Unique situation - Chances of admission at GS?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
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<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I'm in a bit of a unique situation which I can't seem to find a lot of information on. I'll probably get a lot more information by talking to admissions counsellors at colleges, but want to get some feedback from here first from anyone who can provide insight.</p>

<p>Here goes:</p>

<p>I'm 30. Canadian citizen, born and raised, have a decent job (some might consider it to be a great job) in an industry I've never had a passion/interest/respect for. I'll eventually get to why.</p>

<p>I dropped out of good engineering program at one of the universities here in ontario because there were a few extenuating circumstances which completely diverted my attention away from school and life in general. I gave up and started working full time at the age of about 21. Always had thoughts of going back to university to complete engineering, in which I know I would have done well in the courses. I had been getting 4.0's in most of the classes studying somewhat like a "normal" person until the meltdown.</p>

<p>Over the years I've hummed and hawed several times, thinking it would be nice to go back, but money was always an issue. I was happy studying engineering. The knowledge acquired made my brain glow with an awesome feeling of being capable to do anything I wished. I wanted this feeling again.</p>

<p>Maybe I didn't quite think of myself as being motivated enough to do something extraordinary with all that knowledge, or perhaps it was more of a realization of what my strengths were, but I've since decided that I want to go to med school and become a psychiatrist. There are many reasons for this, but I won't belabor the point.</p>

<p>I wish to complete my undergraduate degree in the US, but there are a few concerns:</p>

<p>1) Having gone to university previously and bombing (I don't even want to know what my GPA is)</p>

<p>2) My high school grades are nothing to write home about if all years are being scrutinized. My senior year is where I pulled up my socks in order to get into engineering at my preferred institution.</p>

<p>3) My age, having been out of school for a long period of time.</p>

<p>Intelligence was never an issue, though motivation and focus had been for some time. I know this is a big sign of ADHD, but that's another story.</p>

<p>As a worst case scenario, I will go to university in Canada and try to transfer to a college in NYC, if this is possible.</p>

<p>I would greatly appreciate any and all advice anyone has to offer. Even if its going to a lower tier school and then transferring to something better, citing names of schools in NYC would be of immense help in saving me some time with research. And yes, being in NYC is a priority. Furthermore, I would absolutely love to be admitted to Columbia GS, though what I've outlined above probably wouldn't be compelling enough for entrance. I'm thinking at worst they'd want me to attend community college, or perhaps take some classes through their Continuing Ed college.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>I think you should attend a community college in the states in order to prove your intellectual capabilities. Your eloquent post gives insight into your potential to shine in an academic setting. Given your age, and the subsequent distance between who you are today and who you were during your time in high school and during your initial foray in college, I think the Columbia GS adcoms will mostly take into account, academically speaking, what you did once enrolled in community college. </p>

<p>If Columbia is your goal, this route will probably be your best option. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I agree, you sound like you have a definite shot. But you need to prove that you’ll succeed academically now. Take, and ace, a few classes at another school. It doesn’t matter much what they are, but be sure they’re real classes. I suggest not taking a writing class, since it probably won’t transfer. You’ll probably also have to take the GSAE, or something similar like the SAT. </p>

<p>Don’t worry about the age, that’s right about the average (~28?).</p>

<p>EDIT: I wouldn’t bother with Continuing Ed - just take them wherever is convenient for you and do well.</p>

<p>EDIT2: You’ll need to submit both HS and college transcripts, but don’t worry, we all had issues.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the replies.</p>

<p>I had a strong feeling that I’d probably have to do some type of community college schooling prior to entry, so now that you guys have confirmed this, is there any pointers you can give as to what differentiates a good community college that GS would take seriously, vs one that’s considered to be a laughing stock?</p>

<p>I’ve started studying for the SAT’s and will probably give myself about a month or two to prep. Hopefully the half engineer in me from a decade ago will pay dividends. If not, I have no issue with re-engineering myself. </p>

<p>I do have a couple of more questions:</p>

<p>Firstly, how would you guys deem the financial aid office to be in terms of scholarships? (I wouldn’t qualify for a loan because i’m not a resident), particularly to students who are performing well?</p>

<p>Secondly, what is the success rate for GS students gaining admission to Ivy grad schools? How are the GS applicants viewed from their perspective? Are there known success stories of GS grads, say, getting into HMS?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help.</p>

5

<p>“Secondly, what is the success rate for GS students gaining admission to Ivy grad schools? How are the GS applicants viewed from their perspective? Are there known success stories of GS grads, say, getting into HMS?”</p>

<p>Seeing that Columbia GS is “a highly selective Ivy college” and “is one of Columbia University’s three official undergraduate colleges,” whereby students receive, ostensibly, the exact same education as Columbia College students, its prestige amongst the academic community is quite high. </p>

<p>The quotes I provided are from Wikicu (Wkik Columbia University) which is Columbia’s unofficial encyclopedia: [School</a> of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia](<a href=“http://www.wikicu.com/School_of_General_Studies]School”>School of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia) </p>

<p>People in the academic community know that “Admission to Columbia GS is highly selective.” Specifically, 23%. Which is equal to Northwestern (23%) and lower than our affiliate school Barnard (28%).</p>

<p>Columbia GS acceptance rate (23%): [College</a> Search - Columbia University: School of General Studies - GS - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>Northwestern (23%): [College</a> Search - Northwestern University - NU - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>Barnard (28%): [College</a> Search - Barnard College - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)
Personally, I know a few people, from this past graduating class, getting into either Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, Columbia Law School, and Stanford Law School. This is quite impressive seeing that a GS graduating class is quite small.</p>

<p>If you get in, and succeed here, you will leave with a high gpa and an Ivy degree from Columbia University.</p>

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<p>Thanks tsar</p>

<p>I’ve read a ton about GS being, more or less, the same degree as CC. Classes are taken with other CC students, have the same professors, course work etc etc blah blah blah, with the only real difference being that the core requirement is different by about 2 courses, and that the diploma will be in english as opposed to latin. I have seen the one overly obsessive person on college confidential raising the concern about GS not being the same at all as CC, and have read elsewhere that the students are somewhat treated as second class citizens, which is bull***** if it is practically the same degree. </p>

<p>The only real reason I can see the GS students being treated differently isn’t exactly because they’re from the school of general studies, but moreso the age gap. The young tend to be a little naive sometimes when it comes to seeing older students in the same classes as them, which can be invariably forgiven.</p>

<p>Any thoughts on the community college situation? I’ll be living in nyc (i’m here right now visiting) and anything in the queens area would be great.</p>

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<p>BMCC would be a great community college to start at. It’s a cuny school–short for city university of new york–and it’s a relatively cheap option for returning students. I began attending after being advised by my previous school’s counselor that it would be a good place to regroup at. They are in affiliation with GS and have school fairs where GS representatives come in order to encourage students to apply. Plus, recently I received an unsolicited letter addressed from Columbia, which I mistakenly thought was a rejection letter (lol), stating that on the basis of academic accomplishment at BMCC, I am encouraged to apply. Hopefully this is a good omen.</p>

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<p>Double post.</p>

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<p>The key thing is to make sure it’s a real, accredited college. You don’t need to kill yourself to get into a “top” community college or anything silly like that. Just don’t take classes online from some random for profit BS “school.” (online classes from a real school are fine). </p>

<p>Whatever the main community college is in your area, or the area you want to move too, is fine. From randomly googling, it looks like something like this would be just fine [Centennial</a> College | Community Colleges, College Courses, Toronto Education & Degrees](<a href=“http://www.centennialcollege.ca/]Centennial”>http://www.centennialcollege.ca/)</p>

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<p>So they’re okay with colleges from Toronto? Or would my chances be better if i went to a community college in the US?</p>

<p>Also, if after one year I’ve got a GPA of 4.0, would I be able to apply and get in, or would they require me to have finished the studies at this community college?</p>

<p>Thanks for all the help guys.</p>

11

<p>anyone have thoughts on the above post?</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

12

<p>it would be acceptable to go to community college for a year and try to transfer; they don’t require any degree completion in order to apply. Technically they don’t require any recent academic performance either, but for those applying as returning transfer students, they look favorably upon recent academic success as a barometer to ascertain whether a student can handle intense curriculum. So unless you left off on a stellar academic note, it’d probably help your chances for admission by demonstrating recent success.</p>

13

<p>I spoke to someone at Laguardia community college, and it was mentioned that if I wanted to begin classes for January, I wouldn’t be considered a degree student. To be considered a degree student, I’d have to start in march for the spring term.</p>

<p>To strengthen my eligibility at GS, would it be preferable to be a degree student, or does it matter at all? </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>I don’t think it has much bearing whether you’re considered a dgree student or not because you intend on transferring anyway. As campaigner said, just make sure it’s a legitimate school. For the sake of prudence I would confirm this with GS in any event because you will be devoting a considerable amount of time and effort for this purpose.</p>

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<p>Something still doesn’t seem right.</p>

16

<p>Alright, so turns out it doesn’t matter where I take the classes as long as its an accredited college, as you guys have mentioned. Thank you. It also doesn’t matter if you’re a degree/non degree.</p>

<p>I’m trying to find classes to sign up for in nyc that I can start in January. I was looking at laguardia and it appears for non degree, I had to register by dec 1, and their offices are now closed. They would also require me to provide transcripts from past schooling, and classes start January 3rd, so administratively it seems I’m out of luck time wise.</p>

<p>Basically I’m at the point where I just want to sign up for classes asap which columbia gs will accept and is still open for enrolment from an admin/admissions standpoint.</p>

<p>The admiin manager at GS thatt I spoke to recently said they would accept grades accuumulated up until this april, for my case.</p>

<p>I never asked about continuing education classes (which seem like the quickest way to enroll), but maybe they’d accept that under the same guideline of them having to be completed at an accredited college.</p>