Columbia University-columbia college

current student studying at De Anza College in CA
Well, I am an international student from Korea, and I am 21 yrs old in US(we have different calculation method in counting ages)
I tried to apply to both Columbia University-Columbia college, and Columbia University General studies(GS). But when I called one of the officers of Columbia GS. She said I cannot apply to both schools at the same time. So, I am going to apply to only Columbia University-columbia college.
Somehow, I remember that I saw most students in columbia college are under 21 yrs old. And I am curious whether I can still apply to Columbia college even though I am 21 years old right now.(borned in 1994.april.15th)
Please answer my question by tonight! Cuz The deadline of the application is dur by March 1st
Thanks!

Do you mean Columbia university (old Ivy league school) in NY? Or Columbia College in downtown Chicago?

Make sure you know which one. Regardless, there are no age limits.

OP, you are correct that Columbia University of NY has Columbia College and Columbia University Gnereral Studies. Columbia University General studies is for non-traditional students which at 21 I would think you qualify. You don’t have much time for research but you may be more competitive for GS than Columbia College.

“Regardless, there are no age limits.”

On the contrary, Columbia University in New York will indeed steer non traditionally aged students (by their definition) to General Studies. If you want to go to Columbia, I strongly suggest that your one application should be to GS.

Contact Columbia admissions and ask which would be the more appropriate school to apply to. Offhand I’d agree that GS might make sense.

Hi @bryanchung,

If you have had at break of at least one year in your education, you are not eligible to apply to Columbia College, and will be directed instead to apply to GS, Columbia’s undergraduate college for nontraditional students.

Hi all, can i actually apply to both Columbia College and Columbia GS?

@bryanchung No, you can’t. I think applying to Columbia GS makes more sense for you.

you called their office and they told you that you can only apply to one why are you asking us again?

@GSTourGuides actually that isn’t true, I am currently on a one year break between HS and College, I would be in class of 2019, but I applied for class of 2020 and it doesn’t seemed to have affected me as I got a Likely Letter

No she cannot. If she is under 21, and has had no break in her education, i.e. going straight to college from high school, she can only apply to Columbia College or SEAS. She is not eligible for GS. GS is only for non traditional students, over 21, and have had a break in their education of at least a year. And you can only apply to one of the undergraduate schools per year.

Hi, ricck1, my name is Orit, and I am a current GS student and tour guide/ambassador. There actually is no age minimum for GS. The only eligibility requirement is that the student has at least a year-long break in their education, or a compelling professional or personal reason to attend part time. Please feel free to email gs-admit@columbia.edu or call the Office of Admissions at 212-854-2772 to talk with Admissions directly. I hope this helps.