2011 TC Admissions
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College Columbia University

Admissions

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How to Apply

Degree Programs

The Teachers College Application must be completed and submitted online.  Official transcripts should be mailed.  A complete degree application consists of, at the minimum, the following materials:

    Application Form and Fee

    The Application Form and Fee must be submitted electronically.  Please answer all questions accurately.  We encourage you to use a single email address that will not expire before your desired term of entry, as it will be used for all correspondence from the Office of Admission, including notification of your application decision.  If you are applying to a certification program or cohort, you must indicate so on your application form.  The application fee is $65 for first-time applicants and $35 for re-applicants.  The fee is non-refundable. 

    Personal Statement

    The personal statement should be two to three pages in length, double-spaced, describing your background, past work in the intended field of study, plans for graduate study and a professional career, or any other information you feel is relevant.  If you are currently registered in a graduate program at another university, please explain why you wish to leave.

    Resume

    A current resume or chronological listing of your employment and education history and other significant activities must be submitted.

    Official Transcript(s)

    You must submit one official transcript from each college or university you attended for academic credit for any period of time, showing all courses, grades and degrees (if any).  This includes any study-abroad programs or transfer credit not reflected on your undergraduate transcripts with full course titles and final grades.  For educational institutions located outside of the United States or Canada, an official credential evaluation from World Education Services, Inc. (WES) is required.  For more information, please refer to the "International Students" section.

    2 Letters of Recommendation

    Letters of Recommendation should be written by individuals who can comment from personal knowledge on your academic or professional qualifications for graduate study.  Wherever possible, letters of recommendation should be submitted from academic sources.  However, if you have been out of school for a number of years, professional recommendations may be used in most cases.  Recommendations written by family members or friends are not appropriate for the purposes of this application.


    Some programs require additional materials in order for your application to be complete. See the Interactive Online Program Guide for any additional program-specific requirements. For assistance using the Interactive Online Program Guide, click here. You may also get an overview of the application process by using our traditional Guide to Admission.

    Completing Your Application

    Step 1. Create an application account on the Teachers College Online Application System.

    You will be able to create your own user name and password. Once the account is created you can use your user name and password for future access to your account. If you have already created a Next Step account, you may use the same login.

    Step 2. Complete the 'Application For Admission'

    1. Complete all required questions on the application.  You may only have one active application to Teachers College at a time. Applying for the incorrect program will cause serious delays. 
    2. Upload your personal statement and resume. If your program of interest requires one, your writing sample may also be uploaded online.
    3. Pay the application fee.
    4. Submit the form with your electronic signature.

    Step 3. Receive your Teachers College Identification (TC ID) number.

    You will receive your TC ID Assignment E-mail within two-to-five business days after the submission of your Application for Admission. The TC ID is a randomly generated eight-digit number preceded by the letter "T".  Please indicate your TC ID on all future correspondence to the Office of Admission, including e-mails and phone calls.

    Step 4. Submit your remaining application materials.

    1. Applicants are encouraged to submit application materials as soon as possible. You do not need to submit your online application prior to mailing in application materials.  Applicants should use the Document Cover Sheet for materials mailed to the Office of Admission. 
    2. If required, standardized test scores, such as TOEFL, GRE, and MAT must be reported directly to the Office of Admission by the Testing Centers.
    3. Under no circumstances can any application materials submitted to the Office of Admission be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another college, university, or third party. All records submitted in support of an Application for Admission become property of Teachers College.

    4. Mailing Address:
      For Standard Postal Service: For FedEx, DHL or UPS only:
      Office of Admission
      Teachers College, Columbia University  
      525 W 120th Street
      Box 302
      New York, NY 10027-6696      		 Office of Admission
      Teachers College, Columbia University
      Thorndike Hall, 3rd Floor
      525 W 120th Street
      New York, NY 10027-6696
      Please refer to the college directory for contacts for other campus services and departments.

    Step 5. Receive application status updates from the Office of Admission.

    Once you have submitted your Application Form for Admission, you may check the status of your application materials by using the Next Step portal. This personalized website will give you relevant updates on your application.