Application Status and Admission Decisions

What happens to my application or supplemental material after it is submitted?
As soon as your submitted online application is received it goes through a process to prepare for the admissions review. Due to the amount of applications and mail this process can take several weeks. It is normal that we do not communicate with you during this process.

You can expect an email notice informing you of your status after the deadline date. Applicants may also login to their online application to check their status. At this time we begin to deliver complete applications to the appropriate departments for review on regularly scheduled dates. You will receive an email to inform you when your application was sent for review. If we still require some document(s) to complete your application you will receive an incomplete application notice after the deadline. Once your application becomes complete it will be delivered for review.

If you sent your application or any supplemental material late or after the deadline be advised that Columbia reserves the right to evaluate an application and render a final decision even if all pieces of the application have not been received.  

The faculty admissions committee will review the application after it is complete online at a time available to them. 

How can I check the status of my application?
You can expect an email notice informing you of your status after the deadline date, not before. Applicants may also login to their online application to check their status. At this time we begin to deliver complete applications to the appropriate departments for review on regularly scheduled dates. You will receive an email to inform you when your application was sent for review. If we still require some document(s) to complete your application you will receive an incomplete application notice after the deadline. Once your application becomes complete it will be delivered for review.

If you sent your application or any supplemental material late or after the deadline you can expect to receive the same notice mentioned above.  However, be advised that after the deadline Columbia reserves the right to evaluate an application and render a final decision even if all pieces of the application have not been received. 

Contacting our office for your status interrupts and can delay the processing of applications and supplemental material received for review. If it is necessary to inquire about your status email seasgradmit@columbia.edu or call 212-854-6438.

Applicants may login to your online application to upload material and check your status. The faculty admissions committee will review your application after it is complete online at a time available to them.

When will I receive a decision on my application?
A decision can be expected to be made within six to eight weeks from the time the application came under review. Be advised, the decision could take more or less time depending on a variety of factors, including the selection of students for funding.

Be sure that you mail official transcript/s and send your official GRE and TOEFL (if required) scores.  These official materials are necessary and used in the final review for admission. Without official transcripts or scores an admissions offer cannot be made.

How will I be notified of the decision on my application?
You may be informed by the department to which you applied by email or phone call. However, this type of notice is not a guarantee of admission until a verification of documents submitted is completed by the Graduate Student Affairs Office (GSA). The official notice of an accept offer will be communicated to you by GSA in a formal letter.

Be sure you have provided current and valid mailing and email addresses to receive all correspondence.

If I have been denied admission, may I receive reasons for this decision?  Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applicants the admission reviewers cannot provide feedback regarding individual applicants or the reason for unsuccessful applications.

An unsuccessful application can not be reactivated, but you may reapply to the program by submitting a new online application.  It will be necessary to resend official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Student Affairs. 

If I am admitted, but cannot attend for some reason can I defer my admission?
No, the School does not offer deferrals of admission. To be considered for one of the following two terms from the original application term you may reactivate your application. The reactivation application can be found online. The application fee will be waived and you can use previous application material.

If I am denied admission can I apply again in the future and how?
Yes, you may apply again by submitting a new application and supplemental material. Previously denied or incomplete applications cannot use the reactivation process.

If I am admitted, can I transfer to another program in SEAS?
You cannot transfer into another academic program prior to enrollment. You have the option of enrolling in the academic program to which you were admitted, then, you may apply to a different program after your first semester by submitting the Application for Current Graduate Students. If you do not wish to enroll in the program for which you were admitted you should decline the offer of admission and apply again to your new program of choice using the reactivation application online.