Columbia College vs. School of General Studies

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
1281

<p>Also, seeing that there are only a handful of undergraduate colleges with a lower acceptance rate than GS (23%), and GS’ official statement that admittance to GS is: “extremely competitive,” ([Our</a> Process | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/our-process]Our”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/our-process)) I just don’t see how one can knock this program. </p>

<p>Again, this is per the Columbia University website: “GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.”</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs[/url]”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs&lt;/a&gt; (under the: “Are the courses the same as those taken by students at Columbia’s traditional undergraduate colleges?” tab)</p>

<p>More from the Columbia website: “Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) students are those with nontraditional backgrounds who seek a traditional education at an Ivy League university.”</p>

<p>[FAQs</a> | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs)</p>

<p>On top of all this, Columbia GS is apart of the Ivy Council: “The Ivy Council draws its membership from the Brown University Undergraduate Council of Students, Columbia University (in particular the Columbia College Student Council, the Columbia Engineering Student Council, and the Columbia General Studies Student Council), the Cornell University Student Assembly, the Dartmouth College Student Assembly, the Harvard University Undergraduate Council, the University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Assembly, the Princeton University Undergraduate Student Government, and the Yale College Council.”</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Council]Ivy”&gt;Ivy Council - Wikipedia]Ivy</a> Council - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<a href=“under%20member%20schools”>/url</a></p>

<p>The fact remains that Columbia GS students are Ivy undergraduates, who perform better, collectively, than all other Columbia undergraduates.</p>

1282

<p>tsar, thanks for the info</p>

<p>enjoy your time at Columbia</p>

1283

<p>GS and Continuing Education students take the same courses with the same faculty. However, core courses are only for CC/SEAS students. There are special core sections for GS and continuing education students.</p>

1284

<p>Yay! The same ■■■■■ from before who created a new account to spread the same bitter-fueled LIES. </p>

<p>Anyone reading this be cautioned: THIS POSTER IS A SERIAL ■■■■■ WHO CREATES NEW ACCOUNTS TO SPREAD LIES AND MISINFORMATION. </p>

<p>He has two total posts and they are both stating the same lie. </p>

<p>Here is the truth:</p>

<p>I am taking 3 Core classes with CC and SEAS students: Art Humanities, Music Humanities, and Literature Humanities.</p>

<p>Here is a wikicu (Columbia’s ostensible encyclopedia) article discussing GS and the specifics of the GS Core:
<a href=“http://www.wikicu.com/School_of_General_Studies[/url]”>http://www.wikicu.com/School_of_General_Studies&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

1285

<p>Again, Don’t mind the ■■■■■. He creates different accounts (check his post total: 2) with the same bitter goal: to spread lies about GS. He has admitted to being rejected by the school on another account, and has since tried to, rather pathetically, attack GS. </p>

<p>This is per the Columbia University website: “GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.”</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs[/url]”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs&lt;/a&gt; (under the: “Are the courses the same as those taken by students at Columbia’s traditional undergraduate colleges?” tab) </p>

<p>Furthermore:</p>

<p>The acceptance rate for Columbia GS is 23%, which is equal to Northwestern University (23%), and lower than affiliate Barnard (28%)</p>

<p>Columbia GS acceptance rate (23%): [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 (23%): [College</a> Search - Northwestern University - NU - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>Barnard (28%): [College</a> Search - Barnard College - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

1286

<p>tsar, what is the other alias of the “■■■■■” colny1234 that you are referring to?</p>

1287

<p>pumagirl is one of them. There are a few others, but the names escape me at the moment.</p>

1288

<p>Don’t listen to tsar10027.</p>

<p>Here is an example of Lit Hum course which is open to Columbia College and Engineering students only.
[Fall</a> 2011 Humanities C1001 section 011](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/C1001-20113-011/]Fall”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/C1001-20113-011/)</p>

<p>Note the line :
Open To Columbia College, Engineering and Applied Science</p>

<p>GS and continuing education students are prohibited. </p>

<p>There are some special sections for GS and Continuing Education students.
GS and Continuing Education students take the same course with the same faculty, same exam and same hw.
e.g. [Spring</a> 2012 Humanities F1002 section 058](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/F1002-20121-058/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/F1002-20121-058/)</p>

<p>tsar10027 is lying</p>

1289

<p>He’s back! Again, heed my warning. This ■■■■■ is relentless, and creates new accounts to spread LIES. He has, on a previous account, admitted to being rejected by GS. </p>

<p>And, if you look any one of his profiles (colny1234 and pumagirl), you will notice that he only has a few total posts on each account, and they are all directed at spreading lies about the Ivy League college that is Columbia GS. </p>

<p>I can assure you that I am taking Lit Hum, and that 90% of the class is CC and SEAS students. If you look at the F section class, it is open to ALL Columbia undergraduates. </p>

<p>The reason behind ONLY three Core classes (out of 25+ total classes that one will take at Columbia) are divided between CC/SEAS and GS is that the 3 courses in question are primarily for first years’ and the class size is small, thus they want 18 year old (CC/SEAS) students to be in an environment conducive to their age group. GS students are, on average, 27 years old, and thus the University thinks that placing these students in the same class will make for a much more comfortable environment. </p>

<p>When I took University Writing, one of those three core classes, it was a class comprised of 7 students and it was very intimate. My closest friends came from that class. The curriculum was EXACTLY the same as the CC/SEAS sections, and our instructor tought the CC/SEAS section the prior semester. </p>

<p>Also, a few people in my lit hum class, who are in CC, took my F section class because it fit their schedule. </p>

<p>The differences between these measley three classes within the grand scheme of a Columbia undergraduate education are so miniscule that it is a NON ISSUE for anyone who has attended or currently attends Columbia. I can assure anyone who reads this that AT COLUMBIA THIS IS A NON ISSUE. </p>

<p>Trust me when I tell you this, these three classes being divided between C and F sections has no bearing on one’s academic experience at all. The significance of this distinction only exists in the bitter mind of colny1234 and his other aliases. </p>

<p>This serial ■■■■■ has NEVER stepped foot on Columbia’s campus, and zero knowledge of the undergraduate experience. If he did, he would know that the education one receives at CC and GS are, ostensibly, IDENTICAL.</p>

<p>This is per the Columbia University website: “GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.”</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs[/url]”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs&lt;/a&gt; (under the: “Are the courses the same as those taken by students at Columbia’s traditional undergraduate colleges?” tab)</p>

1290

<p>He’s back! Again, heed my warning. This ■■■■■ is relentless, and creates new accounts to spread LIES. He has, on a previous account, admitted to being rejected by GS. </p>

<p>And, if you look at any one of his profiles (colny1234 and pumagirl…), you will notice that he only has a few total posts on each account, and they are all directed at spreading lies about the Ivy League college that is Columbia GS. </p>

<p>I can assure you that I am taking Lit Hum, and that 90% of the class is CC and SEAS students. If you look at the F section class, it is open to ALL Columbia undergraduates. </p>

<p>The reason behind ONLY three Core classes (out of 25+ total classes that one will take at Columbia) are divided between CC/SEAS and GS is that the 3 courses in question are primarily for first years’ and the class size is small, thus they want 18 year old (CC/SEAS) students to be in an environment conducive to their age group. GS students are, on average, 27 years old, and thus the University thinks that placing these students in the same class will make for a much more comfortable environment. </p>

<p>When I took University Writing, one of those three core classes, it was a class comprised of 7 students and it was very intimate. My closest friends came from that class. The curriculum was EXACTLY the same as the CC/SEAS sections, and our instructor tought the CC/SEAS section the prior semester. </p>

<p>Also, a few people in my lit hum class, who are in CC, took my F section class because it fit their schedule. </p>

<p>The differences between these measley three classes within the grand scheme of a Columbia undergraduate education are so miniscule that it is a NON ISSUE for anyone who has attended or currently attends Columbia. I can assure anyone who reads this that AT COLUMBIA THIS IS A NON ISSUE. </p>

<p>Trust me when I tell you this, these three classes being divided between C and F sections have no bearing on one’s academic experience at all. The significance of this distinction only exists in the bitter mind of colny1234 and his other aliases. </p>

<p>This serial ■■■■■ has NEVER stepped foot on Columbia’s campus, and has zero knowledge of the undergraduate experience. If he did, he would know that the education one receives at CC and GS are, ostensibly, IDENTICAL.</p>

<p>This is per the Columbia University website: “GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.”</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”&gt;http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs</a> | General Studies<a href=“under%20the:%20%22Are%20the%20courses%20the%20same%20as%20those%20taken%20by%20students%20at%20Columbia’s%20traditional%20undergraduate%20colleges?%22%20tab”>/url</a></p>

1291

<p>

</p>

<p>City College of New York has 23% admit rate. </p>

<p>Columbia GS == City College of New York</p>

1292

<p>So by that asinine logic, Northwestern, the 14th ranked university (according to US NEWS), is, as you so eloquently put it:</p>

<p>[Northwestern] “== City College of New York”</p>

<p>Baruch College is a fine school, and their students receive wonderful educations at a relatively low cost. But they do not receive Ivy League educations, and by proxy, undergraduate degrees like Columbia GS students.</p>

<p>Everything I am about to say will be supplemented with FACTS and links. Any repudiation of said information will be a repudiation of the FACTS furnished by the school and outside researchers. All information provided is published and. </p>

<p>First, Columbia GS students receive an Ivy League education. This FACT cannot be disputed:</p>

<p>This quote is from the GS website in the FAQ section under the “Are the courses the same as those taken by students at Columbia’s traditional undergraduate colleges?” tab:</p>

<p>“Yes. GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.” </p>

<p>[FAQs</a> | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs)</p>

<p>Second, Columbia GS is a competitive Ivy League college:</p>

<p>This quote is from the GS website in the FAQ section under the “Is GS as competitive as Columbia’s traditional undergraduate colleges?” tab:</p>

<p>“Yes. Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) is as competitive as Columbia’s traditional undergraduate colleges, which include Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and affiliate Barnard College. Though admission requirements differ slightly from the aforementioned schools because of our nontraditional student applicant pool, GS admits only the best and the brightest prospective students.”</p>

<p>[FAQs</a> | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs)</p>

<p>Third, Columbia GS students have the highest overall GPA of all three official undergraduate colleges at Columbia:</p>

<p>This quote is from Wikicu, Columbia’s unofficial encyclopedia:</p>

<p>“A Columbia undergraduate class could include students from any of the following colleges or schools: GS, Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Barnard College or the School of Continuing Education. [1] GS students, who comprise of approximately 25% of all Columbia undergraduates, have the highest average GPA of all the undergraduate schools at Columbia. GS is unique among colleges of its type, because its students are fully integrated into the Columbia undergraduate curriculum.”</p>

<p>[Columbia</a> University School of General Studies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_School_of_General_Studies]Columbia”>Columbia University School of General Studies - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>A Columbia GS education is, ostensibly, IDENTICAL to a Columbia College education:</p>

<p>This quote is under the “Who teaches my classes?” tab:</p>

<p>"GS students take the same classes with the same professors as students in Columbia’s other undergraduate colleges. Undergraduate courses are taught by members of the Columbia University Faculty of Arts and Sciences.</p>

<p>The Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University consists of twenty-nine departments in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. The Arts and Sciences also includes six schools: Columbia College, the School of General Studies, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of the Arts, and the School of Continuing Education, as well as numerous institutes and centers."</p>

<p>[FAQs</a> | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs)</p>

<p>Columbia GS requires an SAT, ACT, or GSAE score (identical to the SAT w/out the math section):</p>

<p>This quote is under the “Are SAT or ACT scores required for admission to GS?” tab:</p>

<p>“Official scores from the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American College Testing Program (ACT) taken within the last eight years are required. Standardized scores should be reported directly to Columbia by the testing service. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code number for GS is 2095. The ACT code number for GS is 2716. Students who have no test scores or test scores older than eight years will be contacted by the Office of Admissions to take the General Studies Admissions Examination (GSAE) at a cost of $40. For more information, please visit the Admissions Exams page.”</p>

<p>[FAQs</a> | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs)</p>

<p>And finally, Columbia GS is in every way considered an official undergraduate college of Columbia University. Its students can join any club, play any NCAA sport, and join any Frat/Sorority they please.</p>

1293

<p>To set the record straight:</p>

<p>To all prospective students and readers: colny1234 and his other alias pumagirl is a serial ■■■■■ who has admitted to being rejected by GS on a another account. Do not let this bitter and desperate individual have any impact on your view of Columbia GS. </p>

<p>As a student at Columbia GS, I can say that my education is, ostensibly, identical to my Columbia College colleagues.</p>

<p>Is my education IDENTICAL to Columbia College students? No (As colny1234 and his other accounts have desperately pointed out). </p>

<p>Is my education so similar to Columbia College students that the differences are negligible? Yes. </p>

<p>University Writing, Contemporary Civilizations, and Literature Humanities are the three classes that are divided between CC/SEAS and GS students (plus one physical education course). Yet, these classes are taught by the same faculty and the course material is identical. The division is made so that GS and CC/SEAS students can intermingle in an intimate classroom setting with people of like age. Usually, these three courses are populated by 18-19 year old first years at CC/SEAS and 27-29 year old first years at GS. The administration creates this separation to funnel students of similar age into these very small courses. It is their way of creating a sense of unity. </p>

<p>Here is a wikicu link to the Core differences between CC and GS:</p>

<p>[School</a> of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia](<a href=“School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia”>School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia)</p>

<p>As someone who attends Columbia, I can tell you that GS students are wholly incorporated into the undergraduate community.</p>

<p>Columbia University is, as US NEWS (when ranking Columbia University #4 in their annual University rankings) stated: </p>

<p>“Columbia is comprised of three undergraduate schools—Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies…”</p>

<p>[Columbia</a> University | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/columbia-university-2707]Columbia”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/columbia-university-2707)</p>

<p>Also, wikicu states that:</p>

<p>“The School of General Studies, commonly known as General Studies or simply GS, is one of Columbia University’s three official undergraduate colleges. It is a highly selective Ivy college for non-traditional students that confers the Bachelor of Art and Bachelor of Science degrees in over seventy different majors. GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.”</p>

<p>[School</a> of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia](<a href=“http://www.wikicu.com/School_of_General_Studies]School”>School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia)</p>

<p>I cannot stress this enough: once on campus the distinctions between the three undergraduate colleges are NON EXISTENT. Do not let some ■■■■■ who, aside from being rejected by GS, creates new accounts to spew lies about the college sway your opinion. While he is right that THREE out of all the Core classes a GS student must take are divided (but are exactly the same courses and are taught by the same instructors) he is wrong that this division makes any difference in the education one receives at GS. </p>

<p>CC students frequently enroll into F section (GS section) Contemporary Civilization, University Writing, and Literature Humanities courses when/if it fits their schedule. The administration knows that the differences (academically) between C section and F section courses are non-existant, so they allow CC students to fulfill their requirements for these three courses by taking F sections. If there were a difference, why would the administration allow for this cross registration?</p>

<p>GS students are, academically, “fully integrated into the Columbia undergraduate curriculum: GS Students take the same classes with the same students and professors and are granted the same degrees as students at Columbia College or SEAS. The school awards both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. GS students, who comprise of approximately 25% of all Columbia undergraduates, have the highest average GPA of all the undergraduate schools at Columbia.” </p>

<p>[School</a> of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia](<a href=“School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia”>School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia)</p>

<p>The only differences, aside from these three courses (and one physical education course), are financial aid and housing.</p>

<p>GS students do not receive need-blind financial aid, rather, they receive merit-based financial aid. And the merit-based financial aid can be quite generous if you perform well while enrolled at Columbia. </p>

<p>With regards to housing, GS students do not live in CC/SEAS dorms. Yet this makes perfect sense as the average age of a GS student is 27, and a 27 year old living with 18-21 year olds just doesn’t work from a maturity standpoint. </p>

<p>GS students live in University Housing with grad students (Law School, Business School students…). This arrangement makes perfect sense, as GS, Law School, and Business School students are all, roughly, the same age.</p>

<p>Do not mind the ■■■■■ who creates new accounts to bitterly tarnish GS. His accusations are so far removed from reality, that they are, within the Columbia community, laughable, at best. </p>

<p>It is quite comical reading his posts, as they are wholly detached from the realities of a Columbia undergraduate education.</p>

<p>Just know that he is a bitter man, who was rejected by GS, and harbors a deep seeded resentment for the school.</p>

<p>Just look at all of his posts from anyone of his different accounts, and they all have one common thread: His post record is usually around 1-20 total posts and they are ALL about GS. You will never see a post of his regarding any other topic. He, quite desperately, comes back to these message boards every-so-often to spread lies and misinformation.</p>

<p>Furthermore, Columbia GS is apart of the Ivy Council, a distinction that is bestowed upon all Ivy League undergraduate colleges:</p>

<p>“Founded in 1993 as a way to collaborate and exchange ideas on common student life issues at their respective school, student government leaders set the stage for the Ivy Council that exists today. In 1997, in response to the complexities of running a loose federation of organizations over seven states, a defining structure was created. The Ivy Council draws its membership from the Brown University Undergraduate Council of Students, Columbia University (in particular the Columbia College Student Council, the Columbia Engineering Student Council, and the Columbia General Studies Student Council), the Cornell University Student Assembly, the Dartmouth College Student Assembly, the Harvard University Undergraduate Council, the University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Assembly, the Princeton University Undergraduate Student Government, and the Yale College Council.”</p>

<p><a href=“Ivy Council - Wikipedia”>Ivy Council - Wikipedia;

1294

<p>Btw, City College of New York’s acceptance rate is 33%–getcho facts right chump!</p>

<p>[City</a> College | CUNY–City College | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/city-college-2688]City”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/city-college-2688)</p>

1295

<p>Hello All – </p>

<p>I just completed my application for spring 2012 yesterday. The admission office said that if submitted by Monday (yesterday) that it would still be considered for the spring term. Is anyone else in the same boat? Anyone already accepted for the spring?</p>

1296

<p>Hi I am typing this on my way home so it may be a bit sloppy. I thought it might be helpful if I shared my experiences from GS in the early 90s. I won’t embellish this so you might get an accurate picture as to how things were at the time.
I grew up in the UK and US and intially studied at an Oxbridge college. I did poorly based on lack of maturity and realised my options might be better in the US. Thankfully Columbia GS accepted me at a pretty young age as I was working a menial job at the time. I took 3 or 4 courses the first semester or 2 then ramped up over time. The CC/SEAS students treated me as something of an outsider so the initial experience was difficult.
At the time, many of my fellow GS students felt the same and questioned why we were there.
The “Ivy league” experience boils down to people, not a fancy campus or a strict admissions standard. It was only in my last 3 semesters or so, when I was matching my colleagues in some of the smaller math/science classes, that things became easier – in short I had to prove myself all over again. So essentially I felt like an outsider for 2.5 years and a proper student for 1. But it was enough to get some support from the professors – I subsequently did a hard science PhD at another “Ivy” and have forged a decent career as a money manager since then.
I suspect if you have some academic ambition you will have a similar experience – don’t get discouraged and when you are taking smaller classes your ability will shine through. Best, oldOwl</p>

1297

<p>oldOwl - interesting to get your perspective. I think GS has changed a fair amount since then, and is much more integrated in the traditional CC/SEAS fabric.</p>

1298

<p>I am currently enlisted in the navy as a nuclear operator onboard a submarine. I have a good military record and strong letters of recommendation from my chain of command. My SAT scores are Writing: 590 Reading: 690 Math: 650 with my recent test scores still pending. I also have a fair amount of community service under my belt. The biggest hold up for me is a high school GPA of 2.8. Does anybody on here with any GS experience know how good of a chance I may have of being accepted.</p>

1299

<p>Do you have any recent grades, or are your hs transcripts the only thing your sending? The answers to these questions will really help in approximating your chances.</p>

1300

<p>I unfortunately have no recent grades. I did receive some college credits from the Naval Nuclear Power training program, but that is it. I got the highest level of recommendation from my commanding officer and my direct supervisor, but I don’t know how far that can take me. I don’t really know how they weigh different portions of the application. I do think I did significantly better on the writing section of the SAT that still has pending results though.</p>