Admissions Blog

7 ways to make the most of your SIPA experience

By Kamayah Scruggs '26
Posted Oct 06 2025
Kamayah_Blog
  1. Be open to new experiences
    1. Say yes to as many opportunities as you can. SIPA is full of brilliant students from all parts of the world that will invite you to join them for social outings, events, and networking opportunities. While it can be overwhelming to balance both school work and social life, you are here at SIPA to create lifelong connections and to experience new things, so do not push those opportunities away. 
    2. Your first few weeks at SIPA are pivotal for establishing friendships, connections, and even homework groups, so say yes to what you can and give it a chance. One thing I have learned from my year at SIPA is that I always remember the fun times I had (trying new things or exploring the city with my SIPA cohort members), but I never usually remember the homework problems or the midterm questions that I had stayed up all night cramming for. Just enjoy this moment and embrace these new experiences.
  2. Connect with others
    1. Get to know everyone. It is easy to only explore connections with groups that share similar interests and backgrounds as you, but I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and to connect with everyone. These two years at SIPA go by super fast, and in your final year you may regret not getting to know more of your SIPA community. So, be bold, challenge yourself, and meet new people. 
  3. Embrace New York
    1. Once classes get started the workload can be overwhelming, so it is easy to only stay in the SIPA bubble and to not explore the different parts of New York. However, this is the perfect time to explore NY, because you have access to so many things. Every Columbia student has access to the Arts Initiative that provides students discounted tickets to broadway shows, musicals, and ballet performances, so take advantage of that. There are also student discounts that you can utilize with your Columbia ID to go to museums for free.
    2. Moreover, different student groups often take students to go see the Statue of Liberty, fun areas in Brooklyn, and great restaurants in Queens, so be sure to embrace those opportunities. The Office of Student Affairs also sends out events throughout the year to encourage students to engage in the culture and community within Harlem, and often invites students out to the historic Apollo theater and other Harlem staples.
  4. Join student organizations
    1. This is probably the biggest tip I could give you. Joining student organizations, even just as a regular general body member, is one of the best things you can do at SIPA and it is one of the easiest ways to meet new people. 
    2. If you are coming from undergrad, you may be expecting this to be a big time commitment, but grad school is thankfully way less time consuming in this aspect; student organizations only encourage you to attend their events (which are often fun socials with free food and drinks :). The only people who will have requirements to fulfill are the executive board members of the organization. So, in joining a student organization, there is nothing to lose, only connections, friendships, and fun experiences to gain. 
    3. These organizations are meant to be safe spaces for students to connect with each other and to enjoy non-academic conversations and activities. These student orgs create a sense of community at SIPA, that I think every student entering SIPA should experience. 
  5. Connect with your Deans and professors
    1. It can be intimidating getting to know your academic dean or professors, but this is the best way to really connect with them. They are here to help you, to guide you, and to teach you, so be sure to utilize this while they are still there to assist you. 
    2. 1. Attend your professors office hours; not only does this give you the chance to ask questions and get inside info on class updates and assignments, but it also gives you the chance to really get to know them.
    3. 2. Attend advising meetings with your academic dean; meeting your Dean allows them to put a face to the name and will create a rapport between you and them, which will allow them to better assist you and guide you. You’d be surprised how many students don’t get to know their professors and deans and who wish they had. Those small meaningful conversations often lead to research opportunities, jobs, and great advice.
  6. Learn a new skill or language
    1. You are coming to SIPA to create connections, but to also learn new skills and understandings of the world. Do not let the academic stress sidetrack you from fully embracing the opportunities within this program. SIPA offers courses that teach you how to code, how to understand the foundations of Excel, speech writing, and conflict negotiations, as well as numerous language courses. I encourage you to take at least one class or elective that teaches you one new skill, so that you leave SIPA with a whole new range of skillsets.
  7. Explore other Columbia campuses
    1. Check out the business school on 130th street; they have a study building open to the local community and all Columbia students called ‘The Forum’. They host social events, jazz nights, and academic lectures here.
    2. Also check out some of the buildings around SIPA, like the Engineering building, the Architecture building, and the Philosophy building-all of which are known to have great study spaces with big windows.
    3. Go up to the medical campus and explore 160th street. I would even encourage you to cross-register and take a class at a different school, so that you can fully experience the different communities at Columbia.