Hey everyone,
I applied to Columbia College as a Poli Sci major transfer but got an email today saying that I should consider switching to Columbia University School of General Studies due to the gap in my education from military service. I was wondering what the difference was, and most importantly, if the degree at the end will state Columbia University? While Columbia is great, I want to make sure I am earning the same degree as a regular Columbia College student.
If you have any insight into GS I’d really appreciate it!
The diploma from GS looks similar to the one from CC. But you end up taking the same classes either way. The core requirements are very similar too between GS and CC. The major difference is the housing. I don’t think that GS students are guaranteed housing.
IMO GS is not the same as a Columbia College experience. You don’t have access to the residential halls (so assuming that you’re relatively young and plan on making friends with the CC kids), that can make socializing a bit annoying. I don’t think GS students are required to take the exact same core - I know a few who just skipped parts of it, and I think the sections are different. There are also a bunch of funding opportunities specifically for CC students if you’re low income or just in general. GS/CC students don’t interact that much and every few months or so, there will be some editorial in Spec complaining about how the experiences are different.
One of my friends had to do mandatory military service for his country but I think he’s quite enjoyed the CC experience. GS also has a higher admissions rate. Both will say Columbia University but I think the CC experience is more of a ‘quintessential college experience’
Sounds good. Upon further research, I discovered that GS financial aid is absolutely horrible. I figure I won’t be able to afford to attend if I get into GS, so I might as well apply for CC because that’s the one I would actually be able to afford.
Do not make assumptions about whether you can afford GS without working through all the potential sources of aid, including post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon plus the merit aid that GS offers. Loans are a standard part of the GS aid package though. GS’s mission is to serve students like you who have had a break in their education. Pretty much every veteran undergrad at Columbia is in GS and it is the only division with a special financial aid counseling office for veterans. There is nothing second-class about GS. There are no separate classes for GS, all undergraduates take the same courses. The Sciences Po dual program students are all GS and it produced one of the few Rhodes Scholars from Columbia.
Admission to the College is extraordinarily tough and transferring is even tougher. You should seriously weigh Columbia’s message that “Potential applicants to Columbia College who have taken a break of more than a year in their educations (with the exception of those in mandatory military service) should consider instead Columbia University School of General Studies.” It is more than a hint.