Hi,
I’m from Israel and like every Israeli I’m doing my three-years required military service.
I graduated high-school 2008 and applying to Harvard EA 2012.
What differences that make, if any? Will I be in an another ‘pool’ of students?
Thank you
PS: I’m applying to other Ivies as well! (including Columbia GS)
i heard the average age of Columbia GS students is around 25… aren’t you supposed to apply to Columbia College? I don’t really know though…
@Mssyllyn It seems that Columbia General Studies is at least open to U.S. military veterans.
[Military</a> Veterans | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/military-veterans]Military”>U.S. Military Veterans | School of General Studies)
No. Wait until you are 50+ then maybe your age will help- and make you a campus celebrity. But please don’t try and live in the dorms- folks will think that is creepy.
Columbia GS has the yellow ribbon program for vets- but I think you signed up for the wrong army:) American vets typically serve 5+ years- it is voluntary and considered an honorable act by Americans, as we do not have a mandatory draft. I don’t think that schools will consider obligatory military service in the same light as those who volunteer, especially at a time when our country is fighting 2 wars. And given that in August, America suffered devastating military casualties in Afghanistan, I think it would not be appropriate to compare your obligatory service (which for many involves noncombatant related government work) to Americans who have volunteered during wartime and face realistic possibility of making the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Hm. I know someone who applied—and was accepted—to GS at 20, so I do think that they would consider people your age if you’ve had a significant gap between your high-school and college careers.
I would say no effect since there is not much different in the range from 18-23.