<p>I don't have a 4.0 GPA or a 36 ACT. I don't have any national accomplishments or big achievements winning state titles. I wasn't special forces in the US military despite serving a few years. I didn't compete in the olympics or a national team. I don't speak 3 languages. I haven't owned a business or held a corporate position. </p>
<p>but....I have actually 3 Columbia alumni (one from the MBA, one linguistics and another from psychology) referring me to apply and will all write letters too.</p>
<p>I have a good GPA and SATs as well as some accomplishments and reasons I don't have a consistent work or college history. It's my son and I had to move overseas to take care of him as well as deal with other issues. My essay can't be about a woe is me or sob story.</p>
<p>So what do these alumni see exactly to refer and write letters?</p>
<p>I don't get it?</p>
<p>I really want to study at Columbia and have for the last several years but it's been just a dream to me. What's really required of the GS program or what do they look for? My friends see it but I don't. I'm applying anyway.</p>
<p>I would say that alumni letters won’t mean anything unless they can attest to your academic ability. If they can, the fact that they’re coming from alumni is incidental.</p>
<p>I don’t quite understand. It sounds like you want us to confirm what people in your life see in you? I’ll be honest this is a little weird. If you’re asking total strangers to speculate about why someone would write you a letter then I would have to guess they think you’re capable of succeeding at Columbia. I don’t think you need to post a question on here to come to that conclusion though.</p>
<p>I’m also only an applicant, not an alumni or current student. From the information sessions I’ve gone to it seems as though they take a holistic approach in the application. Neither your GPA nor your story will be predominantly responsible for getting you into the school or keeping you out of it. It’ll be a combination of factors based on academic ability (or potential), “fit” for Columbia GS, and your ability to articulate all of this effectively to the admissions committee. There is actually quite a bit of information out there on Columbia GS, their mission, and the kind of students they accept if you do some research. I’ve spent some time looking through old topics in this forum and that’s been helpful for me.</p>