Columbia Sciences Po Dual Degree 2018 Entry

I got an interview invitation via email but my portal didn’t change at all. Is that a problem??

Hi everyone,

In general, it’s important to know that the Dual BA very much emphasizes holistic review of candidates. There is no single kind of application or stat they are looking for, but rather a demonstrated curiosity in things like the regional studies programs offered by SciencesPo’s campuses and a transatlantic undergraduate experience. Please find responses to your specific questions below and feel free to reach out with more!

@alig0109 - Whether or not you would like to come to New York for your interview is up to you. Doing so does not bear any weight on your application. Do whatever makes you most comfortable, whether that is in person or online!

@amerifrenchy88 - As far as I am aware, for the English-speaking programs in Le Havre, Reims, and Menton, the interview is conducted only in English. Since the Dual BA program is designed for non-French speakers, you do not need to worry about French unexpectedly coming up in your interview. However, for the European-African program in Reims, which is a French-speaking program, I am not sure. For that, your best bet is to directly email GS studies prior to your interview to check.

@grandscheme - 1) A Columbia degree requires 124 total credits, 64 of which must be earned through Columbia. What that means is that Dual BA students carry 60 credits over from SciencesPo and earn the rest at Columbia. So, study abroad programs are usually not possible at Columbia unless you are willing to study abroad during the summer, which Dual BA students certainly have, or take an extra semester. In any case, I find that most students want to maximize their two years here! 2) You pay the tuition of the school at which you are currently enrolled. In other words, you pay two years of SciencesPo tuition and two years of Columbia tuition. 3) I am not sure about the Berkeley interviewer. The two admissions processes are conducted separately. 4) Expect the interviews to be conducted in the next month or so and decisions to come out by April 1.

Best of luck to you all!

Hi, I was invited for an interview for the Reims Euro-America Program. Do you have any tips for the interview or knowledge of any of the questions they might ask? @GSTourGuides

Thank you

@GSTourGuides Thanks for your answer! Concerning the interview, how specific are the questions concerning your region of focus - which in my case is Africa?

I heard from them: they have sent me the email and have resent it. But I still don’t receive anything.
My application status hasn’t changed at all though…

Their initial email got lost… They just sent me the interview invitation to Reims campus!!!
Such a relief!!! But the time slots are unavailable for Feb and March dates… Have you guys scheduled successfully?

@girpackey “An important update to your application” on portals usually indicates that a final decision has been made, if you got an interview, then it wouldn’t update as the final decision hasn’t been made yet.

@RyanHWayne When I first got the email, the dates for virtual sessions were still available, but when I checked the next day it looked as if all the time slots were booked. Luckily for me, I currently live in Germany so I’m able to go to Paris for my interview relatively easily, but I was bummed as well that I couldn’t get a virtual time slot. Maybe try emailing GS explaining your situation that you simply got the email too late and that all the virtual slots were gone before you even had a chance.

@RyanHWayne try checking promotions, that’s where mine was and where many of my college emails end up

@jkrxqzl thx, I’ll explain that to them. I’m currently in China and definitely not able to be there. But you can take the advantage of Paris haha. Have fun and good luck!

Do y’all know when they release interview invitations?

@RyanHWayne haha thanks! good luck to you too and hope that GS understands the situation >.<

@HRS1861 If you haven’t received an email, I’d suggest you contact the admissions. Mine got lost(freaked me out) and they sent me another one (two actually, till I successfully received it. Technical problems…).
@jkrxqzl I was asked to register for an in-person interview so that they can change it to a virtual one.I guess that makes more sense. All times slots are unavailable once I registered. I’m probably the last one to register haha.

Hi again everyone,

Here are responses to your most recent questions.

@amerifrenchy88 - I confirmed that the Euro-Africa program will conduct interviews in English and French, so do be prepared for that. If you did not apply specifically to that program, your interview will be only in English.

@amerifrenchy88 and @columbia_2018 - There isn’t a magic formula, but be prepared to talk comfortably about general issues in the region you’ve selected and how events in those regions have a global impact. You don’t need to be an expert on details or have solutions to global crises, but just able to prove that you would be able to productively contribute to a class discussion on regional issues if you join the program! Express genuine interest in whatever region you have selected and be able to explain why you are drawn to it and what regional studies can do for you in the future. Also, familiarize yourself with the academic programs at both schools, like the Columbia Core or SciencesPo’s array of introductory courses in the social sciences. In general, be prepared, but don’t worry too much! Be yourself and approach the interview as a discussion of your interests and goals.

Hope that helps and please feel free to send more questions my way! Best of luck to you all!

@GSTourGuides Thanks so much for your timely response!

Has anyone had their interview yet?

DD is scheduled for the 30th.

I just had my interview, but the sciences po rep was the same as for my berkeley interview. I hope that won’t negatively affect my application

@2018scholar how did it go? Did you have an in person interview or a virtual interview?

Which campus have you applied to?