Questions about Application Part I

Hey all,

I’m currently in the process of completing part 1 of GS application (March 1st Deadline) and I have some questions.

The Previous Education section has a transcript submit section. Is this required? I’ve scanned my community college’s transcript… But, I need to order my high school’s and my first college.

I ran marathon races (fundraised for cancer for some of those events). Should I list every single one of those events? Or should I just put one? (E.g. Marathon Running (8 Events); 2012 (since); Fundraised $500 for Cancer Research)

I plan to take the GSAE around late March or early April. How are some of your experiences? What is the best way to prepare for the examination?

Thanks!

As long as the admissions committee receives official copies of both your high school and college transcript, it won’t matter whether or not you upload a transcript in this section. I didn’t upload a copy of my transcript and my application was considered complete after the official copies were received.

As for your extracurricular activities, it can’t hurt to mention both, but make sure you elaborate on these activities in your personal statement if you think they are truly worth mentioning. @krcausit There’s a thread for Fall 2016 admissions that was recently started. I chose not to take the GSAE but some users there may be able to offer advice.

@nickdrake Thanks for the reply. I think I will definitely write in the marathon races / fundraises as cancer and running has been a big part of my life. Also, would you consider traveling in Europe/Canada/US for 1.5 months an extracurricular activity? I studied abroad in Italy as well, but I’m not sure if this is extracurricular. (It will be elaborated in my essay)

No I wouldn’t consider that an extracurricular activity, but it certainly sounds like something to elaborate on in the personal statement. I wouldn’t consider studying abroad an extracurricular activity either. ECs tend to include clubs, internships, volunteer experiences, etc. Your fundraising experience is an extracurricular activity.

@nickdrake One last thing, is the Date Transcript Ordered the date I send the official transcripts to Columbia? Or do I leave it blank? Thanks a bunch.

By date transcript ordered do you mean the date that you put in a transcript request from your current/past institution? If so, it can’t hurt to fill it in. Again, the application is considered complete when the official transcripts are received, so I wouldn’t worry too much about this section. Are you coming from a community college?

Thanks @nickdrake! And yeah I’m coming from a community college in California.