Columbia Graduate Schools Fair
Columbia University has one of the largest international student and scholar populations in the United States. Every year, it receives a host of students from across the world, with Indian students forming the University’s second largest cohort of international students. Given this deep interest among Indian students in applying to the Ivy League institution, Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai partnered with two Schools this Fall to offer relevant and timely information to prospective students through virtual information sessions.
The first session, held on November 22, 2021, in partnership with the Columbia School of Journalism, featured John Haskins, Dean of Student Life; Tarin Almanzar, Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid; Anusha Shrivastava, Director of Alumni Relations and 2002 alumna; Ross Yelsey, Assistant Director of Admissions and Marketing; and David Hooker, Coordinator for Admissions and Financial Aid. They shared information on the school’s graduate and PhD programs, faculty profiles, alumni experiences, opportunities for professional development and networking, and other highlights that distinguished the school as one of the foremost educational centers for journalistic excellence.
The second session, held on November 23, 2021, in partnership with the Graduate School for Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), featured GSAPP’s Steffen A. Boddeker, Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach; Sara Konekeo, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid; Leslie E. Kuo, Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations; and India-based alumni, Mansi Sahu, Director, StudioPOD; and Priyamwada Singh, Principal Architect at Common Ground Practice LLP. Following presentations by the alumni on their various projects and time at Columbia, the representatives shared information on the school’s range of academic programs in architecture, urbanism, preservation and real estate development.
Both the information sessions emphasized the experience-oriented approach their programs take while leveraging the unique advantage of being located in New York City, a knowledge and cultural hub for aspiring students of journalism and architecture. The sessions saw interactive segments where aspiring students got a chance to get answers to their queries on a range of topics from choosing the right course, living the student life and engaging in extracurricular activities on campus to understanding the admissions process, seeking financial aid, and leveraging internship and professional opportunities.