Is GS right for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
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>GS is definitely right for you! I would absolutely encourage you to apply, and I hope to see you come spring semester. For what it’s worth, I was 22 when I applied and was accepted. Age doesn’t matter, it’s life experience and your story.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much. I really just found out about it and I want to apply early action which is Saturday deadline haha theres gonna be a lot of rushing now.</p>

4

<p>I would caution against rushing your essay to apply early. In regards to the admissions process, I would say that current academic success and the autobiographical essay are paramount. If rushing in any way detracts from your essay, I would advise you to hold off and make sure that it is perfect and apply RD. But, if you feel comfortable with your essay, by all means apply ED. You already sound like a great candidate, and I hope to see you next Spring! Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Everyone keeps saying ED as in early decision. But I thought its not binding… Also I dont think we get a legs up applying ED; except that we get a quicker answer… is this correct?</p>

6

<p>The latter is correct–no extra benefit to applying early other than an early answer. </p>

<p>Columbia is ED, not EA, which does mean that if you are accepted the decision is binding.</p>

7

<p>Yes but this is talking about G.S., not columbia college. I dont think there is an ED for GS; I know there is one for Columbia College.</p>

8

<p>honked dreams is incorrect; the period is termed early action, not decision, and is non-binding. That being said, it should be naturally surmised that in submitting an “early application,” you are not acting in haste but rather turning in a completed package that, subject to the competitive understanding of early, will probably be juxtaposed with more competitive applicants. You are therefore likely committing a disservice to yourself by enlisting a rushed, or “non-polished,” application in the interest of an earlier decision, because you will likely be compared to he or she who has been refining his or her application for months. And after all, it is better to get in later than be rejected early. Not trying to be a jerk, just sayin’.</p>