I'm new to this. Can someone please take the time out to read my stats?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Howdy,</p>

<p>I'm currently applying EA to the school of gs @ columbia. A couple of days ago I was accepted to Fordham-- the adult/part time program. I am deferring my enrollment @ fordham for september. If I get into the school of gs, then I'll be going there. If I don't get into the school of gs, then I'll go to fordham. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA- a 70 overall average. That is equivalent to a 1.7 or a 1.8 GPA</p>

<p>SAT/ACT- none. I took the fordham adult/part time skills assessment exam. this program at fordham doesn't look at SAT/ACT scores, even if you have taken them. I won't be taking my SAT/ACT, so I'll be taling the school of gs entrance exam. It is said to be an equal alternative to the SAT/ACT, and easier-- just reading and writing.</p>

<p>Rec's-One from a principal at a high school I was in for two years. He happens to be an alumni from the school of gs at columbia. (how far will this go?)
The other is from a director/founder of a grassroots organization in harlem (columbia is in harlem, is that a plus?) I was a part of for two-- three years. He is a Brown alumni. I was a community organizer there. They are both written very well and eloquently.</p>

<p>Essay-- My essay is very strong. It focuses on my politicization in high school (the same high school where I got my principal rec from) and in the grassroots organization above.</p>

<p>The application asks for an optional additional page "telling us anything else you would like us to know." I'll be sending an essay I submitted for a book that was seeking submissions. It was accepted into the book and is being distributed nation wide. It deals with the different roles assumed by the police in neighborhoods of different socioeconomic standing.</p>

<p>Awards--"Most politically conscious" and the "Hackett medal" (an oratory award for model public speaking. I delivered a speech) from the high school where I got the principal rec from.</p>

<p>"Top tech award for blueprint reading and fabrication" When I finished high school I enrolled in a technical school and took up welding. My grades are top notch. I'll be sending my transcript from this school.</p>

<p>I am a 19 year old puerto rican male--yes, the application has a "puerto rican" box. I attended the school of gs information session. A 2 month intership at the same high school where I got the principal rec from. I was a program assistant. My task was to evaluate, critique, and alter a proposed school curriculum. For volunteer work-- the grassroots organization I was a part of.</p>

<p>There is a space asking info about your spouse/ partner/significant other and the college they attend/attended. My girl friend is a columbia college freshman.</p>

<p>Thank you kindly for taking time out to read my post I greatly appreciate it. I'm in dire need for help. Thanks again.</p>

2

<p>hey, im not really sure of this but i figured i'd respond since no one else has.</p>

<p>you seem very smart, but your GPA is quite low. this, and the fact that you didnt take the SAT or ACT might hinder you.</p>

<p>however, you seem to have many things going for you. you are puerto rican, which is good, because colleges like to have diversity.</p>

<p>im not sure of your chances, this is just my two cents. hope everything goes well for you! good luck!</p>

3

<p>Sorry to break this to you buddy, but the cutoff point for GPA at ivy league schools is like 2.5. It's going to take a miracle for you to get accepted, especially without SAT/ACT scores to compensate.</p>

4

<p>the school I'm applying to doesn't have a gpa cutoff point. The average High school gpa is 2.0. Mine is a 1.7 or 1.8. I'm not too far off. As for the sat/act, I'm taking their entrance exam which is an equal alternative to the sat/act.</p>

5

<p>Oh, wait, so what's the difference between Columbia College and the school of GS?</p>

6

<p>You seem to have done some interesting things. You don't tell us what your political activism was centered on. I think Columbia wants students like you, but their biggest concern is making sure that you can comfortably make it through. I think if your tests show them that you will be comfortable, not struggling, then you have an excellent chance.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the response people. The school of gs is for pupils whom have had a 1 year break in their education since high school. One can attend on a part-time basis, unlike columbia college. The latter and the school of gs have independent admission requirements.</p>

8

<p>willtopower17,</p>

<p>I think one of the problems you're encountering on this site is that relatively few people who post here have knowledge or experience with the type of program you're applying, one that is geared to "nontraditional" students. I took a look at the Columbia website and was incredibly impressed with this program and the examples they gave of students who had graduated.</p>

<p>This is what the catalog had to say:</p>

<p>
[quote]
GS is committed to discovering an applicant's potential to succeed. Applicants come from a variety of educational and career backgrounds. Some applicants only have a GED while others come to GS with many years of work experience and a substantial amount of college level education. Successful applicants, however, all share one thing in common: their ability to accept the challenges and the rewards of a rigorous liberal arts education.</p>

<p>The admissions process takes into account traditional measures of academic success such as test scores and high school grade point averages. The Admissions Committee will also make a determined effort to engage applicants in a dialogue designed to gauge their academic and intellectual capabilities. This dialogue, while not discounting traditional admissions criteria, encompasses a profile of work experiences, past academic accomplishments, personal achievements, and depth of commitment to a demanding program of study and the pursuit of excellence.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you can convince Columbia that you are serious about what you are doing, I think you stand a real shot. You might need to deal with your earlier average of "70" and explain how and why things have changed so that you can now handle the work at a school like Columbia.</p>

<p>There is one other possibility. I noticed that several people got into the GS at Columbia after doing one year at another NYC city. You could conceivably go to Hofstra and transfer over after a year if things didn't work out immediately. (Then again, you may like Hofstra so much that you decide to stick there, which would also be fine.)</p>

<p>Whatever works out, I wish you the best of luck. It takes a lot of gumption to do what you are doing.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the response. Every evaluation of my stats, no matter how specific it may be, is of vlaue to me. Thanks again.</p>