Summer and Fall 2007 Registration Update

Early Registration may be a thing of the past, but there's still time to register!

Mark your calendars for the next opportunity to register for summer and fall 2007 courses. For specific course information contact your program representatives or check your Columbia University email for messages they may have sent you recently. Also make a note of when the late registration period begins for the terms you are registering for, since this is when financial penalties will start to be enforced. Using your UNI and password, log into Student Services Online (SSOL) to find your appointment times and PIN and follow the registration instructions given.

Summer 2007 Registration
Summer Session D (May 21 - Jun 29)
Summer Session E (May 21 - Jul 20)
Summer Session H (Jun 04 - Jun 29)
Summer Session Q (Jul 02 - Aug 10)
Summer Session R (Jul 02 - Jul 27)
Summer Session X (May 21 - Aug 10)

Fall 2007 Registration
http://www.ce.columbia.edu/calendar/index.cfm
Visit the above link then click on the drop down menu to find your program's calendar

So, What Kind of Courses Should I Be Taking Anyway?

If you are in the Postbaccalaureate Studies Certificate program, you may be unsure whether the courses you want to take are the right kind of courses needed to successfully earn the certificate. Well, no more struggling to put together the right courses that will prepare you for grad school or give you the edge to qualify for a dream job. We've done the work for you and it's just one click away:

• Biotechnology
• Business
• Classics
• Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology
• Psychology
• Quantitative Studies for Finance

A summer certificate program is also available in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

• TESOL

The Dos and Don'ts of Applying to Graduate School

"How can I figure out which graduate program is the right one for me?"......"What should I talk about in my personal statement?"......"Should I ask Sammy the mechanic for a recommendation? He seems like a nice guy."......

The Dos and Don'ts of Applying to Graduate School Presentation

We at the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) know that a large percentage of you are taking courses in preparation for applying to a graduate program. We also know that often times you have questions about preparing for graduate school, but aren't sure who to ask. To help get our students started on the right track, OSA held its first workshop yesterday: The Dos and Don'ts of Applying to Graduate School . While many of you were able to attend, we know that some of you could not. So we're making the presentation slides available for you to download. Just click on the link above, take a look at the information, jot down any questions you have and contact us if you would like to meet with an advisor. Good Luck!

Workshop: The Do’s and Don’ts of Applying to Graduate School

Many of you are preparing to apply to graduate school. This can be a very daunting task. Are you still nagged by questions like: “How long should my personal statement be?” “Should I try to explain that lapse in my undergraduate record?” and “Who should I pursue as a recommender?” If so, then the Office of Student Affairs would like to invite you to the following workshop:

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Applying to Graduate School
Thursday, April 19th 2007
6 PM – 8 PM
Ward Dennis Room
602 Lewisohn Hall

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Please RSVP to sce-studentaffairs@columbia.edu by Monday, April 16th. Space is limited.

Elective Studies Renamed Postbaccalaureate Studies Program

Dear Elective Studies Students:

I am writing to apprise you of some exciting changes in your program at the School of Continuing Education. As I’ve met with many of you during past registrations, it has become very apparent to me that the majority of you are pursuing a plan of study that will better prepare you for graduate school or professional advancement. Indeed, the number of you who are taking classes as an end in and of itself, purely for personal enjoyment, is rather small (though we greatly appreciate your participation).

With this reality in mind, the School of Continuing Education has re-named Elective Studies to better represent the student body we serve. It is now called the Postbaccalaureate Studies Program. In addition, we have developed services in recognition of who you are: a body of motivated and talented students who hold bachelor's degrees but need further academic work to prepare for graduate school or to advance professionally. This is why we’ve recently expanded the Office of Student Affairs to include two additional academic advisors, Donia Allen and Alakesha Murray, both of whom have comprehensive experience with academic planning and graduate school application guidance.

In addition, we plan to offer workshops and colloquia on graduate school admissions. In fact, we will be offering the first of these workshops on Thursday, April 19th, from 6 to 8 PM (room TBA). You will receive an email in the near future with details, including the workshop’s agenda and where to RSVP.

As the program progresses, we look forward to assisting you with your educational plans. If you have any questions or suggestions, we welcome them at:

sce-studentaffairs@columbia.edu

I am also including links to some of the free and exciting events open to you as members of our academic community, compliments of our friends at CUArts:

Free or inexpensive tickets to performances around NYC http://www.cuarts.com/studentDiscounts.html#top

Free student admission to nearly 30 major museums http://www.cuarts.com/studentDiscounts.html#museum

Tom Harford
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs