Frequently Asked Questions
- What does “mid-career” mean?
- May non-U.S. citizens apply? May out-of-state or non-U.S. residents apply?
- What are the tuition benefits and stipend for Revson Fellows?
- What are the educational prerequisites for applicants?
- Which courses at Columbia are available to me?
- As a Revson Fellow, may I enter a degree program at Columbia?
- Do tuition benefits cover Columbia summer session courses or courses taken at other universities?
- How much time are Fellows expected to commit to the Revson Fellowship?
- Do Revson Fellows continue working during their Fellowship period?
- In describing my study program, do I need to identify specific courses or professors?
- What are some examples of study programs?
- How do I find out about the courses, faculty, and programs of study at Columbia?
- What if I do not have access to the Internet?
- If I am selected as a nominee, when must I decide whether to accept the Fellowship?
- What if my question isn’t answered here?
- What does “mid-career” mean?
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Most successful applicants have been in the workforce for at least five years, and they have made a significant contribution to their profession, vocation, field, or constituency. Examples of contributions include, but are not limited to, founding an organization, spearheading a successful organizing drive, administering a government program, developing a social policy, implementing a curriculum or training program, and producing several noteworthy pieces of art (literature, painting, poetry, etc.).
- May non-U.S. citizens apply? May out-of-state or non-U.S. residents apply?
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Non-U.S. citizens are welcome to apply. Out-of-state or non-U.S. residents may apply but should be aware that the program is designed primarily for New York City residents. The fellowship does not offer housing.
- What are the tuition benefits and stipend for Revson Fellows?
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The Revson Fellowship guarantees coverage for six units of credit (the equivalent of two courses) per semester. Fellows may also audit an unlimited number of courses. In addition, Revson Fellows receive a stipend for the academic year. This stipend is received in two installments at the start of each semester. The stipend for 2008-2009 is $28,000. Fellows may also choose to receive a full year of student health insurance, which is covered by the fellowship.
- What are the educational prerequisites for applicants?
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There are no educational prerequisites for the Revson Fellowship, and the program strives to include fellows of diverse educational backgrounds. Most fellows hold at least a high school diploma, and all applicants should feel comfortable working in a university environment.
- Which courses at Columbia are available to me?
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The vast majority of courses at Columbia University are available to Revson Fellows. Like all students, Revson Fellows must meet departmental requirements for enrollment. These requirements vary from department to department. In rare cases (for example, the Journalism School and the School of the Arts), non-degree students are not permitted to enroll in courses. With the exception of these departments, we encourage you to sketch out your ideal course program in your application. The Revson Fellowship assists fellows in gaining admission into the courses of their choice.
- As a Revson Fellow, may I enter a degree program at Columbia?
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Although the Revson Fellowship is not primarily designed for full-time degree candidates, some fellows do enroll in degree programs upon approval by the director of the fellowship. Most fellows do not enroll in degree programs. Instead, they take advantage of the freedom to select courses from various schools and departments to suit their self-designed study programs.
Because tuition benefits are provided by Columbia University, all fellows are enrolled at Columbia University and may be enrolled in Columbia University degree programs. Tuition benefits can also cover individual courses at the Columbia’s affiliate institutions (Barnard College, Teachers College, Jewish Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary), but tuition benefits are not applicable for students who are enrolled in degree programs at these affiliate institutions at the time of their Revson Fellowship.
- Do tuition benefits cover Columbia summer session courses or courses taken at other universities?
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No. Tuition covers only courses taken at Columbia University during the fall and spring semesters.
- How much time are Fellows expected to commit to the Revson Fellowship?
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Fellows are expected to devote three days per week to their program on campus during the academic year. In addition to individual commitments, all fellows must attend the weekly Revson seminars, where they meet one another and host external speakers. Requirements are fully outlined in the brochure and on the website.
- Do Revson Fellows continue working during their Fellowship period?
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Fellows are expected to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered by the university. The Revson Fellowship requires a commitment of three days per week for the eight and a half months of the academic year (September to early May). If fellows continue to work, it is strongly urged that they cut back on other time commitments in order to reap the full benefits of their time at the university.
- In describing my study program, do I need to identify specific courses or professors?
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Successful programs of study try to be as specific as possible in areas study, possible courses, etc. We advise you to do some research on faculty, courses, and seminars that might address your interests. Wherever possible, you should integrate university resources into your program of study in order to give the selection committee an idea of how you will spend your time at Columbia.
Click here to view a flowchart illustrating the course search process.
Once selected, fellows develop their study programs further with the aid of the director and staff. Fellows may also seek the advise of Columbia faculty and administrators, and Revson fellows and alumni.
- What are some examples of study programs?
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No two academic programs are alike; each is custom-designed to address the questions that motivated the Fellow to apply for the Fellowship. Successful academic programs have included:
An economic policy analyst for a trade union applied for a Fellowship to investigate the effects of globalization and shifting economic trends on a union’s capacity to recruit and mobilize members and pursue successful public awareness strategies. The Fellow took courses on Economics, Globalization and its Risks at the School of International Affairs; Social Impact of Mass Media at the School of Journalism; and Modern Political Economy at the Business School. Coursework was complemented by participation in a University seminar on Contentious Politics and guided readings on labor history and current issues. The Fellow made use of the writing seminar to develop stronger awareness of and ability to employ effective political rhetoric.
A Fellow who directed a community foundation for Korean Americans immigrants sought a deeper understanding of how urban immigrant communities could work towards development that is economically, politically, and environmentally sustainable, while empowering immigrant leaders to take greater roles in shaping the future of their communities. Studies included courses in International and Public Affairs: Micro-Enterprise Development and Women; Human Ecology and Sustainable Development; and Critical Issues in Urban Public Policy, as well as studies in Sociology: Process of Stratification and Inequality; and an ISERP workshop on Sustainability in an International Urban Context.
A Fellow without a college degree, who had been a supervising marshal in the Fire Department, applied to the program to gain skills and become a more effective advocate against workplace discrimination. The Fellow took courses in employment discrimination and mediation and conflict resolution at the Law School. During the Fellowship year, the Fellow applied and was accepted to Columbia Law School and anticipates graduating in 2007 and returning to the field of anti-discrimination work.
A communications director at a New York City HIV/AIDS center came to the Fellowship for a year of immersion in scholarly discourse about gender, health, and HIV/AIDS in order to become a more effective communicator between the health care community and diverse urban communities. The Fellow took courses at the School of Public Health and in the departments of sociology and anthropology, and went on to pursue graduate studies in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. The Fellow currently publishes research and policy papers on drug use and HIV/AIDS infection, and directs an international harm reduction initiative for a major foundation.
- How do I find out about the courses, faculty, and programs of study at Columbia?
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Columbia has many different schools and programs, and fellows may choose courses in almost any of the disciplines offered. The university does not offer complete course listings for upcoming years, so applicants must base their descriptions of their course programs on the university’s current and past course offerings.
To search current course offerings, use Columbia’s course bulletin. Click here to view a flowchart illustrating the course search process.
To use the bulletin, simply choose a department from the alphabetical list, or enter a professor’s name or a keyword (i.e. “urbanâ€), and search current listings. The bulletin provides current information and applicants are encouraged to base their course programs on current course offerings or on the lists provided on department web sites.
For further information on Columbia’s departments and schools, research institutes, and to find course descriptions have a look at the comprehensive alphabetical listing of academic programs.
- What if I do not have access to the Internet?
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The Revson Fellowship office offers information about study programs and assistance with accessing Columbia’s course listings. Please request assistance by phone or email well in advance of the application deadline.
- If I am selected as a nominee, when must I decide whether to accept the Fellowship?
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Because the program wishes to respond to all applicants in a timely fashion, we ask that nominees be prepared to accept the fellowship when it is offered. If a nominee requires an extended interval, he or she may take up to a week to accept or decline the fellowship.
- What if my question isn’t answered here?
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Questions that are not addressed in the FAQ may be addressed to the Revson Fellowship by phone at (212) 854-6029 or by e-mail.
I had been working as a freelance journalist for over a decade. In some ways I was stymied and at a crossroads, trying to figure out how to more effectively write about the issues I was covering, how to broaden my understanding of the way the city is run and why, and ways in which I could reach a larger and broader audience. While a Fellow I took courses in urban planning, political science, law, ethno-musicology, and creative Writing. The courses strengthened my understanding of the ways politics, law, culture, and the urban environment intersect, giving me a grasp of the factors that contribute to whether or not that intersection results in conflict or community. One of the major benefits for me of the year spent as a Revson Fellow was interacting with the other Fellows. From them I got information, smarter, new perspectives, different ways of viewing events. As important, I began friendships and alliances that have lasted to this day. A community of activists/friends whom I can call on for advice, support, and understanding, and not merely of the political kind.
