NEW STUDENTS: Prepping for the J-school
Dear newly-admitted students:
As you prepare for the school, here are some resources you should check out.
1. WEBCASTS: We are hosting several webcasts which will allow you to listen live anywhere in the world, or to listen to an archived recording. The ones we have already scheduled are below. COMING SOON: Technology at the school + other topics (send in your suggestions to dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu (subject line = webcast suggestions). Stay tuned. Scroll down.
2. FAQs: Frequently asked questions - and their answers below. Scroll down.
3. SURVIVAL TIPS: Alumni tips on surviving the school - and prepping for it are at
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/01/17/tip-surviving-the-school-tips/
4. TRANSCRIPTS OF OLD CHATS: In 2006 and 2007, we did more than 20 chats on various topics via moderated chatroom. While some of the information will be out of date, of course, reading through the transcripts might still be useful. See them all here: http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/06/chats-online-chats-about-the-school-3/
5. WELCOME VIDEOS: The international students in the Class of 2006 and 2007 created welcome videos for their successor classes. They are available on YouTube and continue to be relevant to all our students. Take a look:
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/08/01/video-new-j-school-international-welcome-video/
6. FACEBOOK GROUP: There’s already a Facebook group for the Columbia Journalism School Class of 2009. It was created by Rebecca Castillo, former class president, who serves as the staff adviser for extracurricular activities via the campus chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. It’s a closed group, so once you have decided to come, let Rebecca know via
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10497300901
7. NEW STUDENTS PAGE: See all the resources, forms and critical information (including dates) that we have gathered for you on the main school site on the New Students Page.
WEBCAST SCHEDULE & RECORDINGS
> full lineup: listen live or to a recording
Using a new service called BlogTalkRadio.com, we are able to connect the Journalism school with people around the world. They can listen live on their computers (or by dialing the listener phone line at 646-915-9583) as we highlight various aspects of the school (PCs or Macs; no downloads required) or tune in later to listen to an archived recording. These webcasts are also available as downloadable MP3 files for your personal collection. [If you want to subscribe to this as a podcast on iTunes, go to “Advanced” within iTunes, then select “Subscribe to podcast” and type in http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/feed and hit OK.] See full lineup at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism
* VARIOUS TOPICS: Deans of Admissions, Student Affairs and Career Services
Thursday, April 17, 10-11 a.m. EST
[see local time in your time zone: http://snurl.com/24jp6 ]
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/04/17/Virtual-Open-House
* TWO TOPICS TOGETHER: Two back-to-back sessions of 30 minutes each.
MEET THE DEAN: Dean Nicholas Lemann talks about the school and answers your questions
M.A. PROGRAM: Dean Evan Cornog, director of the M.A. Program
Send questions in advance to dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu (subject line = webcast / dean) or ask them via the live chatroom.
Tuesday, April 22, 10:00-11 a.m. EST
[see local time in your time zone: http://snurl.com/24yod
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/04/22/WEBCAST-Meet-the-Dean
* MEET THE FACULTY: Prof. David Hajdu, who teaches arts journalism; author of “The Ten-Cent Plague”
Prof. David Hajdu, who teaches arts journalism and is the music critic of The New Republic, is author of the highly-acclaimed “The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America.” He’ll discuss his latest book, his career and how he sees the world of arts journalism from his perch at Columbia. More about him at DavidHajdu.com.
Send questions in advance to dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu (subject line = webcast / Hajdu) or ask them via the live chatroom.
Wednesday, April 23, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST
[see local time in your time zone: http://snurl.com/25faz
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/04/23/MEET-THE-FACULTY-David-Hajdu
* VARIOUS TOPICS: Dean of Admissions, Student Affairs + J2008 Class President Yian Huang
Send questions in advance to dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu (subject line = webcast / virtual open house) or ask them via the live chatroom.
Wednesday, April 23, 4:30-5:30 p.m. EST
[see local time in your time zone: http://snurl.com/24jpd ]
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/04/23/Virtual-Open-House
* MEET AN ALUM: V.V. Ganeshananthan, M.A. 2007 and a brand-new novelist
Meet Ganeshananthan, who graduated from our M.A. program in 2007 and is in the midst of a tour for her debut novel, “Love Marriage.” More on her at Vasugi.com.
Friday, April 25, 10:30-11:30 a.m. EST
NOTE: This is an event hosted by SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association, a nonprofit group based at the Journalism School.
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/saja/2008/04/25/AUTHOR-CHAT-VV-Ganeshananthan
* MEET THE FACULTY (and an alum!): Josh Friedman, J’68, director of international students
Meet Prof. Joshua Friedman, who directs our programs for international students. A two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, he also teaches international reporting at the school. We’ll discuss being a foreign correspondent and how international students can best prepare for Columbia. He joins from Barcelona, where he’s on a speaking trip. Send your questions in advance: dos@jrn.columbia.edu (subject line=webcast / Friedman)
Wednesday, April 30, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. NY time / 6:30-7:30 p.m. Barcelona time
See local time in your city here: http://snurl.com/26fij [timeanddate_com]
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/04/30/MEET-THE-FACULTY-Josh-Friedman-director-of-international-students
* MEET AN ALUM: Brian McDonald, author
Meet Brian McDonald - he’s an alum and author of four books in 10 years. He has one of our more unusual backgrounds. He came to the school at 40, when he was a bartender at the legendary bar, “Elaine’s.” His latest book is a memoir, “Last Call at Elaine’s.” He’ll discuss his books, the writer’s life and about what he learned at Columbia J-school. More on him at www.BrianMcDonald.info - send your questions in advance: dos@jrn.columbia.edu (subject line=webcast / Brian McDonald)
Friday, May 2, 1-2 p.m. NY time
See local time in your city here: http://snurl.com/26fim [timeanddate_com]
Listenlive or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/05/02/MEET-AN-ALUM-Brian-McDonald-author
* MEET THE J-SCHOOL: The Part-time Program with Prof. Laura Muha
Join a conversation about the Part-time Program - a rigorous, yet flexible, way to earn an M.S. degree in Journalism in two years. Prof. Laura Muha, Interim Director of the Part-time Program, will explain how it all works. Send your questions in advance to ljm31[at]columbia.edu (webcast / PT). More on the program here
Tuesday, May 6, 12:30-1 p.m. NY time
See local time in your city here: http://snurl.com/26kyr
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/05/06/MEET-THE-J-SCHOOL-Part-Time-Program
* MEET AN ALUM: Sudarsan Raghavan, Baghdad bureau chief of The Washington Post
Columbia Journalism School invites you to meet an award-winning foreign correspondent. He has reported from more than 50 countries and nine war zones in Africa (where he was Knight-Ridder bureau chief), the Middle East, Asia, the former Soviet Union and Central America. Raghavan, who has won several major prizes, including the Polk Award, started his career in 1992 freelancing from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He will discuss the situation in Iraq, his career and what he learned at Columbia. He’ll be calling in from his Baghdad home. You can ask questions via the live chatroom or the listener line, or send them in advance via e-mail to
dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu
Friday, May 9, 3 p.m. in NY time; 10 p.m. in Baghdad
Listen live or to a recording:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ColumbiaJournalism/2008/05/09/MEET-AN-ALUM-Sudarsan-Raghavan
You will be able to listen via computer from anywhere in the world or call into a NYC number: 646-915-9583. If you can’t make the live event, you can listen to an archived recording at your own pace (it will be post at the links above about 30 minutes after the event). You can send your questions in advance to dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu (subject line = Webcast) or via the chatroom during the show.
No RSVP required; feedback, suggestions welcome. Feel to use the comments section below.
We will be using this technology throughout the summer for specific
briefings to get you ready for various aspects of the school year. More info
coming soon.
Be sure to see the special New Students web page, created just for you.
FAQs from INCOMING STUDENTS
- Q: I was wondering what people do in terms of continuing their health insurance once they graduate? How long is the extension and what kind of payments are there.
A: All the information is available athttp://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/overviewAnd if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Insurance Office at 212 854 3286.
Immunization Compliance Office 212 854 7210
Email hs-enrollment [at] columbia.edu
Chickering Benefit Planning Insurance Agency, Inc. (benefits and claims info) 800 859 8471Please note that you will receive a mailing from Health Services in mid July and that there will be representatives from the department here to answer questions during orientation.
- Q: It’s been recommended to me that I begin thinking now about my master’s project, but since I’m unfamiliar with the city, I feel a bit awkward brainstorming. I’m doing a lot of reading (the NYTimes, books on NYC), but I’d appreciate any additional suggestions about how I might hone in on a story. Also, approximately how many students arrive in August already knowing what they want to cover for their master’s project?
- A: Over the summer, we will be sending you a list of suggested readings to prepare for the Master’s Project. Many students arrive without an idea for the project. A good number find their story while out reporting for RWI or other classes.
- Q: I’m wondering about the first two weeks of the [M.S.] program, the days before Labor Day. What is the schedule like during these days? I’m under the impression that classes don’t begin until after Labor Day, is that true? If so, what goes on during orientation- is it five days a week? All day? Just wondering because I’m trying to plan some things. Obviously, school is my first priority, so I’m trying to get a sense of the plan.
- A: The mandatory orientation for all full-time M.S. students is August 11 and August 12. You will be in all-day classes as of August 13. You will also have some weekend homework assignments. We advise students to be in NYC full-time as of August 11. *International M.S. students have mandatory international orientation on August 7 & 8 as well.
- Q: When is the bill for tuition due?
- A: The e-bill (described at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/docs/billing/index.html) will be sent to you at some point in August (date not yet announced for summer 2008). The payment is due a month after the bill is issued.
- Q: am I required to get Columbia University health insurance, even if I can get coverage through my husband’s employer?
- A: You will not have to take Columbia insurance if you can prove that your husband’s is as comprehensive as Columbia’s. Please go to:
http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/waiver/index.html for details and instructions.
- Q: When will I get my Columbia e-mail address?
- A: Once a student’s check has been received and logged into the University system, his/her UNI (which also serves as the e-mail address) is generated. To look up your UNI, please go to https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/acis/manageaccount/lookup.html If it is not there it means that your enrollment has not yet cleared the system - you should try back again in a few days. Once you have your UNI, you may activate it at http://uni.columbia.edu/ Once it is active, you can start using your Columbia E-mail at https://cubmail.cc.columbia.edu/horde/imp/login.php You will also then be able to access the Off-Campus Housing system at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ire/ocha/
Have a question? dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu
