Gap Year - No Columbia University?

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I have graduated from high school in May this year.
It has always been my dream to go to Japan, and in November I will fly to Japan and stay there for 6 months. After my trip to Japan, I want to go and study in the USA (Another dream of mine).
My dream school is Columbia, but I discovered something horrible! I found out that they only accept students straight from high school, the other students can attend the 'College of General Studies'. Is this really true?
Please help me out!</p>

<p>x Steven</p>

<p>That is true should you take more than one year off. If you return after 6 months and enroll in a community college before applying, you wouldn't have taken a full year off and probably could still be able to apply to Columbia College. Call the admission office to be sure and to see how that would affect your admission possability. Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Ok, I will contact the admission office. But can someone explain to me why they have this policy?</p>

<p>Well, since you're calling the admission office, why not ask them to explain why they have the policy?</p>

<p>Good point =)</p>

<p>And when you've found out, come back and tell us :)</p>