Hello, I am 22 years old (rising junior) psychology major transfer student that recently got accepted to JHU and Columbia GS. I was pretty set on going to JHU until I got an acceptance letter from Columbia GS. The ranking for psychology and the overall ranking show that Columbia GS is a better option to choose but I am concerned about the GS title. I understand that GS students will be in the same class as the CC students and will be taking some GS core classes but the GS title will appear on my transcript, diploma and etc. Also, I hear that there is some discrimination, against the GS students from CC students and I was wondering if all that’s still true. In addition, I want to major in psychology and JHU is famous for its medical school and its research spectrum so I thought it will give me better opportunities as a psych major to thrive in and I was unsure which school will be a better option for me. Is there anybody that is in a similar position or anybody that can tell me about the life as a GS student or the psychology programs of both schools?
Thank you
I do think that the GS, among those who know, may not have as much cache compared to the regular degree. In terms of rankings in psychology, there is barely any difference, and most people looking at an undergraduate would not assess them based on the small differences in the rank of the graduate department. We had an intern last summer from the GS program - he seemed less than enthused with it. I think you should really, really decide based on your feelings of fit and support at each school. I agree that JHU will give you great research opportunities, and is very, very highly respected (I work in health policy).
Columbia is ranked a little higher than Hopkins in Psych, but they are both top tier. Two things worth investigating are financial aid and housing for C-GS, if those matter. Ask on the Columbia thread.
Around these forums, it seems that there are people who look down on Columbia SGS (and probably non-traditional and transfer students generally), perhaps based on the perception that they may not have had to get through the high school college admissions gateway but instead took an “easier” (or so they believe) admissions path. This sometimes comes up regarding other highly selective schools with significant numbers of transfer students (e.g. the UCs and USC).
Note that Columbia SGS students are not guaranteed on-campus housing: https://gs.columbia.edu/housing .
Hi @nso6425,
Thanks for your post and congratulations on your exciting news! I am a recent graduate of the School of General Studies and I work for the Office of Admissions as a tour guide. This is our official account we use to communicate with prospective students on College Confidential and I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts with you.
I appreciate you sharing your concerns and would like to underscore the fact that as a GS grad, in no way have I felt hampered in my studies or graduate school and job search. To the contrary, employers and admissions officers are frequently particularly receptive to GS students who have a unique blend of life experiences and rigorous Columbia coursework. It is not uncommon for GS to come up as a very positive conversation topic in interviews. My peers and classmates have found immense success in securing employment in all fields–from laboratories to NGOs to banks to the world of entertainment–as well as in admissions to some of the most well-known graduate schools in the US, UK, and elsewhere.
As for the academic experience of a GS student, it is important to know that all academic requirements are the same for students in the School of General Studies and Columbia College. Students in GS and CC follow almost identical versions of the Columbia Core (a set of about a dozen liberal arts classes), have the opportunities to choose from the exact same majors, and share all classes. The distinction between CC and GS is not academic, just administrative. Every classroom is filled with students from different undergraduate schools who come together for lectures and seminars, are held to the same standards, and have access to the same departmental resources.
Hope that helps, please feel free to reach out with more questions, and best of luck with decision process!