Applying to General Studies at Columbia from a CC with close to an associates degree

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Hey , everyone I am not sure how much weight columbia gives to high school transcripts. But I have a 3.5 gpa from a cuny community college with close to 60 credits in mostly liberal arts courses.</p>

<p>I intend to take and do well on the general studies examination that I must take since I never took the sats or the act. I wonder if this exam is hard, or is it easy similar to a college placement test?</p>

<p>Some much bureaucracy, I intend to apply, if I can have a shot of getting in, but I also intend to apply to NYU and decent SUNY colleges, so yeah its not like I won't be happy if I dont get in, unless of course I dont get into NYU , and even worse stonybrook or whoever (I really dont want to go to suny though).</p>

<p>Well, what do you guys/gyals think, I still have to find about the program.</p>

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<p>How are you applying to NYU if you never took the SATs or ACTs?</p>

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<p>Honestly, if their transfer program is as rigorous as their freshmen admissions, I don't think you would get in (based on the info you provided). Unless your community college is amazingly difficult, then I would say 3.5 is too low for Columbia.</p>

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<p>I won't be applying to Columbia, because it is a bit bureaucratic to apply, the $25 test last 3 hours, and I would have not so sure about gpa.</p>

<p>Of course, I probably could get in (general studies), but I am not so sure I am ready for Columbia, and they are bit more inflexible with credits transferring, though not that bad (more flexible than a lot of schools). GS probably won't give me any financial aid too and it may be very stressful - columbia. Note the acceptance rate is high for GS. However, I heard one person write a very good essay and rejected for 3.5. I think Columbia is overrated.</p>

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<p>"However, I heard one person write a very good essay and rejected for 3.5"</p>

<p>that's because if only a very good essay could get you in, college would be a farce. a 3.5 is low by the admission standards. GS might have a lower acceptance rate and be easier to get into, but it isn't easy to get into by any means.</p>

<p>"I think Columbia is overrated."</p>

<p>how so?</p>

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<p>"Columbia is overrated" </p>

<p>According to who? Columbia is one of the best universities in the entire world. Anyone would be extremely lucky to study at such a fine institution. I wouldn't count on being accepted with a 3.5, the GS acceptance rate is still low by any means, and will be significantly more difficult to be accepted to than a SUNY school or even NYU. I wouldn't count on NYU either with a 3.5, At least not Tisch or Stern which are extremely competitive. Have you looked at CUNY Baruch? It is a very good value and has very well accomplished Alumni.</p>

<p>I hope you don't take any offense in this, but a 3.5 from a community college is nothing spectacular. Regardless of program Columbia admissions are very competitive and have students from all over the world submitting applications. Admissions are based on many contributing factors, not just "why columbia" and your GPA. Columbia looks for well accomplished candidates who have the potential to contribute to society. I really wouldn't apply to Columbia from a Community College unless you are extremely bright and could handle work at that level. The difference in work load is very significant, and you will more likely be required to submit far superior work to earn the same grades as you will in a community college. </p>

<p>By no means am I attempting to say you are not capable. However if you do not receive any aid, and are questioning your ability to excel at a school like Columbia, then it most likely is not the place for you. NYU admissions are pretty tough, but before looking at SUNY, I would look at Baruch and some other CUNY schools. Being part of the same University they are more likely to transfer most if not all of your credits, and the value is extremely relevant in CUNY, especially Baruch. It seems as though there are more Baruch graduates on Wall St. than any other other school.</p>

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<p>It sounds like you have obtained a GED. NYU will require SAT's or ACT to be taken unless you obtain an Associates Degree. I would suggest applying for an associates degree, as you are guaranteed 60 credits at NYU if you have an associates degree.</p>

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<p>Columbia is overrated in certain areas, yes,</p>

<p>Gs has a pretty high acceptance rate, my reason for not applying has to do with no so much the gpa, but the fact that once I factor in the fact that I would have to take 3 hour test, might not get any scholarship since my parents income is too high, and my credits may not transfer, it seems not likely.</p>

<p>I am eligible for GS, but thats not the point, it may also be because Columbia wants gs more so for older students , (im 21).</p>

<p>Ya can't grade a person by GPA and columbia doesn't do that, their have been people accepted by a columbia university with 3.5 gpas from community colleges that are probably the same if not worse then the one I am in. Columbia wants to know more about a person's background and essay. Now an essay can cover a wide range of topics, its kinda hard to explain exactly what type of essay columbia wants, it has more to do with a personal thing, and what you can give to the college in terms of discussion and what they can give back, hard to explain.</p>

<p><em>Just because you go into columbia undergraduate bears no weight to enter their grad school</em>, perhaps maybe NYU first then columbia grad, not sure.</p>

<p>*Nyu doesn't require sats for transfer students. , , not looking to go into tisch or stern atleast on the undergrad.</p>

<p>Perhaps maybe I should also start a does undergrad matter thread. It seems that grad school is the bigger factor these days. Just because you go to Columbia undergrad bears no weight to enter the grad school, and companies and institutions like to see and bear weight more heavily on grad school. </p>

<p>It seems like all this talk about undergrad admissions is healthy but maybe overstated.</p>

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<p>sour grapes?</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I am eligible for GS, but thats not the point, it may also be because Columbia wants gs more so for older students , (im 21).

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</p>

<p>how are you eligible for GS? gs is for non-traditional students not students who have gotten a ged and taken a couple years at community college. did you serve in the military? have you been working for 5 years since the last time you were in school?</p>

<p>also, i could be wrong but im 99% sure GS does not a) use your parent's income for scholarships and b) offer need based money</p>

<p>i'm surprised no one has asked these questions. it seems you are making assumptions based on an incorrect view of what gs is.</p>

<p>edit:

[quote]
Ya can't grade a person by GPA and columbia doesn't do that, their have been people accepted by a columbia university with 3.5 gpas from community colleges that are probably the same if not worse then the one I am in. Columbia wants to know more about a person's background and essay. Now an essay can cover a wide range of topics, its kinda hard to explain exactly what type of essay columbia wants, it has more to do with a personal thing, and what you can give to the college in terms of discussion and what they can give back, hard to explain.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>you, a person in community college, is trying to tell us (well confidential at least), students who GOT INTO columbia, what columbia is looking for in an applicant? are you serious? don't come to this board and try to insult our intelligence, you wont get any answers if you decide to take that road</p>

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<p>A good essay can only complement a good GPA, not substitute it.</p>

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<p>I go to City which is a few blocks north of Columbia, I assure you many students I PERSONALLY KNOW had better than 3.5 gpas and didn't get into GS, and City has some great programs. Some of these include students from The Sophie Davis School for Biomedicine, which is an extremely competitive programs for students looking to going into medicine. GS is still COLUMBIA, and is quite competitive. It is absolutely ridiculous to come on a board like this and speak nonsense such as Columbia is so overrated. I attend a nearby public university, which is a good school, but even there students KNOW that Columbia is renowned for their superb education.</p>

<p>How do you think Columbia is overrated. The best school in NY state, One of the best in entire world as a matter of fact, I wouldn't count on being excepted, even if you did apply, not with that attitude which seems to complement your grammar and spelling skills quite well.</p>

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<p>GS admissions had said that I am eligible for GS, and based on what they are looking for, I fit the profile in some ways.</p>

<ol>
<li>how are you eligible for GS? gs is for non-traditional students not students who have gotten a ged and taken a couple years at community college. did you serve in the military? have you been working for 5 years since the last time you were in school?</li>
</ol>

<p>2.I never said I got a GED.
GS ONLY requires a 1-year Gap between educational experience. </p>

<p>Certain Columbia Departments may be overrated, was what I meant to say, however please note that Columbia's strengths currently have to do with a large endowment/resources. Columbia is overrated compared to other prestigious universities went ranked by certain departments. I think that's true for other ivy league schools as well. </p>

<p>GS does offer financial aid.</p>

<p>People from my Community college and others have gone to Columbia University, and quite a few of my professors/deans have went their also. I'm not saying that Columbia is the same grade as city colleges (otherwise I wouldn't think of getting in) but its about the same as many other tier 1 schools in certain depts. </p>

<p>A person who went to a community college is not in anyway dumber or less smart, than a person in a 4 year college, it depends on the student. The quality of professors is also the same as indicated by recent studies.</p>

<p>"don't come to this board and try to insult our intelligence"</p>

<p>I don't need to insult anyone's intelligence, I only state the facts as of course relied by employees of Columbia University itself. Of course by mentioning "our intelligence" I don't believe your speaking in unison with anyone else here. </p>

<p>I pointed out the essay's content and not the quality of the essay as being a factor, when you write the essay it tells Columbia about yourself, they are looking for a certain student profile that you need to put into the essay. Which is another reason why high gpa's are just one element and not the prime. </p>

<p>Also, on a side note graduates from hostos for example (I don't go there) , can get into GS with only a 3.0 gpa (limited to certain programs but still proves my point), they need to show strenghts in other areas though, which is why I am placing less emphasis on gpa, and more on student profile (not necessarily experience or traditional criteria).</p>

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<p>I wouldn't even bother applying if I was you, an admissions officer would see right through you. </p>

<p>
[quote]
A person who went to a community college is not in anyway dumber or less smart, than a person in a 4 year college, it depends on the student. The quality of professors is also the same as indicated by recent studies.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It does not make you any less smarter, but it does show that you are lacking something. Columbia looks for students who can gain from the experience, not students who are not even aware of the type of students Columbia is looking for. Have you ever met any GS students? Most are either very well accomplished adults, and/or served in the military. </p>

<p>Regardless of how good your essay is, a 3.0 from a top school would deny you the ability to go to Columbia, let alone from a community college.</p>

<p>You have to understand that community college's curriculum is sub-par, any student coming from a community college will struggle tremendously at Columbia. </p>

<p>Either way, I wouldn't worry too much about whether or not to attend Columbia. Your essay is not based on context alone, if your essay lacks substance, or has general grammatic errors (which I am pretty sure yours will) you can count on being rejected. You are not understanding that a 3.5 from a community college is a joke compared to the students at Columbia, I would guarantee that 99% of Columbia students would have no problem maintaining 4.0 in a Community College.</p>

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<p>"Certain Columbia Departments may be overrated"</p>

<p>which depts? why the incessant ambiguity? either take a stance and defend it or don't make accusations which are baselessly subjective.</p>

<p>"please note that Columbia's strengths currently have to do with a large endowment/resources."</p>

<p>um compared to HYPSM columbia has significantly less endowment, so maybe those schools get their name from the money, also money matters a ton and richer schools are generally better schools, think of financial aid, research, and qual faculty. but relative to it's peers columbia has no significant advantage in funds.</p>

<p>"Columbia is overrated compared to other prestigious universities went ranked by certain departments. I think that's true for other ivy league schools as well"</p>

<p>yes let's be vague.</p>

<p>"which is why I am placing less emphasis on gpa, and more on student profile (not necessarily experience or traditional criteria)."</p>

<p>nycollegelooker, what is columbia (and gs)? it certainly isn't competitve summer camp. it's an academic institution, sure gs students have interesting experiences that might shine brightly, but they are coming to columbia to get a degree and study academic material, experiences compliment their purpose for coming to college, complement to the extent that they can compensate for a slightly worse gpa, but with a 3.5 esp at a comm college, you've got to be a superhero to get in, some do i'm sure, but they are superheroes. fundamentally there is no reason why gpa isn't the most important factor, it might have less weightage than for columbia college admissions, but it's still the most important thing, unless it's from a long time ago and thus no longer applicable.</p>

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<p>Really, the Serrano Scholars Program at Hostos (which I don't go to), only requires a 3.0. Frankly, in posting in cc forums, I post very quickly, I'm not writing an essay, so why should I have to pay attention to grammar/spelling. </p>

<p>As for a 3.5, I can easily bring it to close to 4.0, if I wanted to but am close to graduation anyways. </p>

<p>The Serrano scholars for example, only requires a 3.0 gpa and basic skills for a liberal arts degree bachelor's. Admissions isn't guaranteed of course, but my point is that URIA702's comments are not correct.</p>

<p>GSP is Much Easier to get into then, regular Hs to COlumbia College. Frankly, I don't care what people say in terms of general comments about just a 3.5 from a cc. If you want to generalize things, that may be fine but there are a lot of exceptions to the rules.</p>

<p>Btw, I am an straight A English student, so if your thinking that my fast post in the cc forums explain my ability to write essays,etc then your very short-sighted.</p>

<p>Its true, and I do concede that a 3.5 does put me a somewhat disadvantage, one of the reasons I got a 3.5 is because early in college I took a couple courses that weren't very interesting and a couple of the teacher's weren't that great. </p>

<p>Columbia does have a large endowment, although on its faq page it does explain the reason it might not be as close to its peers Giving</a> to Columbia University: FAQs: Endowment.</p>

<p>In contrast to Uri and whoever else who has shortsighted comments and is quick to judge, (this is not meant to be a flaming thread btw) , I actually do commend Columbia for being less rigid than some of the Ivy leagues when it comes to admissions. Its not easy to get into Columbia GS, but its not sky high difficult, as this article shows.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/education/edlife/continuinged.html?pagewanted=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/education/edlife/continuinged.html?pagewanted=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Its true that many CC graduates experience culture shock when going to Columbia Struggling</a> College and Columbia Join Forces to Train Diplomats - New York Times,
my reason for being at a cc in the first place was because I never took the SAT and wanted to start college. Unlike most Community College students, I never had to take re medials and have always had great skills. I probably should have never went to a community college, and if it weren't for a couple bad courses my gpa would be more as a 3.8.</p>

<p>Some depts are a bit overrated such as Business, public admin, etc - that doesn't mean its not good, its just that in the league of other Tier 1-2 schools, it can be about equal.
Of course its better than Tier 3 cuny schools. There a lot of famous people from those Columbia schools, but even more so at other Tier 1-2 schools. A study showed that although a lot of famous business executives have went to Ivy league schools about half of them never attended Ivy league. Its a big debate, as usually salaries from ivy league graduates might average about 30% higher than non-ivy league graduates in terms of certain employment areas, but there are exceptions. </p>

<p>The main reason is that many people with close to 4.0 gpa's have been rejected at Columbia GS, but some of those with 3.5's have been accepted, some of whom have been to a community college. It may be either too late for me, since I already plan to go to NYU and don't want to spend a lot of time raising my gpa, or too early as gs may think I'm too young although eligible. The only have a limited number of spots. Also, I never knew about GS until a few weeks ago, so I was never planning to really aim for it in the first place, same with NYU although I plan on attending there (nyu).</p>

<p>If anyone you have productive comments or advice let me know. If not this thread may die-out soon, unless I decide maybe I really should apply.</p>

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<p>
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Really, the Serrano Scholars Program at Hostos (which I don't go to), only requires a 3.0

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<p>That's a minimum gpa. That means they will automatically throw out your app if you have anything less, not that you are guaranteed.</p>

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As for a 3.5, I can easily bring it to close to 4.0, if I wanted to but am close to graduation anyway

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</p>

<p>This is the attitude that will get you rejected and makes everyone here intensely dislike you.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Some depts are a bit overrated such as Business, public admin, etc - that doesn't mean its not good, its just that in the league of other Tier 1-2 schools, it can be about equal.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Wrong, next.</p>

<p>
[quote]
There a lot of famous people from those Columbia schools, but even more so at other Tier 1-2 schools. A study showed that although a lot of famous business executives have went to Ivy league schools about half of them never attended Ivy league. Its a big debate, as usually salaries from ivy league graduates might average about 30% higher than non-ivy league graduates in terms of certain employment areas, but there are exceptions.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Really? What a subjective argument. Why dont you use a basis of "famousness" for people that have improved the world, like nobel prize winners. (We win that one by the way) </p>

<p>And what, you really expect that all famous business execs are going to be from ivy league schools? Making it in the business world is really being able to fill a niche with your product and market it correctly, bill gates is a perfect example with the pc. But in general, this is just filler for your post and doesnt actually prove anything. If you really believed in this you would get off these boards, never apply to columbia, and try and make it with your comcoll degree.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The main reason is that many people with close to 4.0 gpa's have been rejected at Columbia GS, but some of those with 3.5's have been accepted, some of whom have been to a community college. It may be either too late for me, since I already plan to go to NYU and don't want to spend a lot of time raising my gpa, or too early as gs may think I'm too young although eligible. The only have a limited number of spots. Also, I never knew about GS until a few weeks ago, so I was never planning to really aim for it in the first place, same with NYU although I plan on attending there (nyu).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>good. now stop trying to prove that you are good enough to go to columbia because a lot of people have spoken and the general consensus is that you are not. have fun there (nyu).</p>

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<p>Skraylor hit the nail on the head. I really don't understand what your intension is by coming here and being a nuisance to everyone on the board. I made that comment about your writing due to the spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors you make. It is difficult to believe that your essays are superior when you use words incorrectly and make many grammatic errors. </p>

<p>You are not understanding that Columbia has a 12% acceptance rate, one of the lowest in the country, if it was so overrated it would not be as competitive.
You mention the business school. Columbia does not have an undergrad business school. The executive MBA program however is ranked #3 in the nation. How is that overrated? Nobody claims that Columbia is far superior to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, etc. etc.. However it is up to par with the education those offer. The alumni accomplishments speak for themselves. As Skraylor mentioned, Columbia produces more Nobel Prize winners than any university. </p>

<p>Nobody claimed you are stupid or not able to due level at a top level school, all we are trying to tell you is that there are many many students with 3.5's at cc's that attempt to get into schools like NYU or Columbia and are rejected. You may be eligible to APPLY for GS, but that is very competitive as well. NYU is also no joke, Especially if you plan on applying to Tisch or Stern you will see that many students with a 3.5 from solid schools are rejected, let alone from a community college. </p>

<p>Don't you understand that big universities see community college students as students with inferior education? Community schools are schools where good grades are very easy to obtain, and being eligible to apply for a school does not even imply that you have the smallest chance of being accepted.</p>

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<p>I think people are exaggerating on this one a bit. Columbia GS heavily recruits from Community Colleges all throughout the country, so it's highly unlikely that anyone applying from one will have that weighted against them. If you take a quick glance at the statistical abstract in the admissions department, it's pretty safe to say that anyone with a relatively competitve GPA will have a decent shot in gaining entrence. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe the program accepts slightly less than half of all applicants that applied over the past 3 years. That being said I think it's suffecient to assume that a 3.5 would probably make the cutting point for consideration. Keep in mind people, he's not looking to transfer into Columbia College, which can be rediculously competitive.</p>

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<p>As for the quality of the GS body, from first hand experience of knowing someone who is actually in the program; I can't say i was particularly impressed. However, if I can vaguely remember, she dropped out of a college a few years back, worked for a law firm in DC (not as an attourney of course...) decided to return to school and received a LOR from someone who was an alumni of the Law School. Whether or not this factored into her acceptence is anyone's guess. However, there was nothing "spectacular" about her as an applicant outside of that. I'm not entirely sure what her actual GPA was either, but I think it's to assume that she wasn't exactly a 4.0 student, so I'm pretty sure admissions has a lot to do with "fit" and her ability to articulate why she wanted to be there in the first place.</p>