Should I bother? Am I a non traditional student?

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

<p>Hi I am a 22 year old international student about to finish an Associates Degree at a Community College.</p>

<p>After High School I worked as an assistant to a Chief Executive of an environmental protection NGO where I had been volunteering when in high school. I did this because I did not have money to pay for college and this was a great opportunity as a job and a career. I worked at the NGO for about 1 year and then took around 1+ month to backpack some countries in South America experiencing culture and poverty first hand. So am I considered non traditional?</p>

<p>My relatives in the U.S helped me moved here.</p>

<p>Also do you think I have a chance at GS? Here are some stats:</p>

<p>HS GPA: Around 3.9 or 4.0 out of a 4.0
Community College GPA: 3.68
TOEFL> 110/120</p>

<p>-PTK
-Honors Program: Took 10 honors classes with straight A's except for a statistics class where I got a B but did a research project featured on the honors program event at the end of the semester. How much of a plus is having taken honors classes?
-Student Senate
-Campus Leadership Association: Where I held a position of International Students
-Representative, school has students from over 150 countries...
-Accepted to a 2 week Politics and Leadership training program at Georgetown University, sponsored only for leaders or potential leaders of my country. Hundreds apply for about 30 seats each year and the program is national recognized in my country. Also got a scholarship to attend.
-Martial Arts Instructor
-Guitar player, performed live about 3 or 4 times.
-Lead role in a theater play , performed 3 nights at one of the most important theaters in my country.
-Several short volunteer activities in and out of campus... not too much..
-Member of the sustainability council of college.
-Came 3 years ago with a very low English level. Last semester I was given a certificate of appreciation for having volunteered at the English center as an English Tutor for English level 1 to 5 students.
-Worked for about 2 years in a local store as an assistant when in high school
-Currently doing a paid internship at a clinical office doing computer stuff.</p>

<p>Letters of recomendation:
1. Alumni from Columbia TC
2. Honors Professor
3. Executive Director of NGO</p>

<p>Essay:
About growing up in a third world country, poverty, crime, having been bullied been raised by a single mother, backpacking experiences and working hard to learn English and work to be able to help my country or countries with similar problems.</p>

<p>I am aware of Columbia GS since I was in high school but I never thought I could have a chance to come to the U.S and much less to apply to it. Do I have a shoot in your opinion? I read somewhere that they only accept +3.7GPA's.
Also a relative of mine is going to sponsor my education if I apply for financial aid are my chances for admission going to be less?</p>

<p>Thank you :)!</p>

2

<p>I have to add that I live in New York, about 20 min from the main campus, is this a plus?</p>

3

<p>Your high school record, extra-curriculars, and breadth of academic courses taken are quite impressive. Your CC GPA could be a tad bit higher, but you seem to be a relatively strong candidate nonetheless. The admissions committee at GS, when reviewing prospective students, takes a holistic view of each respective applicant. They are looking for a few key things: first, they want to know if you’re capable of handling the rigors of a Columbia education (this is where one’s GPA comes in). Second, they want to know what you are going bring to the campus - what life-experiecnes will you bring that will contribute to the intellectual and cultural discourse at Columbia? And finally, and perhaps most importantly, why Columbia? And specifically, why GS? What is it about the GS program at Columbia that entices you? (Tip: Don’t just say that Columbia is an Ivy or that you want to go to school in NYC.) Be specific. What is it about the program? Research the details of a Columbia education. Are you interested in the GS-Core curriculum? Are there specific departments and professors that interest you? </p>

<p>For a place like Columbia GS, the admissions committee wants to know about you, the applicant. I would suggest writing a thorough personal statement. Tell them who you are, your personal/intellectual/academic history. This essay will be a very important factor in your ability in gaining admission.</p>

<p>Ad-coms at a school like GS really want to know if you’re the right fit. I know this might sound like a empty platitude, but they are looking for certain types of students. Gaining admission to GS is not just about having a 3.7+ GPA, but rather it is about a myriad of factors, both personal and academic.</p>

<p>Good luck, and congratulations on your successes thus far.</p>

4

<p>You seem to be non-traditional as well, as you’re 22 years old. The one-year gap in education stipulation is really meant to dispel graduating high school students from applying to the program. How the GS administration really defines “non-traditional” is not entirely clear, as there is no institutionalized rubric on how to label a prospective applicant as such. </p>

<p>If you have any questions regarding your status as non-traditional, however, you can contact the GS office.</p>

5

<p>Thank you very much tsar! you provided me with important information in your response! I am applying for fall.</p>