Non-Traditional programs at Ivies and top colleges

If Penn’s LPS offers the same degree and 50% tuition, what stops a HS senior from traveling for a year and applying to LPS which seems a lot easier to be accepted into?

You have to be 22 to even be eligible to apply for Penn LPS (IE – out of high school for at least 3.5/4 years if you graduated from HS at 18).

You can take day time classes, but at a much higher cost.

hey i’m in the same position trying to choose between GS and LPS- got into both but it’s a tough call… keep the info coming!:slight_smile:

I want to 2nd rocket6louise: Smith has an excellent program for women: the Ada Comstock program. They also offer housing for students with children.

nice to see someone in the same situation as me! and choosing between LPS and GS is hard for sure- but i get the feeling (just from general info here and also research i did) that LPS has excellent programs like Tuned was saying- it’s still UPenn.

one thing i still can’t get is the night classes thing- is that true? do you not have the option to take day classes at all? (got into IR, not sure if that matters)

So you have to be out of 4 years for Penn LPS, but only one for Columbia GS? I guess the same question applies–what stops a senior from traveling for a year and applying to Columbia GS, which has a 40% acceptance rate?

Columbia does have an extension school—the School of Continuing Education. Like other extension schools, it’s not an independent college, doesn’t have an admissions department, and offers night classes on a class-by-class basis. Here’s more information on it: [School</a> of Continuing Education](<a href=“http://ce.columbia.edu/]School”>http://ce.columbia.edu/)

Columbia’s School of General Studies is not an extension school. GS students take the exact same undergrad classes that we (Columbia College students) do, mostly during the day. The main drawback to GS (and it’s a big one) is that housing is not guaranteed and the financial aid sucks. So it’s expensive, but you’re getting the exact same Columbia undergraduate experience as every other undergrad student.

@digit6: Nothing’s stopping a high school senior from traveling for two years and then applying…but I highly doubt they’d get in! Why take a kid who’s trying to game the system instead of an adult with real world experience who has a genuine need for non-traditional education? The reason for GS’ high acceptance rate is the same reason for Barnard’s relatively high acceptance rate (and, for that matter, Caltech’s): the applicant pool is self-selecting.

Wellesley also has a program for non-traditional students.

Isn’t Brown’s regular undergrad “non-traditional”? hahaha

Not an Ivy, but I got into UCLA and I’m 30.

Non-traditional is a big, vague word, but these programs seem to cater to adults interested in getting a B.A. Would a 19 - 21 year old CC honors student be eligible to apply for non-traditional programs, or would they simply have a better shot applying to a school as a transfer student?

the people who tell themselves that there isn’t a difference between penn and temple professors probably go to temple.

the people who think it’s worth it to pay $25k (apparently) for night classes are probably the ones taking them.

Can I apply to Columbia College if I’m out of school one year?

“Potential applicants to Columbia College who have taken a break of more than a year in their education (with the exception of those who must complete national military service) should consider instead Columbia’s School of General Studies”

It says SHOULD CONSIDER for lapses greater than a year…So if it’s one year or less they can still apply to Columbia College. I just wonder if Columbia College would look down on this?

Hey guys,

considering wikipedia’s definition I’m probably a non-traditional student. I am not a US-citizen and I graduated from high school before taking the SAT. I did so because I had been really busy getting my grades up - I had been kind of lazy. Luckily I did manage to get them up. Having done practice SAT tests at home I know now that I’ll do well enough on them, too.
However, the problem is that I’m no longer in high school and I don’t know how to deal with the secondary school report (midyear report etc.). Will the ivies disregard my application anyway or do I have a chance?

Can anyone help me? Please? :slight_smile:

Hi all
I am an Egyptian IB student and i am searching for a top undergraduate business school. From the ranks i found that its Wharton is the best out there. The problem is that the early decision deadline is November 4 and i never entered a SAT ( am IB and the novomber sat deadline passed). Also its impossible to pay the $40000. Please help me…

Spelman has a really great non tradaitional program… Its called Pauline Drake Scholar… Good Luck !

@012victoriaa

" Non-traditional is a big, vague word, but these programs seem to cater to adults interested in getting a B.A. Would a 19 - 21 year old CC honors student be eligible to apply for non-traditional programs, or would they simply have a better shot applying to a school as a transfer student? "

It more so depends on the time you’ve taken off from continuing your education and what achievements you’ve made in that time. There are always exceptions, of course.

You cannot be more wrong. Penn LPS students go through a rigorous and selective application like anyone else, and OF COURSE the criteria may be a bit different since LPS is NONTRADITIONAL and CAS is for TRADITIONAL students. However, according to UPenn’s OFFICIAL website:

Penn LPS students EARN THE EXACT SAME BA DEGREE as CAS students, and have EVERY privilege as Penn undergrads. LPS students are only another division of the several division of undergrads, CAS, Wharton, etc at Penn