<p>Unicorn12, dont be so hard on yourself. </p>
<p>Firstly that may just be his interview style. Also, never assume anything until you get your answer, they may throw you a bone. But from your brief post, if was in your place I would walk out thinking it didnt go well either.</p>
<p>Really, I mean Really, Considering the outcome, if I was in your position, I would be pretty upbeat. If I am not mistaken you are the Wall St. genius who has no college credits yet. I am not sure of why you want to go to Columbia, but whether it is for personal desire or as a stepping stone for a career or both, you have so many options in front of you, I wouldnt stress. </p>
<p>I personnaly know the feeling of wanting to get started with college, wanting to get accepted, start taking classes already, meeting people, study groups, getting comfortable and acclimated at the school etc. etc.</p>
<p>From how I am seeing it, the fact that you got an interview AND at that interview he did not say flat out that you are not Columbia material considering your kinda ****ty high school grades, means they are more than interested in you. </p>
<p>Correct me if I am wrong but did he ask why you think you will succeed at Columbia? Considering you have no college experience? If I had to guess what was going on with the adcom and your app, I would think they are saying to themselves. 'Hey this kid clearly has potential, he has done amazing for himself regardless of a college education (On a side note, i tried to get a job in finance while still in school and i got laughed at and told to call again when I have an MBA). I think they are concerned that you have been in a business environment for a while and you may not be able to succeed in a rigorus academic environment right away or maybe at all.</p>
<p>You may or may not be thinking to yourself, hey I am smart I can handle Columbia classes. But if you were in their position, and they see A LOT of applicants, would you accept a student to one of the hardest curriculums in the country, without any evidence at all that he can succeed in these harder classes. This aint Poodunk State College, this is Columbia, they are accepting kids that will have high B or A averages. BTW i know many older students here at my community college that have succeeded in business, but they get into a classroom and are told to read Shakespeare and write deep essays on prose they dont care about and answer test questions some nutter of a professor comes up with and they hate it. </p>
<p>Unfortunate as it is to many students, Colleges dont care about you getting older, or your how their timing and patience affects our lives. As much as they like you, they dont mind waiting a year even though you do mind. </p>
<p>Colleges are pretty elite, especially the ivies, and they want to come across as smart too. If half the kids they accept drop out or their student body has a 2.1 GPA, it looks bad. As annoying as it is, you NEED to prove to them you can succeed in college classes, it aint high school and they dont want to take that chance. They just dont take chances.</p>
<p>Now for the good news....One you can go to community college and NY has some of the best. You can get some classes and good grades under your belt and reapply having taken easier classes and progress slowly into college. GS offers spring admission but I would say wait a year. Get some of those annoying core classes out the way at a CC, but take only classes you will do well in, this is important. Going to CC is fine, respected and you have a good reason. Dont take too many courses and you will be able to come into Columbia and still be treated like a freshie, even though I am assuming your a bit older. You will not have enough credits to be a junior and you will still have a full college experience. Keeep in mind, pretty much every columbia freshman has so many AP classes they too come in closer to Sophmore status than freshman. </p>
<p>I dont know what you have been doing, if you still work, if you left etc. But give yourself a break, travel a bit. Wall st works hard. Get yourself some additional life experience, ever been to Asia or Central America for example. You are already coming to GS, with kids having hella experience, Wall st. counts, but back that up with a little culture too. Just an example, personalize this Idea for yourself. take those community college classes, see if this is what you really want and reapply in 3 months and again in a year if you need to. You will have missed NOTHING and in fact you may have gained. Hey community college doesnt start till september, go online pick a country, find a friend, go alone, and then buy the ticket. You have the months of august. </p>
<p>Sorry this went on so long, but you seem like you want to go to GS and you are a cool kid, you deserve it, you will be fine. PM me if you want ideas on what to do if you need to wait a year, I did it.</p>