MS Student Affairs To-Do Items

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As your to-do list might be evolving leading up to your orientation, please check back on this portal often for any potential updates.  

 

Apply for Visa

Deadline: Monday, June 2, 2025
Required: No

Click here to view the current processing times

Please activate your UNI first.

International students at Columbia enter the United States on an F-1 or J-1 student visa. We encourage you to start this process early to account for any possible delays that may occur. Admitted students who do not obtain their visa in time to attend the start of Orientation will not be able to matriculate with the class.

Please note that citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa and do not need to submit a visa report.

Ready to begin?
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.

Go to the ISSO website for the I-20/DS-2019 application, supporting documents checklist, and instructions. You can also 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 (you will receive access to Compass 7-10 days after paying your first deposit).
  • Receive I-20 / DS-2019 (you will choose where to have it shipped).
  • 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).
  • After you receive your I-20/DS-2019, log in to Compass to notify the ISSO of the status of your visa application. You can submit multiple forms as your visa application status changes.

Compass Access:

 

If you have any questions regarding the visa application process, please contact the ISSO at [email protected].

Questions? Need more information? 
Contact: ISSO
[email protected]

 

Submit Student Directory Photo

Deadline: August 5th, 2025

Please submit a photo of yourself to be used in creating your Columbia University ID card, pictorial rosters for your professors, and a profile in the CBS online directory. Follow the link below for photo requirements and submission instructions. Students must have a uni and an activated University account in order to complete the task. Please be sure to complete the to-do list item "activate University account."

Please note: due to security concerns, you may only upload one photo. This will be your directory photo for your entire time at CBS. It cannot be changed at any time.

Submit photo for CUID and CBS directory


Questions? Need more information?
Contact: 
Office of Student Affairs 
(212) 854-5563 
[email protected] 

 

Complete University and New York State-Mandated Immunization Documentation Requirements

Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025

New York State public health law and University policy require that all students complete several immunization requirements and submit documentation prior to registering for their first term. Columbia University expects all requirements to be met prior to arriving on campus for the respective academic term, not when they arrive in New York City.

Immunization documentation must be submitted to the Columbia Health Immunization Compliance Office:

Online: Secure digital upload via the Patient Portal  (Instructions)

The Columbia Health Immunization Compliance Office is unable to accept health forms or immunization documentation via email for privacy and security reasons.

Required:

  1. MMR​
  2. Meningitis (MenACWY) Decision

Strongly recommended:

  1. COVID-19
  2. Seasonal Influenza


For questions or concerns regarding your immunization documentation, please contact Health Services directly at (212) 854-7210 or email [email protected]. 

Questions? Need more information?
Contact: 
Health Services Immunization Office
(212) 854-7210
[email protected] 

 

Create Emergency Contact Information

Deadline: Tuesday, August 5, 2025


Emergency contact information is required for each student. Please click here to enter the information into your SSOL account.

Please sign up for the emergency text message notification system by following the below instructions in SSOL:

  • Under text message enrollment, you can enter up to three mobile phone numbers. Please click save after you finish to save your work.


Questions? Need more information?
Contact: 
Office of Student Affairs 
(212) 854-5563 
[email protected] 

 

Health Insurance Coverage

Deadline: Wednesday, August 13, 2025


Enrollment for the Student Health insurance plan will begin on July 15, 2025. Students will need to take action by either enrolling or submitting information for a waiver. This can be done quickly on the secure student portal.

Columbia University policy requires all full-time students, and all students with a visa status other than citizen or permanent resident, to hold active comparable* health insurance during their time on campus.

The plan year for the student insurance is August 15, 2025 through August 14, 2026. Insurance coverage cannot be activated until the student has confirmed enrollment in the plan, registered for classes, and been charged tuition.

All alternate coverage should begin on or before August 15, 2025 and remain active through August 14, 2026.

For standard requirements for a waiver of the Columbia student health insurance plan, a checklist will be provided in June, 2025. Please check back later for the details.

*Comparable plans must be licensed to do business as an insurance company in the United States, not through a third party.

Questions? Need more information? 
Contact:  
212-854-3286 
[email protected]   

 

Apply for University Housing

Deadline: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Optional


Please carefully read and review the following information, as well as the official Columbia Residential Website, prior to submitting an application. 

 IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The housing process is managed by the University rather than the Business School.  However, the School does appoint a liaison to work with the University Apartment Housing Office.  Currently the Business School's liaison is Sarah Lamparski from the Admissions Office who can be reached at [email protected].

 Please review the Columbia Residential website to familiarize yourself with the process and policies which are available under ‘Students’. Their website is incredibly informative and covers the large majority of housing questions.

 HOUSING APPLICATION
 For additional information about the application, contact the Columbia Residential office.  


 May 1st -  Allocation Approval Begins
 June 30th - Allocation Approval Concludes
 July 15th - Waitlist Opens

The housing application becomes active on March 21st through the Housing Portal. Please be aware that you will not be able to create an account until this time and you will need your PID number {{pid}} and UNI {{uni}} to create an account. 

 Housing eligibility may be impacted if: you participate in a study abroad program; if you drop below 12 credits during any semester; or if you elect to end your affiliation ahead of the scheduled degree conferral in May. You should consider in advance how your housing needs may change through the program.

 HOUSING APPROVALS
 The approval process for on-campus housing will begin on May 1st and continue until June 30th. While all admitted students are eligible to apply for housing, housing is not guaranteed for any student. Priority will be based on location and situation. International students who have never lived in the U.S. are given priority; U.S. students and others living in the U.S. will be prioritized based on distance from New York. If, for example, you are living in New York, you will be given lower priority, as you presumably have other resources to call upon. Similarly, an applicant who is working abroad or outside of the area, but is originally from New York or New Jersey, may be less likely to receive housing. 

 Once approved, Columbia Residential manages the housing selection process. Please be sure to check your email regularly so that you do not miss your housing offer. A maximum of two applications will be considered per semester. If you decline or miss your selection date, your subsequent application will be moved to the bottom of the queue. If you need to update or change the information submitted on your application, you may do this by logging into the housing portal or reaching out directly to Columbia Residential.

 Students who have disabilities that substantially limit their ability to live in Columbia’s traditional housing may be eligible for accommodations through the Office of Disability Services (ODS). We encourage admitted students who may be eligible for this to review their website.

 HOUSING ASSIGNMENTS
 Students who are approved for University housing will have the opportunity to self-select the option that best fits their academic and budget needs.  Housing self-selection rounds are expected to begin in mid May. Appointment emails will be released in weekly batches by Columbia Residential, who manages this process. Please be sure to check your email regularly so that you do not miss your housing offer. 

The unit lists will become available to view once the selection round opens. Transfer requests are available during a limited window and depending on priority and housing availability so we encourage you to review your options carefully. Students will rank their top-3 choices and offers will be received through the housing portal at the end of the day.

 A $1000 reservation fee is required to accept the housing offer and is non-refundable. Students facing extenuating circumstances preventing them from moving in may apply for a reservation fee waiver.

 HOUSING WAITLIST
 Any applicant who is not approved for housing by end of June will be automatically placed on the housing waitlist, which is also managed by the UAH office. Even if you are local (live in New York City) you are eligible to get housing from the waitlist.

 The waitlist pool includes incoming and current students from all eligible Columbia University schools. Because unit availability is limited, and assignments are made on a first come first serve basis we encourage you to login promptly during the selection round. Students who obtain housing through the waitlist process are not eligible for reassignments or transfers for the entirety of their residency.

Please refer to Columbia Residential website for additional information about this process, and policies. You can also reach out to their office for additional assistance by email at [email protected].

 Questions? Need more information? Contact: 
 Sarah Lamparski
 [email protected]

 

University & NY State Required Webinars - Pre-Arrival Tasks

Information coming soon