SO is it a dead end? am i fooling myself??

[SeekingPam]

@MYOS1634 you are absolutely correct and I should have been more specific, I was talking about Columbia College which when I was in college 20+ years ago had age limits (or so it was rumored). I had assumed since the OP was bent on Harvard and the perfect ivy education that only Columbia College would be of interest.

I did a quick search and OP while absolutely eligible to apply to Columbia GS, and is a great option since he can go part time to GS, is not eligible to apply to Columbia College

Potential applicants to Columbia College who have taken a break of more than a year in their educations (with the exception of those in mandatory military service) should consider instead Columbia University School of General Studies; the same is true for all students who wish to attend a part-time program because of personal or professional reasons

Here is an interesting but old article for OP about Columbia GS which I agree is a GREAT option

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/education/edlife/continuinged.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&fta=y