<p>I have recently been accepted as a non-traditional transfer student to both of these equally fine schools, but I am at a loss for which of the two to choose. Obviously I am running the risk of picking up some bias here, which is why I have also asked this question on Columbia's board. </p>
<p>My issue is that, of the two schools, Penn is taking much longer to package me financially and I have been told it may take until well into mid-summer before I even see a financial aid offering to compare against Columbia's. My problem with this is that I have a family to support that will be moving with me wherever I end up going, and in the interest of having the earliest possible chance to seek out living space, jobs, etc., I would rather not wait that long. I know for a fact that Columbia will be giving me their award notification in only a couple of weeks, and I'm afraid I'm going to be too tempted to wait for Penn to get around to it before making my decision.</p>
<p>Here is my question - Columbia's General Studies program is infamous for not being very well endowed, but Penn's LPS program seems more forthcoming in this regard. Based on anyone's possible experience with either school, is it in my best interest to save time and money in the short-term and go with Columbia if their aid is workable, or should I hold off and possibly save even more money in the long run by waiting for a superior offer from Penn? It should be noted that I was only able to visit Columbia's campus so far, and I absolutely adored my experience. This might be clouding my judgement, so I don't want to write Penn off if it would ultimately be a "smarter" decision.</p>
<p>NOTE: I have researched and LOVE both schools equally and do not see one as academically superior to the other - that is not what this thread is about!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Living costs in Philadelphia may be half what they are in New York, and less than half what they are anywhere where you can get to Columbia in under half an hour. If you go to Penn, you will be able to live in a reasonably nice neighborhood within walking distance of the campus, have a choice of reasonably priced, high-quality child care, and if you are in the Penn-Alexander catchment zone a great chance of a spot in a really good public school.</p></li>
<li><p>Make certain to check how much credit each university is going to give you for what you have already done. There can be major differences in that respect, that translate both into extra tuition dollars paid and work dollars forgone, and/or into the need to take more classes and do less part-time work.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>“Living costs in Philadelphia may be half what they are in New York”</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Columbia owns a very high percentage of apartment buildings in Morningside Heights. Just about every building that isn’t a condo, Columbia owns. Only individuals with Columbia affiliations can rent from Columbia. The rents charged are well below open market. However, you are taking a chance at Columbia. If you can’t rent from CU and are forced into the open market, then your costs will be substantially higher. The office of real estate management makes its own evaluations of rental needs, but keep in mind that GS students are generally considered at the bottom of the totem poll in terms of housing priority. </p>
<p>UPenn LPS graduates get the identical degree. The same diploma and the degree is awarded by College of Arts and Sciences. No one will ever find out that you are from the Non traditional Ivy League school. </p>
<p>Columbia GS graduates get different degree. (GS gets English degree BA, Columbia College graduates get latin degree AB). The GS diploma also looks different (GS Diploma written in English and Columbia College diploma in Latin) and it says School of General Studies on it. It is easy to find out that you are from non traditional program (such as Extension schools) and many people may assume that you are not really an Ivy League graduate.</p>
<p>I think you should go to UPenn LPS no matter how much it costs more. </p>
<p>@fage345 Just so everyone knows, “fage345” is a Columbia GS reject and is a student at Harvard Extension School. I know who he is and I know him well personally; he has multiple accounts on CollegeConfidential and constantly perpetuates lies on the forum to degrade schools he got rejected from. Please ignore his posts.</p>
<p>Both GS and CC graduates receive the exact same degrees. They are both BAs. The BA is conferred by the Trustees of Columbia University through the Faculty of Arts & Science. Refer to the following:</p>
<p>“A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is the standard undergraduate liberal arts bachelor’s degree. At Columbia, it is granted by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences through Columbia College and the the School of General Studies.”</p>
<p>However, due to reasons relating to long-held tradition, the CC diploma (NOT the degree) is in Latin. SEAS, GS, GSAS, SIPA, TC, etc. degrees are all in English as well.</p>
<p>@fage345 I think ‘fage345’ is confused by the distinction between “degrees” and “diplomas.” They are actually very different things. One is a piece of paper, the other is not. (I still have a BA even if I lose my diploma, after all.)</p>
<p>The BA degree that CC students and GS students receive are one and the same but they have different-looking diplomas – just like how EVERY school within Columbia has a different-looking diplomas…is that clear, fage345?</p>
<p>OP, go with whatever is cheaper. Both are fantastic schools.</p>