Fall 2013 Early Action

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
801

<p>Hi everyone
I’m new to this forum, but basically doing some background research before potential applying to GS. I was wondering whether anybody here (current GS student or otherwise), could comment on my suitability/chances of getting accepted. </p>

<p>Firstly - I am from the UK. So our school system is a quite different - there isn’t really such thing as GPA for a start. Just to give you a really brief overview of the UK system:</p>

<p>School is mandatory up to the age of 16, where you do your GCSEs (general certificate of secondary education). Most students take about 9 subjects (the usual suspects - math, sciences, history, geography etc.) (Graded A* to F)</p>

<p>If you want to continue education ‘Post16’ - you typically go to what we call college. At college, you specialise in 3-4 subjects to attain ‘A Levels’. A Levels take 2 years. </p>

<p>Then, if you have A-Levels, you can then apply to do a variety of undergraduate degrees at university. </p>

<p>OK - so sorry for the background info, but I’m guessing you won’t all necessarily be totally familiar with the UK system. </p>

<p>Onto me. I left school at 16, after my GCSEs. I took 11, and got 5 A*s and 6As. </p>

<p>I started college, but left when I decided to start my own business. We’re a tech company that make interactive lottery games. The secondary reason I left college was that I was, at that point in my life, fed up with education - I wanted to get out there!</p>

<p>The business has been pretty successful, but it’s a long road - we’re not there yet. We employ 40 people in London (ranging from software architects to graphic designers), and we’re in the process of opening an office in NYC. </p>

<p>The reason I want to go to CGS is that having left school at 16, I am lacking some really core skills that’ll allow me to stay at the top of the game when it comes to my business. I’ve got some matter between my ears, but no grounding from which to excel in the increasingly fast-paced business world that I find myself in. </p>

<p>I guess I’m looking for clarification on a couple of things; </p>

<p>-Does the fact that I haven’t stretched myself academically since I was 16 (I’m 23 now), and therefore feel academically rusty, matter? </p>

<p>-Do most applicants have education at a much higher level, i.e. beyond high school?</p>

<p>-Would they likely want to see me first get some good grades at a lesser school in the US to build up a more common GPA that they recognise? </p>

<p>Thanks for any help you can give - and sorry for the essay. </p>

<p>Oh - and I’d be considering a Econ-PoliSci major, providing my quant is up to scratch. </p>

<p>And one last thing - I would be paying for my education using my own cash, cash that I have earned from the success thus far of my business. </p>

<p>Cheers</p>

802

<p>geohenry - it sounds like you’re trying to develop professionally and learn more about business strategy. I think that’s good, but I wonder if GS would give you a good return on your time and money invested compared to some other schools. It’s a liberal arts college within the university so there are no “professional” degrees offered like accounting, finance, marketing etc. The real value, at least for me, lies in the Columbia name and the opportunity to study in NYC. That being said, maybe you have other reasons for wanting to attend in addition to what you’ve mentioned.</p>

<p>I also think you’re probably very qualified based on what you wrote. You’re obviously non-traditional and it doesn’t sound like you performed poorly in the past. I’m sure they’ll want to see an entrance exam, but I can tell you there isn’t any quantitative material on it and I found it wasn’t too terrible. Mostly writing and reading comprehension in addition to some vocabulary stuff.</p>

<p>I performed pretty poorly in high school so I needed some time at a smaller college to build up credibility with two semesters of good grades (3.8+ consistently including summer and winter classes).</p>

<p>I’m also pretty sure the answer to the rest of your questions is that it can all vary. I think some people come in with no higher education while others I’ve spoken to are seeking a second degree in a different subject. It all depends, but I hope that clarified some of the concerns you have.</p>

803

<p>Thanks for your reply @Motame !</p>

<p>In answer to your points - totally see where you’re coming from about Columbia being a liberal arts college, with professional courses not really featuring so much. Certainly, I have considered in the past do various professional short courses to teach me specific skills that’ll directly relate to my business. </p>

<p>The truth of it is though, that what I am after is an education. The broad range is what appeals to me - I want to learn about learning. I want to gather the academic know-how to think critically, research, purvey an argument, substantiate claims - and I guess most importantly, I want to learn how I personally can educate myself. My guess is that were I to attain an undergraduate degree from Columbia, I would have the tools I need internally to teach myself the specific professional skills (like corporate finance, or whatever) at a later date. </p>

<p>I see something in Academics that I don’t see in myself - and it’s hard to put my finger on what it is - but I hope that whatever it is, I will gain it from studying at Columbia. </p>

<p>For me, the Columbia name isn’t actually too important - I don’t intend to ever have to write another resume! But Universities get their name because they are good; great faculty, bright students. That’s where I want to be. I want a degree for nothing more than my own personal development, and what I want out of it is far more than just the right to put it on a resume. What I hope is that Columbia is the sort of environment where I can so much more out of my time there than a degree. </p>

<p>I was also really intrigued to hear what you said about the entrance exam, and most particularly that there isn’t too much quantitative stuff on there. So - a SAT test is not necessarily mandatory? I’d be really keen to hear a little more about what you know of the entrance exam. </p>

<p>Thanks again</p>

804

<p>geohenry - Sounds like Columbia might be the place for you. I think Columbia’s approach is a lot about developing critical thinking and studying arts, science, history etc. so the university may be a good fit for you if part of what you want is a rich learning experience. I’ve heard from more than one person that the mission, or goal, is not to develop professional skills - they tend to believe that takes place at a graduate level or in the work environment. It was something along those lines. I’m sure someone else can elaborate on that point if they feel like I’m misrepresenting the university.</p>

<p>As for the entrance exam… I actually took the SATs while I was deployed in Afghanistan. However, I did not submit them because the score wasn’t too impressive and I went on to take much higher math courses the year following when I took them. I no longer felt like they were an accurate representation of my ability, quantitative or otherwise, by the time I applied. So I opted to take the entrance exam. The GS entrance exam is actually a carbon copy of the SAT verbal portion. It actually says SAT on it, I think. The ONLY difference is that whoever supervises you during the test will have you skip over the math sections. That’s it. Everything else is word for word what you would see on an SAT exam. They include a small writing book and a prompt with a topic that asks you to write about why Columbia or something to along those lines. That written portion is given to you at the end of the multiple choice and it’s the last part of the exam. It’s timed and you don’t see the essay topic or question until it’s time to write. That’s about it. The whole thing takes a few hours but it sure beats doing the math and the verbal.</p>

<p>Hope that helps.</p>

805

<p>FROYO!</p>

<p>People! Months upon months I’ve read about the Froyo, and I WILL NOT BE DENIED !
Let’s set up a proper time and date to get some ! Since orientation is on the 26th, I would suggest we go for Froyo on that day, like around 5:30pm when orientation is more or less over? Does anyone know WHERE to get the froyo ?</p>

806

<p>what is froyo?</p>

807

<p>FYI, orientation day typically goes straight into an evening event with drinks and food. There will be other events throughout that week. The 2012 NSOP schedule (not yours, but similar) is archived here: [Extended</a> Orientation Week | General Studies](<a href=“http://web.archive.org/web/20120822123626/http://www.gs.columbia.edu/extended-orientation]Extended”>Extended Orientation Week | General Studies)</p>

808

<p>How about the day before?!</p>

809

<p>Froyo = frozen yogurt</p>

<p>I was originally counting on the froyo truck that parks outside of the gates but I haven’t seen it there lately … How about Pinkberry?!</p>

810

<p>Hey Froyo’ers! Should we make a plan man?! Lets start throwing out some times a dates… How about Sunday afternoon…? Everyone should be in town by then and hopefully not working on Sunday.</p>

811

<p>I’m here and not working and down to get froyo whenever. More than once if necessary. It is ridiculously terrible weather. It should never be this hot AND this humid</p>

812

<p>Oh PA-LEEASE! This is nothing! You must of missed the heat wave… 7 days of hell! </p>

<p>Ok good 1 down 20 more to go…! We need more Froyo’ers (I have a feeling Ill be standing out there all alone cursing College Confidential.)</p>

<p>I say… Sunday in front of the gates… Look for the girl holding the froyo sign…!
Pick a time.</p>

813

<p>Just because it can get worse doesn’t make it any better.</p>

<p>What time on Sunday? And what happened to everyone else?</p>

814

<p>You guys getting excited? Anything an alum can do to help you out?</p>

815

<p>Oh come on! Ok I think a postponement is in order, lets wait for a slightly larger group.</p>

816

<p>I sent in my intent to defer until next fall. Received confirmation of that a few days ago. Now it’s time to save money and shop for moving services!</p>

817

<p>Froyo this evening at 5? Meet in front of Lewisohn and walk to Pinkberry?</p>

818

<p>Nevermind, let’s postpone for another day.</p>

819

<p>Orientation was great!</p>

820

<p>Happy first day everyone!</p>