<p>Thanks moonandstars.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I too am still waiting on a decision.
A representative told me that they are trying to wrap up all decisions within the next two weeks.
Unfortunately, this is the same response that I got in the start of July.
My classes begin towards the end of August and the long wait is getting a tad bit ridiculous.</p>
<p>Hey Subset, I too am waiting on a response.
I called today and spoke with Cathy, she said that some transcripts they could not find and finally when they did, but they want to give every student a fair chance to review their folder etc. If they are not able to come up with a decision they will send a letter if I want to be consider for spring.</p>
<p>I would rather they are not able to make a decision then just give me a straight rejection letter based on their indecisiveness.
What do you think? Would you rather get a rejection letter or get push back for Spring?</p>
<p>Random, I was in the FA office on Friday and they told me that FA packages hadn’t yet been issued for the 2011-2012 academic year. When did you get yours?</p>
<p>Its a little odd to imagine that they would misinform you, but I think I know why… However, before I get to that, I would like to mention that I received mail dated “July 18th, Academic Year 2011-2012,” and five pieces of paper from the Scholarship Committee and the Office of Educational financing informing me of the rewards I received a couple weeks ago. After walking in to "Skip " Bailey’s office just last week, he pointed out that all I need to do is log on to the financial aid website and “Click Accept, on all, or some of the aid.” </p>
<p>I have yet to accept all of the aid. Mr. Bailey informed me that I may have my scholarship re-adjusted by an additional 1,400 because my Phi Theta Kappa status was not accounted for.</p>
<p>So maybe the FA office is only including financial aid packages that students have already accepted? If that is the case, I am still waiting for my possible adjustment from the Scholarship Committee. Only when the changes are made, then I will accept all of my offerings.</p>
<p>By the way, as a Junior transfer, I supposedly get more aid than a sophomore, or freshman transfer.</p>
<p>I see. It’s possible that they do newly admitted students first.</p>
<p>In reference to your claim that most students have to pay five to ten thousand year, that’s usually because of housing. Is Columbia paying for your housing?</p>
<p>Bluedoor that is complete hogwash.
Are they forgetting the time and effort we put into our applications? That aside, how about the fees we paid just to submit our application and respective materials?</p>
<p>In that light, I would rather be rejected knowing that they did not fully review my app (or possibly did not review at all).</p>
<p>At this point, I see no joy in getting accepted. Think about it, the fall semester is right around the corner so if you were to be accepted you would have to wait for financial aid packages, credit evaluations, class eligibility, housing (probably filled up), and the list goes on!</p>
<p>By the time everything is sorted out, classes will have begun.
Spare yourself the stress.</p>
<p>As a final note, in your case I would let them consider me for a later time. That way the time, effort, and money you put into your application would not be in vain. Also, you would probably get a priority decision when the time comes. Getting accepted for the spring with a lot of time on your hands is better than getting accepted now with practically no time.</p>
<p>@ HelloJan, I wish Columbia was paying for my housing, but I see where you are getting at. Right now I am on waitlist with Columbia housing, and as for the place I am staying, it is about 20 minutes from the GW bridge, and rent is a non-issue.</p>
<p>Gotcha, well, congrats on all of your hard work!</p>
<p>Thnks:D 10char</p>
<p>Does anyone has some news regarding your admission?</p>
<p>I am still waiting ^^</p>
<p>I understand that UCLA and UC Berkeley conducts a “holistic” review for its applicants. What makes Columbia GS more holistic than those two schools that I mentioned above?
Is it all about GPA and test scores or is life story as important as those two factors mentioned earlier?</p>
<p>I think the mere fact that GS spends, on average, 4 hours reviewing each respective applicant serves to highlight the level of holism that the school employs in its admission’s process . UC schools do not have the time or the resources to review a prospective applicant in such a way.</p>
<p>This is per the GS dean:</p>
<p>“First of all, we’re a small operation and we spend an average of four hours per application. You show me a traditional college that does that. Now we have to on some levels because you all come with very complex lives and there’re no two applications that are going to be the same.”</p>
<p>So by today everybody on the waitlist should have gotten a response as it’s Aug. 9th. I’m getting myself ready to party for your acceptance guys!</p>
<p>@Pinoiako916</p>
<p>I know a lot of people that currently attend or have attended UCLA, Berkeley, UCSD, etc. I can tell you for a fact that they literally do not have the resources to spend an average of 4 hours judging each application as GS does. They literally toss your folder into a rejection pile, pending further review pile, or acceptance pile after one glance at where your GPA is. This at a time when the entire UC budget is on the decline in conjunction with the fiscal hole of California’s state government. Also, would you really want to attend schools that are raising tuition rates at the same time as they’re reducing resources, funding, and financial aid?</p>
<p>When I applied to GS, my GPA was high but not phenomenal. 3.75-3.8, and declined to ~3.6 the same semester that I received my acceptance letter. I also had one W in a bio class, one P in pre-calculus, and one C in calculus all spread across 2 years. On the other hand, I had experience to talk about in my application such as carpentry, work experience in concrete formwork for residential construction (as well as some experience in demolition), completing an EMT certification program, working in a warehouse, and as a driver. So that gave me a lot of material to work with in selling myself. It also didn’t hurt that I applied as an early decision (ED) applicant, which reflected my serious interest.</p>
<p>Hey everyone, not to get too far off base but I’m applying to the School of general studies for spring 2012 admittance. I would be applying for fall 2011 but I’m still in Afghanistan at the moment and will be until the end of September. Could anyone take a look and let me know what my odds are looking like for transfer? My admissions councilor says I’m a strong candidate but I’d like to hear from people who have already applied.</p>
<ul>
<li>I spent 1.5 years studying at the United States Military Academy at West Point</li>
<li>I had a 3.4 GPA there doing 20-22 credits a semester, plus NCAA D1 fighting, plus thesis work outside of class and serving as a TA (My grades were all A’s and B’s, no C’s)</li>
<li>I won the Annual Student Mathematics award in a class of 1200+</li>
<li>SAT’s were about 1350-1380 (old score)</li>
<li>I have Shining recommendations from 4 professors at West Point (2 Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics) including the teachers I did the thesis work with.</li>
<li>I had a pretty lame HS GPA at 3.25 but tried to pass that in my essay with the explanation that my Dad was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq for an aggregate total of 3 years between middle school and HS and I had to help my mom with my 3 siblings, all younger than myself (etc. etc.)</li>
<li>I smashed the essay and like to think I was more than a bit manipulative in my writing.</li>
<li>I explained my break in education as a moral obligation I felt to deploy with my former unit as they prepared to go to one of the more hostile providences of Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
<p>I’ve already been admitted to Vanderbilt University and the only other schools I’m applying to are Cornell (Close to home and my Dad’s school), and Columbia (love the city and it’s close to friends at West Point.)</p>
<p>Affirmation and advise are more than welcome. Thanks</p>
<p>As always, it’s impossible for forum members to chance each other with any real hopes of accuracy. But, I’d say that you have a heck of a shot. </p>
<p>What program would you apply to? A joint program? A straight Columbia program?</p>
<p>Also, just out of curiosity, what is D1 fightin? Division 1 boxing?</p>
<p>I would be going for a straight Columbia program, as for the “fighting”, I was co-captain of the MMA team at West Point.</p>
<p>If you won an appointment to west point, I have to imagine you have a hell of a change at GS. Just really explain why you withdrew, and why that won’t be an issue again.</p>
<p>(Aside, I didn’t even realize it was possible to withdraw and return to enlisted status or whatnot. I’d be curious to know more about the full sequence of your career/education).</p>