<p>Hi everyone! I plan on applying to Columbia ED this upcoming fall. I was talking with one of my friends who is also doing the same. I'm applying under the Columbia Engineering program while he wants to do the same but does not feel his SAT Math 2 score will be high enough to warrant him acceptance(It's around a 720 I believe on his practice tests) so he says he plans on omitting that score from his app and apply with his higher SAT 2s to the normal, College program at Columbia.</p>
<p>I was just wondering if this was allowed as I'd hate for him to get accepted ED and find out he will not be allowed to switch.</p>
<p>For most schools like Columbia, I believe that the hard part is getting in- then transferring between schools is farily easy (except in speciality schools like Wharton/Penn). Also, I would recommend your friend to apply to the Engineering program- it is easier to get into. Columbia engineering acceptance rate (for regular decision) is 10%, while for Columbia College is only 6%. Also, a 720 is not bad score at all, if he could raise the score to 750 he should be perfectly fine.</p>
<p>Apparently it’s very difficult. Usually only one or two students switch to the College yearly. Engineering is not a back door into Columbia, and SEAS isn’t really the place to see if you like engineering. I thought of engineering and applied to SEAS, but later (before I got the acceptance letter, thankfully) changed my mind – I had to mention it to my interviewer, who mentioned it on his little snippet, and my application was eventually changed from SEAS to the College, where I was accepted. </p>
<p>The College and Engineering school have a program that will allow you to earn two degrees in five (or six) years. You have to take some classes for the other school’s Core, and then meet the requirements for the major you want. </p>
<p>So, in short, you are allowed to switch, but don’t count on it.</p>
<p>Transferring to CC from SEAS is similar to transferring from any other school to CC. Although your chances may be higher than someone from community college you need to show that you’re going to fail out of SEAS and have to go to CC or you’ve done so exceptionally well in SEAS that you’ll do fine in CC. That’s what I’ve read at least. I would take it with a grain of salt, but to say it simply transferring between SEAS and CC is not the same as switching majors in Princeton or Harvard. You’ve got to be dedicated to doing an applied science or engineering if you go to SEAS. </p>
<p>I would really encourage your friend to aim as high as possible for that SAT2 score. I can’t remember for Columbia, but most colleges look towards your Math2 score as an indicator of how good you are as a mathematician and you want to give them the best score possible. In high up schools like Columbia it’s ok to not have perfect 2400s, 800s and 4.0s on everything, but if all of your scores are lower than the average admit, then you’re in trouble.</p>
<p>From what I know, very few people in CC transfer to SEAS. Even the hard science majors like the freedom and variety they have compared to the rigid SEAS requirements. Also, pass/fail > longer drop deadline. As to whether you can actually transfer either way, it’s possible, though your advisor will likely be of no help. You’ll need an essay and recs just like any other applicant, so make friends with professors. There are few benefits, though, unless you REALLY want to do a type of engineering or are failing out of SEAS but have performed well in non-tech courses.</p>
<p>Also, I’ve heard of someone in SEAS who wanted to do a CC major badly, but whose transfer was rejected twice, circumventing the process by taking three semesters off and being put in GS. Pretty extreme move, but apparently it worked for him (though he gets no aid and can’t live in normal housing).</p>
<p>Lastly, I wouldn’t be so quick to say there are no “back doors” to a Columbia degree. Many have dubbed things like GS, Barnard, and the 3-2 Combined program to be a way for less capable students to get the benefits of being in CC/SEAS, especially the latter. Either way, people need to chill out about this sort of stuff.</p>