<p>I am 19 but came from another country. I spent a period of 1 year out of school learning English. Since my English was poor, I decided to attend a Community College instead of waiting and trying to pass exams for a harder school. I felt a Community College would give me an idea about the US academic system - which I had any. I have a strong background back in my country though.
Anyway, most people I know say, since my major is Business, I will be only able to apply to the School of General Studies - and still must change my major into Liberal Arts.
Today I talked to a Columbia adviser who told me I must be 29 years old in order to get into the GS program.
This person told me I should apply as a regular student; I should apply to Columbia College. Now I am extremely confused!
Any help?</p>
<p>Columbia defines “non-traditional student” as someone who has interrupted their education for more than one year. If you only spent one year learning English and you’re now applying to college, you’ll apply to Columbia College or the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Plenty of students defer for a year after high school and are then a year older when they enter freshman year; it’s really not that uncommon. Plenty of students also transfer to Columbia College from other schools, though I’m not sure how many both defer and transfer. Since you only took a year off, though, you’re considered a “traditional student.”</p>
<p>If you had taken two years off to learn English, or get a job, or join the military, or whatever, then you’d have to apply to the School of General Studies. According to their website ([Columbia</a> GS | School of General Studies | Columbia University in the City of New York](<a href=“http://gs.columbia.edu%5DColumbia”>http://gs.columbia.edu)), the average age of a GS student is 29. GS students take the exact same classes as Columbia (and Barnard) students. Columbia is unique among the Ivies in having an undergraduate college that caters to non-traditional students, but also allows them to take all the same classes as younger undergrads. Other schools just offer (very good) extension programs and night classes.</p>
<p>So you should apply to CC or SEAS as a transfer student.</p>
<p>I believe I’ll apply then to Columbia College. I have a question about Barnard. Someone who’s a Barnard student would say she’s a Columbia student?
What reasons would a girl attend Barnard school instead of CC?
I just learned Barnard is only for Liberal Arts major.</p>