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SIPA (Columbia) Thread


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If only there was a method to the madness. It seems like decisions can come at any time.

Part of my fretting has been trying to make sense of it and put it in some kind of analytical framework so we can guess when we'll all hear back next. But unfortunately it's looking like you're right: people are bring notified seemingly at random, thus increasing the pressure on those of us left without results. It seems to me this system of notification was conceived without attention paid to forums like these. This kind of public agonizing and frustration with the SIPA administration, all on record for years to come, can't be good for SIPA's reputation amongst prospective applicants.

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Part of my fretting has been trying to make sense of it and put it in some kind of analytical framework so we can guess when we'll all hear back next. But unfortunately it's looking like you're right: people are bring notified seemingly at random, thus increasing the pressure on those of us left without results. It seems to me this system of notification was conceived without attention paid to forums like these. This kind of public agonizing and frustration with the SIPA administration, all on record for years to come, can't be good for SIPA's reputation amongst prospective applicants.

I absolutely agree... but then again... what do they care? They have like 2600 applicants anyway, can't hurt to narrow down the pool. Maybe THAT's why they received at #29 ranking amongst US News's Top Public Policy schools.

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Not to go on too much of a tangent... but DC Energy Girl... would you give up Goldman for SIPA??

This is going to be such a hard decision for me. Personally I'm looking to do a mix of domestic and international energy policy work - finance and deployment. The only reason Goldman may not be as attractive is because its really not an international program. I've spoken to a current student, and will probably reach out to some faculty if I can make it out CA about options for international policy/project prospects. It seems kind of ridiculous though to "make my own program," when Columbia, SAIS, Fletcher, and SFS all have fantastic international programs in place. Goldman has one of the best energy policy programs, not to mention contacts with the national labs.

Then there is also money. If Columbia accepts me, but gives me no money, it won't be feasible.

Any advice would be welcome.

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Goldman has one of the best energy policy programs, not to mention contacts with the national labs.

Specifically for energy policy, I think UCB is one of the better places to be. Apart from GSPP, as you mention, ERG is has one of the better graduate programs. Did you apply for the MPP/MS dual degree? I took a shot at it, but couldn't make it.

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Congrats! I'm always amazed to see GWU reject SIPA and SAIS admits...

Yeah youre right! I was so down when GWU wait listed me,, i thouth i have no chance for sipa and sais.. I even created a thread titled 'the chance of getting off the wait list'.. This is really feel like a dream

That's great erry3779! So happy for you. Hoping for a good result for myself and everyone else soon!

Please update the results survey with your result. That is a really great statistical tool since most schools don't release their own statistics.

Thank you hudwa,, i already updated the result survey.. I hope you'll have ur result soon, and of course I hope for the best!

Congrats! Did you receive any email as well or did you just check yourself?

I just randomly checked my applyYourself page! I still havent received an email up til now! Lets just hope this decision letter is not a mistake,, even though it has my name on it

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Specifically for energy policy, I think UCB is one of the better places to be. Apart from GSPP, as you mention, ERG is has one of the better graduate programs. Did you apply for the MPP/MS dual degree? I took a shot at it, but couldn't make it.

I did not do the dual degree option, just MPP. Sorry to hear they dinged you. Agreed about ERG - that was the focus in SOP for why Berkeley was the best option for me.

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Ok. What to do now? Just one acceptance today and one yesterday? Really? Who else applied to the MPA-DP program??? According to the results survey, not even one person has posted being accepted to the MPA-DP. This confirms my theory that they do take a littl longer to release their results.

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Ok. What to do now? Just one acceptance today and one yesterday? Really? Who else applied to the MPA-DP program??? According to the results survey, not even one person has posted being accepted to the MPA-DP. This confirms my theory that they do take a littl longer to release their results.

I applied to the MPA-DP program and still haven't heard...I'm so anxious and really don't want to have to wait through the weekend without knowing anything...

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I nominate you to call them today and see what's up! wwsapp and I called yesterday to remind them we were waiting :) they said they were going to release decisions yesterday and the next "2-3 days" but from these forums that doesn't seem to be the case ....

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I nominate you to call them today and see what's up! wwsapp and I called yesterday to remind them we were waiting :) they said they were going to release decisions yesterday and the next "2-3 days" but from these forums that doesn't seem to be the case ....

I can call them in an hour or so. Will let you guys know what they say.

Yes, let us know what they say! THey are not good at keeping their word!
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Just called. They said that many decisions have gone out already, and most of them should be done by Monday or Tuesday. Everything is being double-checked before announcements are made. When i asked at what point I should call them if I don't hear anything, she said in one week, meaning Friday of next week. She did mention batchs of results being released, but she also kept repeating the word rolling.

Another thing she mentioned was that if I got an email about my application being incomplete, that might be a factor, but I got an email saying the opposite weeks ago. Everyone might want to go back to applyyourself and make sure everything is accounted for, and that you have received an email from SIPA saying that your application is complete.

I hope this helps. And unfortunately, it looks like some of us will have to spend a weekend not knowing our admissions status :(

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Just went and double-checked, got my "application complete" email on January 16th.

This is really the wrong week for this decision to happen. It coincides with my 2 main projects at work coming to a head and causing a ridiculous amount of rushing/stress/grunt work; the kind of week I haven't experienced in nearly a year, workload-wise. And it's reminding me of the 3 1/2 years I've put in here (and a year suffering at a big law firm before that) just to get to the point where I could say I earned the right to pursue a grad degree, and that I soo badly want the moment of YES I'M IN that will make all of this time and effort worth it. Not getting the decision is compounding all of the work stress.

I'll be in a pretty bad place if I am rejected after this. I need a stiff drink.

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Thanks for calling and sharing your findings, hudwa! Of course, I would have rather heard that everyone would hear by 5pm tonight, but not much we can do about it now. I really am hoping that there will be good news at the end of this painful wait :)

Good luck to everyone!

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thanks so much for calling again hudwa... agree that this is ridiculous... I don't understand how sometimes they attribute it to "the system" needing a day to process the decision, but then indicating that decisions have all been finalized... and then saying "most" would be released by Monday or Tuesday.

grr.

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