School of General studies

<p>I have a question, so in all these programs there is the HES, Penn GS, Columbia GS, and isnt htere a brown continuing studies program of some sort as well? I was wondering out of those programs and any other I did not list in the Ivies which ones when you finish come out with the same degree as a regular undergrad and which have access to all the other things reg students have as well.
-Would I qualify, I basically graduated HS in 05 then for the last two years I have been with my father traveling the world as we work with doctors in trying to find treatments or something to stabalizae a rare disorder which has been taking control of his life for the last two years. I started in a private school in my home city as we are back home this summer. I have just completed summer session and plan to enroll in the fall, am i still a proper applicant, or would i just go through regular transfer admissions?</p>

<p>GS applicant</p>

<p>I guess my situation makes me a non traditional student, but I actually am wihtin two years of my class which I could accelerate, and I would like the social perks and situaiton of a Coumbia student too. Aren't GS students not allowed to stay on campus? What other differences are there, is it the same degree? How much do the differences take out from the normal experience?</p>

<p>Call CC admin office and inquire as to whether you can apply as a transfer.</p>

<p>As far as your first question, I know that GS and Penn non-trad students get the 'same degree' (different in name, identical in level of rigor and required classes) and take the same classes as regular undergrads. HES students take different classes and have different professors than their HC counterparts. Brown and Yale programs are so small that I don't really know details about them.</p>

<p>Your GS experience will not be the same as a traditional college student. Living in dorms and socializing in said environment is a large part of what a 'normal' college experience is all about. If you want a traditional college experience then GS is probably not what you're looking for. I can tell you that if I had been a GS student in my teens/early 20s, I would probably be a little disappointed as far as social life is concerned.</p>

<p>GS students do live in the vicinity of the Columbia campus but they don't have access to CC/SEAS dorms. IMO, the life of a GS student is more akin to the life of a grad student than that of a traditional college student. For example: at the end of the day, when you go back to your apartment, you might live next to a grad student or next to a law school student or another GS student.</p>

<p>But then again, you can join any club/sport team and take part in any campus activity you may desire.</p>

<p>There's a gigantic thread that goes into more detail than I have. Do a search on this forum. If you have further questions after reading it, feel free to ask.</p>

<p>From what I've said, it sounds like I'm knocking GS. I'm not, I think it's a great program and I'm having a wonderful time. But what appeals to me at this point in my life may not be what you're looking for.</p>

<p>from what i understand the degrees are same in name as well atleast for penn, I have been told that it is the exact same degree in name and so on for normal penn undergrads. Is that not true of GS?</p>

<p>What do you mean same in name? At Penn, you graduate from the College of General Studies, not from the College of Arts and Sciences.</p>

<p>It's the exact same setup Columbia has, although tuition is much less expensive at Penn.</p>

<p>I thought, at Penn, the degree is offered from the School of Arts and Sciences which CGS is one of them as it is for the college arts and sciences. I haven't looked at the deploma from the Penn, but i am pretty sure both CGS and CAS get the SAS name on their deploma. After reading the UPenn forums, it is pretty much confirmed.</p>

<p>When I called about a year ago, I was told that the d*iploma says 'UPenn'. So in either case you can say you graduated from UPenn or from CU. Who looks at their di*ploma after graduation though?</p>

<p>UPenn transcript will say CGS. A transcript from CU will say SGS.</p>

<p>Either school is a good choice. I don't know why people care about these things. Be happy in the club you're in and stop trying to pretend to belong to another.</p>