Hey all, I frequented this forum before my starting at Columbia in Fall 2014. If anyone has any questions please let me know.
-Tom
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Anyone is free to ask or answer questions in this thread.
How is housing for GS students? I’m hoping for an apartment share but I don’t really know what to expect.
If you’re coming from outside the NYC/tri-state area, you should be all set for housing…in fact even within that I have friends from NJ/CT/PA that all got housing assignments as well. I was put in an apartment share - 3 bedroom - that you would think was a normal apartment building in NYC if you didn’t know any better, so not a dorm or place bogged down with campus ID checkins or any non sense. There’s also a lot of GS in a suite type setup closer to campus, it’s generally 5 bedrooms, with a common area and kitchen. Everyone I know who lives there is happy with the setup, and that includes people that transferred to that type setup from the apartment building I’m in.
Tom, are you a veteran?
Hi @TomUSMC
- Did you find out your eligible transfer credits during the Academic Planning Session? If not, when and how did you find out?
- How many credits do you take each semester at GS? How do you feel about this course load? Would you name a few student organizations that’s worth joining?
Thanks!
theoneders: Yes, I am.
eddnyc: I had no previous college work, but yes, your packet at the session will include any eligible transfer credits, and when you later make an appointment to sit down with your advisor, I’m sure you can bring up any discrepancies or questions. As far as course load, they mandate you only take 4 classes your first semester at GS, although no one will stop you if you register for more, but it’s a good way to ease into the workload. My second semester I took 5 classes at 15 credits, and in addition to a night EMT course it was manageable for me. I’m enrolled for 17 credits (5 classes) in the fall, which I’m not thrilled about, but the pre-med curriculum is rather unforgiving so to graduate in a 4 year timeframe I have to. My suggestion is to let the first semester be a guide for what you think you can do, be conservative and get in the groove.
There’s probably an organization for just about any interest you may have. I’ll be volunteering with the campus ambulance service in the fall, but there’s political interest groups, pre-professional societies, student government, etc. For any veterans there is the MilVets, great networking and support group, but the meetings have traditionally revolved around career opportunities for business/finance types.
@TOMUSMC Thank you for taking the time to answer questions! I recently applied to the 2015 Fall semester. I am also a veteran, and one thing that stands out at Columbia GS as opposed to several other schools is that there is a strong veterans presence on campus, which includes MilVets. At an information session a couple of months ago, I was told that veterans are also respected on campus.
- What is the biggest piece of advice you have for incoming veterans, specifically those who are from out of state and have families?
- What is your recommendation about working? Would it be in my best interest to just focus on academics while in school? Is it possible to manage work, school, and a 1 1/2 − 2 hour commute (from Dutchess or Putnam Counties)?
- Break out of the veteran mold. People appreciate your service and your unique perspective, but don't let it be your whole identity. MilVets can be a great social and career network for you, I usually just go to the after-meeting social calls, as the meetings are often career networking events.
- This is hard to say, it depends on your course load, how many credits, and how intense the classes are. People do juggle work and school, but if you're going full time on top of family and commute it may be too much. My definite recommendation would be, if you can afford not to, don't for the first semester and see how much free time you end up having
@TomUSMC I appreciate your answers to my questions. You brought up a wonderful point about not letting military experience consume me while in school. Getting out of that mentality will allow me to be more open-minded to the brilliant minds that are attending Columbia. I also think it is fantastic that there is a MilVets so that soldiers and veterans do have the opportunity to relate to others who have shared similar bakgrounds.
I will also heed your advice about not working. I think I might be able to eke by with the BAH pay.
For now I must wait until July 20th or so until I am notified of an acceptance or rejection. My fingers are crossed as Columbia GS is my number one school!
@TomUSMC I appreciate your answers to my questions. You brought up a wonderful point about not letting military experience consume me while in school. Getting out of that mentality will allow me to be more open-minded to the brilliant minds that are attending Columbia. I also think it is fantastic that there is a MilVets so that soldiers and veterans do have the opportunity to relate to others who have shared similar bakgrounds.
I will also heed your advice about not working. I think I might be able to eke by with the BAH pay.
For now I must wait until July 20th or so until I am notified of an acceptance or rejection. My fingers are crossed as Columbia GS is my number one school!
@TomUSMC what courses did you take in GS freshman year? What is the University Studies non-credit course?Also someone mentioned the University Writing course is extremely hard, what is your experience with it?
First Semester:
University Writing
General Chemistry I
Precalculus
Science of Psychology
University Studies
Second Semester:
General Chemistry II
Calculus I
Mind, Brain, Behavior
International Politics
Rise of Civilization
University Studies is a course they make a lot of people who have been out of school for a while take. It is essentially a lecture with no work load taught by a very talented Dean who lays out strategies for handling the academic load at Columbia.
For me, University Writing was not all that bad, I think it depends very much on the teacher you have and how you handle writing assignments. I put that class on the back burner in relation to the rest of them, and got an A for what it’s worth.
thanks for your reply! You are taking 5? Isn’t college normally 4 courses per semester? Also this might be a very stupid question - I see that at colleges like NYU/Hunter, a lot of courses are 4 credits, whereas at Columbia majority of courses are 3 credit. Why is this? Is that why you are taking 5 courses? (4x4@NYU and 4x3+4@Columbia = both 16 credits per semester) Though Columbia, NYU, Hunter all take around 120-130 credits to graduation, does that essentially mean for a Columbia student, the course load is way more?
I would say a better way to think about it is a normal college load is 15 credits, given that a degree usually requires 120 credits (124 at GS) which in 4 years means 30 credits a year…the credits per class varies, for instance my first year all the classes I took were 3/3.5, and this fall my bio and lit hum are 4 credits, my language is 5 credits, and my physics is 3 plus the 1 credit lab…In general, the more upper-level the class is, or if it has a required recitation section the more credits it will be.
@TomUSMC, Great to have you as a resource here. My question is going to be hit or miss, but I was just offered housing on 121st in the Fairholm. The prices for dorming are unparalleled to renting just on your own out in town, but I am wandering…how is the area by the university at night? Is it safe for a young woman to walk around alone (say if walking home late from a study session)? Do you know anyone that’s lived in the Fairholm or a similar unit, and if so, what did they say about it?
Thank you!!
A few people from my building transferred to Fairholm to be closer to campus…if I remember correctly it literally is a block away, can’t beat that! I believe it’s a suite type setup. As for security, I would say in my opinion you really have nothing to worry about. The area of campus is fine, every once in a while there’s a security bulletin about something a little to the east in the morningside park region, but in general, the area between broadway and amsterdam is nothing to give a second thought…
@TomUSMC This is a repost of a thread I created in the general forum, but I figured I would repost here cause of how helpful you have been: Can regular students use the gym in the Campbell Sports Center? I’m getting into olympic weightlifting and Dodge is less than ideal due to the no-dropping-weights policy.
Thank you for your service.
Brother don’t get me started!!! I’m into the barbell lifts, do power cleans, and am looking to add some oly work to my routine. Non-athletes can’t use that place, and dodge is a mess…I’ve been lifting elsewhere for the summer, but will have to make dodge work somehow. There is actually a movement, mostly by GSers dubbed #teamgym led by our great University Senator to address the gym issues, and she tells me there’s going to be an announcement soon regarding progress.
EDIT-
I just saw the response to your other thread…maybe he’s correct, but I haven’t heard of non-athletes being able to use the facilities up at Baker…
@TomUSMC Thank you very much for the assistance, you rock. Do you have any thoughts on improving application strength? I’ve looked for independent college counseling services but no one has any experience with non-trads and GS.
@TomUSMC , similar question to the one above. Im serving in the military overseas and will be getting out in late January. Before the military, my grades were pretty sub-par, so besides military experience, and living in a foreign country for 3 years, what else can I do in the next few months to improve my chances of admission to GS?
Thanks for your service brother. And all your help here.