RSVP for TC’s Transitioning Careers Information Session

Are you a career changer?  Teachers College is hosting an information session for professionals considering enhancing their resume with a graduate degree in order to prepare for a career transition.

When: Monday, June 22nd 4pm-6pm

Where: Cowin Center, Teachers College, Columbia University

Learn more about the event and RSVP here

Are You a Career Changer?

Monday, June 22nd 4pm-7pm

Cowin Center, Teachers College (enter at Broadway between 120th and 121st)

Teachers College, Columbia University is hosting an information session for professionals interested in embarking on a new career path.  Come learn about our current degree and non-degree offerings at the college from alumni, students, and admission representatives.

**Many programs are still accepting applications for the Fall 2009 semester.**

RSVP for the event will be available next week here.

Application Updates

Happy Spring Everyone!

Hope this blog finds everyone well.  We wanted to remind you that the April 15th application deadline is approaching next week.  Please consult the Guide to Admission to confirm the deadline for the program to which you are applying.

Please keep in mind that all official transcripts and supplemental application materials must be sent via postal mail.  Therefore, if you have not done so already, please remember to mail in these materials so that we receive them in our office by April 15th.

Also, if you are interested in applying for federal financial aid and/or our residence halls, and have not done so already, we encourage you to do so at this point.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to be in touch.

TC Student Experiences: Marjorie

Hi all!

I am brand new to the admissions blog site! My name is Marjorie and I am a second semester student in the Ed.M program in Psychological Counseling (school counseling concentration). My program is 60 credits and takes about 2 full years to complete. Depending on your concentration, the program prepares you to be licensed either as a school counselor or a mental health counselor. When I graduate the program, I hope to work as a school counselor either in NJ or NY.

The semester is definitely getting busier as spring break approaches because professors like to cram in all of their exams and projects before we leave for break. I was supposed to present a midterm project in class tonight, but the class was cancelled due to the snow! So, I’m, bit frustrated that I have to wait until next week to present because I spent a lot of time making sure that I would have everything ready for tonight, but hey, things happen, right? I have a midterm tomorrow (Tuesday) and also one on Thursday, consisting of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions. My last midterm will be on Monday next week. Luckily my fifth class is an experiential course that does not require a midterm.

I’ve found that this semester I have a lot more group projects and presentations than actual exams for my classes, and I really am not quite sure how to feel about that. The projects allow me to collaborate with others and really learn the material, yet can be more challenging in terms of the amount of work, etc. The exams, while they can be very stressful, are usually a bit easier because they are over and done with very soon if you study hard. I am glad that my professors, in giving a mix of projects/presentations and exams, are catering to different student comfort levels and learning styles.

Aside from thinking about midterms, I am also trying to secure a fieldwork site for my second year of the program (a major portion of my program is doing 600 hours of fieldwork in either a mental health or school counseling setting). It has been a little stressful trying to apply to a bunch of sites and go on interviews while still trying to keep up with the work in my five classes. Hopefully it will all pay off next year when I have an excellent field placement.

Anyway, I hope that everyone is having a good semester! Talk to you soon.

-Marjorie

mes2208@columbia.edu

Meet a TC Student: Rachel

Name: Rachel Weitzner

Position: Student Ambassador in The Teachers College Office of Admission

Program/Expected Graduation: M.S. Speech Language Pathology/ Spring 2010

Undergraduate/Major/Graduation: University of Maryland/ Majored in Hearing and Speech Sciences, Minored in Special Education, May 2008

Hometown: Holmdel, NJ

Prior to TC, I was… getting my bachelors degree at UMD.

1. I chose my program because… I’ve always been interested in helping people with communication disorders and the department of Speech Language Pathology at TC is one of the best. Through this program I will have the opportunity to complete my clinical practicum at some of the best hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the nation.

2. When I was applying to graduate school, I wish I knew…that the GRE’s were not required for my program, that it was possible to apply for housing before being accepted to TC, that all the admission information is available online, and that despite all the hard work there is still time to have fun in graduate school!

3. My favorite class so far has been: Stuttering Theory and Therapy with Dr. Karin Wexler. This class has taught me the amount of patience and dedication that is required in order to be a Speech Language Pathologist. It has also proven to me that determination is the key to success, as shown by the thousands of people who stutter today and have achieved their goals.

4. My professional goals after I graduate from TC are…to become a Speech Language Pathologist and work in a clinic specializing in autism.

5. My favorite spot on campus is… the steps in front of Lowe Library. I love sitting there and looking out at the whole campus.

6. Recent “study breaks” include… 1. Exploring Central Park 2. Going to Yankee Stadium 3. Going out in the West Village

7. My key to success at TC is… staying organized, studying hard, and planning ahead, while also leaving time to meet new people, explore NYC, meet up with old friends, try new restaurants, work out, and enjoy TC!

Student Update

Hey All!

I figured I would fill you all in a some things going on in the life  of a current TC student – me!  For those who are new to our blog, I am a full-time student M.A. student in the Higher and Postsecondary Education program and a part-time Graduate Intern in the Office of Admission.  This is my second semester at Teachers College and I will be finished with my program this May.

The Spring 2009 semester is in full swing here at TC.  This semester has been really exciting for me as I become more and more immersed in my program.  I am taking classes with some of the same Professors that I did in the fall, as well as have had many more opportunities to get to know other students in the program.

In addition, I will be attending the American College Personnel Association Conference (ACPA) in Washington, D.C. at the end of March.  This is a national conference for student affairs practitioners.  Since many of my classmates will be participating in the conference as well, our program has been instrumental in helping us prepare for the event.  The program recently partnered with TC’s Office of Career Services to organize a career panel for students attending this conference.  While I know this event is specifically for students, like myself, who are interested in working in working in higher education, I thought it was important information to share with everyone.

There will be plenty of opportunities during your time at TC  -  no matter what program you are in -  to explore various career options,  meet tons of people within your field of interest, and attend conferences, seminars, and workshops.

So, this is why this second semester has been so exciting for me.  Aside from my coursework, there are so many additional opportunities that allow me to explore my academic and professional interests.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to be in touch.  If I do not have the answer for you, I will direct you to someone who does.

Blog’ to you soon!

-Elizabeth

eap2136@columbia.edu

Updates for Prospective Students and Applicants

Hey Everyone!

Hope everyone is doing well. I wanted to let all prospective students and applicants know about an exciting new resource for you.  The Office of Admission has created a Facebook Group specifically for you – all prospective Teachers College students!  We encourage you to use the group as an opportunity to interact and communicate with Admission Staff, current TC students, and your fellow prospective students and applicants!

Look for us on Facebook by searching “Teachers College, Columbia University Prospective Students” to become a member of the group.  Remember to check back to the group frequently to see the latest admission updates.

Please keep in mind that you cannot inquire about the status of an individual application through the Facebook Group. If you did wish to be updated via e-mail or phone regarding your application status, please also keep in mind that our office processes a very high volume of documents for our over 5,000 applicants.  Due to this high volume of applicants, it may take some time for you to receive a confirmation e-mail about your completed application.

Hope to see you all in our Facebook Group!  Feel free to begin posting questions and starting discussions!

Thanks,

Elizabeth

Application and Financial Aid Reminders

Hi Everyone!

Hope 2009 has been off to a great start for you all. As I’m sure you all know, January 15th was the deadline to submit applications to many of our Masters Programs. Please consult the Guide to Admission on our Admission website to confirm the application deadline for your program. Many programs have rolling admissions and are still accepting applications.

For those who submitted their application by January 15th, admission decisions will be sent out by March 15th. You will be notified of a decision via e-mail. Therefore, please make sure you check the e-mail address you included on your application frequently so that you do not miss any correspondence from the Office of Admission.

We encourage you to go ahead and begin filling out your FAFSA on-line if you will be applying for financial aid or scholarship.

Fall 2009 Applicants:

Please note, our scholarship application is now available through our on-line application website. When you log in using your pin and password, you will find a link for the scholarship form that will be submitted electronically.

Summer 2009 Applicants:

Please note, you must use our paper application for scholarship consideration. The electronic version is not valid for a summer start term.

As always, please do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions or concerns.

-Elizabeth

eap2136@columbia.edu

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

I hope you are all gearing up for a relaxing and peaceful holiday season. During this time, I would like to update you on the holiday schedule for the Office of Admission. Please keep the following information in mind as you complete your application process:

Teachers College will be closed from Thursday, December 25th to Monday, January 5th. We will not be answering e-mail during this time. Also, keep in mind, you will not be able to drop off application materials during this time. Anything mailed to the Office of Admission during this time will be held and delivered on January 5th.

Application Deadlines Approaching:

January 5th: Ed.D

****Please note: Our January 2nd deadline has been extended to Monday, January 5th at 6pm***

January 15th: MS, MA, Ed.M

When the Office of Admission re-opens, there will be limited staff during the week of January 5th-January 9th. All admission liaisons will be in Admission Committee and will be unavailable for meetings or appointments. However, you can drop off application materials or call to check the status of your application during this week.

The Office of Admission wishes you all the best for a very happy and healthy New Year.

Blog to you in 2009!

-Elizabeth

December 15th Deadline Approaching…

Hello Again…

As the December 15th deadline approaches, I wanted to post a blog with some final reminders and things to keep in mind. Remember to refer to the Guide to Admission to double check the application deadline for your respective program – it will vary depending on your specific program and degree level. Some programs have a final deadline of December 15th.

For those of you applying to these programs, and for all others preparing there applications for January deadlines, here are some things to keep in mind…

1. All components of your application must be in the Office of Admission BY December 15th – NOT postmarked by this date. Therefore, please make sure you are mailing your materials with time to spare. Keep in mind, the only components of the application that you can submit on-line are the application, your personal statement, your resume, and letters of recommendation. All other supplemental requirements – GRE’s and writing samples – must be submitted via regular mail.

2. Please be sure to indicate an e-mail address on your application that you check regularly. Once you submit your application, all communication from our office will be sent via e-mail. Therefore, it is very important that you indicate a valid e-mail address that you will be checking frequently. This will ensure that you do not miss any vital information from our office.

3. Make sure you have done your research on the program to which you are applying. Your personal statement should reflect why Teachers College and your specific program are good fits for your academic interests. With over 100 programs offered at TC, you want to be sure you are applying to the appropriate program.

We will contact you via e-mail when an admission decision has been made. Please add admission@tc.columbia.edu to your address book to ensure any correspondence from the Office of Admission does not get sent to your Junk mail folder. At that point, you will be able to access the decision on-line. If applying to a program with a December 15th deadline, we will notify you by late-March of an admission decision.

Best of luck as you work on completing your application. Please contact our office if you have any questions along the way.

- Elizabeth