General Studies program

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
21

<p>Personally,
Whether it's GS, CC, or SEAS, makes no difference to me. As long as I'm getting a rigorous education from a great university, that's all that matters. Provided that I'm accepted to GS, I would not care if anyone thinks that my education at GS is 2nd rate to CC. It's certainly better than un-loading 1,700 store items from each of the three trucks that we work on all day at Wal-Mart.</p>

<p>To me, GS is the closest opportunity that I'll get to an Ivy League education. I would be very elated if I'm accepted. I wouldn't waste a minute of it. On the other hand, I must assume that I wouldn't get into the school either, since I was rejected by Stanford, Cornell CAS, Brown, and Yale. The experience of getting rejected has not made me optimistic about my chances for GS. I hope I'm wrong.</p>

<p>For those of you who have the chance to go to GS, take it! It's better than the alternative.</p>

22

<p>
[quote]
You meant to say that albeit GS degree is equivalent to CC degree, GS students "don't think" that GS degree is equivalent to CC degree, right

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No. I meant to say, and did say, that the GS degree is equivalent to the CC degree and GS students know this, but others in CC or SEAS don't see it as such.</p>

<p>Once again, reading things properly is fundamental.</p>

23

<p>Clearly, you neither meant nor said so. This is what you said.</p>

<p>
[quote]
GS is not an "extension school" and its students do not "think" their degree is equivalent to that of CC's-- it is. As per Columbia's website: GS, along with CC and SEAS, is an "undergraduate college of Columbia University." GS students take the exact same classes as CC students. They are graded the same way as CC and SEAS students. They don't only take night classes. And when they declare a major or concentration they have the same departmental advisors as CC students.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Take a closer look.

[quote]
its students do not "think" their degree is equivalent to that of CC's

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You definitely said that GS students 


do not think

their degree is equivalent to that of CC's.</p>

<p>I'd say, proofreading things properly is fundamental.</p>

24

<p>There was clearly a purpose to dot_parker's quotation marks around "think" that makes his/her statement distinct from your reinterpretation. He/she was using it to prove a larger point- i.e., that the GS degree is the equivalent of the CC one; it is not merely thought of as such.</p>

25

<p>Thank you, Columbia2007. That was exactly what I was saying. How nice that someone on this board won't needlessly argue. </p>

<p>And to clarify (for the fourth time), I said:</p>

<p>
[quote]
GS is not an "extension school" and its students do not "think" their degree is equivalent to that of CC's-- it is.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I've bolded the last two words which Joe College had conveniently left out of his post... </p>

<p>Now that that's taken care of, I have a question. Has anyone here had University Writing with a grad student? I will this fall and I'm wondering if the class was more or less painful than with an actual professor. I can't find any info on this particular person on CULPA, and I'm really curious about student interaction with a teacher who is essentially their age (I'm 23).</p>

26

<p>I had UW with a grad student but was more "in awe" since I was 19 at the time. I thought he was actually quite caring, engaging, and thoroughlly intellectual. I've heard horror stories of bored and/or useless full professors who have taught core classes, whereas my primarily grad student experience has been almost nothing but excellent. The same could be said in reverse for different individuals, of course. It really depends primarily on the person. I will say that grad students in UW tend to be a bit more intense as they have fewer other responsibilities to attend to. Your papers will also probably be held up to a different standard; i.e. the grading will be a bit harsher. All in all unpredictable, though, simply given whether one is on one side of a PhD or the other.</p>

27

<p>
[quote]
GS is not an "extension school" and its students do not "think" their degree is equivalent to that of CC's-- it is.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>1) 


its students do not "think"<a href="%22do%20not%22%20negates%20%22think%22%20and%20the%20following%20statement.">/highlight</a> 
                            +
2)

their degree is equivalent to that of CC's



                            +
3)

it is/highlight

Grammatically speaking, when you place quotation marks around a verb, such as "**think**," it emphasizes the action, "**think**." However, when there is a negation, such as "**do not**", precedes the verb, it negates the verb. Thus, even if you try to emphasizes a particular action, **think**, by using quotation marks, if you used a negation, "do not," you would end up emphasizing the negative action, "**do not think**."

Albeit you had conveniently added the phrase, "**it is**", at the end of your sentence, it would only abbreviate and reiterate the previous statement, "their degree is equivalent to that of CC's," but would not unnagate the negative sentence, "its students do not "think"." Or, rather, the phrase, "**it is**," could unnegate the negative sentence, "GS is not an "extension school."" Therefore, you ended up disproving that "GS is not an "extension school.""

Because you wrote "its students 


do not "think"

their degree is equivalent to that of CC's," I tried to tell you that GS students actually 


know

that their degree is equivalent to CC's degree. The existence of 


not

is unnecessary, if you really "meant to say, and did say, that the GS's degree is equivalent to CC's degree and GS students know this."</p>

<p>Well, you will learn grammars and rhetorics in University Writing. However, I'd say, University Writing is extremely and painfully tough. Your instructor will morbidly point out every single grammertical, logical, and rhetorical mistake in your essays, as he or she enjoys faultfinding. I suggest that you should stay away from any grad students, because they are always under the heavy stress of writing their proposals and dissertations, and thereby they may give you a hard time. Nevertheless, as "columbia2007" said, "*t really depends primarily on the person."</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

28

<p>From my experience, the Writing Classes depends on the professor. I've had some very good teachers. But I would rather avoid the professors who wants the class to write poetry and satires.</p>

29

<p>Thanks for your response Columbia2007. I appreciate it!</p>

<p>Joe College, are you trying to annoy me? Are you that bored? What I said was perfectly correct, no matter how hard you try to disprove it. And why exactly are you trying so hard to disprove it? Is your cable out? I'm all about finding entertainment, but you're acting just a bit... obnoxious.</p>

<p>If you will recall, one of the posters asked if GS students "think" their degree is equivalent to a CC degree and I responded that they do not (oh, there are those two words again) merely "think" it is equivalent, it is. Seriously, give it up. Go find a girlfriend or a hobby or something.</p>

30

<p>Does it make a difference whether you apply for Spring or for Fall.</p>

<p>Are the acceptance rates different?</p>

31

<p>Are you sure? I am applying currently, and I thought in an info session they said that you could not. </p>

<p>Where can I make sure which is the case?</p>

32

<p>Now I can see that Columbia GS students think their program is better than Harvard Extension and Upenn General Studies because Columbia GS courses are integrated with day course offered from CC/SEAS.</p>

<p>Is there any other reason ?</p>

<p>Harvard Extension and UPenn CGS students can also take the day courses as well ( eg, Harvard College/ Wharton) exactly the same way the Columbia GS students take Columbia College/SEAS day courses... </p>

<p>and Harvard Extension students say their degree is same degree as Harvard College degree just like Columbia GS students say their degree is same as CC/SEAS degree. Upenn CGS people also says their degree is same as Wharton degree if they major in Economics....</p>

33

<p>GS students are not even allowed to live in CC/SEAS dorms ?</p>

<p>I also heard that GS studenst are not allowed to participate in CC/SEAS alumni activity.. Is this true ?</p>

34

<p>
[quote]
GS students are not even allowed to live in CC/SEAS dorms ?</p>

<p>I also heard that GS studenst are not allowed to participate in CC/SEAS alumni activity.. Is this true ?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes to the first. GS students are not even allowed inside the dorms unless signed in by a CC or SEAS student.</p>

<p>Partly yes to the second. This will vary by alumni event; most alumni events are segregated by school anyway (so even CC and SEAS are separate). In certain cases on campus undergrad events will be off limits to GS students as well. Socially, GS integrates poorly with CC and SEAS students and even with one another, as many commute and/or are several years older than CC/SEAS students.</p>

35

<p>GS students not being allowed into the CC/SEAS dorms doesn't seem like a big issue for GS students - at least from what I've seen. If you're 25 (avg. age of a GS student, I believe) or older, you probably won't (or shouldn't) have much interest in hanging out in the dorms. </p>

<p>It still baffles me how people on these boards continually focus on the small details between GS, SEAS, and CC. Go to either of the three schools, do well, distinguish yourself from the other students, and you'll be fine. Academically, everyone's treated the same.</p>

36

<p>I also heard that the undergraduate Alumni Web Site E-Community is also restricted to CC/SEAS only. and GS students are not even allowed to register.</p>

<p>I heard that CC/SEAS Alumni web site has very usefull information about networking, Job Database !!, mentoring, upcoming columbia events etc...</p>

<p>GS students can't really access these informations ?</p>

<p>Does anyone know why GS students are even allowed in Alumni-E-Community ?</p>

37

<p>Things will change with time. The GS Student Council will see to that.</p>

38

<p>Things do not change easily at Columbia. Girls were not admitted until 1983. Barnard still does not have swipe access to Columbia dorms. My suggestion to GS: threaten to mount a 1968 style protest.</p>

39

<p>-Hi
I checked the gs viewbook intro and it said it allowed recent hs grads. My Q is why hasn't this been exploited by kids who couldnt make it into CC? Also, is it possible to transfer from gs to CC, they cost the same, are basically the same education, and then you get that "prestige" that everyone wants? Im a senior in high school with decent stats like a 2150 on the SATs, but am lacking in other departments, is this my easy way to a Ivy League Degree?</p>

40

<p>
[quote]
-Hi
I checked the gs viewbook intro and it said it allowed recent hs grads. My Q is why hasn't this been exploited by kids who couldnt make it into CC? Also, is it possible to transfer from gs to CC, they cost the same, are basically the same education, and then you get that "prestige" that everyone wants? Im a senior in high school with decent stats like a 2150 on the SATs, but am lacking in other departments, is this my easy way to a Ivy League Degree?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>In short, no. I'm almost positive that you need to be out of high school for at least a year before applying to GS. But more importantly, GS is a continuing education school. You need a compelling backstory (ie. work experience, military service, interesting reason for taking time off between schooling) moreso than you need exceptional grades. Being a weak candidate as a senior in HS is hardly compelling.</p>