<p>Does anyone know anything about the admissions standards for columbia's school of general studies? I know what the program is all about, and I've just recently applied... I understand that admissions for gs has nothing to do with the college, but if anyone has any information on what one's chances are like of being admitted to the program, would they mind sharing? Thank you!</p>
<p>400 out of 800 admitted last year</p>
<p>That's basically the only statistic published from the school.</p>
<p>They told me they'd like to see at least 3.0 gpa and 1200 sat score.</p>
<p>Sorry i can't help more, but i know the essay helps a lot. they like a person who has life story to tell.</p>
<p>I got in and i don't have super stats.</p>
<p>no high school
GED (perfect score on math and science, 99th percentile on others except writing - 78th percentile)
SAT 550 verval, 710 math
Community College
17 credits completed - 4.0 gpa
20 credits in process - 4.0 midterm
18 planned for summer
Toefl - 290 (i am not native english speaker)</p>
<p>oh and some Extra curriculars</p>
<p>and Honors Curriculum</p>
<p>Thank you! </p>
<p>I'm in a funny situation... After high school, I took a year off to travel, did some conservation work in australia, was a divemaster in thailand, etc... then went to northeastern university for a year and a half. Made dean's list at Northeastern every semester, had a gpa of about 3.6, can't remember exactly. I then went to South America and worked with AIDS orphans in Peru for 2 months, then continued to travel through bolivia and argentina where I worked in a hostel in exchange for room and board for about a month. Upon my return to the USA I left northeastern and transferred to University College London in London, UK, which is where I am now. It is a great school - regarded highly here in London, but financially London is just killing me. So I applied to Columbia GS (i am from New York) for the fall, I scored around 1200 on my SAT's (nearly 5 years ago!)... my essay was fine, it was well-written and funny. I am nervous, however, about my chances just because there is hardly any information. I know that it is much easier than CC to get into, but still they admit about 40% I read. Northeastern was about the same and I got in... but who knows. Do you think I have a chance?</p>
<p>you should have a good chance. we compete on different pool.</p>
<p>i wouldn't worry too much if i were you.</p>
<p>Oh PS...</p>
<p>They know I am at UCL now, but I don't have an official transcript yet as all of my grades are based on final exams which I am currently taking. The Admissions office told me that was fine, they would review my application without the grades, and should I be admitted, I would then have to send in my transcript once my grades became available. Wouldn't they need the grades to influence their decision?</p>
<p>i think your 3.6 was sufficient enough for them to say that.</p>
<p>I am 99.99% sure you will be admitted</p>
<p>How long did it take them to notify you of their decision? Was it for this fall you applied? Are you going?</p>
<p>You are very helpful. And by helpful - I mean optimistic and encouraging! I wonder why it is so difficult to find admissions information for GS, no one knows anything about it and no one discusses it in this forum really... I've searched everywhere.</p>
<p>it's this fall, i am not sure yet if i am going</p>
<p>as i am also admitted to Stern school of business in NYU, and College of William and Mary(they are giving me full ride)</p>
<p>dunno which one i will pick yet.</p>
<p>They don't publish their statistics probably because it's not that shiny</p>
<p>1, i think their stats are mediocre and they wanna shadow under columbia college
2, their stats are not reported in columbia university's undergrad stats
3, it's bunch of adults who are really driven, but some might find it hard to mix in with college workload and might drop out thus lowering stats</p>
<p>i requested expedited decision because my deposits were due to other colleges.</p>
<p>i personally think this could be a great backdoor to columbia education as we take same classes as college students.</p>
<p>Furthermore, i plan to take columbia college core requirment rather than GS core, to prove to whoever that say i got in through the back door, that i could handle the work</p>
<p>why don't you add me on your AIM or MSN</p>
<p>AIM = fang5656
MSN = <a href="mailto:fang56@hotmail.com">fang56@hotmail.com</a></p>
<p>It's just so hard for me to believe... the whole backdoor thing, especially since the classes are the same as CC! Is the degree the same? I mean what then differentiates (really) GS from CC? Admissions is more relaxed... the students are older and/or non-traditional... and that's it? It's columbia! So crazy...</p>
<p>oh and how did they notify you? did they email you?</p>
<p>actually the admissions lady called me congratulating me that i was accepted and that the package will be mailed out that day.</p>
<p>Well good luck with wherever you choose to go - lucky you!</p>
<p>I've never attended college , after HS went to work for a year. HS grades were 3.88 weighted and 1410 Sat . How dod they evaluate grades??</p>
<p>There have been quite a few threads on GS and GS admissions over the past few months. Some have been very informative. With specific questions, you're best to contact the admissions staff directly. As a GS student, I can tell you that those I've found in the school qualify as an extremely self-selecting bunch, meaning they've followed a non-traditional path to college and found that they could benefit from Columbia's education. The school looks at the individual before the stats, meaning that they're going to evaluate your essay before your SAT scores. This is generally why admissions rates may seem "too high" for Columbia, but the students who actually go through are fairly certain of their chances. GS highly encourages attending an information session or speaking with someone on the admissions staff to find out of the school is right for the student.</p>
<p>As has been stated many times before, both the classes and the degree are the same as the other undergraduate schools. I've found no difference in academic ability between GS and CC/SEAS.</p>
<p>yep...according to GS, that's how many were accepted. Scary, I know.</p>
<p>24% this year?? and last year was close to 50%?? That's quite a difference!</p>