Questions about the GS admission evaluations.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
1

<p>I understand that UCLA and UC Berkeley conducts a "holistic" review for its applicants. What makes Columbia GS more holistic than those two schools that I mentioned above?
Is it all about GPA and test scores or is life story as important as those two factors mentioned earlier? </p>

<p>I applied to GS from California and I got rejected with these stats:
Rejected - Psychology
Stats:</p>

<p>*College transferring from: American River College in Sacramento
* Entering as: Junior
* GPA:3.84 ( at the time of application)
* ACT: 30
* Units completed: 78
* Units in progress: 12
* Pre-reqs completed: All
*GEs completed: All except for 3rd semester Foreign language, in progress during spring term</p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<ul>
<li>ECs listed on app: Volunteer at an Adult Day Health Center and at a memory care facility for patients with dementia. Was a volunteer at a telephone reassurance service for adult who are isolated at home. Beacon tutor. Puente club member and community organizer. </li>
<li>Job/Work Experience: Worked at target three years ago.</li>
<li>Essays (subject and responses): In my autobiographical essay, I talked about how I was initially diagnosed with persuasive developmental disorder when I was 6 and was almost placed in a special education school. However, I began talking to my classmates more and talked about how my initial diagnosis got me fascinated into the field of psychology at a young age.<br></li>
<li>Letters of Recommendation: Two, one from my chemistry teacher and one from my activity supervisor in my extracurricular activities. Basically, those just reaffirmed that I am a hardworking student and is able to help other students as a tutor and shows that I am a leader in my community. </li>
</ul>

<p>I turned in my application mid-February for early action and received my decision around the first week of may. I did not get an interview from alumni or admissions at all. That got me a bit worried.</p>

<p>Other:</p>

<ul>
<li>Other schools applied to: UCLA (Going there), UC Berkeley (denied), USC (Rejected), UC Davis</li>
<li>Comments: Well, I am going to UCLA then. No matter what the result is, I am going to a great school!</li>
</ul>

2

<p>My best guess – and this is a shot in the dark – is that you had too many courses completed to your name. The impression I get is that GS looks favorably on those students entering as sophmores or end of sophmore year, more-so than junior transfers or later.</p>

3

<p>I had 75 credits, but Columbia accepted 60 when I transferred.</p>

4

<p>I had 60 credits but only 41 were accepted. So technically, I would have transfered as a Junior but end up being a sophomore (again lol), this doesn’t matter I guess. Basically, the process must be really hollistic at some point as I have lower stats than you (3.73 GPA, 40 units completed + 20 transfer from International Baccalaureate, no ECs whatsoever but five years of work experience (I’m 22yo). I have no contact or friend at GS and I didn’t bribe anyone :)</p>

<p>Bottomline, you have better stats, my life story isn’t as hard and compelling as yours, I never volunteered anywhere to help people or tutor anyone. But I got in, without an interview or waitlist placement. Weird stuff, I don’t know what they saw in my application that they didn’t see in yours. So what about asking GS what you could improve in your application and reapplying for Spring 2012?</p>

<p>good luck to you!</p>

5

<p>eiffel75- I am going to UCLA this fall. I am so excited!
Columbia was my “reach” school</p>