<p>Angira, where are you going?</p>
<p>Honestly, I feel like those comments apply to every school. We all have those bad experiences. The trick is finding the value in everything we do, we have, or are given. It will never be easy to “fit in.” Colleges are diverse, wherever you go. No application process can root out the pure fact-trivia-crunchers from the truly intellectual.</p>
<p>At my last institution (that I’m leaving for Columbia), I had a group of friends who could have held their own at any Ivy. For that matter, they would have made a state school work just as well. When we spent time together, we knew we were different from much of the student body. I expect a similar situation at Columbia, and hope for it. What good is a place where there is no diversity, even if that diversity includes elements you would typically find unappealing?</p>
<p>Struggle is human, and to some degree, we are stronger for embracing it. It is somewhat hypocritical of me to say this, I suppose, as I am transferring. But not for the same reasons as angira. Don’t leave a school because you hate it. Attend a different school because you love it. I see a school like Columbia helping me access more of my potential.</p>
<p>wl ppl, may I ask a question? what if your grades for this semester not quite decent as it was when you were applying?</p>
<p>this is my final week and I could almost estimate my GPA for this semester. unfortunately, it’s not as good as it was last semester…not being a dramatic fall, but it could be 0.5 point lower. 
I think it will become the disadvantage if I send them, but it’s required for all the people on waitlist. I screwed it up. :'(</p>
<p>gobackto2005, I think my GPA dropped as well. Probably by 0.2, more or less. But I am taking harder classes than fall term (all 200 lvl), so I hope that makes up for it. I’m a freshman by the way.</p>
<p>I’m taking harder classes too, not 200 lvl but were high 100 lvl science classes(programming etc.) But I think it really wouldnt make it up cuz it’s not 200 lvl…agh…poor me</p>
<p>Angira,</p>
<p>I can say many of the same things you did about my first year at BC. I had a terrible time at my freshman orientation, and I felt like I had nothing in common with everyone I met. I struggled in some of my classes first semester because they were core classes, and they were humongous and filled with students who didn’t care about the material so discussions were always very dry, and I resented the fact that I had to take them so I didn’t do any work for them. Both my Microeconomics and Macroeconomics classes were taught by PhD candidates, and I found myself learning a lot of material on my own. I also hated walking around campus and not knowing a single face. I could go on and on, but somehow by the end of second semester I managed to like BC. I think the key is just getting involved in something that you can invest yourself in, and also to give the school a chance because it’s easy to fall into that resigned mindset. Even if you get out, how do you know you won’t run into the same problems somewhere else?</p>
<p>I hope I don’t sound like a know-how, but I had to respond because I recognized a lot of myself in what you said. I joined an improv comedy group at BC, where the people completely changed my views about the type of student that goes to BC. I acknowledge that there’s a “BC Type” like there’s a “Columbia type”, and by simply walking through campus it’s very easy to be put off by the ubiquity of this “formula”, but if you search hard enough (and sometimes in unlikely places) you’ll find the exceptions to the rule.</p>
<p>Anyways… I got accepted, much to my surprise (because my GPA first semester wasn’t that great, 3.58, and my SAT IIs were on the low side, and because they waitlisted me last year). I’m not sure if I’ll be going, but, as sad as it is, a part of me still hasn’t gotten over Ivy League rejection and it’ll be really hard to pass up Columbia.</p>
<p>Hi all - I also will be joining Columbia University as a transfer student next semester. I’m coming in as a junior; it seems like there are limited numbers of new 3rd year students. I wish I had a Facebook to join the transfer group and get to know you all better. Oh well, I guess I’ll be meeting you all in July at the orientation…can’t wait!!</p>
<p>P.S. Aris, you are spot on with your assessment of successful transfer applicants. Most of the people on here would pass out if they heard I was accepted with my relatively low SAT/SAT II scores…</p>
<p>" Made it, and in the process discovered what you need to be a successful transfer. In the order of (what I consider) most important:</p>
<ol>
<li>Essays that craft an insightful narrative</li>
<li>First semester (or first 3 semesters) college GPA +3.9</li>
<li>A strong professor who knows you well, cares, and will help you through the process</li>
</ol>
<p>Less important: SAT scores, high school GPA, extra curricular activities</p>
<p>In my opinion, the essays are far and away the most important part of the transfer process. I cannot stress this enough. It is your sole opportunity to explain why you are transferring now, and why Columbia (or insert any other school) is the right choice, for both you and the school.</p>
<p>I imagine other applicants with historically better grades than mine were turned away. I’ve read on other threads how perfect SAT students were rejected. One of them commented that he/she blew off the essay.</p>
<p>Don’t do it. "</p>
<p>For people who are considering applying in the future, I want to definitely reinforce the first and third, and still apply if your gpa is less than stellar.</p>
<p>I’m mixed race and an alumni, but I was 32/71 in my high school class and had a 3.28 GPA my first semester of college and was accepted. 2310 SAT and 40,000/year business outside of school with proceeds donated to charity.
I’m not a typical case, but it definitely can happen - I had absolutely no expectations of getting in.</p>
<p>Anyway, look to see a lot of you there and very excited</p>
<p>haha, i got rejected from SEAS, even though i had like a 4.17 gpa. guess my essays weren’t good enough, especially my why columbia essay, i essentially cut out half of my common app transfer essays and used it for why columbia. Although my rec’s were good though, and so were my high school grades, had like a 41 IB Diploma with 5 HL’s.</p>
<p>anyone know if the wait list people should have any hope? I already see that most, if not all, of you accepted students want to go.</p>
<p>Angira shows why he/she perhaps is not a great fit for Columbia. But what is most troublesome is the fact that he/she does misrepresent a lot of facts, and that is my ultimate **** off.</p>
<p>There are 10 classes at Columbia that have 400 students, and only 1 lecture hall that holds over 250 students, that is 417 IAB. Courses I had there included Rashid Khalidi’s Modern Middle East, Intermediate Macro with Xavier Sala-i-Martin, both that are always well attended because the profs have cult followings. Principles is often in that class, I also took a class with Alan Brinkley there, and I heard one semester Eric Foner had to be moved there. My guess if she is speaking theatrics she is talking about Xavier, who though a little off his rocker, is a smart guy and makes you see economics in a different way. A discussion section of 70 is supposed to be impossible especially when you know that they purposefully make it so that there is 1 TA for ever 35 students, sign up for another discussion section. So why mention it? As if to scare students off? If you want an LAC feel, Columbia will give you more classes under 20 than Dartmouth and Princeton. Pulling out this isolated instance is not sufficient.</p>
<p>I took upper level classes my first semester, took graduate courses in junior year at SIPA, and was on very close terms with my adviser who still calls me up to help her out on any number of things she is doing. I use these to counter his/her claims.</p>
<p>I think Angira is proving that she couldn’t excite him/herself with the Columbia experience. I would say that this is a very minority opinion, though certainly not impossible. I recognize a lot of her sentiments because I have heard them from other students. I think it is important to know that Columbia is not right for everyone - especially those who want a place that is more touchy feely. </p>
<p>Columbia when you see it in the right light (usually 6am from Butler) is about exploring yourself. It is about the individual as college should be! But it is also about about the communities that you are apart of - your dorm, the university, MoHeights, Harlem, the broader city, your religion, your cultural background. It is diversity at its least pretentious. </p>
<p>Regarding the individual: I find the fact that Columbia is so centered here to be fascinating, intriguing and intellectually stimulating. Angira doesn’t. That is fine. I think Columbia makes you a better person in a weird way. And not because she actively tries to make you better, but as a result of the dichotomies - the intense academic sphere, the bustle of the city, the fact that ideas are constantly growing, activities constantly starting up, and, yes, failing. There is an energy at Columbia, on campus, in the city, that really is not comparable. </p>
<p>I will agree that urban alienation is certainly more cruel than suburban or rural isolation. Because it seems antithetical to be in a city and not know people at the same time. That is why not everyone is perfect fit for the city/experience. And if you go 4 years at Columbia and don’t have some sense of alienation, well, go you. But once you get over the mind***** of the fact that you are around people and not yourself, you realize that there is an incredible peacefulness. I used to take advantage of it by taking long walks through neighborhoods and watching people, observing, learning, feeling apart of the city and detached at the same time. There is always an other side to things, and if you are entrepreneurial and are not disengaged by an initial barrier, you will always look for that better side. In that regard, Columbia wont hold your hand, it wont kiss you before you go to bed, but in the end you will figure out how to operate in the cruel real world and still come out smiling.</p>
<p>Come to the Columbia board to hear more from some positive alums about Columbia, and why Columbia.</p>
<p>Admissionsgeek,</p>
<p>I understand that Columbia is a place for those who are independent, but overall are the students friendly? By friendly I don’t mean that they will go out of their way to make you feel welcome, but friendly in the sense that they are not actively bitter towards others. I’ve been to the Columbia campus twice (once for an overnight visit and on another occasion for a lunch visit) and I had a hard time perceiving how friendly the students were.</p>
<p>friendly? definitely. i really liked columbia kids. i thought they were unpretentious, and though people like to work hard - there is always a sense that most people do not take themselves too seriously, which is a problem i gather from other schools. at columbia it is easy to meet people, to find people you don’t like, but to also find people you like a lot - that impress and excite you. note that yeah the avg. columbia student is more independent, but they are cut from the same cloth as those going to other ivy, top tier schools; they hold a similar premium for strong friendships, community and other traditional collegiate notions. </p>
<p>a good way to think about columbians is that they are like new yorkers in general. they have a hard exterior - brash, very much independent. but, like most new yorkers, when you say hello, ask a question, and get to know them - you will be surprised. we are for the most part teddy bears with an intellectual bent. and there is a premium for understanding, community, friendship that i think most people have. </p>
<p>read some of the posts on the cu board to get a sense. i can say with certainty it really is an incredible place. if you have a great attitude about it, take the place by storm, are not afraid to go up to someone random and say hello; the academic, social and personal growth you can have at cu expands far far beyond what you can do at any other uni in the world. or at least that’s my opinion. :)</p>
<p>i also know many transfers who had a great time after transferring. one went on to be the salutatorian, and though the first few weeks are going to be tough (entering into a space where other people already have roots), my biggest suggestion is involve yourself as much as possible, go to meetings, start or join study groups. the more people you know, the easier it is to find the folks you click with the better experience you will have.</p>
<p>any psychology transfers?</p>
<p>Hey WL,</p>
<p>My GPA is lower as well, by 0.02. But then again, it wasn’t high to begin with, and I took 2 honors courses this semester instead of just one. I think you should all send in your GPAs in, regardless, because we all want to go to Columbia right! Best of luck to you all, and congrats again to those accepted. I hope us WL people will be joining you for the July orientation.</p>
<p>Maybe this is a dumb question, but I’m just curious, does our GPA transfer with us or do we just get the credits for the classes that we took/passed and start fresh? I’m curious because there’s an extra-credit component to one of my final papers, and doing it could be the difference between an A- and a solid A. I would rather not waste my time doing the extra credit and focus more on studying for my other final, if my GPA doesn’t transfer… but if it does, I’ll do whatever I have to to keep that 4.0. Thanks!</p>
<p>Your GPA won’t transfer but it’ll matter if you plan on applying to grad/professional school.</p>
<p>Ooooh great point!! Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey All,</p>
<p>I’m new to this forum, but this thread caught my eye, as Columbia is #1 on my transfer list. I’m a little worried though, considering my current situation. I go to The Citadel, a really small military school in the south. I have a 3.95 in the honors program, I’m part of the Jewish Student Society, Philosophy Club (which is my intended major, if I get into Columbia), and Navy ROTC. I have a lot of professors who are willing to write a letter of recommendation for me. However, I got an 1880 on the SAT the first time (I am retaking it in October; Is this a good idea?), and my high school grades are meager at best. The key thing is that through the Citadel, I gained the discipline necessary to survive in a rigorous academic environment. I’m hoping that if I somehow write that into my essay, Columbia will understand. Do you think that since they are sort of anti-military, they will be turned off by my current school situation? Any advice is helpful!</p>