Hi,
I just wanted to ask if I am an international student from Singapore who was conscripted into the military for 2 years am I eligible to apply to GS?
Yes, you are. Columbia’s School of General Studies is open to any student who has had at least one year away from school. The School of General Studies also has the most veterans enrolled out of all of the other Ivy League schools combined.
UPenn also has a college like this. You may want to check out that one too
Hi,
Singapore’s compulsory national service does not count as a break in education. You will most probably be referred by admissions to apply to CC or seas even if you try to apply to GS.
Uh . . . not sure what basis @Redvik86 basis his/her opinion on.
You should check with GS and see what they say. GS is known as having one of the more flexible definitions of “gap in education”. I’ve heard of people with as few as six months gap being accepted.
http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/first-year
“Potential applicants to Columbia College who have taken a break of more than a year in their educations (with the exception of those in mandatory military service) should consider instead Columbia University School of General Studies”
It is possible you can only apply to CC or you are also eligible for GS, you should check with GS either way.
I gave GS a call and the lady on the line told me I am eligible. But the website says otherwise as @Leonhard stated
Exactly. And the “more than a year” thing is also flexible. As I said, I know someone who took a 6 month break before applying. Be sure to check out their financial aid, however. GS’s FA isn’t as generous for most students as is Columbia College.
For GS, the admission and application for financial aid are totally separated. International students are only eligible for institutional scholarship, not federal aid from the government. For CC/SEAS, financial aid is need-based for foreign students, not need-blind. Since it becomes a factor in admission, most of international applicants won’t even apply for financial aid. If you want to study at Columbia, don’t expect much or any money from the school, that’s the SAME case for GS/CC/SEAS.
Hi sorry to bother everyone again but I was just wondering is there a difference between submitting by January 15th and Submitting by March 1st?
“applications completed by January 15 will receive a decision by March 1; applications completed by March 1 will receive a decision by May 1.”
They are both early action. The sooner you get the decision, the sooner you can apply for housing, financial aid, register classes etc.
Is there a difference in selectivity ?
I’m from Singapore and I am a current GS student. No one can really answer your question on selectively besides admissions. Though I suggest you apply early decision. Like @Leonhard said applying early has its advantages.
@Redvik86 Hey, I’m a Singaporean in St. John’s U that is applying for transfer to Columbia. I’ve my submitted my transfer application to CC but later received an email from them stating that i may be a more appropriate candidate for GS (probably because of NS) and asked me if I want my file to be forwarded to them. I just want to ask, did you go to GS right after NS? Because NS is the only break that I have had and I was wondering if all Singaporean Males go to GS just because of it
This question relates to the GS website and its instructions for applying students. Is the web page up to date? I noticed there is an exam in lieu of the SAT which is administered by GS and that it for specifically verbal skills. There are codes listed on the website with instructions for the exams, but the only difference code to code seems to be the dates the exams are offered. Also, the last one listed appears to be from 2012. I may be missing something, but thought I would ask here. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!