<p>Was wondering if someone here on the forum could give me some sense about chances of getting into Columbia GS? Namely, I'm wondering if a 3.71 GPA from a top liberal arts college (Middlebury) would make for a competitive application to the school. I've been on a leave of absence from Middlebury since 2010 (I'm 25), and am planning on perhaps moving to the NYC this spring. I'm not sure if I'm headed back to school anytime soon, but it's nice to know that there are programs available to people in a similar situation as my own.</p>
<p>I saw somewhere here that the average transfer GPA to GS was a 3.8, but given the rigor of my undergraduate institution hoped that a 3.7 wouldn't take me out of the running. My high school grades are less impressive, but I've had some interesting life experiences in the past few years that I think might imbue my educational experience with more relevance and direction than I was able to find in my younger years (hah), and imagine I might be able to convey that point compellingly in an essay. </p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for your help, and happy new year!</p>
<p>I have heard about applicants getting admission with GPAs lower than 3.7 . I even remember in old posts , the case of an applicant with a GPA of 3.5. I am sure and certain. I was admitted. So don’t worry about your GPA. I have a GPA of 3.69 but I am going to apply for FALL 2014. It’s cost me nothing to try.</p>
<p>I am from an Ivy League University (I was an ED candidate) but I have had a break. I had to withdraw from all my courses due to medical reasons.</p>
<p>I matriculated two years ago. I took some classes at the Columbia Summer Session as an undergrad at my home Ivy (which was not Columbia) during my break and basically failed cause I had a lot of issues getting back into school work. (I also have a very complex guardian situation where my guardian was in jail). Also, I was too eager to prove myself again (this comes from the fact that in high school I was taking classes at UPenn as a senior in hs, had a 3.9 GPA from a Prep School, had national answers in science, and received letters from schools like Yale to apply).</p>
<p>It was really recently that I did those courses. I am wondering if I bring those grades up by taking courses elsewhere if I can bring up my grade to get in, or if that is not a possibility at all.</p>
<p>I am feeling really hopeless…if I was smart enough to get into an Ivy straight out of HS in ED, I feel like it is in there somewhere - it has just taken me a long time to find it again. Also, I have had really ****ty health issues where I have had to have been in the hospital & my ever so loving guardian who clearly was not who we all thought he was.</p>
<p>Also, do I have to send those transcripts from the summer? Since it was just a summer course and it wasn’t at my home institution and I was on leave.</p>
<p>If I do, does anyone have any suggestions on how can I improve or what I can do? I mean I think that I need three more semesters to pull up my grades. But does that mean that my grades at Columbia’s summer will overshadow all of my grades at a non-Ivy while i try to pull them up?</p>
<p>Sorry for the huge jumble, I am just feeling like super helpless about this whole situation.
I have seen a lot of GSers post that they had a horrible hs record…but I have a horrible college record and a stellar hs one. I feel like a lot of that is because I never got into the rhythm of college cause I had a horrible first year experience.</p>
<p>I really appreciate hearing feedback. I never lurked this forum when I was applying to college the first time…I was a bit too arrogant, but now I feel like I need it.</p>
<p>Don’t freak out, guys. I’ve spoken to several admissions officers and students at GS, and there’s no secret formula for admission. If your GPA were a deal breaker, I doubt that Columbia would even let you apply (according to the admissions folks, anything above 3.0 is competitive).</p>
<p>For most of us who are applying for Fall 2014, there’s very, very little we can do now about our GPAs. I’d suggest that you focus on strengthening other components of your application which you can polish and improve. The admissions folks have told me that the essay is extremely important: just as (if not more) important than your GPA. SAT/GSAE scores are also very important as it levels the playing field for all applicants regardless of the difficulty of one’s school.</p>
<p>Remember, you can always re-apply later or apply to other prestigious non-traditional programs like Penn LPS or Brown RUE if Columbia doesn’t work out for you. The real stress should come after you’re admitted since you’ll have to figure out how you’re going to come up with $60,000 each year. GS has HORRIBLE financial aid (lots of documented cases in the Spectator about kids having to take a reduced course load or drop out altogether because of the cost).</p>