Semester in LA

Application Info & Requirements

Application Deadlines

 Updated 12/8/2025

Application Information

Eligibility

To be eligible for SiLA, please ensure you meet the following criteria:

• Full-Time Status:  You must be a full-time Columbia College Chicago student in good academic and judicial standing.
• GPA:  A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.
• Credit Hours: You must have completed at least 75 credit hours in your major before your arrival at SiLA. 
• Core Curriculum: You should have made significant progress toward completing all core curriculum requirements in your major or program. 
• Disciplinary Record: You must not have any active academic or disciplinary violations on your record. 

Application Process

To apply for Semester in LA, submit:

• Application & short answers — Complete the online form and prompts.

• 60-second “selfie” video — Introduce yourself and why you want to attend SiLA.

• One-page résumé — Simple, professional, up to date.

Recommendations (2 total)
Recommenders do not write letters; they complete a brief online form (about 10 minutes).

1. One academic reference — a current Columbia faculty member (part-time or full-time).

2. One professional reference — an employer, volunteer/internship supervisor, or former teacher/workshop lead who has supervised your work. (Freelancers: a client lead who directed/approved your work qualifies.). Not accepted: personal references (family/friends/peers).

FAQ: Can both be professors? No. One must be a current Columbia faculty member; the second should be someone who has seen you in a real-world or leadership setting and can speak to your independence, reliability, and readiness for LA.

Ready to apply? Click the link below to start your application. Click here to view/download the application instructions.

After Acceptance

New Requirement! You must enroll in and pass Pre-Departure Course (MEDI-334) prior to your arrival in Los Angeles. It is a 1-credit, asynchronous online course.

• Health Insurance: Provide proof of health insurance.
• Self-Audit: Complete an academic self-audit with the College Advising Center
  • BFA students should consult with Academic Advising to schedule the LA experience around their thesis requirements.
  • To make an appointment with your Academic Adviser, here's a link
• Register with the colleges employment database (Handshake)
• Internship Info Session: Once you've been accepted into SiLA, you must attend a virtual internship presentation that will provide guidance on MEDI-334 and preparing for your internship search
• Orientation: You must attend an in-person mandatory SiLA Orientation Session, which will take place in Chicago each semester.
• Registration Holds: Clear all restrictions to registration, including financial holds.
• Graduation Application: If you plan to graduate from the program, you must apply for graduation before enrolling, here.
  • Check out this “Graduation Checklist”

We're Here to Help!

If you have any questions about the application process or need assistance, please reach out. We’re excited to see your application and support you on your journey to L.A.!

Want more info?

JOIN AN INFORMATION SESSION

Email us: semesterinla@colum.edu
Call us: 323-860-5460