Columbia GS Fall 2018 Early/Regular Decision

@ryannapp12 I got an email around 5:30pm saying my application status had been updated and followed the link in the email to my portal! You should hear any day now-- so hoping to be on campus with you in the fall!!

Hey @ryannapp12, did you have an interview or request for your official transcripts? And sorry if you’ve already answered all these. As you know this is an anxiety inducing process and any information helps!

oops meant @Idub9715

@Catalystsnstars feel free to ask any questions you have! It’s no problem! I did not have an interview, and I submitted my official transcript as soon as I had it (around May 17) so my grades could be considered with the rest of the application!

@idub9715 thank you! I assumed the unofficial transcripts would be enough to evaluate the application and the official would be requested if the person was accepted. I was told something to that effect a few days ago.

Okay guys, super torn now.

SIRed to Cal, it was a no brained initially. Was getting 34k/37k COA covered by Cal including rent so it was a no brainer vs 120k+ debt to attend Columbia.

Received a phone call a few days ago for Columbia being notified that I was selected as a PAL scholar!

Tuition would be fully covered and would only need to cover rent ($2k ish/month)

The plan is to double major in Econ/Data Science.

Factors to consider:
Wife works for Uber corporate in SF, so we were ecstatic for her commute time to be cut in half by moving to Berkeley plus we would be saving $2k/Mo in rent thanks to Cal scholarships and grants.

Wife could potentially transfer to the Uber office in Manhattan but the commute would be sucky for her assuming we get placed in the post grad housing in the Bronx.

CAL would force me to graduate within 5 semesters (approx 2 years) could be a good thing since I’m older but might miss out on my preferred classes due to impact in Econ dept.

Columbia would give me flexibility and since it’s a private would prob get the classes I’m interested in. I’d have to take an extra math class at Columbia for the majors (Calc 3)

Columbia’s majors are more quantitative which would be a plus for grad school and potential tech employers.

I understand Columbia feeds into Wall St due to proximity and Cal feeds into tech for same reason.

My goal is to work in tech initially for approx first 10 years of career (advantage Cal), then future goal is to get involved in politics (advantage Columbia).

At Cal due to rent being covered would quit my PT job at Apple retail, at Columbia would most likely have to work PT weekends w/transferring to NYC store not being a problem.

Columbia I’m guaranteeing having to attend an extra semester so approx 3 years vs 2 at Cal.

Wife was liking the idea of us having weekends together as I have been working and going to school full time the last two years. I’m 30 years old now and we were planning on starting a family soon.

Objectively I’m thinking Cal, but I have a feeeling I would regret not attending an Ivy League tuition free.

I can defer Columbia to Spring so I was thinking of attending Cal in the fall and transferring to Columbia in spring since we have already placed our deposit and first month rent at Cal which is non refundable.

@GoldenState1 A full tuition to Columbia University. I think it’s a no brainer. Also, congratulations!

@GoldenState1 did you accept their admissions offer? I have accepted it but didn’t pay the deposit. Not sure if I should waste $500 cause I would only be able to attend if I receive PALS scholarship.

I haven’t accepted yet, I was going to defer to spring regardless in case it doesn’t work out at Cal.

@Catalystsnstars did you hear back yet?

got my acceptance letter today!

Did anyone still not hear back? I still didn’t but I applied on the last day of May so I’m probably the last applicant to apply.

@Mabbbs I haven’t heard back, I applied on June 1st. Did you receive any email saying that your application is complete?

@katkatucb The last email I received was my CUID. But on the application portal, I have a “received” check mark on all the components. Wbu?

@ryannapp12 Haven’t heard anything unfortunately.

So did I. I submitted my application on the last day of May and all other materials by 6/14. Still have not heard anything yet.

Does anyone know if Columbia accepts electronic transcripts (sent from the institution) as offical transcripts or do they have to be mailed?

@mabbbs same here, I haven’t received any updates. I think they do accept electronic transcripts. However, you can submit unofficial transcripts online and they will request you to submit the official transcript after you are accepted.

@katkatucb tbh I thought we had to send official transcripts after we are accepted as well, but then on the portal it says “these [official] documents should be ordered upon application submission” and now I’m worried bc the final decisions should be sent out before July 21 and it’ll be a problem if my official transcripts have to reach them before then — assuming they don’t accept electronic transcripts. It’s weird that they accepted my official sat electronically (from college board) when they say “Official documents are those that arrive in a sealed envelope”. So maybe this only applies to transcripts as they only provided the mailing address and did not explicitly mention the email for sending out official electronic transcripts. Idk.

I am in the minority one ive had everything sent in except for a recommendation (logistical issues), that Ive been having a problem with. The final date of decision is the 14th I believe, so you guys have a few days more to worry about. If there is no answer by then expect the worst.