<p>I noticed that GS does not have any communications majors…if I was accepted into GS would I be able to take normal CC classes or do I have to stick with GS</p>
<p>Communications… isn’t that what athletes at sports schools major in?</p>
<p>llawless- there is no difference in classes between CC and GS (except for I think a couple intro courses designed for GS). It’s complete integration, there are no “night courses” or anything like that. Same students, same teachers, same work load, same grading scales…</p>
<p>So much hostility in this thread from people that don’t even attend GS, let alone who have taken a single step on campus.</p>
<p>Although I am aware of some of its deficiencies, overall GS is awesome. Yes, awesome. If you don’t think so, you are more than welcome to apply and attend another school or transfer.</p>
<p>I think, in my case at least, the only real blemish of GS is FA. Sure, FA is not as good as in CC, but so what? Go to another school that gives you more FA. It’s not like GS is your only option, is it? Who the hell says you are entitled to free tuition or to an inexpensive top education? I get an OK scholarship from GS and it has gone up every semester that I’ve been here. Next year I should see a decent jump from consecutive above 4.0 semesters. After I graduate, I should have about 30k in loans.</p>
<p>As far as CC, Lit Hum and UW… I have taken all three and I only took the GS UW section. CC and Lit Hum I took with CC students. Lit Hum because I wasn’t happy with who was teaching the GS section and CC because I couldn’t fit the GS section into my schedule. Regardless, they are 3 classes out of… 30 to 40 you need to take to graduate. Every other class I have taken has been in the same class room, at the same time of the day and with the same professor as the rest of CC/SEAS students. Right now I’m enrolled in an Applied Physics class that is full of SEAS students. I think I’m the only GS student in it.</p>
<p>I live in an UAH apt four blocks from school. My apartment is cheap (compared to NYC), roomier than CC dorm rooms, it has heat, hot water and has a desk in which I can do my hw. What else is there to an apt? If you apply early enough, you will get an apt. I don’t feel sorry for any potential GS student that applies for housing a month before they are supposed to enroll, having had months to do so.</p>
<p>I am what you would consider an “older” student, ahem… 29, and I have plenty of CC, SEAS and Barnard friends. People whom I’ve met in classes, clubs or just random conversations. I really don’t sense the animosity most people on this forum have written about. If you decide to feel inferior to a CC student because of something you read on a forum then that says more about you than the CC student or the school’s environment.</p>
<p>The diploma… Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t really care what language it’s in. Sure, maybe it would be nice if it were in Latin but in the large scheme of life, the language my diploma is printed in is the least of my worries.</p>
<p>Grad school… I think I’ve mentioned this before but I know of several other GS students that have gone on to decent grad school programs. The key to grad school is your grades and test score(s), everything else is icing. It’s not like if you don’t get into an Ivy grad school somehow it reflects badly on GS. Can we say the same for the many CC students that don’t go to Ivy grad school? It’s not like everyone in CC gets into Harvard BS or Yale Law. Some go to um… Vanderbilt or whatever. I will be going to grad school and I am not too concerned about whether I’ll be admitted into a decent program. My grades are good and recs are strong so I should be able to land safely somewhere fitting. Maybe I won’t get into Stanford (just to name a school that is perceived to be selective), for reasons other than the fact that I graduated from GS, but I’m sure I’ll be happy with whatever school I end up attending.</p>
<p>To people debating whether to attend GS, I’ll suggest to consider that attending CU will not somehow make available to you any job or any graduate program you desire. You will have to get excellent grades in what is, when all is said and done, a very competitive environment. Also accept the likelihood that you will be graduating with a loan burden higher than most of your classmates.</p>
<p>I think I’m rambling now.</p>
<p>I will close by saying that the only thing I would change about my experience in GS so far is the opportunity to have taken out less loans. I know that 30k is about half or a third of what most GS’ers graduate with, but I still think it’s a lot of money.</p>
<p>GS_BANDING – When those loans are paid off, please remember to participate in the GS annual fund. If more alums contributed, there would be more financial aid. </p>
<p>Good luck in grad school!</p>
<p>I’m a “traditional” student, and I want to apply to GS as a freshman. Will they not consider me AT ALL? Or if I wrote a compelling essay would it work? Also, GS students cant matriculate into SEAS/CC can they?</p>
<p>You have to have a year break between studies. I have heard that you can somehow technically transfer to SEAS but CC, though transferring to CC is one of those things that is possible but never done.</p>
<p>Is it possible to transfer from an affiliate such as Barnard, to General Studies?</p>
<p>^^ i mean… it’s all famous Columbia University system… don’t matter that much… just different college</p>
<p>yes it is possible to transfer from barnard to gs, but you need a reason. For example, I know a girl who came to barnard her freshman year but then transferred to GS because she needs to go part-time to pursue a music career. This is also true of CC, you can transfer from CC to GS for similar reasons as well. There are more young GSers than you would think.</p>
<p>i totally agree with rcl268… there are a lot of part-time students who pursue their education at GS with very personal and devastating reasons… GS is a great institution to give every student a special opportunity to not miss any education they are qualified for.</p>
<p>so… GS does not necessarily require one year off from education; ONLY if you have strong reason to claim for part-time study.</p>
<p>It’s great how people go out of their way to defend columbia GS, and to say it is hard to get in, and whatnot. </p>
<p>I have to agree - it’s so tough to get in it’s almost impossible, like flipping a coin! In 2007 it had an acceptance rate of 47% - that means, for every two people applying, they’d turn down one and accept the other. Truly Ivy standard.</p>
<p>[Columbia</a> University, School of General Studies Admissions Information - CollegeData College Profile](<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1436]Columbia”>Columbia University, School of General Studies Acceptance Rate | CollegeData)</p>
<p>I’m not here to wail on Columbia GS, but let’s keep facts straight: if it’s no different than Columbia College, then:</p>
<p>-Why are there scouts for Columbia GS going to every community college in and around NY?
-Why is the scholarship “merit-based”, and not your typical Ivy standard?
-Why is it that they discourage adults from applying as transfer students?
-Why is the diploma different? (And don’t tell me it’s not - do your research. You do not get a “Columbia College” Diploma - ergo - different - so deal with it).
-Why do GS students feel the need to come here to defend the school and make its admission something like the 7th level of Dante’s Inferno?</p>
<p>Give it a rest. Another thing: I heard somewhere how Columbia is the only school offering Ivy-seat with a non-traditional program. I don’t know how many people logically analyzed this, but uh, tha’s not something to brag about. That’s a confession stating simply: “we are the only ones who differentiate between traditional and non-traditional students”. Just for the record, Harvard’s Extention school = joke. Read articles on how students of the Extension School were reprimended for labeling themselves “Harvard College Students”. As for real Ivy Leagues (Yale, Brown, etc) - as soon as a transfer student in is, the student in COMPLETELY integrated - and THAT’S what I call true beauty: complete and unparallel equal treatment in EVERY sense of admission (and diploma), and the merits thereof.</p>
<p>As far as I know, applying to an Ivy had merit in admission because it is selective and special. Ask me if I’d want to be part of something where every other person can get in - go ahead - ask me. The reason I say “ask me” is because getting the letter of admissions from a TRUE Ivy league means something. Now, ponder on the fact that every GS student receives said letter - along with half of all applicants for the program - and see how special you are, big-mighty Ivy Leaguer. I guess it’s best said by the antagonist in “The Incredibles”: “…and then I’ll sell my inventions so everyone can be Super as well! Because when everyone is Super, heh, then nobody will be”. Toodles!</p>
<p>^Since you’ve gone a schizophrenic rant, I will not engage you much Flamer, but I will correct some inaccuracies:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>GS students are not transfers, they are non-traditional meaning they decided not to go to college straight after high school. Transfers to Columbia College and SEAS are fully integrated like elsewhere. This by itself should discredit most of what you say.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Ever heard of self-selection? GS applicants naturally have a intellectual drive or a determination to get much further in life. Judging selectivity by acceptance rate alone is inaccurate. Caltech has a significantly higher acceptance rate than Brown, at the US open finals one in two players becomes the champion. </p>
<p>Now there’s merit in acceptance (which no-one gives a ■■■ about) and there’s merit in going through and doing well in a program. Try justifying that someone should hire you, by telling them you got into a very selective college, just try it. GS students as far as I have experienced, work very hard and do not do noticeably worse than CC and SEAS students. The classes completely overlap, and are graded relatively so if they had it easy getting in, their performance should reflect this. Empirically this not evident, so you’re walking on thin air buddy. Now stop convoluting threads with your vomit-inducing posts.</p>
<p>“Ever heard of self-selection? GS applicants naturally have a intellectual drive or a determination to get much further in life.”</p>
<p>lol, “I select myself” - that’s definitely Ivy league. Now, what’s the merit in that again? Ratio is 1:1? Oh, wait: maybe every college student does NOT have a drive or determination to get much further in life, only GS students. Yup, now it makes complete sense.</p>
<p>“Now there’s merit in acceptance (which no-one gives a ■■■ about)”</p>
<p>Correction: No one attending GS [cares] about - lol, and how could they? Where’s the merit in being one of two accepted?</p>
<p>Columbia plays the “Ivy League” card with GS, and yet, there is no Ivy League aspect to GS - not the diploma, the enrollment, the dorms, the financial aid, the admission criteria, etc. But we do have people wasting time here, trying to argue that GS is as good as Columbia College. The premise? Same professor, same classes. The reality? GS = parasite of Columbia, with baby parasites thinking they’re entitled to the prestige as the Host is.</p>
<p>LOL @ you</p>
<p>By the way, no comment on the acceptance rate being similar to any college one tier above CC? Nope, guess not.</p>
<p>Dretzerik,</p>
<p>Where do you go to school? Are you at Columbia?</p>
<p>Dretzerik is definantly a ■■■■■.</p>
<p>hellojan - nice Star Trek reference on location.</p>
<p>I’m a nerd. It took me a long time to embrace that. Now, I wallow in it in a celebratory way. It’s like I’m having a nerdy coming out of sorts.</p>
<p>One thing you mentioned is definitely true. The School of General Studies is a different undergraduate college than Columbia College. School of Engineering and Applied Science is the third undergraduate college under the umbrella of the university. You seem to have a lot of questions about the disparity between these colleges, perhaps you are a perspective student, so I will do my best to answer them.
-Why are there scouts for Columbia GS going to every community college in and around NY? Am I to take from this that students who spend time at a community college are unworthy of a Columbia education? In my classes at the CC there were many types of students from all over the world and all over the country. My English class alone had a student who had studied at St. Paul (the most prestigious prep school) on full scholarship for her entire high school career, a kid from Choate (another prep school), a student violinist from Julliard, a champion chess player, and a professional actor. Clearly these students werent lacking in intelligence, but what they did lack was money. Should Columbia only be of service to the rich? Is it wrong of GS to make these talented individuals unaware of their program?</p>
<p>-Why is the scholarship “merit-based”, and not your typical Ivy standard? GS is a very small school and has a very unique program, perhaps because it caters to a minority population. Most students generally do not spend their early adulthood in the performing arts, professional sports, inventing computer programs, traveling the world, or serving in the military). FA is constantly an issue up for discussion and GS is constantly trying to increase funds for everyone. </p>
<p>-Why is it that they discourage adults from applying as transfer students? All students who have taken a break between school and college are encouraged to apply to GS. I dont have a definitive answer for why this is, but there are many possible answers to this question. For one, consider the admissions process. Is it possible to compare the criteria of a student who has had a gap in their education to one who is coming straight from high school? They are very different scenarios. Each college seems to serve distinct types of students. The Columbia College student is coming straight from high school and is interested in humanities. The SEAS student is coming straight from high school and is interested in the sciences. The GS student has had at least a one year break in their education. Why do you have to assume that the answer lies in the school’s lack of merit?</p>
<p>Why is the diploma different? (And don’t tell me it’s not - do your research. You do not get a “Columbia College” Diploma - ergo - different - so deal with it). The diploma for each of the undergraduate colleges is different. CC is in Latin, SEAS is in English, and GS is in English. Many of the graduate school diplomas are in English as well, does this mean that if you attend graduate school at Columbia, your degree is less prestigious than CCs or any other colleges Latin diploma?
Why do GS students feel the need to come here to defend the school and make its admission something like the 7th level of Dante’s Inferno? I havent seen this. The admissions process was a trying experience, but arent all application procedures difficult? </p>
<p>Just for the record, Harvard’s Extention school = joke. Read articles on how students of the Extension School were reprimended for labeling themselves “Harvard College Students”.
Are you equating the HES with GS? The extension is a continuing ed school. Columbia, too, has a continuing ed school, but it is a different school than GS. In case youre curious heres their link, [Columbia</a> University : School of Continuing Education : Master Degree : Communications : Business : New York City NYC : Executive Education : Professional Development](<a href=“http://www.ce.columbia.edu/]Columbia”>http://www.ce.columbia.edu/)</p>
<p>Finally, I just dont understand what you mean by the following comment:
As far as I know, applying to an Ivy had merit in admission because it is selective and special. Ask me if I’d want to be part of something where every other person can get in - go ahead - ask me. The reason I say “ask me” is because getting the letter of admissions from a TRUE Ivy league means something. Now, ponder on the fact that every GS student receives said letter - along with half of all applicants for the program - and see how special you are, big-mighty Ivy Leaguer. I guess it’s best said by the antagonist in “The Incredibles”: “…and then I’ll sell my inventions so everyone can be Super as well! Because when everyone is Super, heh, then nobody will be”. Toodles!</p>
<p>Attending Columbia GS means a lot, actually. I get depressed about the amount of debt I have obtained (even with a 50% scholarship), and it is difficult at times to be a minority on campus, but I am already starting to see this experience payoff off. I’ve had a lot of internship opportunities, and, thankfully, the people I interned for were very impressed with my status as a Columbia GS student. They were curious to know about my time as a professional artist. They even invited me to come speak to them when I graduate next year.
Finally, if GS lacks merit, as you seem to think, then why are its students going on to top graduate programs? Ive pasted a couple of bios below 
</p>
<p>Joel Beal, Valedictorian, Economics-Mathematics Major graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa
Class of 2008 Valedictorian, Joel Beal was accepted to GS after two years as a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints missionary and a year at Brigham Young University. Originally from Woodinville, WA, Beal is one of the youngest people to ever reach the summit of Mount McKinley, North Americas highest peak. </p>
<p>After graduation from GS, he will enter a Ph.D. program in economics at Stanford University. </p>
<p>During his tenure at GS, Beal was a teaching assistant for Susan Elmes, lecturer in discipline, and research assistant for Bernard Salanie, professor, of the Columbia University Department of Economics. In 2007, Beal was an Undergraduate Research Fellow with the Columbia University Institute for Social and Economics Research and Policy. Outside of the classroom, Beal served as the Columbia University Chapter of Amnesty International co-president and a G.E.D. Tutor with Community Impact. </p>
<p>Aviel Marrache, Salutatorian, Economics Major graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa
Class of 2008 Salutatorian, Aviel Marrache was accepted to GS after a corporate career during which he earned an Inner Circle Award at MCI, a partnership at C2 Media, and successfully founded three of his own companies. After graduation, he will study business as an M.B.A. student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>During his tenure at GS, Marrache spent a significant amount of time on his own business endeavors, as well participating in the Columbia Economics Society.
Marrache was born in Morocco, grew-up in France, and emigrated to the U.S. when he was 15-years-old. He and his wife, Sherri, have a 2-year-old daughter, Chloé Belle, and are expecting their second child in September.</p>
<p>Hey there, CollegeConfIvy. Here’s what I have for your comments.</p>
<p>“…You seem to have a lot of questions about the disparity between these colleges,…”</p>
<p>Actually, no I don’t - my questions were rhetorical.</p>
<p>“…Am I to take from this that students who spend time at a community college are unworthy of a Columbia education?..”</p>
<p>God, you’re a drama queen. Let me explain the point: No Ivy League school goes to community colleges to recruit students. In fact, No Ivy Leagues goes to ANY school to recruit students - ever -; except for the so called Ivy League Columbia GS. Instead of going off on some ramble about worthyness and talent, and providing students with a chance to succeed, remember that you said so yourself that you are in debt for attending GS. Community College students make great suckers for shiny titles like “Hello there sir, madam, would you like to become an Ivy League Student? JOIN COLUMBIA GS!” Enough said? And PLEASE, spare me the part where you’re something special or that community college students are talented - they are not. Everyone is the same, and the hardest-working cookie gets ahead, plain and simple.</p>
<p>“GS is a very small school and has a very unique program, perhaps because it caters to a minority population.” You’re right! It does cater to a minority population. With an exceptance rate of nearly 50%, guess what population that is? THE PAYING ONE! BINGO! So while you’re hooked on GS’s BS altruistic attempt to increase funding for you and other GS students, remember their goal: to goad in people who have cash, or that can take out enough loans to attend a pseudo-Ivy League. THAT’S why their aid is based on Merit and not need, and I guarantee you that even a stellar Valedictorian from a community college doesn’t get a free ride. </p>
<p>“All students who have taken a break between school and college are encouraged to apply to GS”. Yeah, thanks for the copy & paste there, sir Seaches-a-lot. The point behind my rhetorical question has for basis to show you blindfolded people that Columbia wants transfer students from community colleges and adults FAR AWAY from its main College. Noble of them isn’t it? As for the lack of merit, the answer lies with acceptance: if one of two idiots can get into GS, why the HELL would I want to attend a school where 50% of the students are idiots? Remember, 47% acceptance rate - it’s not like you’re putting a camel through a needle.</p>
<p>“The diploma for each of the undergraduate colleges is different”. Of course it’s different, and that’s the whole point. GS is NOT Columbia College, or a Science/Engineering branch of Columbia, nor the Law school or the Medical - GS is just continuing education, under the guise of “Ivy League” title! THAT’S IT! And you ask why is it less prestigious? LOL, I’ll repeat myself: is there prestige in gaining entrance to a school where every other person is accepted? Besides, read this thread. Sometimes people assert how “employers won’t know the difference between Columbia College and GS”… lol, in my opinion, who cares? What’s the point of buying your way in into a pseudo-Ivy League if the whole point is to prove your worth by being admitted through restrict and demanding academics/extra-curricular activities, competing with other highly-qualified individuals?</p>
<p>“Are you equating the HES with GS?” Nope - just making sure that no one will use it as an example to tell me “HES” is also Ivy League - because it’s not.</p>
<p>As per the part where you didn’t understand, I can explain it easily. Unless you work hard and you’re top 1% of your class, don’t expect to attend a real Ivy League. If you do expect to attend an Ivy League, put in the work for it. As per GS, which is what I call a “pseudo” Ivy League, well, you pay the price (or half the price, in your case).</p>
<p>You mentioned how attending Columbia GS means a lot. What you meant to say is: “attending GS means a lot TO ME”, because unlike Columbia College students, you probably don’t have the grades nor the extracurricular activities to gain entrace into a real Ivy League school (or you would have applied for admissions into Columbia College instead, where they offer need-blind aid, right?) And uh, cry me a river on the minority issue - I’m minority as well.</p>
<p>As for students going to top graduate programs, I certainly hope that GS has at least a handful of bright people, or the whole system is doomed. Just so you know, every school (as mediocre as it may be) must have a valedictorian and salutatorian - GS is not special in that sense.</p>
<p>Sorry buddy, but the fact remains: GS is not Columbia College. Its admission criteria is roughly 50% (which is sad if we are calling it an Ivy League, since every other Ivy is less than 10%). And, it doesn’t offer need-blind aid. </p>
<p>You are, in short, paying top money to earn the distinction of an Ivy Student when you have not earned it. The common argument against this assertion is the poor excuse of having the same classes as regular columbia college students. </p>
<p>If you’re dissapointed or enraged regarding my post, then ask yourself why. You’re not mad because you think I’m a ■■■■■ - you’re mad because you know I am right.</p>
<p>Dretzerik, what school at Columbia do you belong to?</p>