<p>@kathy1 I’m stunned. Doesn’t make sense given your ability to log into the finaid system. Strange. As far as community college, you only need one semester under your belt and you can apply if you so choose during your second semester. That’s what I did since I’m older than most applicants and haven’t been in school for quite a while.</p>
<p>I received an email today stating that my application was review this week and that they would like to see my spring semester grades before making a decision. I was an early action applicant as well. Semester ends May 14th, going to be a stressful two weeks with finals.</p>
<p>Returning or 2nd/3rd year students,
Is the general practice to live in UAH housing during the first year and then non UAH housing second year on?</p>
<p>@pocketsqman,</p>
<p>I’m just finishing up my second year at GS, and to answer your question, I don’t think there is any “general practice” in terms of housing decisions. Some students, especially those who already lived in NY prior to matriculation, choose to find their own housing off-campus. I decided to apply for UAH because I was coming from Michigan, and I didn’t want to take on the additional stress of trying to find an apartment in NYC. I’ve been in University Apartment Housing for two years, and will be moving out at the end of this month. Another consideration is that only full-time students are eligible for UAH. GS students pursue many different housing options, and it really depends on your personal circumstances and preferences. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that UAH is not guaranteed for GS students, so if you’re interested in it, apply right away to keep your options open. If you end up being offered housing, you can always decline the offer. Columbia also operates a website called OCHA (Off-Campus Housing Assistance), which is a good resource to check out if you are not offered UAH. Here are some links that may be helpful:</p>
<p><a href=“Housing | School of General Studies”>https://gs.columbia.edu/housing</a>
<a href=“Columbia Residential”>Columbia Residential;
<p>Let me know if you have further questions.</p>
<p>Christina</p>
<p>@jamesljb123 Are you able to log on to the financial aid website?</p>
<p>@Dz11375 and to anyone else interested, here are my stats:
Graduated high school 2009, with 3.9 GPA, from an accredited U.S. distance education program. Like homeschooling but with tests, subjects and materials administered by a school. Im currently 23, female, and intl student
And the only other academic credentials or stats that i have apart from that is my SATs which i just took last year, with basically no studying or preparation ( i was initally being recruited as an athlete so i was told that with a certain score i would be ok for specific colleges) I got a 670 CR, 470 math which totally blows haha, and 620 writing. My SAT II were foreign language, 800 and Literature which I got a 660 or 670.</p>
<p>In terms of background, Im Persian and Urugayan and I have lived in several different countries: south america, europe, in the U.S., and close to africa on an island. (I know i just listed continents haha)
Im a semi-pro / pro tennis player (looking to start pro competition again this year) which is why i was homeschooled to begin with, and im also a certified tennis coach with 5-6 years work experience in prestigious/well known academies.
I started my own jewelry business which is not a biggie, but around 2 years ago I opened a bakery, which I currently still own and run, + is what I live off of. I also love to write so I self-published a poetry book so i could share my writing in readings, but i just got signed to a publishing company in my country and will be releasing some poetry soon. Nothing big, more an important personal accomplishment.</p>
<p>There are a few other things like law firm interships i have done through the years, and writing for local papers and so on. But of course as you can see, academically i dont have anything spectacular, which is why i really understand the admissions officer encouraging me to go to community college and reapply. I feel i probably had a strong background and story, (not all of it is included here) with lots of diversity for sure, but all i have to show school wise is a distance education program and relatively okay SAT scores.</p>
<p>I applied to Gettysburg and Sarah Lawrence too and i was waitlisted at both which was a nice surprise!! </p>
<p>@pocketsqman i know, its so weird because everywhere i look on the forum it seems only accepeted students could log in. I dont know, if anything hopefully the mix-up might help future applicants who will be scoping college confidential for some clues. Since i never tried logging in prior to my interview, i never knew whether it really was related or not. And for those who try to login but cant, it’s the same as @chenzheng - was it because they tried the first time user link or the normal login? But what you said about studying for only a semester is really interesting - could i possibly ask you for your stats or community college story? I am really looking to do just that, study for a semester and seek transfer. I had no idea a semester could be enough, so that was really encouraging, thank you!!!</p>
<p>@jamesljb123 i dont want to get your hopes up but from what i have seen if they ask for your spring grades it is a good sign :)</p>
<p>@jemendez10 no I am not able to log on to financial aid. I would not trust any method of back door acceptance notifications. 100% acceptance is going to come from receiving an email, phone call, or FedEx package. Otherwise your setting yourself up for a let down.</p>
<p>@kathy1 Quite the interesting history. I used to teach tennis as an additional revenue stream in LA. </p>
<p>@kathy1 well…Occidental is actually not a community college, it is a liberal arts college where barack obama spent his first 2 college years. ’
I am a frosh now, I have submitted my transcript for last semester with GPA 3.75 and a mid-year report with GPA 3.93.
I have taken 1 years’ gap after graduation from high school, and done many researches and activities about education. Therefore, almost all of my extracurricular activities are from high school and my gap year.
Hope this help!</p>
<p>@kathy1 Shoot an email to pocketsqman at gmail and I’ll gladly share my stats.</p>
<p>Hey everyone. I just got my entrance credit report (received 58 credits) which was more than I hoped for. Has anyone received any financial aid decisions yet? When I log on to the financial aid site, it says this: </p>
<p>Direct Loan Entrance Counseling Fund Not Received 5/2/2014
Direct Loan Master Promissory Note Fund Not Received 5/2/2014
Direct Loan Parent PLUS Credit Auth 0T1 Fund Not Received 5/2/2014
Direct Parent PLUS MPN Fund Not Received 5/2/2014
Free Application for Federal Student Aid Packaging Received 4/21/2014
Planned Enrollment Form Packaging Received 4/22/2014
General Studies Scholarship Application Packaging Received 2/27/2014 </p>
<p>What does this mean? I was a Phi Theta Kappa member, and I know GS gives Phi Theta Kappa scholarships but it is not here. Does that mean I am not getting any scholarships? </p>
<p>I’m sure it just means that the financial aid folks haven’t determined your award yet.</p>
<p>In my financial aid section under the “messages” tab it says “I am pleased to inform you that by delegated authority of the Scholarship Committee of the School of General Studies, you have been awarded a New Student Scholarship for the 2014-2015 academic year. Please see the awards section of this letter to review this award and any other aid currently offered to you. Scholarship Guidelines:” Anyone else got that? I’m assuming there will be an official letter or is there another section where you can look that up? </p>
<p>Hopeful wishes going out to all the EA applicants and their results! Now that they should have all been notified, will be interesting to see when the RD applicants hear. This upcoming week will be 4 weeks since my application was submitted completely. I hope the turnaround is closer to 4-6 weeks than 6-8!! I can only workout and read so many hours a day, I suppose I’ll have to learn an instrument or something to fill my terminal leave free time!</p>
<p>@TomUSMC I would call the admissions office just to make sure that they have received everything and that your application is under review. Where were you stationed out of?</p>
<p>Camp Lejeune, had my interview down there on April 4rd.</p>
<p>@TomUSMC did you apply to any other schools? </p>
<p>Does anyone know if all RD admission letters go out on 7/15, as stated on their website, or on a first come, first served basis? July seems so far away! </p>
<p>Admissions letters are definitely sent on a rolling basis. It’s not strictly first come, first served, but it’s as they reach decisions. </p>