SIPA Video Response

[kamilas]

Hello world! Has anyone done the video response as part of SIPA's admissions package? I know it's being implemented as of 2017 application cycle, so I am wondering if there are any Spring 2017 candidates that have already done it. Helpful tips, feedback, etc. would be much appreciated!

[matt99]

Also interested in hearing people's thoughts on this as a fellow applicant!

[Kaneisha]

Hey @kamilas and @matt99,

Columbia SIPA's admissions blog has a few tips on how to handle the video essay. You can access it here. One tip I want to impress upon you and other applicants is to make sure you have good lighting. Your light source should be facing your face and behind your camera. So you should be facing a window or desk lamp, not sitting with your back to a window or your light source. If you sit with your back to the window, your face will be a dark silhouette. Look out for any distracting things in the background--like an overflowing laundry hamper or a poster in the background that has text that is almost legible but just not quite.

Hopefully my team and I can pump out a blog post with more tips for you all before it's too late!

Best of luck!

[farheen]

To those who've applied for Spring 2017 - can anyone please share some of the expected policy prompts?

[tmend]

 @farheen, @kamilas, @matt99- Hey guys! 

Have you any of submitted the applications already, and can give an idea of the expected policy prompts for the video essay? Helpful tips, feedback would be much appreciated! 

[RS- Tz]

Any help on the video response policy? Any sample prompts here ? Thanks much in advance. 

[cic2345]

I just did mine - the question was "What do you think the "ideal" SIPA student is?" (or something close to that, don't remember the exact wording). I was very frustrated that I couldn't find any sample questions online to prepare with, so hopefully this is helpful to people! I was definitely expecting something more related to actual policy...

Good luck! 

[RS- Tz]

Any help on the video response policy? Any sample prompts here ? Thanks much in advance. 

Thank you so much for this prompt. It's annoying to not see any of those sample prompts here. I'll be doing mine just in a few hours. 

 

Cheers

[lilyco]

15 hours ago, R Sood said:

Any help on the video response policy? Any sample prompts here ? Thanks much in advance. 

Thank you so much for this prompt. It's annoying to not see any of those sample prompts here. I'll be doing mine just in a few hours. 

 

Cheers

Hi RSood, Have you completed the video response and might you be willing to share your prompt? Thanks!

[RS- Tz]

Mine was- how do you think your academic experience has prepared you for SIPA. Good luck !!

Edited January 5, 2017 by R Sood

[cbx2v]

Mine was tell us about a favorite childhood memory. I don't think I did so hot with it. I was more expecting an interview type question and the minute prep doesn't give you much time to sift through memories to find a good one.

Good luck to everyone else!

[lilyco]

thanks for the tips! mine was about what I was most excited about at SIPA

[Dias]

Just submitted RD- mine was something like "What is a major trend you see in your chosen field/area of study?"

Looking at the other prompts above I don't think anyone needs to worry about getting a real policy question.  60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak isn't nearly enough time. Despite practicing multiple times I still got horribly flustered watching the red timer tick down. I was accepted last year and my CV has only improved since then but I'm now seriously worried I've ruined my chances this round with my sub-par performance. :/

 

[baysbar94]

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the video, even if you "bombed" it. It's not even the fourth-most important aspect of the application. They won't reject someone they would ordinarily accept because of the video alone.

Edited January 30, 2017 by baysbar94

[hamtze]

just did mine - the question was "what local development had an impact on a country's foreign policy?' think i 'bombed' it ^ as worded in baysbar94's 

hope this little contribution to this thread helps other applicants  all the best, and don't worry too much about the video response. keep calm and hope that the randomizer delivers you a straight forward question!

[yellina122]

Mine was "How do you handle multi-tasking?" I bumbled through something about how it's required in my field and legit ended with an "ummmm.....yeah." when I saw I was out of time. Nevertheless, I got in EA! So don't worry too much guys.

[victorialc]

Mine was something like "what course did you enjoy the most as an undergraduate student".

[2018Hopeful]

Mine was something like: "What fundamental knowledge have you learned at Elementary School?" 

[anacris]

Just did mine and it was: "Describe your morning routine"... I was not expecting something so... "simple"? So I got kind of got nervous and did it kind of fast... I spent the last 3 seconds just staring at the webcam because I had already finished telling my (far from extraordinary) morning routine, hahaha.

[Bernise]

Just did mine, it was: Do you have any talents?

Felt strange telling them how talented I was 

And I barely finished my last sentence as timer counted down, the final video didn't capture my last word (where's the laugh-cry emoji when you need it)

[jxw]

Mine was "how has the unstable global climate affected you"? I didn't realise the video was going to start IMMEDIATELY after my 60-sec preparation (despite reading the instructions and practicing!) so they caught me saying, "oh! It's started!" and laughing kinda awkwardly.

[wittgensteinsbladder]

On 1/7/2018 at 7:17 AM, jxw said:

Mine was "how has the unstable global climate affected you"? 

Are you MPA or MIA candidate? Have any MPAs gotten these types of questions?

[yzo]

Mine was: Which newspapers do you read?

[jxw]

On 1/8/2018 at 4:32 PM, wittgensteinsbladder said:

Are you MPA or MIA candidate? Have any MPAs gotten these types of questions?

I was an MIA candidate.

[maria24]

Mine was something along the lines of "Do you think international organizations are effective?" I think I talked about including diverse voices in issues that affect us on a global scale or something. Honestly I was so nervous that it all came and went in a blur haha.

For reference I applied to the MPA-ESP program