I am going crazy and refreshing my email inbox every hour or so waiting for my admission decision to come in. I think my chances for admission are probably slim to none, but I can’t help it. I submitted my application and all the required documents before the March 1st EA deadline.
I got a 1920 (590 CR, 660 M, 670 W) on the SATs, I had a 4.0 gpa with only 20 quarter credits from a CC, my high school GPA was 80/100, and I served for four years in the 75th Ranger Regiment. I also interviewed (in-person) with the vice dean of Columbia GS. I think that my essay was good. The veteran’s organization that is helping me told me that my essay was great. The suspense is killing me.
Anyone got a decision today? I called the admissions office just now and the lady asked for my name. Then she told me that decisions will probably come out on Sunday or Monday… Do decisions come out on Sunday? Does that mean I am rejected? Because she doesn’t have to check my name to know when the major decisions will come out…and she would probably have told me if I was accepted…
@vancehunyc Don’t stress about that… I doubt she had the authority to tell you what the decision would have been over the phone regardless if you got in or not. I’m still playing the waiting game too.
@vancehunyc Imagine that she gave you your decision over the phone as a result of you calling in. Soon enough, after you’ve spread word of your experience, everyone would be calling in hoping for a decision. I wouldn’t stress it
@hope4columbiags, Were you with Service2School? I am in touch with a current student veteran at GS. He didn’t receive his decision until June 18th - and he applied Early Decision.
@ColumbiaHopeful99 Thank you I was just very nervous… And you are right! I just called a lady was very nice she literally took a couple of minutes to ask the admissions committee and she said that my decision is not made yet, they are still wrapping it up…
@maxenvellzen Yes, I’m with Service2School. The website saids that if you applied by March 1st, you should receive the decision by May 1st. I emailed them about it too. They confirmed it for me. I really hope to find out their decision soon. The suspense is making me lose sleep. I already got accepted to my safety school, but now I am seriously doubting my chances of being accepted to Columbia.
If you don’t mind me asking, what is your safety school?
I understand the toll the wait can take on your nerves, but based on what I can see, you have a pretty similar profile to other successfully admitted veterans I have spoken with. Wishing you the best of luck! Let us know when you get admitted!
My safety school is CUNY Hunter. Unfortunately it’s not the best CUNY for computer science, but if I end up going there then I will still put forth my best effort and go from there.
I hope that you’re right about my profile. I personally think that my SAT score and the fact that I have so few college credits is really weighing me down. 20 quarter credits is just 12 semester credits. I think the only real advantages I bring to the table are my essay and the unit I served in while I was in the army. A Service2School ambassador that is currently a GS student told me that they accept a lot of special operations forces veterans.
Thank you for the kind words. I will keep you all updated. I wish you the best of luck.
Yeah, I think being an Army ranger definitely gives you a boost. I was actually worried about the prestige of my unit/AFSC (that’s MOS to you) playing a negative role. My job, for the most part, is void of glory and doesn’t elicit the kind of wonderment a special forces job does. I think my saving grace is in the fact that I served in the Honor Guard. I don’t know, we’re just speculating, right?..Haha.
I think if you’ve got a pretty damn good essay with an interesting story, clear direction and sense of purpose, and a record of recent academic success, you should be in the running for admission.
Were your recommendations professional or academic?
Hi. I have been accepted. Now I need 20k annually to finance my education at GS this fall. Can anyone recommend me any outside scholarships that are suitable for me ?
p/s: I’m from Vietnam- already have a degree in Finance. Major at GS : Computer Science.
I don’t think that your AFSC matters as much as how you can spin it to show how the military has changed you. In this case, your essay would have to shine. Just because someone served in SOF, does not mean that his writing abilities are better than yours. An eloquent and inspiring essay about a young man that went into the service and came out as a mature adult in just a few years who is now ready to tackle a challenging academic workload is what will make you stand out from civilians and even other veterans.
I thought my essay was good. My Service2School ambassador told me that it was great. The only recent academic success I had was in four classes at CC, the only classes I took. I happened to get a 4.0 in each.
My recommendations were both academic. My former math professor and former english professor wrote me my recommendations.
