Columbia College vs. School of General Studies

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
461

<p>apm-</p>

<p>I really appreciate you articulating my thoughts in a manner that is less offensive than I had. I really wanted to go to Columbia. Its proximity to Wall St. and the fact that a lot of veterans are there would have been an ideal situation for me, in addition to the top tier education. I think the way you contacting recruiting departments shows a lot of due dlligence. I didn't go that far, but of the two people I talked to one said Columbia was a great school regardless and another said GS wouldn't be looked at as highly.</p>

<p>The financial situation really disturbs me though, I talked with the person that figures out GS Scholarships and he knew before my award was given, that I was accepted to another Ivy that gives an enormous amount of aid, and I still got only 7000. </p>

<p>I think that the money is the underlying issue. If it was the diploma or the lack of prestige with future clients, I would have dealt with it. However, explaining it so you don't "seem" inferior is ludicrous. If GS wants you, so will other schools. </p>

<p>Google "Dartmouth and Veterans" Although Dartmouth isn't the school I'm going to, they are the most actively recruiting veterans outside of GS. However, all the Ivy's want this type of student as well.</p>

<p>I really support GS and think they really broaden Columbia's spectrum, but GS has to do a lot better at making the education affordable and setting the record straight the GS IS COLUMBIA.</p>

<p>I completely agree that we (veterans) shouldn't be "punished," financially, for serving our country. Yeah, out of high school I wouldn't get into Columbia, but after 200 combat missions and all A's at CC, if I would have been allowed to apply, I might have - considering I got into all the other schools I applied to.</p>

<p>I don't mean to rant on, I am just sad because I loved Columbia (esp the GS diversity), but can't afford GS.</p>

462

<p>I applied to GS Columbia for the Fall 2008 semester a day before the deadline date. I have a decent HS GPA (3.2), no college credits, more than 5+ years experience on Wall St, passed my CFA 1 last year and took the CFA 2 a month ago. I read on a previous post that all decisions for Fall 2008 will be made by July 15th so since I haven't heard anything I figured I was most likely rejected but today I received a call from GS admissions asking me to come in for an interview? </p>

<p>I'm taking this has a sign that I am borderline and this interview can make or break me. I'd appreciate any thoughts anyone can offer and what should I expect during the interview?</p>

463

<p>I say boycott GS until they give fair treatment to all their students</p>

464

<p>unicorn12,
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/524922-gs-interview.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/524922-gs-interview.html&lt;/a>
Hope this will help. </p>

<p>21 days after FedEx delivered my admission package, I just got the same congratulatory letter in an unsealed envelope today. This is weird.</p>

465

<p>Alpharosean, thanks for link! I really appreciate it and congratuations on your acceptance :)</p>

466

<p>i think unicorn is the type of student that is perfect for gs. maybe has some money saved up, and now wants to put a great school on the resume. </p>

<p>but yes, i would be interested in sending a petition or something. i have been debating how to tell them i'm not coming since i sent in my planned acceptance form</p>

467

<p>Wouldn't you just say "I'm not going," and if they say why, you say, "Costs too much."?</p>

468

<p>bump...this is too good to give up.</p>

469

<p>Can a community college student from California transfer to Columbia?
My friend of mine what’s to know. </p>

<p>His stats:
CC- Santa Monica College
Gpa- 4.0 (2yr)
High school-3.2
Activities- swimming<br>
volunteers in Africa and Mexico.
Background- Congo/Kenya</p>

<p>He wants to major in history or math
Can he get into CC with this or would he have to apply to GS?</p>

<p>Which one be a greater choice for him?
If I was him I would have applied to Cornell !!!!!!!</p>

470

<p>Well it really depends on whether or not he is a non-traditional student.</p>

471

<p>i graduated young from high school in 2007. i have been working and traveling during my time off and am now looking to apply to schools in new york city for fall of 2009. i know i can't get into cc, but am wondering if gs would be an appropriate fit for me? i'll be 19, had a 2.7 gpa in high school, and a 1700 on my sats.</p>

472

<p>^with those stats and nothing extra-ordinary, it'll be really tough to get in, since you haven't proven at all that you can cope at columbia academically. GS takes non-trads, but it is still very much an academic institution, it's no columbia summer camp. Most GS students, prove they have a deep passion for what they want to study, prove that they can cope with the core + their major, and then prove that they have something unique about them.</p>

473

<p>...not Frankenthread AGAIN...</p>

<p><em>sigh</em></p>

<p>Someone needs to drive a stake through this thread's heart, or hit it with lightning or something.</p>

474

<p>Denzera: i agree with you - i believe there is more than enough info contained within this thread to answer anyone's questions without having to constantly revive it with new posts (come on there is 30+ pages if you can't research that much info and walk away with an answer - you probably shouldn't apply to GS)</p>

<p>however, for the sake of answering nona's post (since i want to make a statement regarding stats/scores: </p>

<p>Believe it or not, your scores/stats were very similar to mine when i graduated high school (which was almost a decade ago). however, in the time since then i open quite a few businesses and became successful (not just in regards to wealth but also life experience) and, although, it was always my plan to go to college/university/higher learning/whatever, when i started the application process for GS i nonetheless worried about my high school stats. needless to say i was accepted for this term (classes just started) so one who is interested in applying should understand that although GS admissions wants to know you can handle the academic demands of a Ivy League education, i truly believe that stats/scores don't deliver the deathblow to one's chance. </p>

<p>The only problem i do see with your chances of getting in is that you won't be considered a non-trad student since you haven't had a gap in your education (such as my nine years) (correction: i did the math after my original post and realized i was wrong, however, my following statement stands). If for some reason you're not then the absence of life experience will definitely be an issue simply working and traveling is not enough to "impress" the admission committee. </p>

<p>To all prospective applicants: For the most part, those applicants who do get accepted are very driven, self-taught (in many ways) and much more mature than their respective ages (again, for the most part: there are exceptions (as in "how the hell did you get in?"). the point is that you have to express that you have been pushing yourself intellectually through life experience whether that be work, social work, etc, etc, etc. </p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

475

<p>I read all 32 pages of this thread, wealth of information. Great thread.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

476

<p>bqad13,
Your experience with GS admissions was certainly quite different from my experience. When I applied in 2006, I was rejected because I was told by the admission officer that I needed straight "A's" to get in. Nothing below a 3.7 GPA, he had said. This became such a negative experience that everytime I see or hear about NYC, it reminds me of Columbia University. An experience that still burns in my hear to this day. I certainly commend your experiences and acomplishments. Good luck with your time at GS. At least, your academic experiences are unlimited there.</p>

477

<p>I apologize in advance for helping to revive this thread, but I was wondering if some of you could tell me what you think my chances are? I am applying for the Spring and very nervous!!! Again, sorry if this is annoying anyone.</p>

<p>Stats:
Borough of Manhattan Community College
GPA: 3.95
Credits Completed: 38
Credits in Progress:18
Columbia University Summer Session
GPA: 3.67
Credits Completed: 3 but I took two courses</p>

<p>High School
GPA: 2.6
I went to two different high schools. The 2nd half of high school was spent at a ballet boarding school. It was my intention to become a professional dancer. </p>

<p>Letters of Recommendation
1 from professor at Columbia. She was my prof this summer in a 400 level course
1 from professor of finance at bmcc</p>

<p>EC's
Ballet...I still dance (during hs about 36 hrs a week)
PT jewelry exhibition staff
PT babysitter
Financial Literacy Program-teach nyc public hs students about finance in terms relative to their own life
Upward Bound- Teacher assistant in summer program</p>

<p>Honors:
Dean's list, member of PTK, selected to be school's student rep for financial literacy program at national conference </p>

<p>Essay: basically about my experience at Columbia/ the huge influence a professor there had on me/ my non-traditional background</p>

<p>I know it sounds ridiculous, but my experience at Columbia this summer was life changing. Do I have a chance at GS? Thanks....</p>

478

<p>sorry, the part about the courses I took was unclear. I took one 400 level course and 1 course that was p/f that is why it is only 3 credits.</p>

479

<p>Has anyone heard back from GS for Spring 2009?</p>

<p>Btw, before anyone complains about the thread I've read the entire thing and it was very helpful. You should definitely keep this up and not close it.</p>

480

<p>So glad I found this thread through my google searchings.</p>

<p>I have been thinking about applying to Columbia University School of General Studies myself. With the exception of posts made by certain pretentious individuals, this thread has offered me a plethora of view points and experiences regarding the college. It seems that there is a general consensus that GS is a great program (though not perfect).</p>

<p>I am 25 years old. I spent four years in the United States Army and I am an Iraq War veteran. I'm currently attending a community college in Massachusetts. I am taking as many honors courses as I can and I currently have a 4.0 GPA after three semesters. I am dying to get accepted into a university that actually inspires me, but I've found that most "prestigious" universities look down upon non-traditional students (even if they deny it).</p>

<p>I haven not taken the SATs in the past eight years, but standardized tests don't scare me. The only thing that I worry about is being judged by my high school performance. I was truly a delinquent when I was 16 years old, and my high school record is abysmal.</p>

<p>I was wondering if my current academic performance, plus a high standardized test score, and, of course, a well written essay will be enough to overcome the mediocrity of my younger days?</p>