erry3779

I just called the admission office, and they said that I don't have to enroll on the Summer Language Program (fiuuh) .. Strange, since my toefl is 109 and i got 23 on the speaking part. I also asked the admission officer to connect me with current student, she said that she will forward me to one and he/she will be in touch with me. I told her that I need to make decision soon, since if I have to let go SIPA and go to SAIS I have to enroll on the pre-term program. Let me see, whether a current SIPA student will sell SIPA the way bunch of SAIS students emailed me and selling SAIS.

Tell me tell me all the positive facts of SiPA! I really want to justify my decision

Youre not attending SAIS,

Hai msal! I thought you already made up your mind! I'm still weighing! tough tough tough!

Waaw welcome to SIPA (i havent even make a decision) hahahaha Make me put my deposit too!!!

I am having the exact same considerations... SAIS is very attentive, yes. But SIPA is also attentive if you know how, like being active at the message board (where current students and admission officers are actually answering every question posted), email the admission office (they'll let you talk with current student if u want to)... I heard or read somewhere, everything is available at SIPA if you know where to look and want to do something for it.. And i also am the same with you that SIPA is more global focus (in the sense that it is not focusing too mucn on American policy). I also like the idea to take courses at columbia school of law and school of business... But all in all, Even though im leaning toward SIPA, i still havent reached my final decision. Its either SAiS or SiPA

So where are u going then?

Yeaah!!! Madrilena! I pray for you! Anyway anyone here taking the IFEP concentration?

especially for me! I was only 30% leaning toward SIPA, but this thread brought me to 80% now.. SIPA!

congratulations!! so you will be joining SIPA right? I'm sorry if you have already mentioned it before, but may i ask what is your concentration?

relax.. you'll get it!! I have no quant and econ background like at all! not even one course! Since my undergrad is pure IR, i only have courses like international political economy and international business. And don't get me going on my GRE scores, awful! barely made it on average, but my AW is well below standard! just believe! you'll make it if u believe! would be happy to go to SIPA if the kind of people on this thread will be going too!! Thanks for the link! it helps

yes.. its been 3 days already.. after a whole week leaning toward SAIS.. What about you? Already sure you'll go to SIPA? I just need to know some little more details on SIPA to make me set.. like the international trip and projects and also the IFEP program itself.. What program are u in Madrilena? Anyway I noticed that you're from Spain! I really love Barcelona, don't know whether you're from Bcn or not, just saying!

Yeah its very expensive, i'd rather use my extra courses fund for SAIS econ course hahahaha... Then go to SIPA

Its 30 for listening, 28 for writing, 28 for reading, and 23 for speaking ... I will try to ask them today!

Hai madrilena.. I have some confusion regarding this. Perhaps you could give me (and the others) some clues. If we look at the admitted student page, on the checklist, we can find this information: Who is required to take the English Language Courses? Your letter of admission will specify the language course(s) you are required to complete. Applicants with a TOEFL score less than 110 or a IELTS score of less than 7.5 are required to take English Language courses at Columbia. Applicants who scored less than 25 on the Listening, Speaking or Reading portions of the TOEFL will be required to take the summer language course (ENGL Z0015). Applicants who scored less than 25 on the Writing portion of the TOEFL will be required to take the fall language course (INAF U6950 English for Int’l and Public Affairs) for 3 credits. Applicants may re-take the TOEFL of IELTS exams to improve their scores. If you earn over 110 on the TOEFL or over 7.5 on the IELTS, please submit your new scores to the Office of Admissions by June 15th. While my iBT score is only 109. And yes I don't have anything mentioned about language course on my admission letter. But still I am worried about this. 109 is below 110, should I just take this for granted or do i need to ask for more? Thank you in advance for help and insights

I will go back of course... Without them I will never can afford both schools! the international institutions thing is for a distant-future!! Why is your case much more complicated? Perhaps I could help you justifying SIPA.. (hehehe)

wow thank you for another justification!!! I really need this!!! I hope you'll go to SIPA too!

hahaha.. what if they admitted you? (which I am sure they will).. will u drop SAIS and go to SIPA? If you do the same, I'll do it with you! hahahahahahah OMG I really am tired of weighing these two schools! Now I don't care anymore! Columbia is Columbia! NYC is NYC!

A little bit out of our usual topic.. But i hope this would be helpful for those who are still having tough times deciding whether to go to SIPA or not I just went through SIPA message board where admitted students can interact directly with admission officers and current students. From the look of it, I didn't see that they're 'impersonal' or 'hard to reach' like what I've been hearing about SIPA negative sides... It think I might go to SIPA.

I am torn between SIPA and SAIS... its a tough.. One day I'm SAIS one day I'm SIPA!

Good luck for you guys who are still waiting for decision!!! I really wish that SIPA will end this soon! So we could start talking about who is actually going to SIPA and why.. (hehehe)

Has anyone here already had their mind set up to go to SAIS?

Good luck for everyone who is still waiting, lets hope it all will be worth the wait. Anyway, on a very different topic, does anyone who already got in has made a decision to go to SIPA?

Yeah,, youre GRE are okay! Mine is 155Q (700) 155 V (500 something) and worse 3.5 hahahah.. But i really make sure that my SOP and analytical essay are written perfectly to make up for my terrible AW... And i managed to get through, even though GW waitlisted me.

Hey i noticed you got a lot of great acceptances... Have you decide where to go?