<p>I'm a junior this year and have been doing a lot of research lately on colleges. I'm really interested in the Albert A List. College Joint Program between Columbia University School of General Studies and the Jewish Theolgical Seminary. However, I don't know much about the School of General Studies. </p>
<p>I've heard its less competitive and for people that are taking an "untraditional route." I know that this would apply to me if I got accepted to the Joint Program with JTS, but was thinking if I get rejected from that program I still would really like to attend Columbia. I'm currently dual enrolled at the local community college and will earn my associate's degree in integrated science (engineering) before I graduate high school. My GPA is a little low but with tough classes (3.7, will have finished differential equations and plan to take at least 6-7 AP tests), my SAT's are OK (2200ish). I do have a lot of unique work experience that I think would help me (NASA intern after sophomore year, hopefully Microsoft intern after Junior year).</p>
<p>Basically, I'm just wondering if you all think I would stand a chance at acceptance at the school of general studies? Also, is there anything else that you all know about the school of general studies or the joint program with JTS?</p>
<p>GS is a program for people who have spent some time out of school, and so it would not be something you could apply to coming straight from high school. It's basically for older students and allows them to take a part time schedule at Columbia. You don't need it as a path to get into Columbia, given your extraordinarily ambitious high school/community college schedule and work experiences, which will make you stand out in any applicant pool. (Just my opinion, of course.)</p>
<p>The joint program with JTS is done through GS because those students also are taking a few courses at a time at Columbia, along with the classes they are taking at JTS. Those students tend to be coming right out of high school. There was an article in the Spectator this week (check it out on line) about List and GS students both trying to establish better liasons with the undergrad student body at Columbia. My impression is that students in the joint program are primarily JTS students -- with their own housing -- and it's a very small program. You might check out the social aspects of this, if that concerns you, as well as looking at the JTS site for a description of the courseload.</p>
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The School of General Studies (GS) is the college at Columbia University created specifically for students who pursue a nontraditional path to complete a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Nontraditional students include persons who have interrupted their educations since high school for at least one academic year or individuals who have compelling personal or professional reasons to attend college on a part-time basis.
<p>Thanks again for the encouragement and information. Right now, my plan is to apply to the List College program ED.</p>
<p>If I do not get in, hopefully I'll be able to extend my internship at Microsoft. I think that I can apply to the school of GS after a gap year. A gap year might also help me to look for more scholarships and mature in other ways than academics (I'm pretty young for my grade).</p>