Honestly need help discerning which of these schools will give me the best shot at attending a top tier grad school.
I would be studying Biochem. I know Columbia has unparalleled research opportunities, but I’m not sure how the School of General Studies is viewed by graduate schools. Part of me thinks they may over hype how good GS looks to employers/schools, and perhaps a small liberal arts school like St. Lawrence University may look more authentic and offer a better chance at gaining admission at a top school.
I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thank you for your time.
Bias alert: I am an unabashed LAC supporter. For the life of me, I do not understand why one would choose an Ivy (especially one of the ginormous ones like Harvard or Columbia) over a solid, undergrad-focused small college. Save the Ivies for grad school, which is where they shine.
Unbiased advice: Go where you wish. Go where is best for you. Since graduate school is your aim, it truly does not matter where you go. If Columbia will give you more opportunities, go there. If St. Lawrence is more your style, go there. Graduate schools will know both schools. You do not get a bonus for attending Columbia. If you excel at Columbia, an excellent grad program will be in your future. If you excel at St. Lawrence, an excellent grad program will be in your future. Think, too, that maybe you’ll truly stand out more at SLU. People who know know that SLU is a terrific school.
It’s pretty simple. Undergrad name has no or little bearing on grad school acceptance. Excel. Earn high grades. Do meaningful stuff. Secure strong letters of rec. Study and do super-awesomely on the GRE (and any other additional standardized tests for your area). Write a solid statement of purpose. This is what will get you into a terrific grad school, not the name of your undergrad institution.
SLU vs Columbia? Are we really having this debate. No it’s not going to be a huge grad school boost. But come on folks. But there’s more to college and opportunities from college than grad school admissions. But it’s not really close. Now if economics are a factor. St Lawrence is certainly a fine school. But it is cooold up there.
So would a grad school view Columbia GS as a cop out even if a student had great grades and had great test scores? I’m under the impression that GS students take the same classes, but I do know they get different degrees which confuses me.
Why don’t you fill us in on Columbia GS and what it is? True, I could look it up, but it might save me and others time to read the explanation here. I was working under the assumption that this was Columbia U but just, well, general studies (read: A&S or something like that). Is this similar to Chicago’s general education classes that are offered to adults but that do not lead to a degree necessarily? Or is this leading to some sort of BA in general studies degree? (I think Northwestern offers something similar–or used to–through an online-only degree).
Since GS students do not follow the same academic program as Columbia College students – for example, core requirements differ – it might make sense for them to receive a different degree.
In terms of the key thread topic, SLU seems like a great opportunity, but this really would depend on your circumstances and, particularly, your preferences. I would not, however, base your decision on perceived graduate-school prospects, in that these would seem to be fine from either of your alternatives.
Have you been accepted already, or are you just speculating about the future and assuming both would admit you and they would be your only affordable options?
Put them both on your potential application list for now. Keep them on or toss them from thae final appication liat as you see fit at that time. If next April they are your only affordable options, and you still are indecisive, that would be the time to ask your A vs. B question.
I think as a non traditional student you will have a natural peer group within Columbia gs. St Lawrence is solid school but it does have a traditional college cohort that you would be interacting with in your classes. Also Columbia has such a large grad presence you will have other opportunities to connect with peers. Socially Columbia and NYC will give you so much access to activities, people in your age group and the city overall. I strongly suggest you choose Columbia.
In that case, I’d go with Columbia GS. You’ll have more peers and the “college campus” life isn’t as important for you at this point in your life. Congratulations!
I transferred to a residential LAC at age twenty-four. I desperately wanted the traditional college experience. I wanted to live in the dorms. I wanted to eat in the cafeteria. I wanted to live, breathe, sleep, eat, study, soak up campus 24/7.
The age thing was not an issue at all. In fact, college seemed a cinch, as I was older and fully prepared. Actually, I made friends with first-years, as they were in the same boat as me: brand new to campus. The difference between 24 and 18 or 19 is not as great as you think.
But it depends what you want. I’m not sure why you keep repeating the issue about which school will offer the best opportunities for graduate study. Please re-read my post much further up. I went on to grad school for both the MA and doctoral study. I started as a community college student.
I’m asking about grad school as I’m not sure if Columbia University School of General Studies is some cash crop for Columbia that is seen no better than Harvard Extension or any other continuing ed program. That’s the main gist of what I’m asking. I’ve have looked extensively online and half of the people say it’s a “backdoor” or inferior school/looked down upon and the other half of people go there and say it’s the same as Columbia College.
So really, at this point in my life I’m looking for the best opportunity to get a good education and get into a good grad school, not necessarily “the experience” or anything like that.
Oh, okay. It’s just that the other posters seem to know what this GS is, but I don’t. It sounds like if there is that much doubt, then perhaps SLU is doubt-free? Do you have an issue being a twenty-four-year-old going off to college? Do you prefer being in NYC ideally?
More importantly, does the GS school lead to a BA in biochemistry? I honestly couldn’t make sense out of the website. SLU will obviously have traditional majors, and since it is an entirely undergraduate-focused college (it sounds like GS is too, but I cannot make heads or tails of it), you would be well-prepared for graduate study.
Why not contact somebody at the GS school and ask these questions? Find a faculty member’s online profile and shoot them an email. Also, out of curiosity, if you wish to stay in NYC, were there no other schools (I don’t know which CUNY is the science-y one) that were less, um, uncertain? Are finances an issue? What are the negatives about heading up to Canton? Your age is honesty not an issue. I headed off to an LAC at 24 (though it was for the final two years, not all four, but I would have gone for all four if I could have!).
I wish I knew more, and hopefully there is someone who has the skinny on Columbia GS. As a gut response, I guess I’d be unsure about the BA and if it prepares you for graduate school in biochemistry. If it does, then it’s not a problem, and your GRE scores (general and subject test), letters of rec, statement of purpose, and coursework would erase any doubts about whether you were prepared for grad school. If it does not, you should feel absolutely confident that SLU will work just fine–better than fine. Traditional LACs are freaking pipelines to graduate school.
Why on earth would it be considered a cop-out? Any student who took more than a year off after high school is not eligible for admission to Columbia College; Columbia GS is the only option.
Columbia GS students take the same classes, fulfill the same major and graduation requirements, and have exactly the same research opportunities as Columbia College students. There is no reason to think it will provide inferior preparation for graduate school.
I often recommend LACs for those interested in the sciences, but Columbia and SLU are not peer schools. (That’s not to say that you can’t get into good PhD programs from SLU.) Additionally, I agree with those above saying that it will likely be easier to find your niche with students of similar age and life experience at Columbia.
Columbia gs is not harvard extension which is open enrollment night school. But Harvard extension is still a great deal. You applied and know your goals. @hapworth makes a good point. For him it was perfectly ok to start a traditional college journey a few years older and was a great experience. It could be for you too. But slu is known for its preppy sporty vibe. If that works for you. Go for it. Will it get you into a better grad school perhaps if you are an academic standout at slu with your experience and focus. Your peers in gs will be very motivated and serious competitors in your classes.
These two schools are polar opposites in respect to location & student culture. Do well at either school & on the GRE & you should be a competitive grad school applicant.