<p>It’s going to be okay:)</p>
<p>We have champagne (you’ll understand this more when you get here)</p>
<p>But in all seriousness, just PM me if you have questions.</p>
<p>I think I understand. I wish you the best.</p>
<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>My name is Laetitia and I am a student ambassador for the Dual BA program and tour guide at Columbia. I am in my third year of the program and was at the Reims campus for the last two years. I will be happy to answer your questions on this messageboard.</p>
<p>Regards,
Laetitia</p>
<p>Hi Laetitia,</p>
<p>This is a dream program for me. I’m a Spanish French student on a British school. Unfortunately, my scores are not so high as other people’s around here. GPA 3.1, IB 36-37 predicted, and SAT around 1900. After your experience with other admitted students, do you think I can take a chance or definitely no way. I couldn’t find statistics…</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, Annie</p>
<p>Hi @annie97,</p>
<p>Thanks for your question. From personal experience, test scores/GPA do not determine your admission to this program (they are important, but not the make-or-break factor of your application). In fact your IB and SAT scores are quite similar to mine. The admissions process is truly a holistic review of your resume, your personal essays (very important!), your recommendation letters, as well as your academic achievements in high school. The reviewers look to see if the student has challenged his/herself in school by taking rigorous classes (such as IB/AP) and how the student has developed over time. Do not be turned away by the prospect of not having high enough test scores, because this program does not have a minimum score requirement, and the applicant pool is smaller than Columbia College. It is important, however, that your overall project and reasoning for choosing this dual degree program fits the mission and spirit of the Dual BA which will show in your personal essays, letters of recommendation, and extra-curricular activities. Also, once students have passed the initial review, selected applicants will be chosen for an interview that will also factor in to the admissions process.</p>
<p>You will have difficulty finding official admissions statistics because the program is so new and also because the admissions team isn’t looking for specific grades or test scores, so it is difficult to quantify this process in some regards.</p>
<p>Hope this helps. Let me know if you have anymore questions.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<p>Laetitia</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, Laetitia, for your answer; it gives me hope ( and doubts;-))!
In fact, before I was thinking in applying only to Sciences Po because if you apply to the dual, you can not apply to Sciences Po also, and I thought I may have more chance to get in through the international procedure.
Congrats for being there!
All the best, Annie</p>
<p>@annie97,</p>
<p>You are welcome. And actually, when you apply to the Dual BA Program you are automatically considered for admission to the general Sciences Po track. Highly qualified candidates who are not admitted to the Dual BA program, or those who are perhaps a better fit for the traditional Sciences Po curriculum are considered for admission to Sciences Po by default when they apply to the Dual BA. </p>
<p>Best,</p>
<p>Laetitia</p>
<p>Dear Laetitia,</p>
<p>I’m going to apply!
I’ll let you know how is it going. Cross my fingers;-)</p>
<p>Best wishes, A</p>
<p>Hi Laetitia,
Thanks for your message. I have a question about part one of the application form: as a French student do my official transcripts need to be translated and do I need to upload both version?
Thank you!</p>
<p>@universe2015,</p>
<p>Transcripts in any other language than English require an official translation by a certified translator and must be sent to the School of General Studies. You are welcome to upload unofficial versions on the online application form, however please be sure to send official translations to GS. Furthermore, if your high school is located outside of the U.S, then a school official is welcome to email a transcript and translation to <a href=“mailto:spo-dualba@columbia.edu”>spo-dualba@columbia.edu</a> and it can be counted as official.</p>
<p>Please see <a href=“https://gs.columbia.edu/sciences-po/applying”>https://gs.columbia.edu/sciences-po/applying</a> for a list of all required application materials and the address to which they should be sent.</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Laetitia</p>
Hi,
I’m also interested in this program ( the Reims Campus just like you) and I’m now waiting for an email saying I get to have an interview (Crossing the fingers 
!!!) Any idea when I might get it, the waiting is driving me crazy ?
Also, what kind of questions will the commitee ask, I know they will ask some concerning my essays but what are the general, basic questions I will be asked ??
Thanks a lot, hope everyone will succeed in their college searchs
With regards to interviews, I would say that the first batch of requests usually goes out sometime late next week (Last year, I received mine on February 5, 2014, which was the first Wednesday of February).
Best of luck to everyone and be sure to contact any current students for questions now and especially if (when) you get in!
Ok thank you very much ! Only five days to go then… I hope 
Stress is killing me 
THIS IS KILLING ME. THIS IS SERIOUSLY MY TOP CHOICE I CAN’T WITH MY LIFE ANYMORE
@josueprieto ME TOO. THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME.
I got an interview !!!
How are you doing with your applications?
Also, I have the possibility to pass my interview in Paris but somehow I feel more comfortable on skype, what should do? Skype or Paris?
I was also offered an interview, and I’m wondering: How big of a role does the interview play in the admissions process? And how do you think I could put my best foot forward during the interview to advance from this not-really-accepted-but-not-rejected interview phase to an acceptance letter and not a waitlist?
Regarding the interview, relax and enjoy yourself. It’s a really chill procedure and it’s basically a way for the admissions committee to see who they have admitted and to make sure you really don’t have any problems (so if somehow you speak 0 english or you’re a complete jerk or something really extreme). As long as you be honest, sincere, polite, and kind, you should be fine!
Some tips for the interview:
Dress professionally, it’ll help you a LOT as the French are very into presenting yourself nicely (plus it’s always good to show that you care about the interview). Basically a suit with or without the jacket for guys and a dress with a cardigan or something formal that you wouldn’t just wear on a normal school day (or to an informal school dance if you catch my drift).
Do your research on BOTH Sciences Po Paris and Columbia. The most important question that you should be able to respond to is why you want to be in a dual BA program because they don’t want to think that you’re just applying to get into Columbia. Make sure you research your campus, especially a few activities, and look up some information about Columbia (although honestly I told them I didn’t do any research on Columbia yet because I was focused on getting past the first two years, and they still admitted me haha).
Review your essays. Trust me they’ll go through your essays meticulously and most of your questions will come from there - I know for a fact that the majority of my interview was spent on my personal essay about the golden road. They want to know that you didn’t lie in your essays basically.
And finally, be yourself. Just show that you’re really the person they admitted on paper and that they can link an application to a great person!
If you follow these tips, you should be fine and I cannot wait to see you all in France this coming fall!