an email from Columbia University. I need help!

Transfer Students
1

<p>I recently got an email from the admission office. Below is the essential part of the email.</p>

<p>Thank you for your application to Columbia College. As I hope you have come to know, Columbia College is the university's residential liberal arts college designed for the needs of the traditional student. Typically, transfer candidates for Columbia College have attended high school and then entered college with no more than one year's interruption at any point in their studies. Furthermore, since Columbia College will grant a maximum of 64 points of credit to incoming transfers (the equivalent of two years of full-time college work), entering transfers must be aware that they will spend a minimum of two years of full-time study at Columbia.</p>

<p>Upon review of the information you provided, it appears that you may be a more appropriate candidate for the School of General Studies (telephone 212-854-2772), a separate undergraduate liberal arts division of Columbia. Students who enroll in this program typically either: </p>

<pre><code> 1) have had a break of more than a full year in their education after high school 

    -or 

 2) wish to attend the University on a part-time basis.

</code></pre>

<p>All undergraduates here, whether in Columbia College or in the School of General Studies, have access to a rich variety of academic offerings. Housing and financial aid are available to General Studies students; please consult with their admissions office for more information on these services.</p>

<p>If you agree that the School of General Studies is more appropriate for your educational interests, we will forward to their admissions office the materials you originally submitted to Columbia College. Understand that you will need to contact the School of General Studies to confirm the forwarding of your application from our office and to inquire if additional materials are necessary to complete their application.</p>

<hr>

<p>I by no means consider myself as a non-traditional student although I did take time off (a little more than a year) for internship and work. Also, I am only 21, and the average age of GS students is 29. So, when I got this email, I was really surprised. </p>

<p>I did know the difference between CC and GS, which is why I do not think I could fit better in GS. They asked me to reply no later than April 19, 2011, so I really need ideas from you guys. </p>

<p>Does anybody receive similar emails? Will I get automatically rejected if I still choose to be in CC? Any thoughts will be appreciated! </p>

<p>Have a good night!</p>

2

<p>I’m pretty sure CC is much harder to get into than GS, so if you’re purely looking at your chances to get accepted, go with GS. The email may be a blessing in disguise.</p>

3

<p>It’s still COLUMBIA. A janitor there is better than a senior at another school’s honors program. Exaggeration, but you get my point.</p>

4

<p>I agree that Columbia University’s school of General Studies is a big deal. I thought of applying there. However there are some pros and cons. It is a different school. the diploma you get from SGS is not the same as Columbia College. Its a different school for a reason. I will admit that a degree from SGS is better than most other schools. </p>

<p>Financial Aid was a big deterrent against my applying to SGS. Undergrads at Colombia have 100% of tuition and living expenses met if their income is less than 60,000. however… financial aid is scarce as the SGS… from what I’ve heard, SGS is Colombia’s little cash cow. if you can afford it, I’d apply… but if not… dont bother.</p>

5

<p>Thanks! Do you think a degree of GS is worth of that amount of money?</p>

6

<p>milanista, thanks for your reply. GS students seem not to be in the network of CC, which could be a big disadvantage. Do you think it is worth of the cost?</p>

7

<p>Agentsoapbox, could you please tell me more about the cons? How much value does the degree have? Personally, I cannot accept the fact that GS is as expensive as CC although it does offer the same level of education quality. I really appreciate your help, and look forward to hearing from you!</p>

8

<p>SwaGGeReR, #5 is for you. I forgot to say your name. Sorry about that.</p>

9

<p>I have two friends at Columbia, one at the CC and the other at the GS. As far as they told me, they both have the same amount of work to do and same professors. The only this is that the GS has older students and “its degree doesn’t have the latino motto on it” - The GS friend… Other than that they’re both identical. I think it’s still Columbia and I’d say worth it.</p>

10

<p>Yeah. Employers understand that while it might be easier to get in a non-trad program (such as GS) it is still the same level of education harvested upon graduation. </p>

<p>I generally agree with young people who say that “those non-trad programs are no good, their admission selectivity is nowhere near the Ivy standard”</p>

<p>However I even agree more with people who graduate from a non-trad program stating that they have received an education totally on-par with the trad student.</p>

<p>To summary, my point is if you enroll in a non-trad program, don’t expect to receive any sort of respect from the young lads. However if you make it through and graduate with a degree, you will get the level of respect you deserve from both other alumni and employers. You proved it. The life of a non-trad Ivy student is the life on an underdog. You will be an underdog for the whole course but at the end of the day, if you reach your destination. Voila, here comes the champion.</p>

<p>If you can afford GS, I say you go for it.</p>