<p>I'm wondering if any of you already admitted students can give some insight on life as a GS student?</p>
<p>Are you fully integrated with the students both in and out of class? Is housing the same as traditional students? What's your experience at GS?</p>
<p>Our Formals are way better, the booze flow better and we get better locations than CC. GS students by their nature have better stories to tell in conversations. Classes are fully integrated except for a few that give you a chance to get to really now other GS students like CC and UW. The housing is slightly less convenient as not on campus exactly but in the neighborhood and you live with a more diverse crowd, for instance I’ve been living with the law students, some live with TC students, etc. But since I’m getting BAH now on the GI Bill, in the fall I’m moving further into the city and going for a high rise condo for my senior year. As a war veteran myself the opportunism around here has felt endless. As for mixing with CC students its all about you and your personal ability to socialize, relate, and when to get involved with what. I have lots of friends at GS and CC as well as in NYC.</p>
<p>I also believe though your first semester here is designed in such a fashion to kill social opportunities (not all, but most) as UW assignments have a tendency with their frequency and timing to kill weekends more so than any other class I have taken here. The first semester is probably best spent doing personal reflection and learning how to manage the academic/adminstrative side of things, like managing reading loads, learning how long it takes you exactly to pump out a paper, learning how to organize yourself on Columbia time, knowing which floors the bathrooms are on in Hamilton, how to use the writing center and Butler Library, where cheap places to eat are, etc.</p>
<p>This is great to hear.</p>
<p>I was just recently admitted into NYU, and applied for Columbia for early action. I did indicate on my optional essay that I wanted the committee to wait until my grades for this semester had posted, in order to better reflect my academic ability.</p>
<p>Because I’ve been admitted to NYU, and have seen how much paperwork/time is involved in moving from CA to NYC, I’ve decided to write a letter and submit mid-term reports from my professors. Hopefully, this will grant me a decision (crossing my fingers in my favor). If not, I’m pretty happy either way.</p>
<p>I’m also happy to hear you enjoy GS and life at Columbia. </p>
<p>Did you notice whether or not GS is forgiving in academic “mess-ups”, so long as you mentioned them in your essay and have a justified reason (work, for example)?</p>
<p>There are so many varied opinions on here on the GS admissions requirements. Some say sub 3.7 GPA and your out, regardless of your non-academic background and story. Others say it really relies on your overall story. If you don’t mind me asking, what was your overall feel for their admissions?</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>GS admissions is individualized, as in another post I mentioned. GS is private and does not act like a cookie cutter state run master planned matrix of rules determining what you can and can’t have. I didn’t mention any academic mess ups if I recall in my essays, I needed all that space for my story and I sent in a lot of documented supplemental proof of my story. As for the 3.7, I have never reached that GPA in my life and I think they called me for about a minute about a W or bad grade on my transcripts, no big deal. </p>
<p>But this process was very individualized in my case, there were many facets to my story that made me an exceptional candidate, and it felt as if they held my hand all the way till I got to NY following the initial conversation I had with them in California. They really look for a certain type of person and they know it when they see it, a 4.0 Juco GPA does not guarantee you a spot at Columbia GS the same way a 2.0 HS GPA doesn’t exclude you. They try and find the most exceptional people that they believe will succeed in this culture, basically GS is full of a variety of characters from anywhere and everywhere. GS is unlike a UC, where you get in some line and check boxes along some state run master planned matrix with rules defining every path you can or can’t take.</p>
<p>Finally, a response I want to hear.</p>
<p>This was my experience applying to NYU. Although my experience was that the staff at NYU was much more interested in me when speaking over the phone, then that of Columbia staff.</p>
<p>Regardless, I should hear back from Columbia soon. Hopefully, it’s good news and if not, I’m still a happy guy.</p>
<p>That was an awesome, straightforward response 2001. I have the grades and the club activities and a relatively interesting story. The way you broke it down makes more sense than what most people have said around here.</p>
<p>I emailed the director of admissions about a conversation I had with him about a month ago and he said my application is in the “read process”,and who know’s how long that takes before it reaches the decision board…but I’m excited!</p>
<p>Can anybody share more on GS? Im still contemplating whether I should attend.</p>
<p>I’m wrapping up my second semester as a GS transfer (junior by credits). I have been maintaining a full-time job and attending Columbia on a part-time basis. I plan on going full-time next year in order to finish my degree and place myself in a better position to take advantage of the opportunities available at Columbia. My first year has mostly been spent as a newbie. I’ve been learning the ropes as a commuter and what I am capable of doing in terms of my time. I’ve enjoyed my classes and can’t wait till next year, when I’ll be able to take more of them. </p>
<p>In terms of classes, with the exception of the two that 20010531 mentioned, they are fully integrated. Some GS students stand out more than others – for example, the ones that look older, talk about their time in the military, etc.</p>
<p>Since I’m a commuter, I can’t speak much for housing. I can say though that people are genuinely friendly outside of the classroom 
and that I have yet to run into a CC student with any negative hangups about GS. Even if you run into that though, my opinion is that GS students typically don’t care as they are in a position in their lives where life experience transcends pettiness like that.</p>
<p>Considering everything about GS - the prestige, recruiting opportunities and cost - would you say that it is worth transferring out of NYU (CAS) for GS?</p>
<p>Thank you, 2001! That was incredibly helpful!!!</p>
<p>This thread has been very helpful. I’ve been reading all the older threads in the main Columbia area about GS and have been getting nervous as a result. I’m worried about the perception of GS and being treated as a “second class” student. The threads that report this are from 2007-2008, so perhaps this has changed since then? All of the “back door” threads about Barnard and GS are upsetting. I was just accepted to UCLA and am having minor second thoughts about GS since at UCLA, I’d be in the same program as other undergrads, no questions asked, despite my non-traditional background.</p>
<p>As was mentioned earlier in this thread, the fact that GS is not a cookie-cutter public school is very attractive to me, so I’m hoping this is a momentary freak out and I’ll be back to being 100% on the Columbia train come morning.</p>
<p>Knitty - Do you feel like as a part time student you don’t totally take advantage of what CU offers? I’ll be part time as my employer is paying for my education so I can’t afford to go full time, and I want to make sure that even if I’m a “commuter”, I’ll still be able to be involved in campus goings-on.</p>
<p>Hey AMorrison,</p>
<p>I honestly believe GS is superior in comparison to UCLA, but just FYI, knowing how GS does not pay much of your finances, the Blue and Gold opportunity plan would cover your tuition as long as you make under $70,000. </p>
<p>[UC</a> Blue and Gold Opportunity](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/blueandgold/]UC”>Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan | UC Admissions)</p>
<p>but again, I honestly feel GS is a better fit.</p>