are we there yet?

Tuna, You lost me in translation with "parents language". I'm assuming you mean native or mother tongue. Put both languages down if you can speak both and just take the French proficiency exam. Why would you exclude one? Languages add diversity to the application. Obviously, Urdu will be more relied upon for security/intelligence work but French is arguably the most vital language for development practitioners. I do not know your background so I'll leave it at that.

Should be on top of the acceptance letter by your name/address

@ martinet25 SIPA can have a quant heavy approach if you want it to be, but it is just more flexible compared to SAIS. I will not be pursuing a quant-related career so I can get by just fine with two semesters but at SAIS I would have to take quant every semester. Like what I and tsmurf said earlier SAIS is probably #1 for quant analysis so if that is your intended path, then I don't see why you would choose otherwise. It will be very expensive regardless and you are going to enjoy both programs, but SAIS seems like a better fit to me in the 45 seconds since I've met you

1. See earlier response to EliZhang. 2. Lots of opportunities are available. Firms like working with us. It gets competitive, however, considering that your main competition especially in NYC will be your friends and classmates. 3. No clue about the exchange statistics, I've met folks from Sciences Po mostly and they seem to enjoy it.

1. You are like me. Don't worry half the class is like us too Unless you are interested in APEA or some levels of EPD you can take "intermediate" level econ and quant to pass requirements. Intermediate Econ will only cover single variable calculus whereas Advanced Econ will consider multivariable. It is difficult for me still but I manage. There is a math camp during orientation to review the basics. At the end of math camp you take a proficiency exam (does not affect grade). The results determine your placement in a 4 week math class (no credit). There are three levels that vary in speed, with 1 being the slowest and 3 being the fastest in terms of reviewing the material (algebra, exponents, and calculus-single variable for Levels 1 and 2 and multi for Level 3) 2. You are required to demonstrate language proficiency (Intermediate 2 in US terms) before you graduate. There are 3 ways to do so. I. Pass a proficiency exam that is administered at the beginning of the fall or spring semester. If you fail you must do #2 II. Earn a B+ in an Intermediate II class offered on campus III. Forgive me for being politically incorrect, but I'm assuming you speak Chinese. If you attended a university in China, for example, that was English medium and your high school was in Chinese the language requirement is waived if you prove that was the case. If both were English medium, then I think you can take the Chinese exam If you want to start a new language from scratch you MUST start in the first semester. Your path will be Intro 1 (1st semester), Intro 2 (2nd), Intermediate 1, (3rd), and finally Intermediate 2 (4th and final semester and the requirement). There are some drawbacks (language classes usually meet very early or very late so your schedule is skewed, Intro 1-2, and Intermediate 1 will not count for GPA calculation, but Intermediate 2 will be an elective) but these are so minor and there are people who are bearing the challenge and doing so admirably.

1. Age-old question should I try to leverage? I did not try to do it, but last year, one guy on the thread said he successfully did. He later erased his post when SIPA was apparently flooded with similar requests who were ultimately unsuccessful. Do I think you will succeed, probably not. But if you have enough pride go for it, just don't get your hopes up. Instead I would try to talk to SAIS with the Fletcher offer in mind (I'll explain at the end) 2. I'm assuming you are interested in APEA. You will be taking "advanced" quant and economics both years so you will be challenged. This is not the most popular major here so not that much attention is geared towards it but these guys earn the most $$$ after graduation, historically, if that is important to you. Lots of folks end up somewhere on Wall St but we have a healthy dose of those interested the DC community (WB, IMF, Treasury, etc) 3. Absolute sense of community! SIPA is a BIG program so it is easy to feel lost given the size. If you are someone who thrives with personalized attention then this is not the place for you. We value teamwork and almost every class will feature some major group project at least once per semester (some classes many more). People look out for each other and the countless clubs and advocacy groups organize lots of mixers so it is easy to meet people. If you are shy will you survive? Yeah there are plenty of people who skip the "party" and do just fine but you would miss out 4. Not sure if you meant coursework or student body? Coursework: If you are MIA then yes. MPA not as much but you can frame your course-load to reflect it if you wish, especially 2nd year. Student diversity I think is 55/45 International students It seems to me as if you are trying to rationalize SIPA (is it your favorite?) and the potential 100k+ debt that you could accrue (assuming no 2nd year funding, but most people get at least ~10k in the 2nd year) There are a lot of people here who took the risk and don't regret it and there are some who are getting anxious with 2nd year funding results coming out in a few weeks. This is a personal decision, and I cannot sway you one way or the other. But Fletcher and SAIS (especially in a competitive program like IDEV) are offering you $$$, and I think that you should follow the money. SAIS is probably top in the country in quant preparation and there are plenty of opportunities for internships at the various DC organizations. I love SIPA, but it is not for everyone so be forewarned. If you are an independent self-starter it will be heaven. If you need tailored guidance, probably not. Good luck!

Hey everyone, I'm a current first year at SIPA and love it here. I can try to answer questions and will probably meet a few of you during Admitted Students Day in April. To the guy above me, the # you receive in your acceptance letter is your CUID, which you use to log into your financial aid portal. Once you pay your deposit, you will receive your UNI which is your username for email

I'm a current SIPA student. If you are thinking about PhD work after grad do not come to SIPA, unless you want to do Sustainable Development (their only program at that level). Ask professors and they will tell you that our curriculum is not geared towards doctoral work. It is a professional school and locating a professor who will be your sponsor for the dissertation will be difficult. If you were Political Science, then the College of Arts and Sciences would be available and then by all means come to Columbia. But unless you are interested in Sustainable Development, SIPA probably will not be the best fit. This is not to say that some people here will be pursuing a PhD. There are some folks who will be this year and next. This is just not the kind of environment where that field is actively promoted.

As a current SIPA student, if you already have your career lined up and you are 100% committed to the job, go to Harris and live a debt-free life. If you are wavering at all, take a risk and come to NY. Either way you will be fine.

I applied to UMD (ended up elsewhere) and my impression is that they have 3 main draws 1. Public Administration- if you are interested in politics (particularly at the state level (MD obviously), this is the place to be as their network draws extensively from the School [faculty as advisers and graduates for manager roles] 2. Environment (Those interested in sustainability initiatives, this is a growing program) 3. Security/Intelligence (The perks of being in DC and UMD being so closeby reap the benefits too as there are countless orgs who focus on this field) Good luck! I would reach out to the staff about contacting current students to get an idea of what they think about the program. I think in terms of affordability it is a great choice if you are willing to sacrifice some name recognition on the national stage, but that is not a slight against them it is a good school.

Damn, this is getting absurd. I think we are just arguing over each other. One side that feels you should just take your time and the other saying that you are just asking for bad karma. But hey that is life, right? Just one question my roommate had a Tufts deadline of 4/19 and she got $ too. Did you really have until May 1? Seems strange that there would that long a window. As you know, I disagree with you how you have done it so far but we will be spending the next two years in NY with a couple hundred other overeager people (google group emails every 5 min are getting annoying lol) so we will have plenty of time to argue about ethical qualms and lots of IR issues in person. I'm thinking about EPD and Media Communications. What about you? Lastly, I am more than happy to eat crow if you call the adcoms and explain your situation. I think you will be surprised by their reaction. But if I'm wrong, I'll take two servings. See you in the fall.

If I could like this 1000x I would. It is awful to think how selfish you are being right now. What you have done in paying two deposits and simply going "in circles" is certainly not illegal, but it is unethical and defeats the good faith that all of these schools have put on you to weigh the pros/cons and make a decision in a timely manner. You had plenty of time to make up your mind. Just go to the "Waiting it out" section on this forum and read about the people who are still waiting to get into ONE school. The longer you hold out means that one person on the Fletcher waitlist is going to miss out on his/her dream school and be forced to enroll elsewhere. I understand that this is a major decision in your life, but it is rather disgusting to think that you might be one of my classmates at SIPA this fall because of what you are doing. Am I being too harsh on some random on an internet forum? Yeah, probably. Am I going to get a bunch of negatives? Maybe. Just grow up a little and think about the bigger picture.

Did you change your mind? There is a Dani posting about SIPA housing on the google group. Just curious...

were you able to meet anyone? I want to head out soon so I was wondering if it was easy to find people on campus.