Columbia College vs. School of General Studies

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
1201

<p>Fifteen posts by pumagirl, and every single one is aimed at deterring students from applying. College confidential will not allow me to make any claims about this poster’s authenticity (due to forum rules), which is fair, but just take into account the obvious suspiciousness of that posting record. </p>

<p>I’m a student here, and proved all my claims with official university information several times in these forums. Unlike some people, I have not tried to take things out of context in order to fulfill some ulterior motive. I have objectively stated the primary flaw of GS, which is inadequate financial aid. The administration is painfully aware and has every intention of improving that situation over time. The goal, as stated by Dean Awn, is to eventually match CC/SEAS-level financial aid (~46% tuition discount on average, up from the current ~23%). The classes that GS students take separately are CONTEMP WESTERN CIVILIZATION I/II, EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECS I/II, and UNIVERSITY WRITING. That’s it. You are within your right to feel that these 19 credits (out of 124 for graduation) make a huge difference to your education. But I think it’s only reasonable for you to understand that most people do not care about these differences.</p>

<p>More detailed information about the core is here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-school-general-studies/1157294-core-curriculum-cc-gs-comparison.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-school-general-studies/1157294-core-curriculum-cc-gs-comparison.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It is all confirmed using official university information, as well as just the knowledge of the curriculum that comes with being a student here.</p>

1202

<p>That’s not true. The classes (UW, Lit Hum, CC) that are divided CC/SEAS vs GS aren’t eligible for registration by CE students.</p>

1203

<p>Nice observation! I didn’t even notice pumagirl’s false assertion about continuing education students supposedly being free to register for UW/Lit Hum/Contemp Civ. Yes, you’re totally right campaigner.</p>

1204

<p>Dear ComaPrison, Thanks for your posts. They are informative, balanced, and a pleasure to read. Our daughter is very excited to start Columbia this year as a freshman in CC and has been eager to learn more about the Core, as well as other Columbia programs. Unquestionably, your posts are very helpful. </p>

<p>The number of more misleading and/or vituperative comments appearing over the past few years on Columbia threads is concerning. Having followed any number of threads for other schools during this time, it is my opinion that the Columbia threads seem to inexplicably attract a handful of especially determined detractors. Read them one does, but with an increasing sense of bafflement, if only for the expenditure of time spent by those complaining on collegeconfidential rather than attempting to personally or professionally alter their situation(s).</p>

<p>Thanks again for your posts. They are appreciated.</p>

1205

<p>

LOL</p>

<p>University Writing offered by GS division (‘F’ prefix) is open to both GS and Continuing Educaiton
[Spring</a> 2011 English F1010 section 001](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/ENGL/F1010-20111-001/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/ENGL/F1010-20111-001/)</p>

<p>University Writing offered by Columbia College section(‘C’ Prefix is only for CC/SEAS
[Spring</a> 2011 English C1010 section 001](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/ENGL/C1010-20111-001/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/ENGL/C1010-20111-001/)</p>

<p>Basically GS courses are open-enrollment courses (same as extension school)</p>

<p>Again GS’s Contemporary Civ is open to CONTINUING EDUCATION as well
[Spring</a> 2011 Contemporary Civilization F1102 section 058](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/F1102-20111-058/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/F1102-20111-058/)</p>

<p>Columbia College’s Contemp Civ is for CC/SEAS only
[Spring</a> 2011 Contemporary Civilization C1102 section 063](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/C1102-20111-063/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/C1102-20111-063/)</p>

<p>General Studie’s Lit Hum is open to CONTINUING EDUCATION
[Spring</a> 2011 Humanities F1002 section 058](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/F1002-20111-058/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/F1002-20111-058/)</p>

<p>Columbia College’s Lit Hum is for CC/SEAS only
[Spring</a> 2011 Humanities C1002 section 063](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/C1002-20111-063/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/C1002-20111-063/)</p>

<p>Please don’t forget that GS courses are open-enrollment </p>

<p>

LOL you are wrong. UW/LitHum/Con. Civ offered by General Studies are open to CONTINUING EDUCATION students ( which means open enrollment )</p>

1206

<p>

</p>

<p>Obviously Columbia University cares. That is why GS students are enrolled at separate school from Columbia College and receive different diploma with different graduation requirements (e.g. different courses)</p>

<p>Yale’s non-traditional program Eli Whitney program is idential to Yale College. Because Eli Whitney students are enrolled at Yale College and receive Yale College degree with the SAME graduation requirement, the admission standard are as high as Yale College’s standard.</p>

1207

<p>pumagirl, you are baffling. Please find a new hobby, other than spreading lies.</p>

<p>GS is not open enrollment. At all. The F section also says it’s open to Columbia College, Barnard, etc but we know that’s not the case. Contact CE and ask about registering for an F section of university writing. </p>

<p>Like many, many universities the CE program allows some folks to take Columbia University courses for non-degree purposes. Even CE says that you should contact GS if you don’t already have a Bachelor’s: <a href=“http://ce.columbia.edu/Prospective-Students/Options-Individuals-Who-Do-Not-Hold-Bachelor-s-Degree[/url]”>http://ce.columbia.edu/Prospective-Students/Options-Individuals-Who-Do-Not-Hold-Bachelor-s-Degree&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Eli Whitney is on the order of 5-10 people per year. GS is a couple hundred. You don’t see how comparing the administrative setup of two organizations that are an order of magnitude different in size is somewhat disingenuous?</p>

1208

<p>I’m taking a risk in saying this, due to forum rules, but I think that the disingenuous nature of pumagirl’s posts has been well established. He has previously posted on this forum (and this thread) under different user names, but with the same purpose in mind.</p>

1209

<p>Last I checked, BOTH CC and GS students earn a BA (some GSers earn a BS) from COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. </p>

<p>GS and CC are the same in that they are both undergraduate schools that confer a bachelor of arts degree. Continuing Ed is open enrollment (one need not apply) and offers Masters’ degrees.</p>

<p>To enroll into the bachelor degree granting School of General Studies one must apply (23% admit rate which is equal to Northwestern), such an application process would negate the false notion that GS is open enrollment. </p>

<p>Columbia GS admit rate: [College</a> Search - Columbia University: School of General Studies - GS - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>Northwestern admi rate:
[College</a> Search - Northwestern University - NU - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>How could a selective Ivy League college like GS be open enrollment when the acceptance rate is 23%? Such an assertion is laughable.</p>

1210

<p>Let’s not forget that the acceptance rate is also declining steadily. It wasn’t even that long ago in the past that Columbia College’s acceptance rate was also in the double digits, so long-term trends are a more important indicator than a one-off assessment of the most recent annual statistics.</p>

1211

<p>

</p>

<p>Both Harvard College and Harvard Extentension school graduates get Bachelor’s degree from HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

Physics major from GS get BS and physica major from Columbia College get AB.
GS BA diploma is written in English and signed by GS dean, Columbia College AB is written in Latin and signed by Columbia College Dean.</p>

1212

<p>

Please read again what I wrote. GS courses are open enrollment but the degree program is not. Harvard Extension courses are also open-enrollment but the extension ‘degree’ programs requires official application. Other continuing education/Extension School/General Studies have open-enrollment ‘courses’ but their degree programs reuqire official application.</p>

1213

<p>

GS courses are open enrollment but its degree program is not. Harvard extension courses are open enrollment but its degree program is not open enrollment. Official application is required to get admitted to the degree program.</p>

1214

<p>

</p>

<p>It is more than administrative set up for larger size of students. Eli Whitney students get Yale College degree, with exactly the same diploma and transcript. It impossible to tell if he/she is a Eli Whitney graduate.</p>

<p>On the other hand, GS studetns get diploma written in English and signed by GS dean. It looks completely differetn from Columbia College diploma. GS transcript also says ‘School of General Studies’ It is pretty easy to find out the you are GS graduate.</p>

1215

<p>

Yes CE courses are open enrollent and the SAME courses as GS courses (includieng UW/LitHum/Cont. Civ). If CE students can continue as a degree students, if admitted, at GS (not Columbia College). Harvard Exntension courses are also open enrollmetn and continue as a degree student if admitted after submitting application.</p>

1216

<p>Columbia College graduates get a Bachelor of Arts degree (AB or BA, they are both bachelor of arts degrees).</p>

<p>School of General Studies graduates who major in the proper academic fields get a Bachelor of Arts degree.</p>

<p>Latin or English they are BOTH BAs.</p>

<p>Harvard College graduates get a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA)</p>

<p>Harvard Extension school graduates get an ALB (Bachelor of Liberal Arts).</p>

<p>One is a BA (or in Latin an AB), while the other is an ALB. This is a significant difference.</p>

<p>I’m not sure what the acceptance rate for Harvard Extension is, but from what I gather, it’s conditional upon getting two B’s. By contrast, Columbia GS requires a 1500-2000 word essay, SAT or ACT or the GSAE (which is exactly the SAT without the math sections), ECs, recommendations, and an interview (if they deem necessary). Applying to GS was actually a more rigorous process than any other school I applied to. On top of the disparate application processes, Columbia GS only admits 23% of its applicants (a percentage that is falling).
<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board; </p>

<p>So let’s sum this up: BOTH CC and GS grads get a BA (or AB), english or latin, they are both Bachelor of Arts degrees. Harvard College grads get a BA (or AB), while Harvard Extension grads get an ALB. DIFFERENCE.</p>

<p>A history major who graduates from Columbia College in 2013 will write on her or his resume:
B.A., History, Columbia University 2013</p>

<p>A history major who graduates from Columbia GS in 2013 will write on her or his resume:
B.A., History, Columbia University 2013</p>

<p>A Harvard College graduate will write:
B.A., ?, Harvard University 2013</p>

<p>A Harvard Extension graduate will write:
A.L.B, Harvard University 2013</p>

<p>BAs and ALBs are DIFFERENT. Language distinctions aside: CC, GS, and Harvard College graduates ALL receive a BA. Harvard Extension graduates get an ALB. DIFFERENCE.</p>

<p>There was a push at GS to change our diplomas to Latin, but OUR Dean decided against it citing very good reasons. It was not the Universities’ decision on granting GS english diplomas, but rather GS’s own decision.
Here is the article:
<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/news-school?article=regarding-school-general-studies-diploma-2010-03-10[/url]”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/news-school?article=regarding-school-general-studies-diploma-2010-03-10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

1217

<p>If it’s not clear already, pumagirl is obsessed with this vendetta. Some of you might recognize his previous posts as collegeboy49. Even on top of that, there are at least one or two additional user names that pumagirl has gone by. I honestly can’t help but ponder what could have caused this sort of enduring hate.</p>

1218

<p>Yes I do remember that poster. It’s quite interesting that one poster through different guises can push this argument so far. </p>

<p>It’s frustrating because people who are deciding whether to apply or attend might be swayed by ONE person. It really does a disservice to people who come to this great website to get honest information.</p>

1219

<p>

Columbia College Physics major gets AB with Latin diploma, whereas GS Physics major get BS with diploma in ENGLISH. They are different. </p>

<p>

Latin degree is not the same as english degree. There are different. </p>

<p>

Both Harvard College and Entension graduates get Bachelor’s degree from HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Both degrees are of equal value. </p>

<p>

So you don’t want to put General Studies on your resume ? Aren’t you proud of being GS student ?</p>

<p>

Nope. More and more CC graduate put Columbia College, Columbia University… There is big bonus point for putting ‘Columbia College’
Here is the sample resume </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/sites/cce/files/Sample%20Resume%20-%20First-Year%20Student.pdf[/url]”>http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/sites/cce/files/Sample%20Resume%20-%20First-Year%20Student.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

<p>Most poeple simply say Bachelor’s degree in History from Harvard University.
ALB and AB are both official undergradaute degree from HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Extension graduate have no problem of entering medical, law, PhD programs at Harvard Yale Oxford. AB and ALB are both the same Harvard Undergraduate bachelor’s degree</p>

1220

<p>Your wrong again. MOST CC grads simply put Columbia University on their resume’s. </p>

<p>You wrote: “Both Harvard College and Entension graduates get Bachelor’s degree from HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Both degrees are of equal value.”
After all of your rants, do you understand how IRONIC and CRAZY this sounds? </p>

<p>An AB is the EXACT same thing as a BA. BOTH CC and GS (students who major in the proper fields) get Bachelor of Arts degrees.</p>

<p>An AB is NOT the same thing as an ALB. Harvard College graduates get Bachelor of Arts degrees, while Harvard Extension graduates get Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degrees</p>

<p>AB = BA
BA doesn’t equal ALB </p>

<p>Anything you say will never change this. All of your points have been defeated over and over again. Everyone who views this discourse will see that you are both wrong and a ■■■■■. Thanks for playing, I’m now done with you. You are not offerring anything new to this discussion but the same old LIES.</p>

<p>I hope that one day you will feel secure enough about yourself (and your rejection from GS). You go to Harvard Extension and you should feel good about it. From what I gather, it’s a great EXTENSION program. </p>

<p>During these past few WEEKS, yes people, this guy has been doing this for weeks, you have shown more about yourself than anything else.</p>

<p>Okay, now I’m done with you.</p>