Thinking Ahead…

Progress toward the Degree

• Degree Audit Report (DAR) – For students who are unsure of their progress towards finishing their degree should first visit Student Services On-line to look at their Degree Audit Report (DAR). The DAR indicates what requirements we believe students have completed by showing their courses completed and their courses in progress.

• Meet with Class Dean to discuss academic progress and DAR Updates.
  Errors in the DAR may be reported to:

  The Junior Senior Advising Center – for Core Curriculum and general updates
  Major/Concentration Advisors – for major/concentration updates

Internships

• Center for Career Education – Students seeking internship and career guidance should visit the Center for Career Education. After registering with CCE, students may schedule personalized career advising sessions, career counseling appointments, practice-interview appointments, and resume and cover-letter critique sessions. Additionally, registered students may access ColumbiaTrak Internship postings, which contain important information about recruitment on campus.

• Department Advisor – Students exploring possible career paths should speak with their departmental advisors about career options within their disciplines. Advisors may also provide helpful information on career opportunities pursued by graduates from the department, as well as insight into new career developments in the discipline. Students considering graduate school in a particular discipline should speak with their major advisors for guidance and advice.

Summer Study

• On-campus @ Columbia or on Other Campuses – Visit the Summer Study page for policy and procedure of summer study for Columbia College students or for students at The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.

• Study Abroad - Students contemplating going abroad over the summer should contact the Study Abroad Office as early as possible to make plans, discuss arrangements, and receive clearance. For additional information, see the Study Abroad Web site and a class dean. While no financial aid is available over the summer, you may be eligible to receive a study abroad fellowship for summer study. Columbia sponsors the following programs:
  Reid Hall (Paris), Beijing (China), and CERC/SEE-U (Brazil).

Collecting Letters of Reference

• Junior Senior Advising Center – Students may open a dossier at the Junior Senior Advising Center-Broadway location and have professors send recommendations to be kept on file for five years maximum after graduation. Letters kept in the dossier can only be used for academic purposes, i.e graduate school, fellowship, scholarships, among others. Letters recommendation kept in the dossier cannot be sent to jobs, internships or other employment/non-academic opportunities. You can access the forms necessary to open a dossier at : http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/juniors/forms.php. should you have any questions about the dossier service you can contact the Junior Senior Advising Center at jsac@columbia.edu.

• Office of Pre-Professional Programs – Students who are interested in going into the law or health professions should visit the Office of Pre-Professional Programs.

• Connecting-U – For more tips on connecting with faculty, keep an eye out for the Connecting-U workshops.

Senior Thesis

Students intending to pursue a Senior Thesis in their major/concentration should speak with their departmental advisor. Each department devises differing policies for seniors pursuing the thesis. Students should also remember that registration for the senior thesis is necessary during the Fall and/or Spring Change of Program Period.

Early Graduation

Each year, approximately seventy-five students from Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science finish their coursework at Columbia in the fall semester of their senior year and receive their degrees in February. Juniors who are considering early graduation, should contact their class dean to discuss this option. Students who intend to graduate in February will need to apply for the February degree by November 1st of fall semester. It is critical to begin planning for early graduation in the spring semester of junior year.

All February graduates are invited to participate in Class Day and University Commencement in May with the entire class.

Post-Graduation Options

Columbia offers many resources to help students research post-graduation options, including the following:

• Academic departments and peer mentors

• Center for Career Education (CCE) - Located in the lower level of East Campus, CCE offers a contiuum of programming for students and alumni with programs and services that enable them to identify and meet career goals.

• The Office of Pre-Professional Programs - This office offers services forstudents and alumni who are interested in pursuing law or health-related professions.

• The Scholars and Fellowships Office - Fellowships for study abroad and other options are available through this office.

• Junior Senior Advising Centers - Class deans assist students in planning academic programs to meet future needs and goals.

• Current and previous employers

We encourage you to explore all your options!