Is Columbia GS right for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hi everyone, </p>

<p>I would like to know if anyone can share light on whether GS is right for me or not. Here is my story:</p>

<p>My high school period was pretty a pretty dark time. I got addicted to drugs after 10th grade and started during hard drugs soon after. I was on a complete downward spiral although my gpa was pretty good when I graduated. I was a complete mess and took a year off for myself and went to another country and spent the year taking courses ( not for school or academics) just to learn about stuff i was really interested in. That year was really about finding myself and a person and what i wanted in life, as well as my decision to get clean and become a person again. That year, aside from taking full time classes which i loved and did very well (4.0), i volunteered with kids that came from abused homes and horrible lives. It hit me that i wanted to continue that path and make a difference in people's lives on a bigger scale After i got home, i enrolled in a four year college where i was taking mostly business classes and payed very little because of being in the honors program. Early in the academic year, I felt lost due to my lack of giving back like i did the year before, and opened up a non profit that helps people in developing countries with specific items- don't want to get to detailed. While going through my freshman year taking classes and running my non profit, I realized this program wasn't right for me. Instead of taking classes on business, i wanted to take classes and major in anthropology on a global social level to learn about different ethnic groups and contribute that to my volunteering. In addition, I wanted to focus more on my non profit while also studying part time in college to really get make a difference in people's lives while also getting a ba. This semester, I am currently not enrolled in college and am focusing on that non profit. However, I realized that I am looking for the part time program to take classes and focus on my non profit while focusing on cultural anthropology, a major not offered at my last school as well. Columbia gs seems like the perfect fit, because i'll be able to do both while really giving back to people who are less fortune. I am 20, and am nervous they wont take me seriously due to my age. I wanted to know if GS seems like a good fit for me or if i missed something about the program. </p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

<p>PS- I would like to apply early action which the deadline is october 1st-</p>

2

<p>Anyone? 10 char</p>

3

<p>Sounds like a good fit, however I would look into course requirements because from what I understand GS is still a full-time program. I may, however, very well be mistaken.</p>

4

<p>GS can take part time, if they want. It’s unique that way. Same classes as CC/SEAS though, so if you want to only take evening classes you’ll have to work realllly hard on your schedule. Probably won’t be able to later in your career either, as your major requirements will be offered infrequently.</p>

5

<p>I’m pretty sure GS is a full-time program as well. You might have to go through the School of Continuing Ed if you just want to take do part-time. Of course, you can take full-time classes in the evening. “Full-time” and “part-time” refer to how many classes you take a semester, not what time you take them.</p>

<p>I think GS sounds great, and it’s probably a good idea for you to get a Bachelors, but I wonder if there are also social anthropology/NGO programs out there you could take?</p>

6

<p>GS is an amazing experience. All the resources & classes of the university at your feet. You take regular Columbia College classes, and since you are young, your course-mates won’t even realize that you are GS until you tell them. GS itself is totally geared toward people who are doing something else with their lives (most are working full-time jobs, or so it seems). The GS Dean is an exceptional person, a real personality, and an academic with incredible real-world experience.
It’s a great place.
If you haven’t already applied early, emphasize your alternative story in your app, what you got out if it/learned about yourself & what you want to do. Show maturity & self-awareness.
Good luck!</p>

7

<p>“If you haven’t already applied early, emphasize your alternative story in your app, what you got out if it/learned about yourself & what you want to do. Show maturity & self-awareness.”</p>

<p>This is very sound advice. Although, I would also emphasize why you want to attend Columbia, and more specifically, GS. Talk about “The Core” and the potential for the exchange of intellectual ideas amongst a student body as varied as GS.</p>

8

<p>Yes, I agree, talk about why Columbia is right for you & vice versa. But be careful. GS requirements are different from CC requirements. No Core, just distribution requirements, I believe.</p>

9

<p>GS does have the core, but it’s more flexible due to the varying nature of transfer credits. </p>

<p>And GS students can take part time loads (<12 credits/semester).</p>

10

<p>GS students take the Core; although slightly modified. </p>

<p>Under Core Requirements:
[School</a> of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia](<a href=“http://www.wikicu.com/School_of_General_Studies]School”>School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia)</p>

11

<p>GS courses are open to students at School of Continuing Education.
GS and Continuing education students take the same course with the same faculty. </p>

<p>However, Core courses are for CC/SEAS students only. There are special core section for GS and Continuing Education students.</p>

12

<p>Don’t mind the ■■■■■. He creates different accounts (check his post total: 2) with the same bitter goal: to spread lies about GS. He has admitted to being rejected by the school on another account, and has since tried to, rather pathetically, attack GS. </p>

<p>There are only a handful of undergraduate colleges with a lower acceptance rate than GS (23%), and GS’ official statement that admittance to GS is: “extremely competitive,” ([Our</a> Process | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/our-process]Our”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/our-process)).</p>

<p>Again, this is per the Columbia University website: “GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.”</p>

<p>[FAQs</a> | General Studies<a href=“under%20the:%20%22Are%20the%20courses%20the%20same%20as%20those%20taken%20by%20students%20at%20Columbia’s%20traditional%20undergraduate%20colleges?%22%20tab”>/url</a></p>

<p>More from the Columbia website: “Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) students are those with nontraditional backgrounds who seek a traditional education at an Ivy League university.”</p>

<p>FAQs | General Studies</p>

<p>On top of all this, Columbia GS is apart of the Ivy Council: “The Ivy Council draws its membership from the Brown University Undergraduate Council of Students, Columbia University (in particular the Columbia College Student Council, the Columbia Engineering Student Council, and the Columbia General Studies Student Council), the Cornell University Student Assembly, the Dartmouth College Student Assembly, the Harvard University Undergraduate Council, the University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Assembly, the Princeton University Undergraduate Student Government, and the Yale College Council.”</p>

<p>Ivy Council - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (under member schools)</p>

<p>The acceptance rate for Columbia GS is 23%, which is equal to Northwestern University (23%), and lower than affiliate Barnard (28%)</p>

<p>Columbia GS acceptance rate (23%): [url=&lt;a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”&gt;College Search - BigFuture | College Board]College</a> Search - Columbia University: School of General Studies - GS - Admission](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”>http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs)</p>

<p>Northwestern (23%): [College</a> Search - Northwestern University - NU - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>Barnard (28%): [College</a> Search - Barnard College - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

13

<p>Columbia GS doesn’t even requre SAT nor ACT.</p>

<p>City College of New York, Baruch Collge also has 23% admit rate.
[College</a> Search - City University of New York: Baruch College - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>City College and Columbia GS both have similar selectivity.</p>

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<p>[Spring</a> 2012 Humanities C1002 section 001](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/C1002-20121-001/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/C1002-20121-001/)</p>

<p>tsar10027 is lying.
This link shows that Columbia College Core is open to CC/SEAS only. GS are not allowed. </p>

<p>There are special section ( with prefix ‘F’ which means general studies), which is open to GS and Continuing education students.
<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/F1002-20121-059/[/url]”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/HUMA/F1002-20121-059/&lt;/a&gt;
Basically GS courses are open enrollment, because continuing education and GS students take the same course with the same faculty.</p>

15

<p>He’s back! Again, heed my warning. This ■■■■■ is relentless, and creates new accounts to spread LIES. He has, on a previous account, admitted to being rejected by GS. </p>

<p>And, if you look at any one of his profiles (colny1234 and pumagirl…), you will notice that he only has a few total posts on each account, and they are all directed at spreading lies about the Ivy League college that is Columbia GS. </p>

<p>I can assure you that I am taking Lit Hum, and that 90% of the class is CC and SEAS students. If you look at the F section class, it is open to ALL Columbia undergraduates. </p>

<p>The reason behind ONLY three Core classes (out of 25+ total classes that one will take at Columbia) are divided between CC/SEAS and GS is that the 3 courses in question are primarily for first years’ and the class size is small, thus they want 18 year old (CC/SEAS) students to be in an environment conducive to their age group. GS students are, on average, 27 years old, and thus the University thinks that placing these students in the same class will make for a much more comfortable environment. </p>

<p>When I took University Writing, one of those three core classes, it was a class comprised of 7 students and it was very intimate. My closest friends came from that class. The curriculum was EXACTLY the same as the CC/SEAS sections, and our instructor tought the CC/SEAS section the prior semester. </p>

<p>Also, a few people in my lit hum class, who are in CC, took my F section class because it fit their schedule. </p>

<p>The differences between these measley three classes within the grand scheme of a Columbia undergraduate education are so miniscule that it is a NON ISSUE for anyone who has attended or currently attends Columbia. I can assure anyone who reads this that AT COLUMBIA THIS IS A NON ISSUE. </p>

<p>Trust me when I tell you this, these three classes being divided between C and F sections have no bearing on one’s academic experience at all. The significance of this distinction only exists in the bitter mind of colny1234 and his other aliases. </p>

<p>This serial ■■■■■ has NEVER stepped foot on Columbia’s campus, and has zero knowledge of the undergraduate experience. If he did, he would know that the education one receives at CC and GS are, ostensibly, IDENTICAL.</p>

<p>This is per the Columbia University website: “GS students take the same courses with the same faculty, are held to the same high standards, and earn the same degree as all other Columbia undergraduates.”</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs”&gt;http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-faqs]FAQs</a> | General Studies<a href=“under%20the:%20%22Are%20the%20courses%20the%20same%20as%20those%20taken%20by%20students%20at%20Columbia’s%20traditional%20undergraduate%20colleges?%22%20tab”>/url</a></p>

16

<p>“Columbia GS doesn’t even requre SAT nor ACT.”</p>

<p>Another lie!</p>

<p>Here is the truth: </p>

<p>"Admission to Columbia GS is highly selective. According to the College Board, the GS acceptance rate is 23%. Admissions officers examine high school records, test scores, extra-curricular activities, resumes and essays. They conduct interviews in person and on the phone. They also consider college-level work and real-life experience. For transfer students, most successful applicants attain GPAs of at least 3.8 according to the GS admissions office. GS also requires standardized test scores for entry. The school will use scores from the SAT, ACT, or the school’s own General Studies Admissions Exam. "</p>

<p>The GSAE is the SAT without the math section. Same format, same time lengths per section, same everything. It is administered by the College Board (the same group that also administers the SAT). </p>

<p>[School</a> of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia](<a href=“http://www.wikicu.com/School_of_General_Studies]School”>School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia)</p>

17

<p>tsar10027 is lying again. </p>

<p>[Admissions</a> Checklist | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/admissions-checklist]Admissions”>How to Apply | School of General Studies)

</p>

<p>Again SAT/ACT is not required ! GSAS is not the same as SAT.</p>

<p>There are many lies in tsar10027 posts and tsar10027’s information is based on WikiCU (???)</p>

18

<p>

Nope. tsar10027 is lying again. </p>

<p>GS degree requirement is different from CC degree requirement.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>The education Columbia College is unique because of the CORE CURRICULUM.
Only Columbia College and Engineering students are allowed to take Cores. </p>

<p>GS and continuing education students are not allowed to take Core courses with CC/SEAS students. However, similar core courses are offered to GS and contiinuing education students. </p>

<p>[Spring</a> 2012 Contemporary Civilization C1102 section 001](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/C1102-20121-001/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/C1102-20121-001/)
open to CC/SEAS only</p>

<p>[Spring</a> 2012 Contemporary Civilization F1102 section 061](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/F1102-20121-061/]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/COCI/F1102-20121-061/)
open to CONTINUING EDUCATION and GS LOL !</p>

<p>[Fall</a> 2011 Physical Education C1001 section 001](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/PHED/C1001-20113-001/]Fall”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/PHED/C1001-20113-001/)
again open to CC/SEAS only (GS not allowed)</p>

<p>[Fall</a> 2011 Physical Education C1005 section 001](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/PHED/C1005-20113-001/]Fall”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/PHED/C1005-20113-001/)
open to CC/SEAS only (GS not allowed)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/ENGL/C1010-20113-005/[/url]”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/ENGL/C1010-20113-005/&lt;/a&gt;
open to CC/SEAS only </p>

<p>GS students may take similar courses with CONTINUING EDUCATION STUDENTS.</p>

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<p>[Housing</a> : Undergraduate Assignment Policies](<a href=“Columbia Housing”>Columbia Housing)</p>

<p>General studies students are NEVER eligible for Columbia College/Engineering housing.
sorry.</p>