Hello! I don’t see a thread for this coming spring yet, so I figured I would start one! I have applied for EA and submitted my application on August 1, though I see that they didn’t process all of my documents until August 7. Does anyone know if the admissions decisions are rolling? I think they are, but I wonder if I will have to wait until October 1 to find out my fate. Feel free to post stats, anxieties, questions… whatever is on your mind! Good luck to all of you.
Good luck on your journey. I’m a current GS student studying Economics-Math. Feel free to ask me questions.
I love GS! There’s no other program like it. I know people look down on GS compared to Brown RUE and Yale Eli Whitney (which are amazing programs) but they’re lonely for older students (I’m 26). GS offers a strong community of nontraditional students. Financial Aid is slowly improving but still sucks, it’s manageable if you go part time and maintain a decent GPA to get a merit scholarship. Columbia is undergoing a lot of changes and GS is no different.
The acceptance rate for fall was reportedly 15%!
Hi @sithlord ! Do you mind just sharing your rough stats? I would be transferring from a California community college. Community is definitely what I’m after, so I am really excited about what Columbia has to offer.
No problem! I actually wrote it all out then figured you guys wouldn’t care so I erased it.
[QUOTE=""]
25, URM, DACA recipient
3.0/3.1 GPA (went to 3 different CCs and 1 UC continuing education program)
Took 18 units at UC extension in writing and anthropology. Got a 3.74 (1 B+ in writing, 2 A- in writing and 2 A’s in Anthro)
Flunked out from two different CCs after having ok grades (3.4 GPA) . GPA went down to 1.9 and 2.2. I have 14 units with an F (in two semesters). I plan on doing academic renewal before grad school.
Worked for 3 years
Went back part time to school while working 65 hours a week and received a 4.0 in economics and mathematics (12 units)
Letter of recommendation from a former boss and my Econ professor at CC. I received a perfect score in her class which had a D average on exams.
Took GSAE exam at Columbia
Wrote my personal statement about what it was like growing up as an undocumented refugee. Wrote about how the story of Gac Filipaj inspired me to go back to school.
I had an interview with the admissions manager. He stated that the admissions team was blown away by my essay, how I scored really high on the GSAE exam, how my Econ professor thought the world of me, and how well I did in my UC classes. (his words not mine). He discussed my history with depression and informed me about their counseling program.
[/QUOTE]
I recommend spending a lot of time on your essay. It doesn’t have to be drastic like mine but they love a story (like every ivy league). GS really prides itself on being a non traditional school and they want a specific type of student. Also letters of recommendation are really important. Everyone I know had a 3.9/40 in recent grades. A lot of people flunked out and returned after a break so low combined GPAs would’t be held against you. The same with Yale Eli Whitney and I think Brown Rue.
If you’re looking for a community GS is definitely it. It was the only school I applied to for that reason. We even have the GS Gala if you want to check it out.
@sithlord Just curious, where did you get the 15% figure?
A friend who got accepted this fall told me someone in admissions said that. So I’m not 100% on that number.
In case anybody wants to know my friends stats.
22, Female, URM,
[QUOTE=""]
took one year off because she and her mom were almost homeless
High School valedictorian
Worked full time while studying. Had a 3.9X GPA at CC with 60 units. Took Chemistry and Biology sequences (They look for hard classes)
Honors program at CC, was involved with a lot of volunteer programs and extracurricular events
Took GSAE and submitted SAT scores (not sure on scores)
Letter of recommendation from a professor and Dean of her CC
[/QUOTE]
This has been really helpful @sithlord and @froshman12 ! My stats/story are pretty close to these two. It’s really heartening to hear of people with similar situations actually getting in. The only thing I’m concerned about is that I sent in low SAT scores. High school was ten years ago for and I was pretty checked out at that time, so my score isn’t very good. I am sure I would have been better off taking the GSAE.
@sithlord Yeah I was just curious because as a GS student I always hear mixed things about how selective the school is, and I feel like I see everyone on the college confidential threads get accepted which makes me a bit apprehensive about my school’s reputation. I’m sure employers don’t care at all, but it’s something I think about sometimes
Hi everyone, I inted to apply for ED spring '19 as an international candidate. Does anyone of you know, whether there are any differences in the review process for international applicants? I’ve heard that they waitlist internationals generally before making a final decision. Also I don’t know how they evaluate foreign GPAs and how this might affect my app…
Hello everyone! I just submitted my application for Spring 2019 EA! I am currently active duty in the U.S Coast Guard… I am hoping for good news! And best of luck to you guys applying as well!
@sithlord If you would, please elaborate on the ‘changes’ Columbia and GS are undergoing.
Thanks!
@kpwalther Like you, I submitted everything on August 1st. From what I’ve gathered from past threads, the EA applicants usually hear back around a week before October 1st, and then decisions after that deadline are rolling. Of course, that info is still just anecdotal.
Very anxious myself! Good luck!
@sithlord I am also a DACA student and applying for GS. In regards to financial aid can you tell me how it worked out for you since we don’t qualify for FAFSA. Thanks so much in advance.
Anyone get a decision yet? They should be coming really soon!
Anyone here deferred from Fall 2018 to Spring 2019? If anyone has questions regarding the application I may be able to answer 
@kpwalther Got an email saying I would get a decision by October 1st. My guess is the decisions will come in a batch on Friday.
@Mabbbs Were you able to check your admission result through the financial aid thing?
@WaitingToGoBack was your guess on friday thing just your gut or based on your understanding through checking other previous threads?
@CUGS19SP It’s what I gathered from previous Spring threads. I mean it’s either that or the following Monday.
@Yale2020 Yo, I’m AD CG too! Just submitted my application. Good luck man