Hello
I am currently a senior at Brooklyn Technical HS. I have a GPA of 82 and SATs of 1890 (old) and 1310 (new). ACT of 27.
I’m thinking about doing a 3-2 engineering program with Columbia, but my average is really low for that. Does anyone know how hard it is to get in with the grades that I have? I heard it’s a lot easier to get in through a 3-2 engineering program than a regular 4-year admission
Thanks!
based on the site, students apply their junior or senior year to be a part of this program so it’ll be just as hard as getting into columbia in 4 year admission
They have a program by which you are guaranteed admission to the engineering school for meeting a certain GPA (I think its around 3.2)
However you apply through one of the affiliated liberal arts colleges. And you don’t apply until your junior year.
Apply to William and Mary in VA. It is one of the affiliated liberal arts colleges
For 3-2 programs, you’ll be paying for an extra year-- most families have a hard enough time just paying for 4 yeard.
Plus, many students find they don’t want to leave their friends after 3 years in the 1st school.
American University is part of the 3-2 program, I’d think you can get in there with your scores/GPA.
https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/combined-plan
Columbia does “not guarantee that we can meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students” in the Combined Plan (3+2 program), unlike for frosh or other transfers.
Thanks for the replies!
However, I’m still confused as to how competitive the program itself is. Does me getting into the first college guarantee admissions to Columbia (given that I keep up a 3.3+ GPA)? Or is it the same thing as applying with regular 4-year admissions to Columbia?
Also, the program I’m looking at is SUNY Geneseo (3) with Columbia (2), and for SUNYs I can apply as an HEOP student. I already did on the spot admissions with SUNY Buffalo and I got admitted academically and they covered my tuition completely. So I’m assuming the same thing will happen with Geneseo?
The 3.3 GPA is not just overall, you must keep a 3.3 gpa in your combined math and science classes. You also can’t ever earn lower than a B in any of those STEM classes. This means getting through 4 levels of calculus followed by differential equations without a C or lower. That will not be easy.
The requirements for guaranteed admission are:
3.3 Overall GPA
3.3 in All Foundation Math & Science Courses (not all math science courses but only what Columbia considers the foundation courses and these vary by what you want to major in at Columbia.
At least a B or higher for each one of these foundation Math Science courses, the very first time you take it.
At least 27 credits of humanities and social science courses (1 must be writing intensive and 1 must be Economics)
3 favorable recommendations, 1 each from engineering advisor, math professor and science professor.
If you are 100% sure that this is what you want to do, my suggestion for you is to do attend one of the less rigorous colleges that are participating in this program with Columbia. As far as Columbia is concerned, they do not factor in the rigor of the curriculum at the liberal arts college. Getting the above grades at a challenging liberal arts college for STEM courses is not easy. However, if you attend a college where you are one of the above average students entering, you have a better shot at securing these grade requirements. However, if you decide not to pursue this or for whatever reason, miss the guaranteed admission, now you will be getting your science degree from a less selective institution that what you may have been able to do otherwise.
If you want to study engineering, attend a college with an accredited ABET engineering program. The 3-2 programs are expensive and have very low probability of completion and success.
SUNYs with engineering:
Binghamton
Stony Brook
Buffalo
New Paltz
You mean “This means getting through 4 levels of calculus followed by differential equations without a B- or lower.” Also, calculus is usually a 3-semester sequence. Linear algebra may also be required. Science courses (e.g. physics and chemistry) for the intended major will also be required.
You can see all the requirements here https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/2016-17_combined_plan_curriculum_guide.pdf. At a minimum, the following are the requirements irrespective of the engineering discipline you want to major in at Columbia:
Foundational Courses Required of All Majors
Calculus I, II, & III
Physics I & II
Chemistry I
Computer Science I
Humanities & Soc Sci - 27 credits in total, 1 of which must be Economics and 1 of which must be economics
Then there are Major Specific Math & Science courses. Many majors will include Calculus IV, some will include Differential Equations, and/or Linear Algebra, Statistics or Discrete Mathematics.
Many majors include Quantum Physics. Some majors will require additional Computer Science, Biology and Chemistry courses. For example if you want to major in Computer Science it will naturally require additional computer science courses.
The 3.3 Math/Science GPA requirement and the minimum grade of a B the first time your take a course requirements apply to all of the Foundational and Major Specific Math/Science Courses.
Also bear in mind, you need to declare an engineering major going into Columbia, where they will calculate your GPA based on all the major specific courses for that major. And if admitted, you CANNOT change your major once at Columbia.
The nice thing about the Columbia program is, although arduous, once you meet all of these requirements, you are guaranteed admission. There is no space limitations, and they grandfather these requirements the year you started your education at the liberal arts college so they can’t change the rules midstream.
Currently, there are approximately 150 students participating (across the two years) in this program at Columbia.
If you miss any of the requirements for guaranteed admission, you then fall into “competitive admission” category which will most likely entail having a much higher overall and math science GPA requirement.
Lastly, you get both your liberal arts college degree and Columbia degree at the end of year 5th year upon completing both legs of the plan.
@nalp11 What did you get on your SAT/ACT for Math and what are your Math and Science grades?
Even if you get in to Columbia you may end up struggling.
One other issue with the Columbia Combined Plan (as the “2” school in 3+2 programs) is that it does not claim to “meet full need” with financial aid like it does for frosh or other transfer students.