U Penn's College of General Studies

<p>I’m currently applying to this school. Does anyone know the acceptance rate? On their website they say: “Applicants must be high school graduates and have a 3.0 (B) grade point average in their previous academic high school or college work. Although a 3.0 is usually sufficient to warrant serious consideration, it does not guarantee admission. Students with prior course work in the liberal arts will generally be viewed more favorably.” My high school average is 1.5, but after high school I enrolled in a college level technical school. The grades there are separated into shop and theory. I graduated from the school with a 3.6 theory grade and a 3.5 shop grade. My main question is wheather or not they will take my grades into consideration, given that they exceed that “3.0” they speak about.</p>

<p>They take everything into account - my previous college work (30 + years ago) was well under 3.0 as were my HS grades. </p>

<p>CGS is very concerned with giving people a 2nd (or sometimes first) chance. They are interested in highly motivated adults so your application essay will be important.</p>

<p>If you haven't done so already, give them a call and set up an interview.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>I was accepted in UPenn's CGS program last month and will be starting this summer. I have a GED diploma and 2 yrs of community college (well above the 3.0 GPA).
I asked them what their acceptance rate is but they refused to tell me. They said "Well, we don't really keep track of that statistic". Personally, I think they do they just don't publish it. I also was interested in Columbia's Adult Reentry General Studies program and they said the exact same thing when I asked them that question.
I think they mainly want to see some evidence of some sort of commitment to the program. This must be provided either by your previous GPA, current college work, or by strong letters of recommendation. They don't want people to start the program and then lose interest and quit shortly afterwards. If people just want to tell their friends "I have an Ivy League education", Harvard's Extension School is probably more appropriate. I'm not knocking HES, but it is open enrollment and degree completion is optional.
It's interesting to note that Penns CGS program has been around for 100+ years but so few people seem to know about it.</p>

<p>Is it true that CGS has an age restriction that if you are below 21 you can only enroll part time (2 classes) per semester? Is there a way around this if you are below 21. It seems like age discrimination.</p>

<p>It seems as though they place a lot of importance on the application essay. Is this true?</p>

<p>PS: I have extremely strong recommendation letters--one from a New York Times journalist who is a friend and mentor of mine. My essay is extremely strong as well--everyone who has read it, has fallen in love with it, including my my friend from the Times. I will also be submitting a copy of an essay I wrote that was published in a book. I will, of course, submit my stellar technical school transcripts as well. When I say my rec's are "extremely strong," I mean it. One is from the co director/founder of a grassroots community organization I was a part of for 3 years. I organized rallies, protests, petition drives, and developed/facilitated work shops for community members. The other rec is from the director of a transitional high school I was in for 2 years. I am the first high school graduate from there. I interned there last summer--I evaluated, analyzed, and critiqued a proposed school curriculum. I spoke at numerous events about the school and my experiences there. Today I delivered a speech to a sociology class of 70 students at Rutgers University, and will return within the next couple of months for more speaking engagements. In my application package I will include my Fordham University acceptance letter--just to show them that I already got into a well rounded school. Well this was going to be just a "PS," but hey. Thoughtful "chances" responds will be most welcome--Thanks!</p>

<p>Kono: The CGS program is primarily intended to encourage adults over 21 to return to school to complete their degree. There are also provisions to allow those under 21 to attend the university on a part-time basis (2 classes per semester as you mentioned). If those under 21 wanted to attend full time, then they would just apply to the regular Penn program.
This isn't age discrimination any more than scholarships that are only available to under represented minorities is racist.</p>

<p>Deserthillsguy: The School of General Studies at Columbia has an acceptance rate of 57% for the 2005 school year. You can find this data here: <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/opir/abstract/admissions_2005.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.columbia.edu/cu/opir/abstract/admissions_2005.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>willtopower17: Yes, there is a lot of emphasis on the application essay. This is your chance to show where you've been from 18-present, why you are returning to school, why you think Penn CGS is good for you and what your future plans are. If your personal statement is too vague or you give the impression of a lack of commitment, this could kill your application regardless of your GPA (as you quoted from their website on your first post). Ensure you talk about why Penn CGS is right for you. Many times applicants talk generically about schools and say nothing in specific about that school's program.
I'm curious as to what kind of book your essay was published in. Did the publisher compensate you for your contribution or offer to sell you the book? If it is the latter, do not mention the essay and book on your application as this is nothing more than a scam.
And do not include an acceptance letter from another university in your application. That is like including another job offer in a job application. It's just poor taste and it will not help your cause. As long as you know that you got accepted there, that is all that matters. This should give you the confidence in knowing that you are a worthy applicant.
Ensure you send everything all together in one application package. I made the mistake of having my transcripts sent directly to UPenn. One made it there and one got lost somehow. I had to pay to have it couriered there again($5 for the transcript plus $20 for the courier).
My opinion on whether you will get in? Pack your bags - you're going to Philly! Keep me posted - if you apply now, you will get a letter (hopefully thick) in the mail within 2 weeks.</p>

<p>Deserthillsguy: Thanks a lot for the thoughful response! The book was published by a national grassroots organization--they have seven chapters throughout the u.s. They recieved a grant from a foundation in order to undertake this project. The book is being sold by the seven chapters of the organization. I did not recieve money, I recieved a copy.
I agree with you, I will not include the Fordham acceptance letter. What do you think about addressing in the essay that I was accepted to Fordham, but U Penn is my first choice?</p>

<p>Yes, you can say you were accepted at Fordham and then say why UPenn is your first choice. Be specific as to what it is you like about the CGS program. If you show that you have done your "due diligence" and thoroughly researched the best options for you, this will score very high. If the essay looks like a generic essay that could be applied to any school, your chances will be diminished.
Here's an oft quoted link that talks more about the essay:
<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8914934/site/newsweek/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8914934/site/newsweek/&lt;/a>
He's referring more to the regular undergrad program at Penn, but the advise is probably still applicable to CGS.
Thanks for the stats on Columbias program - I searched a long time in vain to find this info. It's probably irrelevent anyways since I've already decided not to apply to Columbia (NYC is a bit too expensive for me), but it's still very interesting.</p>

<p>If you look at the Columbia stats the apps for med school has skyrocketed. What is going on with that?</p>

<p>It's because of Grey's Anatomy--joking!</p>

<p>Looks like DHG has covered pretty much everything I'd have to add, save that I would omit the Fordham material completely. </p>

<p>Other than that, my only suggestion is to let your materials speak for themselves - you are exactly the kind of person Penn wants in CGS. And again, if you haven't called for an interview, you probably should. Everyone at the CGS office is very friendly and it never hurts to show that extra bit of interest.</p>

<p>Gracia, mi gente!!</p>

<p>I took a CGS class on Korean society...I loved it, not simply for the course itself (which, like most Penn classes I've encountered, was excellent), but because there was a Korean War veteran in the class, who greatly enriched the class with his own personal memories of Korea back then...boy has it changed a lot. They weren't joking when they called it the "Miracle on the Han (river)"</p>

<p>I was thinking of attaching a wallet sized photo to my resume--the resume is optional. I don't know if I should do this because I am fairly good looking and I don't want the adcomm to think that I am only submitting the photo because of my looks. I'm constantly being told that I look like Johnny Depp--will this hurt me, or not?</p>

<p>Would any thing that I described above be deemed a hook?
PS: I don't consider my ethnicity (Puerto Rican) a hook, so please do not mention it. Thanks for all, mi gente!</p>

<p>I just called U Pen and spoke to an admissions commitee member of CGS. I got dogged--he basically told me that I shouldn't apply. I explained that I had a poor high school gpa and that I enrolled in a college level technical school after high school where I received great grades. I didn't tell him about my extra curricular activities stated above though. He said that he wasn't feeling "optimistic." I told him that I'm still going to apply. What do you guys think about this? I feel really discouraged, but I'm still going to go through with the application.</p>

<p>Wow, I didn't realize they placed such a high emphasis on high school GPA. I thought for sure your technical school marks would be given higher consideration. What is the name of the technical school you attended? Is it accredited? (no offense, I'm just trying to ascertain why he chose to ignore your most recent GPA which is far above their minimum standards).
At any rate, you're still in at Fordham!</p>

<p>Apex Technical School--it is accredited by the "Accrediting Commision of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology." I'm also applying to the School of GS at Columbia. I will be submitting everything I am going to submitt to U Penn + an optional essay and a rec from a GS alumnus who was my h.s princial for 2 years. The same h.s where I interned at. Given that I have not taken my SAT/ACT I will be taking the General Studies admissions exam--it's only reading and writing--I will be preparing for it by reading the SAT Kaplan prep book. I wish these people knew that I help my parner with her work--she is a Columbia College freshman--I wish they knew that I could do the work! I am very sad, and p!ssed, I must say.</p>