“Should I go to Admitted Students Weekend?”

The answer to this question is… YES!

 

I came to the 2007 Admitted Students Weekend almost a year ago now! First of all, I can’t believe an entire year has already gone by.  I was having brunch this morning with one of my classmates and we said, “Oh my gosh, we met almost a year ago!” Even though it was only two days many of the friendships I have made this year in school began during ASW! When I came back to NYC to begin my program in the fall it was so wonderful to see so many familiar faces. We didn’t have to start from scratch. About 15 of us exchanged e-mails in May and had been in contact the entire summer. Coming from California it was a really nice feeling to think that I already had “friends/classmates” before I even started the M.A. program at TC. All of the normal jitters of starting something on your own had disappeared because I felt like I wasn’t really “on my own.”

 

Not only will you meet future classmates but it is a fabulous way to begin to be able to navigate the hallways of TC. Teachers College is great (especially in the winter) because all of the buildings are connected to one another. But to be honest, it can take little time to figure out where you are.  During ASW you will have the opportunity to take a tour of TC as well as the Columbia main campus.

 

When I came to Admitted Students Weekend I had already decided to attend TC in the fall but I know many students were attending with the hopes that the weekend would help them make this decision. The students who were in this situation found the weekend to be very informational. There is a time for questions about student life, financial aid, residential services, as well as breakout sessions for different departments.  There are plenty of opportunities to meet current students who will be happy to answer any questions you have J

 

As a non-native New Yorker it was also wonderful to be able to attend dinner in the Morningside Heights area and even more thrilling to go to a Broadway show!  I hear they have three great options this year!!!

 

I have nothing but great things to say about Admitted Students Weekend! Whether you have already made your decision to attend TC or you still have some unanswered questions….put these dates on your calendar… May 9^th-May 10^th or June 6th-June 7^th!

 

J

Megan

Decisions, decisions…

Greetings from the Office of Admission. It’s a mild day in New York, with temperatures reaching the 60’s today. There is a touch of spring fever going around on, with a full-blown outbreak just weeks away (hopefully)!

Our office has gotten lots of calls and e-mails asking about when decisions will be going out. We can’t blame you - a lot of you are embarking on a new chapter that will take you into a new field of study, a new city, or both. It’s an important time in your life, and we’re grateful that you’ve considered spending your next year (or more) with us.

For applications that have met the early application deadlines, we aim to have our decisions out by the end of March. In order for an application to be considered early, all items must have been received in our office by the deadline.

If your application form was filed by the early deadline, but your supporting documents were not received until later, your application will be reviewed in the order they are completed. You may also receive your decision by the end of March, but do not worry if you have not.

Students who are complete by the early deadline are automatically considered for merit scholarship by the department. Please note: this does not mean they are guaranteed scholarship. It also does not mean that if your application is completed after the deadline that you will not receive any scholarship. You will be considered on a funds-available basis by the department. All decisions are merit-based and scholarship money is limited.

In the meantime, you’ll want to make sure you’ve completed the FAFSA, if you’re eligible for federal financial aid, and your housing application if you plan on living at Teachers College.

Best of luck to all applicants!

Meet a TC Student: Jaffrie

Name: Jaffrie Perrotti

Position : Student Ambassador in The Teachers College Office of Admission

Program/Expected Graduation: MA Education Leadership/ Spring 2008

Age: 27

Undergraduate/Major/Graduation: Amherst College/ Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought; Psychology

Hometown: Winthrop, MA

Prior to TC, I was…Assistant Dean of Students at the New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire. 

1. I chose my program because…Teachers College is one of the only schools in the country that has a program in Private School Leadership.  I am in a cohort program administered by Dr. Pearl Rock Kane of the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership. The Klingenstein Center is dedicated to improving the quality of independent school education by developing and strengthening leadership among teachers and administrators who work in and with independent schools in the United States and throughout the world.

2. When I was applying to graduate school, I wish I knew…I would go back to eating ramen noodles and macaroni & cheese.  I underestimated how dramatically my lifestyle would change, going from being a full-time teacher, to being a full-time student.

3. My favorite class so far has been…Ethical Issues in Education Leadership with Dr. Thomas Sobol.  This class immediately challenged my conceptualization of the role of education in America.  As I continue my educational career, there is no doubt that I will continually revisit the issues we confronted in the class. 

4. My professional goals after I graduate from TC are…to continue positively impacting the lives of today’s youth.  I enjoy the challenge of trying to draw the best out of each individual student.  Teachers College has definitely given me the skills to be more effective in my professional life. 

5. My favorite spot on campus is…College Walk on 116th, between Amsterdam and Broadway.  I always try to alter my daily route so that I pass through College Walk.  The path cuts through the middle of Columbia’s main campus; surrounded by beautiful architecture and academic buildings…you can’t help but feel intellectually inspired!

 6. Recent “study breaks” include…

            1. Attending a Rangers ice hockey game at Madison Square Garden

            2. Going for a run alongside the Hudson at Riverside Park

            3. Joining the fellow members of my program at a wine & cheese reception for Maxine Greene

7. My key to success at TC is…see above!!!  Graduate study at Teachers College can be pretty overwhelming, it is important to keep balance in your life and take time to enjoy all that NYC has to offer.

Housing Help

Where you live in New York City plays a huge role in determining how much you enjoy the time you spend here.  Whether you are a homebody, or someone who likes a frequent night on the town, having the “just right” place to live can make all the difference.  One of the most frequent questions I hear from admitted students is, “Where do people live while they are going to TC?”  For students coming from outside of the city, the first decision is whether to live on campus or not.

 On Campus Housing

Many out of state students who are in one year, MA programs choose to live in one of TC’s on campus residence halls.  TC has two residence halls (Whittier and New Residence Hall) that can accommodate single students.  Whittier hall units are arranged in a suite-like format; students have their own room and share common areas such as a living room, kitchen, and bathroom with two to three other students.  In New Residence Hall, students have their own bathroom and have the option to share a community kitchen with other residences on their floor or they can choose to have a private kitchen in their room for an additional cost.  For students with families, Teachers College offers two and three bedroom apartments in Grant, Sarasota, and Bancroft Halls.  In addition to these options, international students also have the choice of living at International House, a residential community of over 700 Columbia graduate students.  Whittier, Bancroft, Sarasota, Grant, and New residence halls house Teachers College students exclusively.

 

My advice is that if you are unfamiliar with New York and do not know many people in the city, then living on campus is the way to go.  The on campus residence halls have a great community vibe and you will always be around your classmates and directly dialed into the Columbia community.  If you think living on campus is a good choice for you, then make sure you get your housing application in ASAP.  Securing on campus housing is very competitive and not every student is guaranteed a space.  Priority is determined based on where you currently live and how early you apply.  Applicants that live the furthest distance from New York will be given a higher priority than those who live nearby.  For example, if you live in Singapore you have a much better chance of securing a spot than if you live in New Jersey.  Timeliness matters too, so get those applications in ASAP!

 Off Campus Housing

I recommend living off campus if you currently live in New York or are familiar with the city and know people in the area.  New York offers many unique neighborhoods that are attractive to students who may not want to be located as far uptown as Columbia.  Before enrolling at TC, I taught in Brooklyn and didn’t really feel like leaving my wonderful (and affordable) apartment upon enrolling in graduate school.  The commute takes me about 50 minutes and I spend most of my time on the subway catching up on the TONS of reading I have to do anyway.  Other students who live off campus enjoy the Morningside Heights neighborhood (near TC), the Upper West Side, or Harlem.

 

Teachers College and Columbia provide several resources for students interested in living off campus.  I copied the following information from the Office of Residential Services website:

Individual Counseling
You may call the Office of Residential Services to schedule an appointment to speak to a staff member who can help you with questions about your search for off campus housing.

Information Sessions
Throughout the summer The Office of Residential Services conducts weekly information sessions to interested students. These sessions are designed to provide you with strategies and resources you can utilize to successfully complete your search for an off-campus apartment. Also, you may find potential roommatesAlthough we can provide you with information on a broad range of housing related issues, the Office of Residential Services does not make off-campus housing arrangements. All rental arrangements and agreements are made between the tenants and landlords. Our staff does not meet with or inspect any landlord who lists their apartment with us. We do not offer legal assistance, but can refer you to agencies that offer help.

In addition, you may want to explore these links that can help with an apartment search in New York City:

Columbia University’s Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA)

Columbia University’s Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office helps Columbia affiliates in their search for rental housing in non-Columbia owned buildings located in the metropolitan area. OCHA maintains a Web site and regular office hours to provide advice, resources, and an online database of available housing.

Metro International Metro International is a non-profit educational organization which provides global learning opportunities for students, educators and the community in New York City and beyond.

Craigslist Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities that offers free classified advertisements for housing, employment opportunities, and services.  Many TC students use Craigslist to look for no fee apartments and room shares in New York City.

I hope this information is helpful and don’t hesitate to email me at tcstudent@tc.edu with any housing questions you may have.

Have a great weekend!

About Study Abroad & Faxes

Greetings!

We are currently processing applications for Summer and Fall 2008 admission. One item that can prevent an application from being completed and reviewed is their study abroad transcript.

It is important to find out how your school lists study abroad credit on your transcript. In order to complete your application, we require that your official record of these credits reflect both the course title and the final grade received. Many colleges and universities simply list the courses as “transfer credit” or they include the course title, but not the final grade.

Unfortunately, this can delay the review of your application significantly. In order to give a full review of a student’s application, we need a record of all grade performance, even if it is on a pass-fail basis. We recommend ordering a set of official transcripts for your own records. That way, you will know exactly what additional materials you may need to submit.

Some of you have been contacted by the Office of Admission regarding missing application items and asked to fax a piece for our review purposes. It is important that you only fax materials to us if you are requested to do so by the Office of Admission. Faxes are a last resort and do not take the place of official hard copies of transcripts or recommendations.

If you have questions about submitting an missing item, please contact your admission liaison for instructions.

Best of luck to all current and future applicants. Have a wonderful weekend!

Greetings from Megan

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year  (a little late)!  I hope everyone had a fabulous winter break and I hope the fall applicants were able to organize and successfully send off all or most of your grad school applications. I know from experience that when I put my last “supplemental” material in the mail, I had a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders!  As Risa and Nick will surely explain in future posts, the process continues, a little less stressful but there are definitely steps you should be taking. Here are two tasks I suggest doing promptly!

1. If you plan on applying for housing and have not done so yet, you can go to this website and pay the $35 fee to apply. http://www.tc.columbia.edu/housing/
2. If you plan on taking out government loans, fill out your 2008 FAFSA. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

As I mentioned in my last e-mail…. I am no longer the Graduate Assistant for the Office of Admissions, as I was presented with an amazing opportunity to work full time in the Institute of International Education as an International Student Advisor. I started a week ago and it is a lot of work but it is all work I enjoy doing and with every new job, I am sure it will get easier ever day as I learn more about the company, the programs, and my responsibilities!  I work with Chileans, Indonesians, and Africans. It’s fabulous!

I had quit a busy winter break including stops in Philadelphia to visit family, San Diego to visit more family, Miami, Mexico, and Dallas to visit some friends, but my most memorable experience over the break was a class I took through Teachers College!  Yep.. I studied over the break… but not in the cold (but wonderful) city of New York. I was studying in Antigua, Guatemala on what Teachers College refers to as a “Study Tour.” 

Ever year the Center for Outreach and Innovation offer a variety of classes that can be taken as non-credit or for credit. Some examples of the classes offered are: daylong seminars on Internet use in the Classroom, Conferences on Counseling Techniques, and classes that are taken internationally called Study Tours.  I went with 16 other students and Professor Bruce Vogeli from the Mathematics Department to a quaint little pueblo an hour outside of Guatemala City called Antigua.  It was amazing. I had 6 hours of intensive one-on-one Spanish every day with Lily Gonzalez, my wonderful teacher.  During the afternoon sessions we were able to use the community around us and have our Spanish class while we could visit such places as a fruit market, a jade factory, a coffee farm, and a macadamia nut farm.  Having a curriculum designed specifically for my level was very beneficial. I speak Spanish daily in my current job and know that my Spanish level definitely improved over the two weeks.  Some of my other classmates are going on another Study Tour over Spring break to Europe and others will be participating in the Study Tour to South East Asia in May.  Taking classes though The Center for Outreach and Innovation is just one of the many opportunities students can take part in while attending Teachers College.

I got back last Tuesday and started work and class on Wednesday! I definitely jumped right into things! I am very happy that Risa has found a wonderful Graduate Assistant, Nick to continue Blogging and helping with application questions, and  giving you a student perspective on TC and NYC!  I have switched “roles” going from a full time TC student with an internship to a part time  TC student with a full time job. Both situations have their benefits and challenges.  I look forward to sharing these with you through monthly updates and advice!

Till next month!

Megan

PS. Good luck New Applicants! 

About Interviews

Greetings! New York is buzzing today, celebrating the Super Bowl win by the Giants and anticipating Super Duper Tuesday tomorrow. It’s a great time to be in the city!

I’ve received some questions concerning interviews: Are they mandatory? How do you get an interview? Any tips on a successful interview?

To get some insight, I asked Melba Remice, Associate Director of Admission and liaison to the Counseling and Clinical Psychology Department, for the skinny on admission interviews.

For some programs, mostly doctoral, interviews are essential to gaining admission. For these programs, not all applicants are offered an interview, and getting an interview does not guarantee admission. Programs with December 15th deadlines are in the process of reviewing applications to determine whom they would like to interview. If your application is in the department for review, there is nothing more for you to do at this point. If the program would like to interview you, they will contact you.

What if I do not get an interview? Will I still be considered for the program?

As I mentioned before, not all programs conduct interviews as part of their admission process. So, depending on the program, you still may be eligible for admission. But the department reserves the right to deny admission to a Doctoral program or admit a student for a Master’s program in the same department without conducting an interview.

I got an interview! Now what?

First off, congratulations! If your interview is on-campus, make your travel arrangements pronto, giving yourself time before the interview to rest (if possible, you don’t want to arrive in New York the morning of your interview). With applicants from all over the country and the world, we understand that many interview candidates cannot travel to Teachers College for an interview. Students have been admitted to TC in the past with phone interviews. However, we do recommend visiting TC if it is logistically and financially possible. These interviews are not only a way for the department to get to know you, it is a chance for you to get to know the department. We want our students to succeed here, academically and emotionally. And there is something about visiting the Teachers College campus that cannot be replicated over the phone. But, again, visiting is not essential for an interview or admission in most cases.

How should I prepare for my interview?

Make sure you know your stuff before stepping into that interview room (or picking up that telephone). There will most likely be questions about your previous research and field experience, your current research interests, which faculty members you would like to work under, the list is endless! Well, almost. An application paints a specific picture of the candidate and it is the job of the interview to focus on any particular aspect and flush it out. Be prepared to defend every point you made in your personal statement and make a clear argument (without arguing) as to why you would be a good fit for this Teachers College program.

Best of luck in the admission process and keep the questions coming!

Sweet, I got in! Now how will I actually pay for this?

 

Applying to graduate school is an exciting opportunity that also comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility. Deciding how you will finance your studies is almost as important as where you will study and what program you choose. The financial aid process can seem daunting but it is really quite manageable if you do a small amount of research and become familiar with services the Office of Financial Aid provides.

Finances weighed heavily on my decision to go to grad school. When I applied, I was a full time teacher in Brooklyn and was looking for a program in Education Leadership. The program I applied to at TC was 60 units and I didn’t want to attend part time because it would have taken me FOREVER to complete 60 units while I continued teaching. I knew being a full-time student would allow me to get the most out of my grad school experience and allow me to earn my degree much quicker. Being a full-time student also meant I would have to give up my teacher salary and take on some student loans.

Here are a few things I have learned:
Even if you haven’t received a decision yet I would complete these steps so you are in front of the pack. Some people don’t realize that financial aid is a competitive process, the early bird definitely get the worm!

• File your 2007 Tax Return ASAP. Before the government can figure out how much money you need, they first need to figure out how much you earn. You can’t file your FAFSA until you file your tax return.

• Your FAFSA is your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Before starting a FAFSA, you will need to create a Federal Student Aid PIN if you don’t already have one. Once you have your PIN, you can complete your FAFSA online. This is the entry point for student aid and will determine what kind of aid you qualify for.

• Complete a scholarship application for Teachers College by filling out this form and mailing it to the Office of Financial Aid at TC.

Applying for loans
There are several different types of loans. I have two Stafford Loans and one Graduate Plus loan, which I will discuss below and are the most common. You can also apply for a Perkins loan if you are eligible and for Private/Alternative loan if you have additional needs.

Stafford Loans – Subsidized and Unsubsidized
A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. You will not be charged any interest before you begin repayment or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government “subsidizes” the interest during these periods.

An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You’ll be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If you allow the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized, meaning the interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan and additional interest will be based upon the higher amount.

For periods of study that are less than an academic year, the amounts you can borrow will be less than those just listed. Talk to your financial aid administrator to find out how much you can borrow. Generally, if you’re a graduate student, you can borrow up to $20,500 each academic year. Only $8,500 of this amount may be in subsidized Stafford loans.

The amount given above is the maximum yearly in both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. You may receive less than the yearly maximum if you receive other financial aid that is used to cover a portion of your cost of attendance.

All Stafford loans have a fixed rate of 6.8%

Graduate Plus Loan
Graduate Plus loans are similar to Stafford loans in that the federal government ensures a fixed interest rate throughout the loan period; however, the interest rate is higher at 8.5%. There are many different lenders you can choose from for your Grad Plus loan and all lenders offer incentives for you to choose them. Incentives vary and you should choose a lender who provides incentives that fit your financial lifestyle. For example, some incentives include a lower origination fee while others may reduce your interest rate if you sign up for automatic payments. Much of it depends on your individual financial profile. Teachers College provides a preferred lender list for Grad Plus loans that make it very easy to compare lenders and the incentives each one offers.

Above all…

This is one area where you really want to do your homework. The financial aid choices you make before grad school will have a tremendous impact on how you live after grad school. Keep in mind that there are resources out there. Most importantly, visit the Office of Financial Aid website frequently to stay on top of this process and never hesitate to ask questions. We are here to support you and this very important step in your career.

Have a great week!

About Writing Samples

Spring 2008 is now in full swing and the Office of Admission is busy! The TC Blog is busy, too, with the addition of our new Graduate Assistant, Nick. While we will miss having Megan in the Office of Admission, she will continue to contribute to the blog as she completes her program part-time while starting her brand new job at the UN!

It’s a busy day for a Friday, but I thought I would take a minute to discuss WRITING SAMPLES. Some programs, most doctoral, require writing samples as a supplement to the application. A couple of things to keep in mind:

 1. These are not the same as the personal statement. Writing Samples are pieces of academic writing and/or research, possibly pertaining to the field to which you are applying. While a personal statement is typically 1-3 pages in length, most writing samples are a minimum of 12 pages and can go up to 20 pages…

2. But be wary of sending in anything longer than that. Our programs are competitive. The review committees are looking over sometimes hundreds of applications in a short period of time. The more you send in, the less they will be able to focus on the “meat” of your work. You want to be able to get your point across in a short amount of time. If you have a 100 page thesis, try giving the committee a chapter, or highlighting the “must-read” section. I would recommend that you only send one “must-read” writing sample in most cases (see #6 for the exception).

3. Writing Samples must be physically mailed in. Unless the Admission Liaison to your department has specifically requested that you email your writing sample to them, you are expected to mail your writing sample to us along with your other application materials. It cannot be attached to your online application, and it is required to arrive in our office by the deadline.

4. Make sure your name is on the writing sample. If you have gotten your “T-” TC ID, then please feel free to include that, too. But the name is essential. 

5. If required, you are expected to submit a writing sample, no matter how long it has been since you were last in school. Many people applying to our programs have not been in a classroom in a number of years. Some people do not think their college writing would give the admission committee an accurate picture of what their graduate school potential is. That may be the case, but you are still expected to submit a sample. We have had cases where students conducted new research and wrote brand new papers to fulfill this requirement. If you have a library of papers that you would be proud to share with us, please don’t feel the need to write something brand new. But it is important to know that when a program requires this for admission, there are no exceptions or excuses accepted.

6. The topic of your writing sample does not need to match your program of interest, but it can help. I realize that many of our applicants are applying to a program as their way of entering a particular field. We welcome that. We understand that you may not have a writing sample that is directly related to the program to which you’re applying. But keep in mind, you are in the same applicant pool as those who did major in this field in college and do have a writing sample pertinent to their research interests. I do believe you should submit the strongest paper you have, even if it is not in the subject area. But if you are choosing between two papers of equal quality and one is in the field and one is not, i would suggest you choose the paper closest to your program interest.

7. Try to submit at least one piece of individual work. Most published articles are co-authored by a number of people. If you are one, you may want to submit it to demonstrate your ability to produce relevant research. But I suggest you also submit something that is authored only by you. That way, the department can get a true sense of what your individual writing and research skills are.

Writing samples are just one example of Supplemental Application materials. Please be sure to check the Guide to Admission, The TC Catalog or your Admission Liaison to see what is required with your application.

I hope this helps. Best of luck on your applications and please keep the blog questions coming!

Blog Intro

Hello TC Blog Community!

My name is Nick Kappelhof and I will be working as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Admission at Teachers College for the spring, 2008 semester.  One of my primary responsibilities is to continue the great work Megan has started with this blog.  I will be making weekly updates about what is happening in the Office of Admission, provide information about upcoming admission events, and answer some common questions many applicants have during this time of year.  Basically, I will serve as the eyes and ears for prospective students, applicants, and admitted students within the Office of Admission at TC.

I am in my last semester of an Ed.M. program in Public School and School District Leadership within the department of Organization and Leadership.  I have been a full time student at TC since fall of 2006 and can offer lots of information about my experience here.  I know my department inside and out, live off campus, have worked at TC, and just completed an intense internship at a high school in the Bronx.  Of course, I’ve also formed many excellent friendships here and can provide student perspectives on all of our departments, student housing, and what life is like for a native Californian living in New York City.

I know this is a busy and stressful time for many applicants and I am here to help.  Please feel free to email me (nhk2105@columbia.edu) with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have about the admission process or life at TC in general.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Nick