@janevyl @Zaffre the interviewer said around April 1st but historically it has been on March 25th.
@AllisonNelson I am not sure how I did at the interview and I could’ve done way better though my parents eavesdropped and thought I did pretty well. I just want to hear back from all colleges so I can have a sense of closure and move on. The waiting period is torturous.
@DualDegreeSeeker The wait is more than torturous! Thanks for posting those stats 
Dual BA really is my top choice (and one of my last options currently!) so I’m really hoping to get good news next Friday (or whenever the results come out). Those stats are reassuring, but it does mean that 40% are not accepted after the interview, which means any of us could be rejected. I’m trying to not overthink things but that’s become harder and harder every day!
@vossari YOU are overthinking
@vossari the 60% figure is unofficial, just a word of mouth from current students in the program. I honeslty don’t know how accurate it is. But the 9.5% acceptance rate is accurate and official.
Hi everyone,
In response to your questions @DualDegreeSeeker @vossari , please see below:
- If you attend 24 hours of classes per week, this is about 5 hours per day. How do you then have time to study, read the material, write papers, join some extracurricular clubs, etc... ?
Sciences Po teaches students about time management and being strategic in your work. Despite the heavy workload, we manage to balance our school time with extracurriculars and other interests. Also, there is less outside work compared to Columbia, where you might really need a lot of time in the library, for example. At Sciences Po, students prepare oral presentations as the primary form of assessment.
- Do you have classes every day of the week? How about on Saturday? If the grading is so harsh, how is credit earned for Columbia? Would a 13 be put as an A on Columbia's transcript or as a 65/100? How would that affect graduating with honors or graduate degree applications?
Generally, students have class every day of the week up until Thursday. Most do not have Friday classes, but there are some courses only offered on Fridays. There is no class on Saturday. To get credit for Sciences Po courses at Columbia, students need to achieve at least an 11. The Columbia GPA is only a sum of the grades received while at Columbia - therefore Sciences Po grades are not factored in. Alumni from the program have graduated with honors, and have been inducted into groups that recognize academic excellence such as the GS Honor Society and Phi Beta Kappa. For an official grade conversion scale, check out the Fulbright’s evaluation: http://www.fulbright-france.org/docs/2010163656_NoticeN3.pdf
- Do you cook your own meals or is there some sort of a meal plan or cafeteria? If you cook your meals, how do you have time if you take that many classes?
Most students cook their own meals while at Sciences Po. The Reims campus now has a cafe that serves light refreshments like sandwiches and pastries. During the day, there are also several bakeries around campus that sell sandwiches, quiches, and other lunch foods. There is no meal plan like at a traditional 4-year American college however. Generally, students live close to campus and it is easy to go home for lunch. Otherwise, students will grab something near campus, or bring their own food for lunch.
- How are the integration efforts by Columbia for years 3 and 4 students? By then most Columbia students have already forged their friendships and I am afraid it will be hard to widen your circle of friends outside of the dual degree proram and become a "normal" Columbia student. Is it hard to join clubs especially when other students are on their 3rd year in a particular club. Do they look at you as an outsider?
I think the Dual BA makes you a Columbia student - that is part of your Columbia story and experience. Especially being at GS, where students have a varied background of experiences - from serving in the military, to being professional actors and dancers, athletes, being student parents, being dual degree students, etc - you find a place where you belong. The GS community has been incredibly welcoming and open in my experience, especially since it is smaller than the other schools. Dual BA students also easily make friends with students from Columbia College and Barnard because we are the same age. By joining clubs and extra-curriculars, even making friends in class, you’ll find a community of friends from the other schools. In my experience though, GS is truly suited for Dual BA students because our advisors work primarily with dual degree students throughout GS, and know how to support our needs and goals. The advisors visit the students in France at least twice a year to plan out their time at Columbia, and are always available via Skype and e-mail.
- Do you have access to all what Columbia offers like any Columbia College student? Is The School of General Studies held to the same esteem as Columbia College? Do students mingle and look at each other as equal?
^Similar to above answer. All students have access to the same courses, libraries, career services, etc and graduate with the same degree. Each school has its own student council that will plan events or opportunities particular to its own school.
- Do you have access to any course you wish to take as any other student?
Yes, we can take classes at Columbia and Barnard, and even in the graduate schools with certain instructor permission.
- How do employers look at dual degree graduates? Do they consider it similar to a regular Columbia (or other same caliber colleges) double major grads? In other words does the dual degree give you an edge or not especially that it is granted by GS?
In my experience, the Dual BA Program has made me stand out as a candidate because there is a rich story behind it. Undergraduate dual degree programs are rare- especially between two prestigious schools, across two continents - and it is a very interesting talking point to employers. It reflects the student’s ability to adapt and the desire to challenge themselves. There is no distinction between degrees that GS and CC students receive - on a resume, both will say “Columbia University”, and won’t specify the school. For those interested in international careers, the Dual BA is very well suited and respected.
Hope these answers are helpful - please let me know if you have any follow-up questions!
Laetitia
@GSTourGuides thanks for providing such detailed answers! It makes the program look even more amazing than it did before With regards to the discussion @DualDegreeSeeker and I were having about admissions statistics, would you happen to know anything about that? Also, if you don’t mind me asking, what did you decided to major in? Have you finished the program or are you in the last years? Thanks for all the info
@DualDegreeSeeker I AM overthinking! Ah, one of the side effects of 1. being me 2. the university application process. I don’t mind the stress of applying to college, I might even say I enjoyed it, but the wait really is the worst thing about it (especially if you get rejected at the end)
@GSTourGuides Merci beaucoup Laetitia! Thank you for taking the time to reply in details to all the questions. Greatly appreciated. Do you happen to know how many are invited for an interview?
As @vossari said, it only made the program more appealing and I want so badly to be accepted and attend. Hope we are not rejected [-O<
@GSTourGuides Hi! Can you tell us about financial aid in the program? Are they scholarships available at Columbia? (for international students) I’m french!
Yet another question! Does anyone know how we’ll be notified of the admissions decision? Will it be by email?
Hi all,
Glad to help out. Regarding admissions stats, this year the Office of Admissions received about 400 applications. 150 students were chosen for an interview, and around 100 will be offered admission to the Dual BA program.
So you know, I am in my last year in the program (graduating this May) and I currently major in Urban Studies at Columbia. I studied at the transatlantic program in Reims when I was at Sciences Po.
@alabamashakesss there are opportunities for financial assistance for international students. Once offered admission to the program, students will be asked to provide financial information to the Office of Educational Financing at GS who will put together a 4-year package so you can map out the expenses for the whole program. International students qualify for institutional aid at GS, which is a mix of need and merit, and varies for every student. International students may also find employment opportunities on campus, up to 20 hours per week. I would recommend you contact the office directly who can provide individualized recommendations specific to your case, at gsfinancialaid@columbia.edu. You can also read more about financing options at https://gs.columbia.edu/financing-your-education.
Laetitia
@GSTourGuides thanks for such a detailed answer! Stats probably seem trivial, and probably playing a guessing game seems futile, but it is very encouraging to see those numbers, and it helps to know what your odds are (in my view at least). What was your experience like while at Reims? What led you to major in Urban Studies? I’m just curious to know as it seems that you can start from anywhere and end anywhere with this program!
@GSTourGuides Thanks Laetitia! I would love to hear about your experience at Reims too.
Are you positive about the 400 applications received? I don’t mean to be rude but I am asking because Mr. Patrick Martinez told me that they received a 1000 apps last year and they are expecting to receive more this year. He gave the same number when he visited a school in Canada that my friend attends and someone asked him about the # of apps received.
I know this is kind of the big question everyone wants to know, but when do results come out? i applied to Le Havre and had my interview almost a month ago (and they said about two weeks at the interview)
They said the same thing in my interview. But they said that they will make decisions in two weeks and then release the decision in late march. Aaaah i hate waiting.
@CollegeKidCool I applied to Reims and at the end of my interview they said they would be out at the end of March. From what I’ve read and seen, they’ve come out on March 25th in previous years. The wait is excruciating! How did your interview go?
Those statistics are correct. I double checked with the admissions team, and they confirmed the numbers.
Admissions decisions will be made by April 1st.
Best,
Laetitia
It was okay, the science po interviewer had a really good poker face, so i wasnt too sure. But i think it went okay
@CollegeKidCool don’t go by their poker face, They always keep a strict poker face which is very disconcerting during an interview.
What other colleges are you guys considering or waiting to hear back from?
I’m on my way home from accepted students’ weekend at Georgetown, and I absolutely loved it there! For me, it’s really a choice among Georgetown, Sciences Po-Columbia, and Sciences Po-UBC. It’ll be such a hard decision if I get into either of the dual-degree programs, but at least I’ll be happy with where I do go if I don’t get in!