<p>Wow!! That is some essay! LOL on the way you just “spoke about being bullied”. Very different from that causing you to switch carriers and being the reason you want a second degree:)</p>
<p>Very impressive story. How were your stats, if I may ask? (GPA, SAT or whatever?)</p>
<p>By the way I applied regular decision. 1990 SAT cumulative. Didn’t hear back yet. I am a Rabbi by training, my GPA in seminary was 4.0 but I did not get regular/secular education after age of 11. Recent GPA in a year of college was ~3.3. If I get in I’m joining the froyo club, but I’m not sure if that is the best snack for fall/winter. Maybe popcorn/hot-chocolate? I’ll bring the kosher stuff if any of you are interested:)</p>
<p>I love me some Falafel !!!</p>
<p>Oh we can totally do froyo’s during the first week, it won’t start getting cold until late September early October. </p>
<p>@I8myapplication, any progress? I too have had to struggle with the financial aspect of all this… but where there’s a will there’s always a way!</p>
<p>@Natdcny - you were at June 11th APS day? I do not remember why but I got the impression you were the young woman who won JKC, did I figure right? I hope I did, if anyone deserves that it sounds like you do. I have yet to make any real headway, but thats not for a lack of trying. Thanks for the suggestions/support. Deferring for a year is not a good option for a multitude of reasons; some practical, others more personal… to me the most obvious being that working towards a better credit score would probably entail paying back my current student loans before they went into default. Of course I could ask for a personal deferment, but that doesn’t exactly look good on a credit report. With the job prospects I am looking at, the reality of having to start paying off those loans will all but cancel most savings/money used to pay off other debts to better my credit score. However, I’ve been feeling more optimistic about my situation and exploring other options. thanks to the suggestions and support I’ve been receiving on CC, so thank you.</p>
<p>@yeshivish I am not sure if you were/are talking to me but my stats are good, not great. grad HS by the skin of my teeth in 2002. Flunked out of college 3 times. Then came back in 2011 finished with a 3.8GPA, Lots of community service/organizing, VP of PTK, Wrote for the school paper. Lots of independent qualitative research. From that research I made an award winning documentary short. Held internships with the our city schools, an outreach center for post incarcerated addicts and politically organized for Democracy Matters for a short period. I never took an SAT, my ACT is from 2000 and at the time my thoughts were not on education. I did take the GSAE in March but those scores are sealed. An admissions manager all but said my ‘let of rec’s’ made a big difference in the decision to accept me.</p>
<p>@Natdcny “but where there’s a will there’s always a way!”</p>
<p>I know thats right!</p>
<p>Anyone considering Columbia’s meal plan? I don’t know what one goes with a “faculty meal.”</p>
<p>It appears that Barnard’s meal plan is also available to us. I’ll check that out in a bit.</p>
<p>You can use Columbia’s meal plan at Barnard’s dining hall. But, most folks wouldn’t recommend buying ANY plan. It’s terribly expensive - it worked out to be about $14 a meal when I last had a plan (2010-ish). </p>
<p>Street food, in the form of falafel carts and so on, is much, much cheaper and usually tastier.</p>
<p>@18myapplication, was at that APS but I must of missed out on something cause I don’t know what JKC is. I went to the session and the meet n greet briefly, I skipped the tour because I’ve already been on two such campus tours. I did however enjoy talking Guardo (I believe that’s his name) nice chap!</p>
<p>hellojan - it’s surprising to me, but there’s been a surge of interest in the meal plans among the younger, singler, more involved on campus types. If you are honestly going to eat on campus most meals, they start to make some sense. However the vast, vast majority of students don’t use them.</p>
<p>Dining services may even be creating more GS friendly meal plans designed around only lunch a few times a week (mostly wishful thinking, if you ask me).</p>
<p>You know, I think it may work if you’re using it once a day or a few times a week. But, for three meals a day? I still think it’s a little steep.</p>
<p>That said, I will say that John Jay Dining Hall is a great place to kick back and do some people watching.</p>
<p>@natdcny - JKC : Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholarship*.</p>
<p>Did anyone get in heop ?</p>
<p>Is it time to start talking about RD admittance yet?</p>
<p>CelloDiego, what’s RD Admittance?</p>
<p>Hellojan, I think I will be using Columbia’s meal plan at least 3 times a day. I am a terrible cook and would rather spend my time on school work or eating/socializing with others on campus. </p>
<p>If Housing grants me a studio or single dormitory, then I will definitely NOT cook.</p>
<p>Oh right! Thanks @I8myapplication</p>
<p>No, not me!</p>
<p>@ yeshivish Hi, I just saw your reply. Please let me know what do you think.
GPA Baruch 3.5
GPA University in Ukraine 4.0
High school in Ukraine 3.5
Caption of high school basketball team
UN and Consulate General internships in NYC
TOEFL took few days ago, I don’t think I did my best 
</p>
<p>My English professor in Baruch used to teach at Columbia as well and wrote me an outstanding letter of recommendation, I hope it helps.</p>
<p>Admitted for Fall! So excited!! Now to make sure all my ducks are in a row…</p>
<p>Deathtocraig, I will be attending the event in OC also. Here’s hoping that you’re right about housing as well! :-)</p>