<p>I'm currently a junior and planning to apply for the 3-2 combined program. I've read the website, emailed the school several times and figured out that I could be precluded from the guaranteed admission since I couldn't finish all my major courses by the end of the spring semester. I did ask someone who is doing this plan now and he said it doesn't matter much if I could finish those course in Columbia during the 2 years. (but things might changed since he applied 3 years ago.)</p>
<p>I asked my professor if I could transfer those courses and he was very positive. I'm just wondering if I could get into this plan? I mean, really my GPA is good and I meet all the other requirements. I just got no way to finish my major courses in 3 years. </p>
<p>Should I apply to transfer to other universities at the same time just in case that I couldn't get in to this combined program? I guess my question is that is combined program safer than transferring to a similar ranked university?</p>
<p>I’m currently in the 3-2 program myself. I spoke with my liaison, and he told me that of all the requirements you could miss in the 3-2 program, the two most lethal ones are: having too low of a GPA, and not taking all the required courses.</p>
<p>Columbia also requires those “pre-engineering” requirements…the full sequence of calculus, chemistry, physics, etc. There are also the “major-specific” requirements that Columbia requires that depends on each specific major (linear algebra + diff eq if you are in computer engineering, etc). Did you complete all of those courses? If you missed any you are in serious jeopardy. </p>
<p>As for your major at your affiliate school, you probably have a lot more slack. I personally have a few of my major courses waived, so I’m not taking the same amount of courses as other full-fledged computer science majors at my school. </p>
<p>So…if you’re missing something like the electives of your major, then you should be fine. I’d imagine that it really depends on the course/s you’re missing. Are they crucial to your major? </p>
<p>Remember, admission to Columbia is guaranteed if you meet all the requirements. No other transfer school will have that guarantee.</p>
<p>If you have a very strong GPA, you’ll probably be good. But admission will no longer be guaranteed if you don’t complete all your courses.</p>
<p>I recommend you speak with your liaison at the school you currently attend.</p>
<p>I’ve finished all the pre-requirement courses. The two major courses I’m missing are a senior seminar and a senior level class. I can take neither of them before my 4th year based on the department’s rule. That’s why I’m kind of frustrated. The problem for me is that since I’m the first one in our college doing this program, my liaison does not really know very much about this plan either. Also since he is our department chair, he is too busy to help me a lot. I really need to navigate by myself. :(</p>
<p>anyway, thank you so much for your responds, and now I’m just wondering if I should go for a visit to Columbia during thanksgiving break. I’ve been to their before, but I just wish I could get a chance to talk to the students and maybe the admission officer this time. Will I have a chance to talk to them during the visit? I mean especially the admission officers?</p>
<p>I’ve finished all the pre-requirement courses. The two major courses I’m missing are a senior seminar and a senior level class. I can take neither of them before my 4th year based on the department’s rule.</p>
<p>My senior level seminar is being waived. I’m sure yours could be too. </p>
<p>If your school is specifically preventing you from taking a course because you aren’t a senior, the chances are very, very small that Columbia could possibly hold that against you. You’re not a senior at your school; it is reasonable that you don’t take senior level courses.</p>
<p>I presume you have spoken with your liaison / department chair, and that they are aware that you are in the 3-2 program but still prevented you from taking the senior level course. If that is the case, and your GPA is above 3.3, and you have indeed taken all the pre-engineering requirements without receiving a B- or below in any of them, then you can count on getting into Columbia.</p>
<p>@columbiaacceptme: I don’t fully understand your question. The 3-2 program is designed for students who want to go to Columbia but currently go to a different university. If you’re already a Columbia student, I don’t see how the 3-2 program could be an option for you.</p>
<p>Got you. I’ve talked to my liaison and I’m pretty sure that I’m not be able to take the two courses. However, the other thing is that since I’m now major in pre-engineering, I find out that the two class I’ll be missing in my college are both offered and required in Columbia during the last 2 years. I might be able to transfer them back to my college after I take them in Columbia (my liaison has already said yes). I guess I should include that in my application materials, but I don’t think I’ll be considered as guaranteed admission even I’m transferring the courses (which I’ve asked Columbia about).</p>
<p>This way I’m just wondering if I could waive the courses as you did. Is Columbia okay with people waiving courses? Did you get guaranteed admission? Also if you waived the course, will you still get a degree from your original college?</p>
<p>I really can’t tell you what will happen at your school; it seems that different schools do things differently.</p>
<p>I personally have spoken with the advisors at my school, and they told me exactly what courses I need to take to fulfill the 3-2 program requirements. You don’t seem to have that luxury, since, as you stated, the 3-2 program isn’t popular at your school. </p>
<p>My impression is that Columbia will look at the “pre-engineering” requirements very strictly. I can’t imagine anyone “waiving” one of those courses without facing repercussions.</p>
<p>As for “waiving” the courses of your major? That shouldn’t be a problem so long as you have the okay from your own school. In my case, I’ve taken a few computer science courses that can be “substituted” for some of the other computer science courses I’m supposed to take. If you can’t take a course because it’s senior level, then ask if you can take something that can perhaps substitute for it. But then again, my school appears to much more flexible with the 3-2 program than yours. And yes, I will be receiving a degree from my original school along with Columbia.</p>
<p>The idea is that you want your school to say on your application: “this student has met our requirements to fulfill his/her major at our University”. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to take every single course in your major; you just need to take enough so that your school says you’re okay - and they really should be considerate of the fact that you’re in the 3-2 program and only have 3 years to take these courses. </p>
<p>Also, I haven’t applied to Columbia yet (I’m a junior like yourself, and I will be applying at the end of this semester). However, I will have guaranteed admission so long as I continue to maintain the GPA over 3.3, despite the fact that my senior level seminar will be waived. I also have not taken as many computer science courses as my fellow computer science majors, but I have only followed what my advisor told me to do as a member of the 3-2 program.</p>
<p>In your case, you just got to nail down exactly what you need to do with the advisors at your own school. Good luck, and I hope everything works out!</p>
<p>Thank you soooo much! I think I have a better clue now. I think what you mean is that whether or not I’m fulfilling my major classes is largely decided by my college, not Columbia, right?</p>
<p>From what I hear, Columbia is pretty reasonable with financial aid; students in the 3-2 program are entitled to financial aid just like anyone else who goes to Columbia - you will be treated like any other applicant to Columbia. If you can’t afford Columbia, Columbia will accommodate you.</p>
<p>As far as international students go, I do know one international student who is in the 3-2 program. From what I hear, however, international students are given less financial aid. </p>
<p>I can’t verify that, though; I recommend you speak with the liaison at your school. He’d be much more qualified to answer your questions.</p>
<p>Haha, yes I’m in the 3-2 program, but I have not applied to Columbia yet (I’m a junior at the liberal arts university). The same goes for the international student, not that I’d feel comfortable posting his financial aid information on this site haha</p>
<p>Hey @showshowshow,
I think I will be precluded from the guaranteed admission. Since I just finished my final, I didn’t do well on physics. I may cannot get a B on this one. Do you think it’s gonna be a big problem. I mean I met all other per-requirements. My GPA is around 3.4.</p>
<p>Well, Columbia requires a 3.3. A 3.4 is above that, but not by much. </p>
<p>If you get a B- in Physics, that will be pretty dangerous. </p>
<p>Was this physics l or physics ll?</p>
<p>If it was physics l, an A- or above in physics ll would essentially wash out the B- in physics l. </p>
<p>Overall, though, I would definitely say it’s a big problem. </p>
<p>But it isn’t completely bad. There’s one thing worth considering: Columbia used to merely require a 3.0 GPA, and had no restriction whatsoever about B-'s or anything like that. They only cared about you staying above 3.0. </p>
<p>With the new, stricter requirements, much less students will have guaranteed admission. This indicates that a higher percentage of students who don’t get the guaranteed admission will still manage to get in. </p>
<p>In other words, not having “guaranteed admission” is not as fatal as it used to be. </p>
<p>If I were you, I wouldn’t give up on it. Keep working hard and try to rack in some A-'s or even A’s. With these new requirements from Columbia, it’s kind of hard to say exactly how strictly they will enforce it - this is their first year with it implemented, so there’s no prior data to look at.</p>
<p>And overall I’ve done pretty well in the program; my GPA is just over a 3.8. My lowest grade is a B+. But next semester I expect my GPA to drop a bit because the courses will be pretty rigorous.</p>
<p>And one more thing to consider: did you ever meet with the professor during the semester? As in, does he know you personally? </p>
<p>I ask because you could always email your professor if you get a B- and ask if he can review your grades and see if there’s room to bump you up to a B. Explain that you’re in the 3-2 program and that a B- excludes you from guaranteed admission. If you have met with the professor during the semester, and demonstrated that you worked hard in the class and gave it a lot of effort, he may very well bump you up to a B if you were on the borderline. And even if you never met with him, you can still give it a shot. But it’s always good to meet with professors during the semester - it really makes a difference.</p>
<p>Professors change grades all the time if they feel the student worked hard. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s probably worth a shot. I once had an A- get bumped up to an A, and I’ve heard of other students getting bumped up as well. It can’t hurt, as long as you ask respectfully.</p>
<p>ShowSS,
Thank you so much for your words. It’s really helpful. It’s Physics I and I will take Physics 2 next semester. I’m sure I will work really hard on that one. Also, I think your advise is really helpful. I think my professor knows that I worked really hard. I will meet him tomorrow and tell him that I need a B in his class. Also, I have one more thing to ask you, can I ask my computer science professor to give me recommedation letter?
Would you mind to give me your email since we are doing the same program?
Best
Thanks!</p>
<p>Show,
I don’t really know my grade on physics now actually. I just took final exam, and I think I didn’t do it well. The final grade should be shown at 16th. I will ask this professor for a recommendation letter, and ask for the bump if he can give it to me. …He probably say no to me though, since it sounds unfair to other students.
Anyway, Thank you so much! your words make me feel much better :)</p>
<p>@WriterBlues
Unitil now, I know someone who’s gpa is 4.0 and another one’s gpa is above 3.8, and neither of them got finAid. Hope this is helpful.</p>
