMAT for the GRE?
- Can I submit my LSAT scores?
- I've taken undergraduate- and graduate-level courses at a number of schools. Which transcripts am I required to submit?
- Who should write my letters of recommendation?
- Can I have my recommendations sent by my college's letter file service?
- What if my recommender forgot to use the recommendation form?
- Which fellowships will I be considered for if I fill in the Fellowship Statement?
- Do you offer fellowships to international students?
- Can I apply for a TA position in my first year?
- Is it possible to receive a full fellowship for my first year?
- Do I have to fill out the head of household section of the fellowship application?
- Can I apply online?
- If I mail application information to your office, do the documents need to be mailed together?
- Do the application materials need to be postmarked with the date of the deadline?
- I tried to track my application on Columbia's application tracking system and it didn't work.
- What should I do after I mail or submit materials to the SIPA Admissions Office?
Waiting For and Responding to an Admissions Decision
- When do you mail decisions?
- Can I get an early decision?
- Can I defer my admissions offer?
- What is the waiting list?
- What should I do if my application is put on the waiting list? When will I receive a final decision?
- Can I submit additional materials to improve my application while on the waiting list?
- If I wasn't admitted, can I get feedback on my application?
- May I appeal my admissions decision?
- What sort of computer facilities does SIPA offer?
- Is student housing available?
- What sort of jobs do SIPA students accept after graduation?
- When do I need to send in the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Financial Aid)?
- What is your FAFSA school code?
- Where can I find more information about financial aid?
Vital Statistics
1. What are the application deadlines?
MIA Program
January 5: fall semester . All materials must be received by this date.
October 1: spring semester (no fellowship consideration).
Environmental Science and Policy
November 1: early decision.
January 15: with fellowship consideration.
February 15: final deadline (without fellowship consideration).
Program in Economic Policy Management (PEPM)
January 1: with fellowship consideration.
Executive MPA
March 1: early decision.
July 1: final deadline.
www.sipa-empa.com
PhD in Sustainable Development
December 15: with fellowship consideration.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
SIPA affirms that it admits students and selects employees regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, or disability and thereafter accords them all the rights and privileges generally made available to students or employees at the school.
2. What am I required to submit?
All applicants are required to submit the following items:
- SIPA application forms (preferably online)
- Application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- Personal statement (not to exceed 850 words)
- Résumé or C.V.
- Three letters of recommendation. These letters should be submitted by individuals who are able to state, from personal knowledge, your qualifications for graduate study. While not a requirement, we prefer that one letter be from a member of academia. It is understandable that some applicants have not been in an academic program for sometime and would prefer to submit all three letters from supervisors or associates from professional settings. You are free to choose the combination of recommenders that you feel best describes your qualifications.
Applicants whose undergraduate education was conducted in a language other than English are required to submit official TOEFL scores or results from the IELTS exam or obtain a grade of 9 on the Columbia American Language Program (ALP) Placement Examination offered at Columbia University. (See question 27 for more information.)
Applicants wishing to be considered for the SIPA Fellowship (see above) are also required to submit the fellowship statement with their application. (See question 40 for more information.)
For those applying for the spring 2008 and fall 2008 semesters, the GRE is recommended but not required. Starting in the with the fall 2009 application cycle, the GRE will be required for all MIA and MPA applicants. (See question 33 for more information about our GRE policy.)
The MIA and MPA programs require 54 points for graduation, usually taken over four semesters. Part-time attendance is not allowed.
4. How many applications do you receive each year? How many are accepted?
Fall Session
We receive approximately 2,000 applications per year for the fall semester of the MIA program. We receive approximately 800 applications per year for the fall semester of MPA program.
While the number of applications received can vary, the number of spaces in the incoming fall class each year remains fixed at approximately 350 for the MIA program and 110 for the MPA program. The average acceptance rate for both programs is approximately 30%.
Spring Session
The number of applications we receive for the spring semester varies greatly. The average number of applications is over 200 for the MIA program and over 100 for the MPA program.
Please keep in mind that the admissions rate for the spring session varies greatly from year-to- year. There is no fixed number of seats available in the class for spring applicants; new students are admitted only to replace current students who have graduated early, requested a leave of absence, or will otherwise not be enrolling. For this reason you are encouraged to apply for the spring session only if personal or professional reasons prohibit you from applying for the fall session.
5. What is the minimum or average GPA or GRE score for successful applicants?
We do not keep statistics of average GPAs or GRE scores, and there are no minimums for either. The Admissions Committee carefully reviews every application it receives and considers grades, particularly those in relevant course work, in the context of the applicant's personal statement and work experience. Please see question 33 for a full explanation of our GRE policy and question 18 for more information about our admissions guidelines.
6. How many students are in each program?
Including first- and second-year students the MIA program has approximately 700 students and the MPA program has approximately 220 students.
7. How many international students attend SIPA?
Approximately 50% of both the MIA and MPA class each year is composed of international students. This number can vary from year-to-year and the school does not try to target a certain number of international students in the admissions process.
8. How much does the program cost each year?
Please visit here for more information.
9. What is the average age of a SIPA student?
The average age of an incoming MIA / MPA student is 27. However, we have received applications from students who are as young as 21 and as old as 62. The vast majority of MIA / MPA students are between 25 and 35 years old.
Program Questions
10. What courses are required to complete the Master of International Affairs? Master of Public Administration?
For the MIA visit here
For the MPA visit here
11. Does SIPA offer a PhD program?
Yes. SIPA offers a PhD in Sustainable Development. Contact Mona Khalidi at 212-854-8690 for more information.
Admission for all PhD programs at Columbia is coordinated through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the following location:
Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Office of Admissions
535 West 116th Street
Mail Code 4304
New York, NY 10027
212-854-4737
gsas-admit@columbia.edu
12. Do you have a dual degree program?
Both the MIA and MPA can be taken as part of certain specially arranged dual degree programs with other graduate schools within Columbia. There is no joint program combining the MIA and MPA degrees. To pursue a dual degree you must apply independently and be admitted into both schools. The admissions procedures are completely separate. After being admitted into both schools you can then declare your intention to pursue the dual degree. If you are admitted into only one of the two schools but still wish to pursue the dual degree, you have up to one year to be admitted to the other school.
As one half of a dual degree program, the MIA and MPA degrees are completed in three semesters instead of four. Dual degree students complete the MIA or MPA core requirements, and the coursework done at the other school counts toward your SIPA concentration. You may do what you wish with your remaining elective credits; many students choose to bundle their electives into another concentration.
SIPA also has dual degree programs with the London School of Economics, The National University of Singapore, and the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po).
No. You cannot study part-time. Your offer of admission will be for full-time study only. Students wishing to enroll part-time should consider the Executive MPA.
14. Do you offer evening classes?
There are many evening classes available each semester at SIPA. However, the MIA and MPA are not evening programs so students should be flexible enough to take courses during the day, especially in their later terms. It is not feasible to finish the program with evening courses alone.
15. Do you have an online or distance-learning program?
No, SIPA does not offer these types of programs.
16. Can I take classes at other schools or departments within Columbia University?
Yes. In the past, SIPA students have cross-registered for more than 1,000 different courses throughout the various graduate and professional schools at Columbia. This can be arranged with permission from both schools if the courses are considered sufficient for your SIPA degree requirements. To get an idea of what is offered for a given term, check the Columbia Directory of Classes.
17. What's the difference between the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) and the Executive Masters of Public Administration programs?
The Executive MPA program is designed for a select group of managers who either work in or with the public sector. We believe that the program's rigorous curriculum and its hands-on approach to policy and management problem solving will be of great use to executives in the nonprofit sector, in government, and in the parts of the private sector that work closely with governments and nonprofit groups. The program meets on Saturdays during the school year and on Tuesday and Thursday nights during the summer. The MPA is a more traditional two year full-time program designed for students who have had some work experience but are not settled in their careers.
Preparing to Apply
18. What do you look for in an applicant?
The admissions committee seeks to admit candidates with a combination of proven academic ability and two to three years of relevant professional-level work experience. SIPA also strongly recommends that all applicants to the MIA or MPA Program submit GRE scores (see question 33 for the GRE policy). Starting with the fall 2009 application cycle, GRE scores will be required for all applicants to the two-year full-time MIA and MPA programs.
Due to the diversity of our applicant pool there are no firm requirements or prerequisites for applying. The following are our recommendations for making your application as competitive as possible.
Academic Background
The admissions committee looks for strong grades in courses relevant to SIPA's rigorous curriculum. Specifically, since the requirements for both the MIA and MPA degrees include economics and statistics, the Committee looks for evidence of a candidate's ability to undertake quantitative course work at the graduate level. Undergraduate work should include at least two courses in economics (macro and microeconomics). Students who plan to pursue careers in development economics, quantitative policy analysis, trade, finance, environmental economics, energy policy, and international banking are expected to demonstrate strong economic and quantitative preparation with calculus and an intermediate micro and macroeconomic sequence through previous undergraduate or graduate study. Students lacking an economics background and interested in pursuing these fields are strongly encouraged to make up this deficiency before applying to SIPA. Other recommendations include course work in international relations, political science, foreign languages, and history.
You are not required to have a particular undergraduate major. However, students whose fields of study were far from the international relations or public administration fields are advised to address with extra care in their essay why they now wish to "change gears" and study at SIPA.
Professional Experience
Most successful applicants have had at least three years of applicable work or internship experience relevant to their intended course of study at SIPA. It is impossible to make specific recommendations about what kind of work experience you should have before submitting an application; our applicants come from every corner of the globe with vastly different backgrounds and professional experiences. Depending on your intended field of study, experience at an international relief organization, a government agency, a nonprofit or nongovernmental organization, or a corporation with operations in the international sphere (to name a few examples) will certainly make your application more competitive.
Approximately 5 to 10 percent of accepted students each year come directly from undergraduate institutions. These are individuals with extraordinary academic records who have also had significant internship or study abroad experience. In some cases, recent undergraduates with very strong academic credentials are not offered admission but are encouraged to reapply after they have gained at least one year or more of relevant work experience.
There are no official tours of the SIPA building. However, tours of Columbia's main campus are given by the Visitors Center and can be arranged by calling 212-854-4902.
20. Can I arrange a personal interview with an admissions adviser to discuss my application? Do you have information sessions about the MIA and MPA programs?
Due to the enormous interest in our programs, the SIPA Admissions Office is unable to arrange individual informational appointments for all prospective students. However, we do offer weekly information sessions for the MIA and MPA programs at most times throughout the year. These are conducted in small groups by either the Director of Admissions or another member of the SIPA Admissions Committee. At the session you will be given a brief presentation about SIPA followed by a question and answer period, during which you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the program or the application and admissions process (but please finish reading this FAQ section before attending the session). The sessions usually last about two hours; dress is casual.
The schedule for the MIA and MPA information sessions is subject to change and space is limited. Please call us at least two weeks in advance for the current schedule and to reserve a space. You may also send an email to sipa_admisison@columbia.edu. The regular scheduled for information sessions is Monday at 6 PM and Friday at Noon.
21. Is a personal interview required or recommended?
No. An interview is not part of the application process. However, to help you make the best choice about where to pursue your graduate study, we do encourage you to visit the school and attend an information session.
22. I wasn't accepted / I declined my offer. Can I reapply?
Application materials from all programs are kept on file for two years, after which they are destroyed.If you have been denied admission, you are required to wait one year until reapplication. You are only permitted to reapply twice after your initial application. Reapplications are subject to the same deadlines and regulations as normal applications.
You are required to submit a new application to reapply however not all materials must be submitted again. The first step is to send an email to sipa_admission@columbia.edu stating the program, year, and term of your original application, as well as updated contact information, including a working e-mail address and current mailing address. (Your decision will be mailed to this address.) (Please note that no fellowships are awarded for the spring term.)
We strongly recommend that you update your personal statement (no more than 850 words); Résumé / C.V.; and your TOEFL score (if applicable).
For detailed instructions regarding the reapplication process, please click here.
23. Do you accept transfer students?
You cannot apply to SIPA as a transfer student. However, advanced standing may be granted based on previous graduate-level course work completed. This is awarded on a case-by-case basis only after a student is admitted to SIPA. You must submit a standard application and be admitted; at the time of registration you can arrange for a review of your previous course work and advanced standing may be granted.
Please note: We will not offer a formal individual assessment of what graduate-level work will be accepted for advanced standing before you are admitted to SIPA.
A student may receive advanced standing credits worth up to 12 points for the MIA and MPA programs. At least forty-two points in residence are required for a master degree issued in New York State. Advanced standing is only granted for graduate-level courses that are considered by the dean to be equivalent to SIPA courses and in which the student received a grade of B or better. In general, students holding an MBA or JD degree will qualify, as will students with MA degrees in relevant areas of study. For details, please refer to the Advance Standing Policy.
24. May I take courses as a nonmatriculated student?
Yes, but this cannot be arranged through SIPA. If you wish to take one or more classes as a nondegree student, you must apply to the School of Continuing Education (212-854-9699). Most SIPA classes are available to nondegree students.
25. Do I have to apply to a concentration or institute?
No. You do not need to apply to a specific concentration. However, if you should have an idea of what you wish to study at SIPA, it will certainly help your application if you express this in your personal statement. You will be asked to indicate your intended area of study on your application but you are allowed to change once you have started the program.
26. Do you have any special requirements for international applicants?
There are no additional requirements for international applicants, but please see the following questions regarding the TOEFL exam and foreign document translation.
We do advise applicants from overseas to allow for difficulties in communication, as well as delays in the delivery of mail both to and from the Admissions Office. This can cause problems, especially as the deadlines approach. Leave yourself ample time to get all your materials in order before sending them to the admissions office. We highly recommend that international applicants take advantage of our online application. By using our online application you can track the receipt of your documents as well as receive your admission decision. The only things that cannot be submitted via our online site are test scores and transcripts.
27. Do I have to take the TOEFL?
An international student whose bachelor's degree was not earned from an institution in which English is the language of instruction must submit proof of competency in English. Applicants currently attending an English-speaking graduate school are not exempt.
Competency in English can be demonstrated by the following methods:
A. Taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and receiving a minimum score of 600 on the paper test, 250 on the computer-based test, or 100 on the internet-based test. Inquiries about the TOEFL should be addressed to:
TOEFL - Educational Testing Service
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-771-7100
www.ets.org
B. Taking and submitting results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score no less than 7. For more information regarding IELTS visit www.ielts.org.
C. Achieving a grade of 9 on the Columbia American Language Program (ALP) placement examination offered at Columbia University.
SIPA does not accept any other test results as proof of competency in English.
For more information about the Columbia University ALP placement examination visit www.ce.columbia.edu/alp/.
28. Do I need to have my foreign documents translated?
Yes. All foreign documents, such as official transcripts and letters of recommendation, must be translated by an official translator and notarized as authentic translations by a notary public.
29. Do you know of any translation and evaluation services for foreign credentials?
For translation of foreign credentials contact:
Globe Language Services
Evaluation Service
319 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
212-227-1994
http://www.globelanguage.com/welcome.php
30. Do I have to be fluent in a foreign language?
In the MIA program you are required to demonstrate fluency in a foreign language before you may graduate. This requirement may be met in any of three ways:
- as a native speaker of a language other than English, with the ability to read and write that language
- by passing a language proficiency test administered by SIPA
- by achieving a grade of B or better in an Intermediate Level II (fourth semester) language course at Columbia
Note: Students may pursue any language course they wish at SIPA. However, elementary-level language courses will not count toward the credit requirement for your SIPA degree. In addition, advanced standing credit is not granted for language courses.
The MPA program does not have a foreign language requirement. The one exception is if you are an MPA student studying the Economic and Political Development concentration.
31. Can I waive my application fee?
Application fees are used to cover the expenses of processing applications, as well as mailing and printing application materials and brochures. We waive the fee only for participants in specific programs with which we have a formalized agreement such as Project 1000 or the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellows Program.
32. What forms of payment do you accept for the application fee?
We accept checks, money orders, drafts, and travelers' checks made out to Columbia University. We cannot accept wire transfers for any reason. If you apply online you may choose to pay the fee with a credit card. (All payments must be in the form of United States dollars.)
Effective October 1, 2002, ETS made changes to the format of the GRE general test. Please be aware that SIPA will accept GRE scores in the old or new format. The same submission regulations apply to both formats (www.gre.org/faqnew.html).
Please note that starting with the fall 2009 application cycle, GRE scores will be required for all applicants to the full-time MIA and MPA two-year programs.
We evaluate all candidates based on five application elements: the personal statement; the Résumé / C.V.; transcripts of prior college and graduate school work; letters of recommendation; and the GRE. For applicants who do not speak English as a first language we also require the submission of an English test score (see question 27).
GRE results are never the sole basis for an admissions decision. They are useful as an indicator of academic ability. GRE scores are helpful in that it gives applicants with average or marginal academic records a second method of demonstrating academic ability.
The Admissions Committee may grant waivers of the GRE requirement in rare cases. Most waivers are approved only if an applicant can prove that taking the GRE would pose a tremendous hardship. If you have questions concerning this requirement, please send an email to sipa_admission@columbia.edu.
For complete information about the GRE, you can contact ETS directly:
Educational Testing Service
20 Nassau Street Princeton, NJ 08540
609-771-7670
www.ets.org
34. Can I substitute the GMAT for the GRE?
Applicants who are interested in substituting a GMAT score for the GRE must send an email to the Office of Admissions to request a waiver of the GRE requirement. Please send a message to sipa_admission@columbia.edu to request the waiver form.
35. Can I submit my LSAT scores?
No. We will not accept LSAT scores.
36. I've taken undergraduate- and graduate-level courses at a number of schools. Which transcripts am I required to submit?
You must submit official transcripts for any college or university that you attended for one school year or more.
37. Who should write my letters of recommendation?
Three (3) letters of evaluation are required all SIPA applications. Only three letters will be considered so do not submit more than three.
These letters should be submitted by individuals who are able to state, from personal knowledge, your qualifications for graduate study.
While not a requirement, we prefer that one letter be from a member of academia. It is understandable that some applicants have not been in an academic program for sometime and would prefer to submit all three letters from supervisors or associates from professional settings. You are free to choose the combination of recommenders that you feel best describes your qualifications.
Letters may be submitted via the online application web site (see instructions on the application menu) or via traditional mail delivery. If a letter is mailed to our office, the envelope should be sealed and the author of the letter should sign across the seal.
Please be advised that these should not be personal recommendations—letters from family friends, relatives, politicians, etc. who do not have direct knowledge of your academic or professional capabilities.
38. Can I have my recommendations sent by my college's letter file service?
Yes, these letters are acceptable. Please keep in mind, however, that we would like to see at least one letter from an employer. If letters are sent directly to the admissions office by your college, you will not be required to send SIPA's letter of recommendation forms.
39. What if my recommender forgot to use the recommendation form?
It is not absolutely vital that these forms are used as long as the questions listed on the form are addressed in the letter. Our office does highly recommend that letters of recommendation be submitted via the online application site. See the application site for further instructions.
40. Which fellowships will I be considered for if I fill in the fellowship statement?
If your application for the fall session is completed before the January 4 deadline and you filled out the fellowship statement section of the application form, you will be considered for a merit-based fellowship offered by SIPA. It is important to note that the majority of these funds are reserved for second-year SIPA students and that the chances of receiving a first-year fellowship are very small. Less than 10 percent of incoming students who apply for the January 4 deadline receive any financial support from SIPA in their first year, and these are typically small, honorary awards. However, over 60 percent of the second-year students who requested fellowship consideration last year received support averaging $17,000.
41. Do you offer fellowships to international students?
Yes. International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
42. Can I apply for a TA position in my first year?
No. TA positions are reserved for continuing students. If accepted your are welcome to pursue TA opportunities on your own, however our office does not assign TA positions for first-year students.
43. Is it possible to receive a full fellowship for my first year?
First year fellowships at SIPA are very limited and it is highly unlikely that any applicant would receive full fellowship for the first year of study. Virtually all awards are reserved for second-year students; they cover about half of the year's tuition.
44. Do I have to fill out the head of household section of the fellowship application?
If you are independent from your parents, you do not have to provide your parents' financial information in section three of the fellowship statement. Simply indicate that you are the head of your own household and leave this section blank. However, if you are dependent on your parents, they would need to fill out the head of household section.
Submitting an Application
We strongly encourage all applicants to submit their application forms through the SIPA admissions web site. All of your admission documents, including letters of recommendation, can be submitted online except for academic transcripts and test scores. Official copies of academic transcripts must be mailed to our office.
46. If I mail application information to your office, do the documents need to be mailed together?
We highly prefer that applicants submit as many documents as possible via our online application site. If documents do need to be mailed, they do not need to be mailed together. It can expedite the process to mail documents together but we understand that items such as transcripts are often mailed directly by the school you attended.
If documents do need to be mailed, please use the following address:
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
420 West 118th Street, Room 408
Mail Code 3325
New York, NY 10027
All documents, except foreign transcripts judged irreplaceable, become the property of Columbia and cannot be returned. All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations.
47. Do the application materials that are mailed need to be postmarked with the date of the deadline?
No. All of the mentioned components of the application need to be received in the SIPA admissions office by the deadline in order for your application to be complete.
48. I tried to track my application on Columbia's application tracking system and it didn't work.
SIPA uses the application tracking system of our online provider, Apply Yourself. You will be able to track the receipt of your documents using the same site applicants use to submit the online application.
49. What should I do after I mail or submit materials to the SIPA admissions office?
Once you have submitted your online application and paid the application fee, you can track the receipt of your documents online. This will allow you to check the status of your application without having to call or email our office.
Please understand that during heavy processing periods it can take up to two to three weeks to process information that has been submitted. For this reason we recommend that you submit your materials as far in advance of the admission deadline as possible.
Waiting For and Responding to an Admissions Decision
50. When do you mail decisions?
Decision notifications are usually mailed within 8–10 weeks after the deadline. Applicants are first able to check the status of their admission decision via the online application site and a hard copy of the decision letter is later mailed.
51. Can I get an early decision?
Early decision is not part of the SIPA Admissions Review Process and early decisions are only granted in rare and unusual circumstances. If you feel you face a rare or unusual circumstance you may petition the Admissions Committee for an early review of your application. To submit a petition, please document the circumstances you face in an email and send it to sipa_admission@columbia.edu. In the subject heading of the email please write, “Early Decision Petition.”
52. Can I defer my admission offer?
Applicants accepted to the full-time MIA and MPA programs may apply to defer enrollment for either one term or one year with the permission of the Admissions Committee.
In order to be considered for deferral, accepted applicants must submit a written request to the Director of Admissions along with the $2,000 deferral deposit, outlining their reason for seeking deferral. Generally, requests are granted only for very compelling reasons (such as medical or family emergency), academic opportunity (such as a Truman or Fulbright Fellowship), or extraordinary professional opportunity. Letters requesting deferral must include the following text: "I understand that this is $2,000 deposit is nonrefundable if I fail to enroll in the semester agreed upon. Regardless of the reason for not enrolling, both my deposit and my admission offer will be forfeited."
If the deferral is approved, the $2,000 nonrefundable deferral deposit is credited to the student's account and will count toward tuition if the student enrolls at the expected time. If the deferral is not approved, the deposit will be immediately returned to the applicant.
For both one-semester and one-year deferrals the deposit will be applicable only for the agreed-upon matriculation date and will not be returned to the applicant under any circumstances. If the candidate does not enroll for the term agreed upon, the admission offer and deposit are forfeited.
The deferral deposit will not be waived or reduced. These policies are very strictly enforced and we strongly encourage students who cannot enroll in the coming semester to consider reapplying for the semester in which they wish to enroll. The Admissions Committee looks very favorably upon reapplications from candidates who were previously offered admission, and although there is no guarantee of readmission in a future semester, the likelihood is strong. The only candidates who should consider deferral are those who are absolutely certain that they can guarantee their enrollment in a specific future semester and who are willing to risk losing the $2,000 deposit if their plans change.
Note: Applicants who apply for spring matriculation may not defer admission under any circumstances. Applicants who are admitted from the waiting list cannot defer admission under any circumstances.
After reviewing all of the applications received, the Admissions Committee typically places a small number of applicants on an admissions waiting list each year. As admitted students respond to their admission offers in the late spring, we evaluate our enrollment needs in light of the number of seats that remain available in the class. To fill in these open spaces we may begin admitting applicants from the waiting list. However, the number of seats that come available varies greatly from year to year and it is literally impossible to estimate your chances of being admitted from the waiting list. The waiting list is not ranked, nor is there any guarantee that applicants placed on the waiting list will be granted admission.
54. What should I do if my application is put on the waiting list? When will I receive a final decision?
If you receive an e-mail notifying you that your application has been placed on the waiting list, we ask that you respond briefly to let us know if you would like it to remain on the list or be removed. Applicants who do wish to remain on the waiting list will receive occasional updates via e-mail about their status; these updates may continue throughout the summer until our numbers for the incoming class are finalized. If a space becomes available and your application is chosen, we will contact you. At any time you may contact us if you would like your application to be removed from waitlist consideration.
55. Can I submit additional materials to improve my application while on the waiting list?
No. We do not permit applicants on the waiting list to submit any additional materials. These applications have already been evaluated by the Admissions Committee; newly submitted materials will not be reviewed.
56. If I was not admitted, can I get feedback on my application?
SIPA receives many requests for feedback from applicants who did not gain admission, but regrettably we are not staffed to answer such requests individually.
57. May I appeal my admissions decision?
The Admissions Committee reads each application thoroughly and considers all applicants seriously. However, they are not able to accept everyone. There is no appeal process.
Miscellaneous Questions
58. What sort of computer facilities does SIPA offer?
Please visit the SIPA Computing Web site for more information.
59. Is student housing available?
Nearly every SIPA student finds convenient housing on- or off-campus before the start of the academic year. However, the housing situation is tight; SIPA is allocated slots for only about thirty percent of the students who desire Columbia housing. About 80 percent of university housing is in shared apartments; a very limited amount of couples / family housing is available. Housing allocations are made on the basis of geographic proximity, with incoming students arriving from overseas receiving first priority. There is a university off-campus housing office that serves as a resource for non-Columbia housing.
60. What sort of jobs do SIPA students accept after graduation?
Visit the SIPA Office of Career Services (OCS) for more specific information.
Please note that SIPA Career Services are reserved for current students and alumni. OCS staff can not offer counseling or advice, in person or via e-mail, until you are a student at SIPA.
61. When do I need to send in the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Financial Aid)?
It is best to send your FAFSA to the federal government as soon as you are able. Each year the Department of Education begins to take FAFSA forms on January 1st. For more information on financial aid, please visit the Financial Aid page.
62. What is your FAFSA school code?
Our FAFSA school code is E00128.
63. Where can I find more information about financial aid?
Please see the SIPA financial aid Web site .
If you have further questions after reviewing the view book, Web site, and this FAQ page, but you will not be able to visit SIPA or an information session, please feel free to contact us via phone at 212-854-6216 or e-mail. (Please type "question not covered in the FAQ" in the subject line.)