<p>Does anyone have any experience with grad school admissions after graduating from Columbia GS? I'm looking for as much information as I can possibly get; the more details (GPA, grad schools, etc) the better. Also, any information regarding people transferring from GS to other schools would be appreciated....</p>
<p>I’ve looked through recent Class Day and graduation announcements. GSers regularly go on to graduate work at top schools and top programs. Recent GS valedictorians have been accepted to Yale law and, in the most recent case, Stanford’s doctoral economics program.</p>
<p>The bias towards GS students is something you may have to deal with. There may be a kernel of truth to the idea that GS is somewhat of a back door to Columbia - at the end of the day it’s up to you if you even take the time to worry about this. However, it’s unfair to say that there aren’t extraordinarily talented students/scholars beginning their academic careers at GS. The school’s core directly mirrors that of CC. One would expect that graduate admissions committees to be aware that the rigor and requirements are nearly identical for anyone coming from Columbia.</p>
<p>The post-bacc program is the oldest in the country. It’s also probably the most successful at placing future doctors into competitive med schools. </p>
<p>The general attitude towards GS, as far as I can tell, is simple. If you’re successful at your studies and you add something of value to the university community, well, who cares?</p>
<p>Jan-
Thanks for the reply. You hit most of my concerns and hopes pretty much on the head, and I really appreciate the information that you found in the Class Day and graduation announcements. I suppose my biggest concern is not so much whether or not GS is a back door to Columbia (I think you’re right that there probably is some degree of truth to the sentiment), but whether I will be judged by the same criteria based upon my results at Columbia as other Columbia (CC, SEAS, and Barnard) students are, or whether the results will be looked down upon as a result of the door I took to get there in the first place. Since I’m still relatively young, I’m not entirely concerned with fitting in at a campus setting, but I’d still like to learn a little bit more about how time at GS is viewed compared to CC, and for that matter other colleges and universities, by those whom I would be relying on to be the most informed (specifically graduate admissions). </p>
<p>My only other concern stems from the inability of GS students to take SEAS classes, since while I’m not entirely decided on a major, and it may ultimately be a non-issue, I do tend to be scientifically and mathematically inclined, which would obviously lend itself to programs like SEAS (with the outside possibility that it might require either a cross-campus transfer, which supposedly is nearly impossible, or a transfer to another school altogether to pursue those interests). So, if anybody else has either first-hand, or even reliable second-hand, knowledge with these types of situations, I would really appreciate any feedback that you could offer.</p>
<p>Yeh, I’m in the same boat as you nontradtransfer. I have been accepted to GS and going to have to make a decision soon. I just don’t want to spend a huge amount of money and even have to worry about fighting some stigma. Or if the huge tuition (and tiny FA) are really worth that much more then a good Univ of CA school… </p>
<p>My goal is Harvard Business School after undergrad, I know it’s lofty, but that’s why my decision regarding undergrad is so important…</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> or Bust](<a href=“http://harvardorbust.com%5DHarvard”>http://harvardorbust.com) - my blog so far about my experience…</p>
<p>If Columbia GS does not work out for you, you can apply Harvard Extension School…
Harvard extension graduates have been admitted to every single harvard graduate schools, including Harvard Med, Harvard Law, PhDs… and Yale Law , Med , MIT, etc…</p>
<p>yeh, but Harvard’s program is exactly what it’s called. An extension school. Different classes, different teachers, different students, (yes, you can take a few actual harvard classes, but not alot).</p>
<p>it’s not the same thing as Columbia’s program where you are in the regular classes with the same student body and same teachers.</p>
<p>OP – GS Admissions should be able to answer your questions and might provide you with hard numbers about the % of graduates who go to grad school plus which grad schools they go to. They can also let you know if you will be able to take SEAS classes. I don’t think you can transfer from one undergrad school to another within Columbia from GS. GS Admissions can answer that one quickly. </p>
<p>While at Columbia, you will have access to some high-profile professors. Cultivate a few in your chosen field so that they can write grad school recommendations for you.</p>
<p>Are you sure it is same student body ?
I heard that GS students take special section of the course. ex) course number that starts with letter F… and you need some permission to take a course that start with letter C (Columbia College courses)</p>
<p>^^^
Completely false. The only classes that have special GS-only sections are Contemp Civ, Lit Hum and UW. And even then, you can take the Columbia College sections. I know, I have done it and have the tshirt to prove it.</p>
<p>Classes labeled with C or F or W are purely for administrative purposes and have nothing to do with what student can enroll in it. For example, a CC/SEAS student can enroll in an F-class. And vice versa. So please, let’s stop spreading this misinformation.</p>
<p>And yes, you can take SEAS classes. As long as you have the prereqs. I know, as I am enrolled in a “SEAS” class this very semester (an applied physics class) and will be taking another next semester. I did not have to fill out any special forms, I just went on ssol and signed up for it.</p>
<p>And I’ll tell you a little secret, you can transfer from GS to SEAS. But shhh, you didn’t hear that from me. Transferring to CC, though, is not possible.</p>
<p>
What about Physics , Chem, Bio…etc… they all have courses that start with F which
is GS course eg. ) intro bio at GS is F2401 columbia college is C2006 </p>
<p>I am sure two school can cross register. Harvard Extension can also register at Harvard College.</p>
<p>Why is there two different section or two differen course number ?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>School of General Studies also means Extension School or Continuing Studies.<br>
GS 's previous name was Columbia Extension School…</p>
<p>General Studies is one of three undergraduate institutions at Columbia University (CC and SEAS are the others). There is a school of continuing ed at Columbia. However, just like at Harvard, the degree is different. </p>
<p>The validity of GS is debated endlessly on this forum (as is the value of the Barnard affiliation, etc). GS students often distinguish themselves with extensive, practical life experience as well as academic success. They usually add to those stories by going to TOP law, medical, and other graduate programs.</p>
<p>So, why worry about impressing people who won’t add to your success?</p>
<p>jomjom, since you insist…</p>
<p>The short answer is that F2401 has the label F because it is… (what’s a good word?) sponsored by the Post-bac program. The Post-bac program is part of GS, hence the F. And now we’ve come full circle.</p>
<p>[FREQUENTLY</a> ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BIOLOGY (FROM GS STUDENTS)](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/advice/faqs/gs.html]FREQUENTLY”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/advice/faqs/gs.html)</p>
<p>"Q5: What is the difference between Bio C2005 and Bio F2401?
A5: Short answer: Not much – there is a single web site for both classes.</p>
<p>Long answer:
The lectures in Bio C2005 and F2401 are identical and the overall work load in the two courses is the same. However the amount of time a student is required to spend in class is different. This is because C2005 has required recitations (with weekly quizzes) and F2401 has optional recitations (no quizzes). Because of the required recitation, Bio C2005 is 4 points while Bio F2401 is 3 points. (The same similarities and differences apply to Bio C2006 vs. F2402.)
F2401 has optional recitations because it is assumed that many GS students:
(1) have less time available to attend recitations because of jobs and family responsibilities,
(2) do not want to pay for the extra point, and
(3) have had more practice at pacing themselves and are less likely to allow themselves to fall behind.</p>
<p>The exams in the two courses and the grading scales for the exams are the same - the scale is set using the scores of the C2005 (undergraduate) students. Therefore the exam scores needed to earn an A are exactly the same in each class. However the percentage of A’s in each class is often different because the composition of the two classes is not the same.
**Undergraduates in GS should take C2005, and postbacs and special students must register for F2401.<a href=“Note%20that%20all%20exams%20in%20both%20classes,%20except%20the%20final,%20are%20given%20at%20night.”>/b</a> Students from either class may attend either set of lectures; students can switch back and forth as their schedules change (or they oversleep) or even go twice a day if they want. However, C2005 students must attend C2005 recitations and F2401 students may attend only F2401 recitations. Sign up for recitation occurs after the first class meeting; instructions for sign up will be provided in class and on the course web page.
If you need additional information, contact the instructors or see the C2005/F2401 web page which includes notes from last year’s lectures, a sample exam, etc. "</p>
<p>Ok GS & CC may take same courses</p>
<p>Harvard Extension students also take exactly same course as Harvard College students do. The course numbers are different but<br>
Same harvard professor same text book sam exam and same hw…</p>
<p>ben8- Very cool blog and best of luck with the rest of your admission decisions. It sounds like where ever you end up you’re pretty much set-up to succeed, and I really commend you on not giving up on your dreams. If by chance we both end up at Columbia, I look forward to getting to know you.</p>
<p>GS-Branding- Thanks for the heads up with the possibility of transferring to SEAS, and the information about the C and F Biology classes. I guess the only possible concern with that would be if there are any courses that specifically require the C class as a prerequisite.</p>
<p>jomjom- With all due respect to the faculty at Harvard Extension, who by all accounts are top notch, I think the difference between Harvard Extension and Columbia GS lies in the degree of segregation between the student bodies of the respective Universities. It is my understanding that there is a pretty strict limit on the number of classes that a student at Harvard Extension can take at Harvard College, and I don’t think I would like being that restricted with my studies. Having said that, thanks anyways, I really do appreciate any and all advice.</p>
<p>Anyways, I know trying to control a thread on an internet message board is like asking a dog to stop being a dog, but I’d really like to avoid this thread devolving into a debate on the relative merits of Harvard Extension and GS. I’m really just looking for specific information, good, bad or neutral, about people applying to graduate school (and to a lesser extent, undergraduate transfers) out of Columbia GS. So if anyone out there has any personal experience with that type of situation, or knows somebody who does, I’d really appreciate any information that you’d be willing to divulge. Thanks.</p>
<p>harvard extension school is not as good as harvard college. there’s no justification for arguing otherwise.</p>
<p>columbia gs is known for being the best school of its type. it is rare that this type of school would allow complete freedom to cross register with the “normal” undergraduate body, something which HES is not so good about.</p>
<p>Case closed! Enjoy your weekends!</p>
<p>Yes, no more HES vs GS talk. They are completely differnt programs. JomJom I do suggest you call HES and get your questions answered properly because HES students can’t take all the same classes as Harvard undergrad students (I believe you can ONLY take a couple Harvard classes and that is if you are maintaining a certain GPA).</p>
<p>Now, the CC versus GS comparison will go on for ever. There is a thread with 35+ pages that argues every point possible. Check it out:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/30154-columbia-college-vs-school-general-studies.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/30154-columbia-college-vs-school-general-studies.html</a></p>
<p>Harvard Extension, Columbia GS, UPenn GS are all the same…
Thse are schools for non-traditional students. They all have almost open admission </p>
<p>I am sure some programs are better than the other
Some programs are more integrated with regular colleges.
but they receive different degree, different diploma.</p>
<p>Yale non-traditionals receive degree from Yale College. I say Yale degee is completely integrated with the traditional program…</p>
<p>The above statements are incorrect. Although, it’s no longer worth explaining why. These threads are often infested with what Mary J. Blige calls “haters” who, unfortunately, are often close to overdosing on “haterade.”</p>