Newly Admitted Students Steps
The orientation program and new student checklist will include information on campus life, academics, and other topics relevant to our new students.
If there is any additional information that the Engineering Student Affairs team can provide, feel free to contact us at (212) 854-6438 or visit our office located at 530 Mudd. The Office of Engineering Student Affairs looks forward to seeing you on campus!
Academic Calendar
Visit The University Registrar webpage for the Graduate Engineering academic calendar and other important dates. Dates are subject to change! Always refer to your SSOL/Vergil/CourseWorks accounts for the most up-to-date information about course registration and other calendar dates.
New Student Checklist
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Activate Your Columbia UNI
Learn how to activate your UNI. Once you have activated your UNI, check your University email account - stay up to date with deadlines and events by adding our calendar to your LionMail account. Clicking the (+) button on the bottom right will sync our Calendar with your LionMail!
The UNI and the password gives you access to both your Columbia email and Student Services Online (SSOL). The SSOL account gives you access to online course registration, student billing, and much more. Please ensure that we have your updated contact information in SSOL at all times.
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Upload Photo for CU ID Card
All new incoming students must request a CU ID by submitting their photo online. Please make sure to read the directions on the ID Center's website.
IDs must be picked up during your Department Orientation. The ID Center will not have your ID.
All CU IDs must have an "EP sticker" indicating that they are enrolled in a Graduate Engineering Program. If your ID is missing an EP sticker, please request one at the front desk of the Office of Engineering Student Affairs, located in Room 530 of the Mudd Building. If you have an ID already, you do not need to get a new one unless your current ID has expired.
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Secure Your Student Visa (International Students)
International students at Columbia enter the United States on an F-1 or J-1 student visa. You will need an I-20 for F-1 status or DS-2019 for J-1 status issued by Columbia’s International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) before making your visa appointment at a U.S. consulate to apply for your visa.
Watch ISSO’s video on how to get a visa. You will need to:
- Prepare your documents (bank statements, passport, and other supporting documents)
- Log in to Compass to apply for your I-20 / DS-2019
- Receive I-20 / DS-2019
- Apply for Your Visa at a U.S. Consulate (the visa cannot be issued more than 120 days in advance of your program start date).
- Log into Compass to notify the ISSO of the status of your visa application (You can submit multiple forms as your visa application status changes.)
Ready to begin? Go to the ISSO website for the I-20/DS-2019 application, supporting documents checklist, and instructions.
During your visa interview, you may be asked for additional information. We recommend you visit the Applying for Your Visa page to download the Visa and Entry Support Letter from the Associate Provost and Director of the International Students and Scholars Office, as well as program-specific information.
If you have not already begun the I-20 and visa application process, you must do so as soon as possible.
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Submit Required Immunizations
Students must submit immunization documentation upon admission or at least 30 days prior to their scheduled registration date. Compliance with all current vaccine requirements must be confirmed before students are permitted to register.
Guidelines on how to submit immunization can be found here.
Please refer to Columbia Health’s immunization requirements page for currently required immunizations and additional information, including how to get assistance.
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Register for Columbia Engineering Grad Welcome Day
The Fall 2026 Engineering Welcome Day/Orientation for new Fall 2026 students will take place on August 27th-28th, 2026. Many programs also have their Program Kick-Off scheduled around that time as well. Invitations and registration information will be sent to your LionMail account. Please activate your UNI as soon as possible.
Each Program or Department has a mandatory kick-off/orientation that is separate from Engineering Welcome Day. Please refer to our Program Kick-Off page for more information.
If you have any specific questions regarding orientation, please feel free to contact the SEAS ESA office at [email protected]
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Prepare for Professional Development and Leadership - ENGI E4000 (MS Only)
The Professional Development and Leadership (PDL) course empowers and educates Columbia engineers to maximize performance and achieve their full potential to become engineering leaders of today and tomorrow. The workshops provide engineers with skills and perspectives needed to succeed in a fast-changing technical climate.
ENGIE4000 (Professional Development and Leadership) is required for all Master of Science students. Additional information, including a schedule, will be shared with you soon. You can also find more information on the PDL website. Any questions regarding the program should be sent to [email protected].
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Complete Verification (MS Students Only)
All incoming MS students* must participate in the final verification process, in which we review and verify all academic, professional, and reference information provided during the application process. In order to satisfy this requirement, students must complete the MS Verification Survey. Instructions on how to do so will be sent out a month before the start of your coursework. Questions about this step can be sent to [email protected].
*MS Express students are exempt from this requirement. CS Bridge students must participate in the verification process.
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Submit Official Documents - Transcripts & Test Scores
Official Test Scores
Official test scores must be submitted via the appropriate testing agency for all scores provided with your application for admission. If we do not receive your scores prior to Welcome Day, you will not be able to register for classes.
Read more on Columbia Engineering’s Official Test Score policy.
Official Transcripts
The policy for submitting official transcripts varies by where the University is located. All official transcripts must be received by October 15, 2026.
- Students who have attended a college or university in the United States must submit electronic transcripts directly from their school to [email protected]. If a school does not offer electronic delivery, applicants must write to [email protected] to provide us with the link to their institution's webpage concerning transcript orders. After verifying this information, we will then authorize a hardcopy submission mailed directly to us by the Registrar of your university in a sealed envelope.
- Students who have attended a college or university in China will be required to contact CHESICC to arrange submission of a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Student's Academic Transcript” AND a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate” (for those earning a degree in China) to Columbia at [email protected].
- Students who have attended a university that is not in China or the United States must submit an electronic transcript if your school offers secure online delivery to [email protected]. If the university cannot send transcripts electronically via a secure, password-protected system, applicants must order a Course-by-Course Evaluation and International Credential Advantage Package to be sent electronically to [email protected] from World Education Services (WES).
Read more on Columbia Engineering’s Official Transcript policy.
Please contact [email protected] should you have any questions.
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Register for Courses
Full-time students are required to register for 12 credits and part-time students typically register for 6 credits. Incoming students will be able to register or join a waitlist for up to a total of 15 credits.
Students should see registration appointments listed in Vergil in January. Some departments have different registration appointments from other departments so the specific starting date for registration can differ from other classmates. If registration appointments are not listed by the middle of the summer in Vergil, please email [email protected].
For any questions related to the course schedule or specific requirements for the degree, we strongly encourage students to contact their department directly.
For more information about registration, please visit Graduate Enrollment Services
Withdrawing After Registration
If you are registered for courses and have decided to no longer attend Columbia Engineering, you must complete this form and select "Withdrawal.” Make sure to contact your department about your decision.
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Watch Columbia Health’s New Student Orientation video
Columbia Health asks all incoming students to watch “Columbia Health: Your Partner in Caring for Your Health and Well-being" prior to arrival on campus. After viewing, please answer this 1-minute survey to let Columbia Health know what you thought of the video.
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Enroll in Health Insurance
All Full-Time students must have health insurance. If you have your own health insurance and would like to continue using it, you may waive the Columbia University health insurance enrollment.
To sign-up for health insurance, please visit this website. For health insurance prices, please refer to this website.
International students: To ensure that students have comparable insurance coverage, all registered full-time international students are enrolled by default in the health insurance plan offered by the University. A charge for the Columbia Plan and the Columbia Health fee will appear on the first student bill. Find additional information for International Students on the Columbia Health website.
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Complete Required Columbia Engineering Orientation & OUL Tutorials
A. OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY LIFE PRE-ARRIVAL TUTORIALS
Every student who is new to a degree program at Columbia must complete two required tutorials that introduce important University policies and valuable student resources. These tutorials convey values that are foundational to membership in the Columbia University community and provide skills and resources to help support you to excel during your time here. Both must be completed before your arrival on campus. Each tutorial takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Click NEXT STEPS to learn more about these tutorials, gain access to them, and complete them by the deadline.
Tutorial 1: Welcome to Columbia
Tutorial 2: Sexual Assault Prevention
Fall deadline: First day of classes
Spring deadline for Tutorials 1 and 2: First day of classes
Students who do not complete both tutorials by the respective deadlines will have a registration hold.
For questions related to the OUL Pre-Arrival Tutorials (Welcome to Columbia and Sexual Assault Prevention), please contact [email protected].
B. COLUMBIA ENGINEERING REQUIRED TUTORIAL
Over the summer, new students are automatically enrolled in three modules on Canvas, also known as Courseworks2. You will receive an email when these tutorials are activated. The modules are in a course titled "SEAS Mandatory Orientation Tutorials."
All incoming students must complete the required Columbia Engineering Tutorials located in Canvas.
The deadline is October 14th at 11:59 PM.
For questions regarding the SEAS Mandatory Orientation Tutorials, please email [email protected]. -
Attend - Engineer Your PhD Week (PhD students only)
Engineer Your PhD (EYP) is a week-long orientation for new doctoral students. The orientation prepares doctoral students to maximize performance and achieve their full potential both during and after their doctoral program. The goal is to cultivate future scholars and leaders in their respective fields. The modules are tailored for each stage of the doctoral program, with a focus on the development of academic, research, and professional skills.
This course is zero credits and R-graded. R is a non-evaluative grade that confers credit for registration.
Fall 2026 EYP Dates: Aug. 31st - Sept. 3rd
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Report Outside Scholarships & External Payments
Students attending Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science are required to notify the Office of Student Financial Planning to report any outside funding.
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Title IX & SVR Trainings
The Title IX & SVR trainings are mandatory for all new graduate students. Information will soon be provided for incoming students.
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Title VI & Intro. to University Life Trainings
The Title VI & Intro. to University Life trainings are mandatory for all new graduate students. Information will soon be provided for incoming students.
Related Resources
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Engineering Graduate Student Council (EGSC)
EGSC is the student governing body of the graduate students at Columbia Engineering. Participation in EGSC through its various committees, student organizations, and executive board positions is highly encouraged.
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Health Resources
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Required Immunizations
There are certain immunization requirements that all students—regardless of credit load—must meet.
Students must submit documentation for required immunizations upon admission or at least 30 days prior to their scheduled registration date.
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Disability Services
The Columbia University Office of Disability Services serves students within all Columbia University schools and departments. The ODS works with each engineering student and Graduate Student Affairs to address specific needs.
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
212-854-2388
212-854-2378 (tdd)
212-854-3448 (fax)
[email protected]
Have an Emergency?
Call Public Safety at (212) 854-5555
How Do I Cite My Sources?
As mentioned, there are many different citation methods. In the sciences and engineering, two of the most common methods are the American Psychological Association (APA) style and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineerings (IEEE) style. Please see below some resources on how to use APA and IEEE:
APA Style
- Basic Principles from the American Psychological Association
- How to use quotations and the difference with paraphrasing
- How to build a Reference List
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) has a very comprehensive guide that you can use as well.
IEEE Style
- Full style manual
- How to cite references in IEEE style
- Basics from the University of Pittsburgh Libraries
The Purdue OWL also has a lengthy guide, with many examples in the subsections.
Plagiarism
What is Plagiarism?
From the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary:
- Plagiarize (verb): to copy another person’s ideas, words or work and pretend that they are your own
- Plagiarism (noun): an act of plagiarizing something; something that has been plagiarized
Plagiarism is a serious offense, both at Columbia University and in many professional settings. According to plagiarism.org, "The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file)". You want to avoid plagiarism not just because of academic or legal concerns, but also because it prevents you from truly learning your subject material. Often, plagiarism can be avoided by properly managing your citations and citing all of your sources in your work. When working on an assignment, always check with your professor about whether using outside sources is even allowed- if they have a no outside source policy, then even citations will not save you from having violated academic integrity.
Self-plagiarism
Did you know that the act of copying your own work is known as self-plagiarism? Many students are taken aback to learn that they are in violation of academic integrity when they re-use their own work for a different class. If you have two similar assignments, no matter how long it has been between the submissions, you are not allowed to submit the same work twice. This includes failing to cite your previous papers when working on an academic publication, as well as adapting an old assignment into a different format without permission. If you are given an assignment and you know that you have already done it in a different context, please consult with your professor- they can suggest a different assignment, or discuss acceptable ways to complete the new assignment.
For more informaiton, please read this article from Turnitin on how to avoid self-plagiarism.
Academic Integrity Tutorial
Every grad SEAS student must complete this tutorial prior to arrival, which has a lengthy set of videos to help you understand citations and plagiarism further. For your convenience, you will always have access to this tutorial- please visit Canvas (courseworks2.columbia.edu) and find the "SEAS Mandatory Orientation Tutorials" course under "My Courses". The Academic Integrity modules can be re-visited any time, and we welcome any feedback. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or comments.
CITATION MANAGERS
Citation Management applications are a handy way to keep track of your sources, build out your citations, and create reference lists. Visit the Columbia University Libraries page below for information on three popular citation management tools: Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP
Every Master of Science student must complete ENGI E4000, Professional Development and Leadership. PDL offers an elective on citation and paraphrasing - register for one to learn more, while also fulfilling part of your academic requirements!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The CC-SEAS Office of Academic Integrity has more information on citing sources, links to workshops, and can also connect you with a Librarian to help you with your citations and research!
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Creating and Managing Your Schedule
Regardless of whether you’re still in New York or you’ve travelled back home, you’ve likely found yourself in a position where you need to re-make your daily schedule. The most important thing that you can do right now is still maintain a routine! You can either use a planner, write your schedule down in a notebook, or use your Lionmail calendar, but here are some suggestions on where to get started.
- Block out time for your classes. If you have the ability to attend classes live because you’re either in New York or your time zone allows you to, make sure that you tune in to class! On the other hand, If your professor has moved to asynchronous recordings or you’re watching the lectures after the fact because you’re on the other side of the world, we recommend establishing a regular schedule for “going” to class. With lectures posting 24 hours after class, we understand that it can be impractical to replicate the exact class schedule that you had while on campus. However, keeping a regular schedule for when you engage with your class material will make it easier for you to hold yourself accountable when it comes to homework and exam deadlines.
- Assign regular time for studying and working on assignments. Similar to the advice above, you will need to get in the habit of designating “work times”. It’s okay to have some “floating” hours, time that you can move freely and be flexible. But make sure that you block out the proper amount of time that you’ll need for working on problem sets and assignments. Work such as studying, collecting materials for research, and reading papers should also be assigned time slots, otherwise it can be easy to put these tasks off.
- Find a friend to keep you accountable. Some classes do not allow group work, so be sure to carefully follow your professor’s syllabus and protocols. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t “buddy-up” with someone and check-in on each other. Keep it high-level: ask each other how things are going, whether they’ve worked on certain assignments yet, and make sure that you’re sticking to deadlines.
- Reach out to your professor. Especially if you are unable to attend live lectures, it is important to maintain communication with your professor. Between the professor and TAs, there should be options for digital office hours- mark them on your calendar and try to attend them throughout the rest of the semester. If the available hours do not line up with your time zone at all, there is no harm in emailing your instructor and asking if you can set up an appointment- we are currently in a period of time that requires flexibility between both parties.
- Check your email and Courseworks every day! Zoom links for your courses were all sent through Courseworks- if your professor doesn’t already regularly use the announcements feature on Courseworks, they might start to do so. It’s important to remember that there are methods outside of email that your professor may use to communicate, and you should be checking them regularly. Whether you’re communicating through Lionmail, Courseworks, Piazza, etc- check these places every day to stay on top of things.
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Navigating Online Discussions, Group Work, and Lectures
Online Discussion
Discussions are a great way to understand the material and converse with your classmates. It is important to read the syllabus to know what your instructor expects you to contribute in discussions, whether that is a certain amount of posts each week or where to post questions. Before posting, review all the material in order to make thoughtful contributions.
Since many final exams could be changed into projects format in the Spring 2020 semester, it is best that you check in with your professors about the deadlines as well as the project scope.
Group Work
There are many benefits to working on group projects online. You can work anywhere there is wifi and it is convenient to find time to meet with your classmates. Whether working on a group project or creating a study group, here are some tools to assist you for online collaboration.
- Video Conferencing: It is a great way to work with classmates. It is helpful to have an agenda beforehand. During your meeting you may brainstorm, take notes, and assign tasks when working on a project.
- Resources: Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, GoToMeeting
- Online Collaboration: If your instructor permits group work, then collaborative work spaces are a great way to work on materials together and keep your files in one place.
- Resources: Google Drive including Google Docs and Google Slides. Asana for assigning tasks and tracking progress. Dropbox to keep all your materials in one place. Documenting and bouncing ideas: Notion (free for students) allows you to take notes and organize projects with multiple views (i.e calendar, board and text). MindNode helps you document the brainstorming process.
- As always, it is imperative to maintain academic integrity. If your instructor does not allow for group collaboration on assignments, then you must avoid sharing materials and solutions. Always follow the rules indicated in your syllabi and course announcements.
(For chrome users) Jamboard, a free digital whiteboard app from Google suite, allows you to invite multiple users to share your ideas with writing, drawing and highlighting features.
Recorded Lectures
When watching recorded lectures, it is important to review the syllabus to make sure that you are on track. When watching lectures, find a quiet place so you are able to concentrate, take notes and write down any questions you may have to ask your professor or TA during office hours or through a discussion board.
Watch the recording with faster (1.5x) if you are familiar with the content, or slower (0.75x) if you need more time for note-taking. Re-watching the lectures also gives you an opportunity to review the material.
- Video Conferencing: It is a great way to work with classmates. It is helpful to have an agenda beforehand. During your meeting you may brainstorm, take notes, and assign tasks when working on a project.
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Sharpening Your Skill Set
How to be successful in online learning and what new skills can you develop to achieve a successful learning outcome? Here are a few tips:
- Online Presentations: Presenting online is increasingly becoming a necessary skill. Whether it is live through class, teaching a webinar or recording your presentation. Here are some helpful tips for presenting.
- Practice the software beforehand to make sure you are familiar.
- Write out a script with notecards and review your slides.
- Dress professionally, avoid wearing patterns, find a neutral background and good lighting.
- Resources:
- Pre-recording software: Screencast-o-matic, Prezi, Loom
- Slides: Canva, Google slides
- Motivation and Persistence: To keep yourself engaged while taking an online course, it requires a highly motivated and disciplined practice. Set academic goals for yourself, execute a study plan and reward yourself with a break or a workout session. Being persistent means that you allocate a certain amount of time to study consistently and repeatedly, and it helps you spread out your workload throughout a longer period of time.
- Time-Management Skills: Okay, it is very easy to fall into a circle of binge-watching lecture videos and doing your assignments right before the deadline. However, you will not be able to remember much after 72 hours. Creating a study schedule, breaking down your learning tasks makes it more manageable to digest the material and learn. Here we have a few tools for you to help with time-management:
- Resources: Creating a checklist with Google Keep helps you manage the time on tasks. Evernote, Trello, and Wunderlist also help you plan your time and to-do list wisely. You can also try Forest, a mobile app to boost your focus by gamifying it.
- Digital Communication Skills: When working with others on a group project, it is important to keep everyone updated and check in with your team members constantly. Making use of digital communication apps can help you keep individual, small group or big group communication seamlessly.
Something fun to keep your community close? Discord allows you to play games, hold conventions, or organize study groups with your classmates
- Online Presentations: Presenting online is increasingly becoming a necessary skill. Whether it is live through class, teaching a webinar or recording your presentation. Here are some helpful tips for presenting.
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Staying Connected With Your Professors
Communication is an important part of a successful remote learning. There are tools to help you communicate with your professor. Your professor may communicate to the entire class through Canvas Announcements or Discussion Boards. Canvas allows for group/peer dialogue and for direct messaging to your professor. Some professors may also use Canvas as a way to host their office hours.
During Zoom class, you can message your professor privately with a question you may have about material that is being covered. The professor may answer your question right away or wait until a specified point within the course. If your question is not addressed, you should follow up with the TA or professor.
If written explanations do not work for you, please call your professor on their office number or the number they have listed on their syllabus. Also, you may be able to meet with your professor 1 on 1 through Zoom. It is recommended to ask your professor which method or online platform they prefer to use.
If you have questions about the course, seek out assistance from your professor and TAs.
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Managing Disruptions and Avoiding Distractions
Remote learning gives students the flexibility to create their own schedule and learn at their own pace from the comfort of their homes. But with this flexibility comes the challenge of managing the disruptions and distractions that exist for all of us in our home environments, while maintaining a focus on coursework. Below, we include some helpful tips for how to manage these various distractions:
- Self-Reflect on Your Daily Activities and Plan Accordingly
The first step toward avoiding distractions is to create a weekly study schedule. Each course point is supposed to be worth 3 hours of work per week. So if you are taking a full-time 12 point schedule, you’ll need to carve out roughly 36 hours of your week to devote to course work. To figure out which hours will work best for you, you’ll need to do some self-reflection. Pay attention to your daily activities for a couple of days and assess how much time you are spending on coursework and other necessities (like child care, cooking, laundry, exercise, etc) vs time spent on distractions or entertainment (social media, Netflix, gaming, etc). Apps like RescueTime can help by providing you reports that make you aware of the distractions that take the most of your time. You may find that there are some activities that you can cut back on to make more time for your studies. You may also find that you are distracted more at certain times of day than others. Once you have an accounting of where your time goes each week, you can create a weekly schedule incorporating all of these activities in a more balanced way. Please refer to our section on Creating and Maintaining Your Schedule for more details.
- Create a Comfortable, Distraction-Free Study Space
It’s important to create a comfortable, distraction-free, designated study space in your home environment that you can use whenever you are working on coursework. This can be a major challenge in a cramped and/or shared apartment space -- it doesn’t have to be a full room! Any quiet corner will do. While it may not be completely realistic in a small space to find a completely distraction-free environment, there are steps you can take to minimize the distractions available to you. If you are studying in a room that has a TV, hide the remotes in another room before you start working. Consider leaving your cell phone in another room, or turn it off completely during study hours, to avoid distracting texts or social media notifications. Make this space your regular study spot. Make sure all of your course materials are readily available in that space, so you don’t have to keep getting up to find things.
- Use Distraction-Reducing Apps & Technology
If you live in a noisy environment, use headphones (ideally noise-cancelling!) to tune out background noise. You can create an ambient noise environment for yourself using the Noisli app to help you focus and drown out more distracting sounds. If you find that you tend to distract yourself during study hours by looking at social media or other entertainment sites, consider using a website blocker, like Freedom or StayFocusd, which helps prevent you from wandering to these sites.
- Balancing Studying/Working From Home with Child Care
If you are at home with kids, that is a unique type of distraction that can’t be blocked with an app! It will be a challenge to schedule your study breaks around the time that you need to devote to child care. If the children are of school-going age, they are likely also doing online schooling during this time. Consider studying together - you can listen to your own lectures while they listen to theirs. If you have younger children, take advantage of their naptime and use that quiet time to focus on coursework.
Consider sharing child-care shifts with other household members - if available - so you each have some quiet time to devote to your own activities. If you’re the only adult in the household, consider virtual childcare! Friends or family members can have a virtual playdate with your child(ren) - while you’re in eyesight, of course! - to keep them occupied while you study.
There are many online educational resources to keep children busy and promote learning during this time, including one created by Columbia faculty! If you need to direct their attention elsewhere to give you time to study, consider using one of these.
- Add Variety to Your Study Techniques… and Take Breaks!
Most of us turn to distractions when we get bored or tired of doing the same activity for a long stretch of time. But breaks don’t have to be counterproductive if used the right way. Consider breaking your work up into 25-30 minute chunks with 5-10 breaks in between (often referred to as the Pomodoro Technique). The breaks will feel like a reward, and will also provide an opportunity for a ‘mental reset’ -- ideally giving you fresh energy to complete the next 25-30 minute task. During these breaks, try to avoid social media, TV, video games, and any other activity that can quickly spiral into an hour+ long distraction. Stick to break activities that promote productivity --- taking a short walk, stretching, making a healthy snack, etc.
Also, consider forming a study group with some classmates, and schedule periodic check-ins or video chats during your study hours. This can help add variety to your study techniques, provide social interaction, and you can help keep each other accountable while you are all studying remotely. Just be sure to clarify with your professor what level of discussion/collaboration is acceptable in their course.
- Self-Reflect on Your Daily Activities and Plan Accordingly
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Preparing For Finals
Whether this is your first final or you are a seasoned test taker, final examination can throw students for a loop. College finals are the last lap of the semester before you can enjoy your break between semesters.
Here are some tips to aid you in your exam preparation:
Plan a schedule. Spend some time writing out everything that you have to have accomplished on a daily and weekly basis including studying, doing assignments, sleeping, commuting, and even doing laundry. By creating a schedule, time will not seem to slip away and you will be able to remain accountable for your time.
When creating your schedule remember to set reasonable expectations. Do not forget to allocate time to eat and to decompress. Your brain may need a break from studying. Therefore, remember to incorporate into your schedule time for the internet, watching television, talking with family members, etc.
Start early; do not cram. It is a good habit to start studying early in the semester. Students should not wait until the day before their final to begin to prepare for it. You can spend at least one hour per week reviewing class notes. While reviewing class notes, you might want to highlight important concepts or confusing problems. By reviewing notes, you reinforce the information about the subject matter.
Take care of your health. It is crucial to maintain good health. It is good to set aside time to take breaks from studying. Eating healthy may assist with keeping you energized and focused. Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Doing an all-night study session can result in fatigue during your exam. To avoid burnout, it is a good option to participate in non-academic activities.
Create a secure testing area. You want to make sure you are settled and have all authorized materials around you in your testing area. As best as possible, you want to ensure that there are limited distractions around or within your testing area. You may want to use the restroom prior to starting your exam. If you are using a laptop, make sure that you have a computer charger readily accessible. If using zoom or other systems, make sure you are able to log in to the systems and there aren’t any technical issues.
Technical Prep
Instructions on what is allowed during the exam will vary based on each instructor's preference. Your exam may be a take-home exam, an assignment to upload by a due date or a timed exam, where you may only have 2 hours to complete it.
Take a note of the exam due date, how long the exam will be available for and instructions. Add the exam to your calendar and be prepared to take it at the set time.
In most cases, the instructor will ask you to upload your completed exam file, by either typing it directly in the Courseworks assignment window or by uploading a file.
Please note, if you are taking a timed quiz, be prepared to scan and upload your file (Combine images of your work into a single PDF or Word document by using one of the free scanner apps for your phone). Do not upload files that exceed 20MB.
Be sure to upload the completed exam by clicking on "Choose a File" button and Click on "Submit Quiz" to submit your work.
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Maintaining Integrity
Academic integrity defines a university and is essential to the mission of education. At Columbia, students are expected to participate in an academic community that honors intellectual work and respects its origins. In particular, the abilities to synthesize information and produce original work are key components in the learning process. As such, a violation of academic integrity is one of the most serious offenses a student can commit at Columbia and can result in dismissal.
Read the honor pledge and learn more on how to best uphold academic integrity!
Welcome to Columbia Engineering! My colleagues and I are here to support your academic, professional, and personal growth by connecting you to the wealth of resources available. From Welcome Day to Commencement - we are here every step of the way.
Jenny Mak, ED.D. - Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Student Affairs
Meet a Few Members of the Engineering Student Affairs Team!
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Elizabeth Strauss (She/Her/Hers)
Associate Dean, Engineering Student Affairs
Dean Strauss can help you with:
- All Columbia Engineering student-related matters
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Helen Cen (She/Her/Hers)
Director, Academic Programs
Helen can help you with:
- Graduate student academic policies, degree progress, and requirements
- Graduate housing and accommodations
- Graduate conduct and academic integrity
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Andy Chae (He/Him/His)
Assistant Dean, Engineering Student Affairs
Andy can help you with:
- New student transition and orientation
- Student activities and events
- Engagement with student organizations and activities
- Student leadership development and engagement
- Graduation-related events and activities
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Charlene Bernasko (She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Dean, Graduate Student Wellness and Support Services
Charlene can help you with:
- Mental health and wellness
- Wellness education and events
- Disability accommodations and services
- Student health insurance and offerings
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Adrieanna Reyes (She/Her/Hers)
Director, Undergraduate Student Affairs
Adrieanna can help you with:
- Undergraduate student affairs programming
- Egleston Scholars program
- Information on Study abroad
- Research Programs
-
Ryan Day (He/Him/His)
Director of Graduate Career Placement and Professional Development and Leadership
Ryan can help you with:
- Connecting you with the Career Placement team
- School employer recruitment events
- Career-related resources and technology
- Professional Development & Leadership (PDL) support
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Adeola Adegbola-White (She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Director of Graduate Student Wellness and Support Services
Adeola can help you with:
- Graduate Student Mental Health and Wellness
- Graduate Student Wellness Programming and Education
- Student Support Initiatives
- Medical Leave of Absence
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Helena V. Vaquera Pena (She/Her/Hers)
Graduate Student Wellness and Enrollment Services Officer
Helena can help you with:
- Graduate student disability accommodations
- Graduate student mental health and wellness resources
-
Christian Hernandez (He/Him/His)
Graduate Student Life Manager
Christian can help you with:
- School-wide Graduate Student Events
- Information on Bridge to PhD Program
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Lilibeth Ramos Flores (She/Her/Hers)
Student Affairs Manager
Lilibeth can help you with:
- Undergraduate Student Affairs Programming
- Egleston Scholars program
- Research Programs
- Graduate Student Life