Time Line COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Time Line COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Now that I am into full on admission file reading mode I thought I would give a brief outline of the admission decision and enrollment time line. First of all, not all admission decisions get sent at the same time.   In a perfect world we would like to release all decisions on the same day, however there are a number of files that take a bit longer to review and our fellowship meetings also take some time to coordinate and we do not want to hold up the release of decisions when the majority are ready to go.   Thus about 70% of decisions are sent at the same time and around 30% trickle out over time. I know this is not ideal, but it is the way things are and I want to be honest and upfront about the process.   If your decision takes longer to receive it does not mean you did anything wrong, it just means some additional time was needed to reach a final decision. When your decision is ready to view we will send you an email.   Paper letters for admitted candidates will follow a few weeks later, however we do not send paper copies of letters to candidates not offered admission or to candidates placed on the wait list. The exact date that decisions will start to go out is not set yet but we hope to start very early in March. I will provide more information on the blog as time progresses so stay tuned. Admitted candidates will be given a link to a Welcome Page with a great deal of information focused on assistance regarding the enrollment process.   For example, there will be a Message Board for admitted applicants.   The board will give admitted applicants a chance to interact with one another and with current students. We will also be hosting an admitted student day on campus.   The date is Tuesday, April 12th and a registration link will be included in the Welcome Page.   It will be a full day event starting at 9:00 AM and concluding around 7:00 PM. Admitted candidates will have until May 2nd to pay a deposit to reserve a seat in the fall class.   Those that pay a deposit must ensure that official copies of transcripts and test scores are submitted to SIPA no later than June 15th.   Many applicants already included our test score code when taking GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL.   Test scores are sent to a central Columbia University database and we will start to look for official reports after the deposit deadline passes. Admitted candidates that uploaded copies of transcripts to the application site will have to have official transcripts sent to our office.   Official transcripts and test scores will become a part of your permanent academic record. During the summer there will be a math tutorial.   The tutorial is Web based and all that is needed to participate is a computer with an Internet connection.   We encourage every admitted student to participate because getting off to a good start is key to your experience at SIPA.   Second year funding consideration is tied to first year GPA so achieving good grades in first semester quantitative courses is key. Over the summer the blog will also play host to photo submissions from admitted candidates.   If you have great photos to share be ready to submit them and keep your camera at the ready over the next few months to capture great moments you might want to share. Those are the major time line dates and resources to be aware of for now.   Stay tuned to the blog for more as time progresses. Time Line COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The Admissions Committee has been meeting all week and we continue to publish decisions as soon as we are able.   As a reminder, you will receive an email from us when your decision is ready to be viewed on the application Web site.   We cannot provide estimates on when individual decisions will be published. I did want to provide a quick overview of the time line that will follow in the coming month or so. The following information is provided on an admitted student welcome page but I thought I would provide some highlights. First, admitted students will have the opportunity to participate in a Web based Message Board starting later in March.   The purpose of the board is to give admitted students the opportunity to interact with one another and with current students.   SIPA students will be taking a spring break from March 16th to 20th and we will have the board up shortly after their return.   Details will be sent to admitted students once the board is activated. Second, SIPA will host an Open House for admitted students on Tuesday, April 14th.   The Open House will take place on the Columbia Campus and it will be a full day event. Third, April 20th is the date by which admitted students must pay a deposit confirming enrollment for fall 2009. Finally, an email regarding financial aid opportunities is sent shortly after the admission letter is published.   The letter is meant to outline the general funds available to SIPA students.   More specific letters will follow at a later time for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents who have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).   If admitted students have been awarded a SIPA fellowship this information will be in the admission letter. Now back to Committee meetings . . .