<p>So it sounds like as a GS student you’re required to wear a sign that says, “I’M GS!”…?</p>
<p>Or, if your on the older side, your pretty alienated from the college?</p>
<p>One thing I’m really curious about – can someone explain this alumni situation? Are GS students not allowed to access alumni events or online websites/networks?</p>
<p>BoolaBoola, hellojan,</p>
<p>Thank you for your extensive postings. I am glad to hear from people who actually attend the school. and I am sure I am not the only one.</p>
<p>Greek life, networking, sports, all that aside. As a mid twenty year old guy, I don’t just plan to attend a school for ‘the experience’, because as you said, that’d be one hell of an expensive ‘just experience’.</p>
<p>Considering this ‘experience’ is also in New York, makes it even more pricey. I can only speak for myself, but I consider the GS + New York price worth it if it opens me the options CC or NYU Stern, and maybe Fordham would offer me. As international student I am not eligible for too much financial aid, neither can I get a job. For me, it’s pretty simple, as a Financial Econ major, this investment would have to pay off.</p>
<p>I have visited New York, GS, and I appreciated the welcoming attitude I received at GS; which, after reading some of those posts, I am questioning a bit.</p>
<p>BoolaBaloa, like many others, our view of Columbia got a little shaken. I am unsure if I should thank you or something else ;-). However, I appreciate the information.</p>
<p>What I am curious about is, do you know of people who graduated from GS and work in the financial field in New York, and how does GS compare against NYU Stern? My choice is still heavily based on the ‘brand’, as unfortunately, it seems to carry a lot of weight in the United States, especially in the Financial Sector.</p>
<p>Thank you for your elaborations.</p>
<p>HelloJan–I’ll concede to a certain extent on the cliquishness thing, but only to say that while I have friends in various other areas and from various other Columbia spheres, my CLOSE friends and I are cliquish and insular. I like it that way. I don’t think cliques are a bad thing. Anyway, with that said…READERS: Your Mileage May Vary…</p>
<p>As for UW and learning to “write on a Columbia level,” well, were just going to have to amiably disagree there. The class is spoon fed BS and I stand by my argument as to its inefficacy. If anything, it locks you into the kind of writing that can be described as mechanical, formulaic, and contrived. Granted, some people need those kinds of parameters and a university needs to provide the greatest good for the greatest number (CAVEAT EMPTOR: Readers, I’ll tell you right now, my first semester of philosophy here has absolutely murdered what little respect I have for democracy in any form) but as far as I’m concerned, the class is a waste of my time and my money. Some of the readings are excellent, however. I’d advise to do as HJ says: go into it with an open mind. If you love it, fantastic. If you hate it, rest assured there are people here who understand why.</p>
<p>We’ll agree to disagree on the network/old money thing again. Who cares? Plenty of people. That’s why it continues to exist. Elite colleges don’t just educate. They help consolidate power. </p>
<p>The secret societies have parties open to all? I can think of ONE secret society here–St. A’s–and I wasn’t aware that they had public parties on their turf. If it’s true, that’s unfortunate. I always thought the purpose of a secret society was to remain exclusive. </p>
<p>Finally, yes, your experience here will be what you make of it. I’m not sure what kind of FinAid HJ is getting, but it sounds like he’s getting a lot more than I or my friends in GS are. Mind you, this is my first semester and I have two years left, so he may be able to speak to it better than I, but I’d advise you people TO ASK THEM UPFRONT HOW MUCH THEY’LL GIVE YOU. Your experience will be what you make of it at a state school too, but it won’t cost you a quarter million dollars. </p>
<p>Ok, now for your questions, PhillyMan:</p>
<p>Admissions stats: Nobody knows because GS doesn’t release those stats. It’s The Big Mystery. I’m guessing it’s much larger than anyone cares to admit. Unofficial (internet) sites have shown numbers ranging from 35% to 23%. I’ll say no more.</p>
<p>The GS stigma isn’t automatic. If you’re older (whatever that means) and you don’t come off as a creeper or as a know-it-all, no one will really care what you do or who you hang out with. Most older GSers tend to not want to drink until 4am, which is understandable. Young GSers–particularly those who are in their 20s and female–don’t really have to deal with the stigma because they fit in unless they’re completely socially inept. So ladies, ignore all of this except for the money part. </p>
<p>GS has its own alumni network. It’s weak compared to CC and SEAS. We cannot, as far as I can tell, access ANY of the CC/SEAS networking things. The closest thing is the Columbia Club, located in midtown (West 40’s) which has mixed events. </p>
<p>Good luck, applicants. Get what you like or learn to like what you get.</p>
<p>Another current GS student here. FYI: I am a peer and classmate of BoolaBoola’s so I can vouch for BB’s upstanding character and sincerity. I don’t know if I’ve met Hellojan in real life on campus, but his/her record on this very board speaks for itself. This is a thread of knowledgeable folks offering real opinions, to which I will now submit my own.</p>
<p>1st thing: University Studies. Boola brought it up and I shall tear it down and put it to rest. You should not concern yourselves with it at this point except to know that it exists and it is offensive. It is, ostensibly, a semester-long, no-credit, free, yet required for some, course of lectures on subjects such as “time management,” “exam preparation,” and “managing your digital life.” Who is selected upon admission for this requirement and who is not remains a small mystery. But this semester’s class is large . . . 50-60 people? That’s out of a Spring semester admitted class of 110-120 people. Administration claims it ranges from community college transfers (but not all of them) to first-time college students, to students who have had prior academic difficulty, to students away from school for extended periods. I am none of these. I’m a 4-year school transfer w/ a 3.65 GPA. I did, however, withdraw my last semester at my prior school and thus have a semester of "W"s on my transcript. This appears to be my ticket to University Studies. It’s useless. It’s uninformative. It’s an insult to the intelligence of anyone involved. End of story. Grin and bear it.</p>
<p>Much of what I would share with you is similar to what Boola has already said. But I would also urge you to note that I, like Boola, am still here and will stay here, despite any criticisms I might have. I came here to study in a specific department, to enrich my development as a scholar, and get into a top PhD program. Despite the frightening financial picture, academics trump all for me, at this point.</p>
<p>But GS is a separate school. This is fact. There are financial, social, cultural, and psychological ramifications to this that cannot be changed. They may be minor, but they’re real. My advice to you is what I wish I had done, and that’s be sure to consider other options (if you haven’t already). I wish I had seen it through and applied to Yale’s EWSP, as well as for transfer admission to UC Berkeley, peer/nearly-peer institutions with better financial aid outlooks and similarly strong academics.</p>
<p>As for admissions, GS doesn’t publish this data so I don’t know how some websites can claim to know that it is 28%, or 36%, or whatever number is proposed. My impression is that those numbers seem a bit low. We have some of the brightest bulbs, for sure, but some pretty dim ones too. For any of you with experience in university-level writing and reading of criticism, these are the bulbs who will darken the days of your University Writing class. Trudge through it. Twice a week I go directly from University Writing to an upper-division English seminar and my day is inevitable brightened. In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen, indeed.</p>
<p>Best of luck to all.</p>
<p>“GS is a separate school. This is fact. There are financial, social, cultural, and psychological ramifications to this that cannot be changed”…isn’t all this not just a reality of being an older students. I’m currently attending a four year school with no separate GS style program, and the reality is that it is more difficult for me financially, socially, culturally and psychologically compared to traditional students not because of the school, but because of the fact that I am an independent student whose older than most other students in my school. One of the reasons I am considering applying to GS, is not just for the academics, which is most important to me, but because I actually like the fact that GS seems to have a large community of older students. To be honest, I don’t really like my classmates at my current school and I want a greater academic challenge, will I not find that at Columbia?</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s a great point. I’d caution anyone who is willing to pay for the experience. Get the education, set yourself up for a reasonable return on your investment. Don’t spend too much time trying to quantify anything else.</p>
<p>As far as alumni events go, all reunions are mixed - CC, SEAS, us, and Barnard. All industry specific recruiting events are mixed. Local alumni groups, the Columbia Club, etc., are all mixed. That’s a lot to work with. </p>
<p>One last word on UW, and I hope I’m not alone here, is that I had an awesome instructor. She was a grad student, yeah. But she was stellar and I learned a lot about myself as a writer and, because I tried to invest myself in it just as much as she’d done, I feel like I got a lot out of it. I can say the say the same for my music hum, lit hum, etc. instructors.</p>
<p>Based on all the issues that you guys have outlined, would you advise that an international student like myself (who is not in a position to pay the large fees of GS) should enroll and get myself into serious debt? Is it worth it at the end of the day?</p>
<p>I think only you can answer that question. Because, really, it comes down to asking yourself how much debt you’d be comfortable with for the next decade or more. Personally, I like the old rule of thumb that suggests you shouldn’t leave school with a total debt load that exceeds you industry’s first year projected gross salary. </p>
<p>If I had to guess, I’d say that the vast majority of GSers are breaking that rule.</p>
<p>I would say a good deal of university students everywhere are breaking that rule.</p>
<p>This is great to know our alumni/recruiting is mixed. </p>
<p>In terms of debt, my belief is that it’s much better saved for grad school. Go to a college or university that you will kick butt in (straight or near straight a’s), do extra activities (clubs, whatever), and land a great job - then get your MBA. Or, if your on the more academic track, do all the previous and then go straight to grad school.</p>
<p>In today’s market, especially in Finance, its really grad school that gets you the sweet job. Even Columbia kids after a while (like HYPS) end up feeling like to move up they need an MBA</p>
<p>I’m really lured by Columbia because that name in California carries tremendous weight (where i want to live after graduation), but more importantly, that they’re beginning to install programs for undergrads to take more business like courses, or even courses in the business school. Columbia is where value investing was born, and I’d love to get a taste of a value investing course</p>
<p>i cant speak to the day to day realities and stigmas of GS life, but you seem to forget that you should be weighing the GS experience against what you would be doing otherwise (in my case continuing at a CUNY school or at an equally expensive, if better supported by aid, out of state liberal arts college), not Columbia College itself or the conventional ivy league experience. </p>
<p>there are many wonderful things about being a GS student, relative challenges like a BS seminar on adjusting aside, that i dont have to have experienced to understand: namely, the ability to take courses at a wonderful school and have a wonderful platform for graduate work, if not a wall street that falsely looks down on the institution. if the financial aid doesnt meet your needs because GS is underfunded, you shouldnt go. you CHOSE the better classes and more interesting academic experience over the alternative: a better subsidized, but less engaging experience at your state school.</p>
<p>and i highly doubt that non GS’ers are so judgmental as to rule out associating with someone based on the name and that the intrinsic disrespect is as intense as you claim. youre a person.</p>
<p>I’m glad MC popped in, so I’m going to brag on him a little bit: of the CC posters for EA this past spring, he was the first picked. He’s WICKED SMAHT, so pay attention. </p>
<p>NOW THEN.</p>
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<p>I’m tempted to say yes, but I think it depends on your age and your social flexibility.</p>
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<p>Ok, here’s the thing. College is a game for young people. If you find that you don’t like your classmates where you are now because of the social, cultural and psychological (I’m going to read this as developmental) differences between you due to the age gap, I don’t see why you would find Columbia any different. A greater academic challenge? Oh yes. If you want to read a PILE of papers and books every week, Columbia is happy to oblige.</p>
<p>As for a “community of older students,” that’s just not how it works here. Aside from the dreary lounge at Lewisohn, I don’t sense that there’s a GS community. Then again, I’ve made no effort to involve myself in any such community. Most of the older students have other things to worry about other than socializing so there’s no need for an on-campus community. </p>
<p>Most of your classes are going to be with regular, traditional college-aged students, some of whom may even be in GS. I have no idea if you’ll like them or not. Are they smarter or more mature than the ones you’re dealing with now? Not necessarily. They’re in college at one of the best universities in the country: they bust their ass and the majority of them seem to party as hard as they study. That’s what college kids do: work and party.</p>
<p>You’re gonna have to come check it out, really. There’s no simple answer to the concerns you express. See if it’s a fit. If it is, great. If not, you just made six figures by not spending it. Congratulations.</p>
<p>Hello all. I’ve been reading these forums for quite some time but never really cared to get involved, but this thread is very interesting. I’m a military veteran and so I am not worried about the tuition, as long as I get accepted for the yellow ribbon program; That also takes care of my rent and food. The most I would have to pay for is my last semester. Since I’m married with a child I hope to also get university housing, at least for the first semester until I get established. Right now I am going to a small private school in Miami Shores, while majoring in Biology. My goal is to get accepted into a good medical school. Now, the reason I have written all of this is to seek advice from students that have already been in my shoes and decided to go to GS. If I get accepted, it is still a huge risk to move my family all the way to New York on the hopes of getting accepted into a good medical school. Obviously, Columbia, regardless of whether it is GS or CC, will carry a heck of a lot more weight than my current institution, but will it outweigh the cons if I drop my GPA a little due to the fact of the instability of moving to a new location. Also, I just started doing research, which was a huge mission, and I would like to know if there are many opportunities to do research at Columbia? If so, how hard is it to get accepted into one of these programs? Also, does GS help find doctors to shadow? All in all, if money was not an issue is it worth it to go to Columbia GS?</p>
<p>BB, given my experiences at my current school, I am by no means looking for a classroom of adults only and I like the fact that as a GS student I would be taking the same undergraduate classes as any student. The reality is that I am looking for an environment where students, young or old, are serious about doing their work and wanting to learn. I don’t care if they party as hard as they study as long as they study. I am at a fairly well respected state school and the simple fact of the matter is that a very large percentage of the students here are not serious about academic work on any level. They don’t do their homework, don’t participate in class and god forbid if you end up having to do a group project with some of these students. The simple reality seems to be that they are more focused on the college experience than the academic experience. Don’t get me wrong, there are indeed a lot of solid students in the ranks of my classmates, but the percentage of apathetic students at the school makes it difficult to feel like the state school tuition is even worthwhile. Frankly I would rather spend the money on Columbia if the quality of the education was indeed there. I have never had any illusions that Columbia would be cheap, like any commodity, the best quality is always the most expensive.</p>
<p>Macho–To answer your last question: Hell yes, Columbia is worth it if money’s not an issue. As for your other questions, I’m sure all of those things are possible, but I’d REALLY recommend talking to someone who is pre-med about those things. </p>
<p>KatCal–I can see why an environment like that would be distracting. From what I’ve seen, everyone at Columbia works pretty hard. There’s a lot of stress and the atmosphere can be a little tense and neurotic sometimes (people who live in Butler library being but one fine example). </p>
<p>There are always going to be slackers, but for all intensive purposes, people are pretty serious about their work. As I said, many of them came from schools that were basically seed schools for the Ivies.</p>
<p>Class participation…in a given lecture of say, 200 people, you’ll have roughly 4-10 who always have their hands up. That’s just fine by me as I don’t care to speak unless spoken to. So, your mileage is gonna vary. </p>
<p>Hope that helps. Good luck.</p>
<p>It’s “for all intents and purposes” I think. Right? Anyone?</p>
<p>Ok, so a few questions if possible:</p>
<p>So, if you were at NYU SCPS (their GS program), and money wasn’t an issue, would you transfer to Columbia GS?</p>
<p>Someone mentioned 200 person lecture classes. Is this common? Are all classes that big?</p>
<p>Does anyone at Columbia know of anyone who’s done financial economics, or participated in the new business management major (program with the business school)? Does anyone know anyone who’s done the BA/MBA program in five years (i believe that’s how it works)?</p>
<p>My main focus is Columbia’s in depth economic/financial undergraduate education, and the ability to take MBA courses/mingle with MBA students and recruitment affairs/get my MBA from Columbia in a short time</p>
<p>philly, I am interested in the same options as you are. I can tell you that the business management is a specialization, not a major. More so, it is highly competitive to partake in, statement of GS office: around 15-20 people are ‘admitted’.</p>
<p>If you get more information, please post ahead, I’m curious too.</p>
<p>P.S.: Just created another thread called “Columbia Econ” you might be interested in as Fin Econ prospective.</p>
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<p>Indeed it is. I’ll be sure to save you a cookie.</p>
<p>This waiting this really sucks!!! Does anyone know any premed students at GS that are willing to answer some questions I have???</p>