6. Should I
visit?
Visiting Columbia is an
excellent idea. It will give you a chance to see if you
would like to come to school here, if you could thrive
in a city like New York, and to meet faculty and other
students to get their perspective. Before coming to
visit, contact a potential advisor who can arrange to
show you around. The Academic Department Administrator will
also be able to help you contact students currently in
the program and answer other questions you may have.
7. Can you tell me
more about the policy aspect of the program?
What sets the Columbia
program apart from many other graduate programs is the
heavy emphasis on both science and policy. Students who
are uninterested in the policy component of the Ph.D
program should not be applying to Columbia, as all
students are required to complete the Certificate in
Environmental Policy which involves extensive
coursework. The goal of the Ph.D program is to produce
top-notch research scientists who can do policy when it
is necessary, not policy makers who understand science.
If your goal is to minimize the study of science in
favor of more time doing policy work, then again, this
is unlikely to be the Ph.D. program for you.
8. What type of
fellowships or financial aid are available?
Ph.D. students are offered
fellowships which cover five years (or four years with
advanced standing) of tuition, Columbia Health Insurance
and Health Fees, and a stipend.
9. Is there
housing?
As part of the fellowship
offer, Ph.D students are guaranteed housing as long as
they apply on time.
10. What are
Residence Units?
RUs are equivalent to
full-time registration for a semester. Six RUs are
required for the Ph.D. A student registered for RU is
charged the full-time rate of tuition. Students on
fellowship have their tuition paid through their award.
11. Can adjunct
faculty be my advisor?
All faculty listed in the
GSAS bulletin and on this web site can serve as
advisors.
12. How many
students are in the program?
