Maxim's cheatsheet for starting at SIPA!
Hello and welcome! I’m glad you’ve made it to my unhinged cheatsheet 😈. In this blog post, I will share my secret tips and tricks for incoming students, and hopefully even convince newly admitted students to accept their offer to study here at SIPA. P.S. this post is a parody (maybe). Here are my tips!
Be the first one in the classroom
Some people say that it doesn’t matter what seat you have in the classroom (Source: trust me bro). For your first class in any course, come to the classroom early and take the best seat. People usually keep the same seat they had in their first week, so this way you can have the best spot and get a legendary claim on it. Makes one’s life so much easier. Works the best for language courses!
Get in touch with your advising dean early on
This way, your advising dean will have more time for you, and it’s good manners to introduce yourself. Maybe you’ll even be able to get personalized tips on courses before the registration starts.
Find the fridge on the 6th floor and use it (but don't tell anyone about it, it’s a secret)
My advice: you can win SIPASA elections just by promising another fridge or a microwave.
Explore the city before classes start!
There are some great blog posts from the past about how to maximize your time in NYC!
Attend all social events during orientation. You will meet very cool people there.
Check out the Columbia Dining Plan
It’s pretty cool but not many grad students know about it. You can only enroll in the plan and change it in the first two weeks of each semester. Ferris Booth has the richest desserts, and Grace Dodge (hidden in Teachers College close to SIPA) is the best overall for a Grad Plan. Otherwise, cook or be cooked.
Join the SIPA free food WhatsApp groupchat
Whenever there is a new message, you can see 20 people in the cafeteria just standing up and running somewhere.
Do some research on internships in NYC
You don’t have 4 UN internships yet??? Well, it’s actually pretty hard to get them. That’s why it’s smart to do some initial research early on and apply throughout your studies. Sometimes you might also need additional work authorization such as the CPT, especially if you are an international student. Don’t get steamrolled by the bankers. Seeples, unite!
Join a SIPA club/student association
LASA has the liveliest parties, and CEUSA is the best (not biased at all)
Get a free annual check at Columbia Health because health is wealth
How can you grind if you're sick?
(For Columbia Residential/Morningside Heights residents): Establish Lidl or Trader Joe’s as your grocery command
They have a great selection and much lower prices than virtually any other grocery store in the area.
You can see that we have a nice vibe here. I cannot wait to see you on campus as a SIPA student soon!