Congrats @norcalbusiness ! I turned in my Columbia essay about a week past the early action deadline so now I’m stuck waiting until sometime from now and May 1st!
I applied to
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UC Santa Cruz (Safety School, Accepted)
USC
Columbia
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Cornell
Stanford
Going to be a long two months!
@GoldenState1 Those are some awesome choices! I hate all of this waiting!
Congrats @GoldenState1 on UC Santa Cruz! Did you TAG? Are you in norcal or socal?
I’ve heard GS isn’t that ideal too. Maybe it’s just rumors.
I only applied to 2, Yale and one safe school. I’ve got bunch of invite-to-apply letters, but I don’t have much time to prepare all those applications. I just want to go back to school really. It’s either my dream school or wherever else that’s decent.
I wish I knew more about my chances of getting in. It is really hard to figure out if my application is competitive or not.
@realcheese Ah, and we all know how very true rumors turn out to be…
I think whether or not GS is ideal depends on your individual situation, and what you are looking for. Some people are more picky. This is me being extremely picky, but I didn’t like how the GS students don’t get the exact same degree (it’s not in Latin).
The Yale Eli Whitney Students Program, however, does give you a degree from Yale College. The same degree as traditional students because it’s the same school.
@butfirstcoffee Thank You! I did TAG, I’m from San Jose, Norcal.
Of course, I think all students regardless of the “school” they are in should get the same degree anyways.
@realcheese I visited Columbia in August of last year, and I think the program is legit. The only downside is the financial aid, which barring the full-ride PALS scholarship, I would probably not attend due to cost. I hear their scholarships are all merit-based with initial amount 5-10k first year. That puts the 55k sticker price way out of reach for me to move my wife and two dogs across the country if I were to get accepted. My #1 realistic choice I’m hoping for is CAL due to not having to move too far, and the cost. If I were to get accepted into any of the Ivies or Stanford. It would be a no-brainer as they meet full need and obviously the academics are out of the world at these institutions.
@IndirectProofs I agree on the degree, although Columbia claims the reason for the different degree language has nothing to do with distinguishing a Columbia College graduate from a GS graduate in terms of academic rigor, I think the diploma in English is kind of a way to stamp an asterisk on your degree. The upside is not many people actually see the degree when applying to jobs, rather the transcript which is identical to CC, yet I know its something that would always be in the back of my mind. I’m sure I would get over the language of the degree someday I guess… lol
From what I’ve read online, Columbia GS is known as the “lesser” school at Columbia. But only someone who knew you were non-traditional and went to look it up would have any idea.
It’s still competitive to get in and costs a small fortune. I think the first time you’re applying for a new job your employer might do some poking around at Columbia’s non-traditional students program (GS) but what they determine is entirely up to the result of their google search or personal preference. That turns me off from the program.
I don’t want to go somewhere where I feel subpar. Columbia self-imposes a class system by labeling their degrees with Columbia or GS (or latin or not latin, however they do it). As a non-traditional student, you can expect some questions about going back to school, how you got into an ivy league, your experience as an older student, etc. Is it awkward to explain the GS vs. normal Columbia thing? I think so. But that’s entirely my opinion and shouldn’t sway anyone one direction or another.
@butfirstcoffee I think you bring up valid and legitimate points and concerns.
@butfirstcoffee Those are my exact thoughts and feelings as well about Columbia GS.
However, I think, to preserve the quality of this thread, we should get back to focusing on Eli Whitney Students Program. I appreciate all of your thoughts and your company during this time of waiting. Speaking of, what is everyone’s method of passing the time? How do you keep yourself at peace or less stressed?
@GoldenState1 It’s still better than most state schools in my opinion. It’s not a bad program at all if you have a lot of money and don’t mind explaining the GS thing. I just think it’s a petty move on Columbia’s part and one I couldn’t get past. But I also couldn’t afford to pay for it, so maybe I’m just salty! Haha
Anyone apply to any safeties?
If you have any intention on going to grad school, the cc/gs difference is completely irrelevant. Plus, many of these class differences are in our heads. I know several very successful people who have gone back to school at Columbia, and unless you’re within two years of graduating high school, you go to GS. Thats the explanation. The difference in the degrees doesn’t mean a lesser degree. Have you ever met anyone who has stated that they have lost job opportunities because of a GS vs CC degree? I know two people who have gotten fantastic jobs out of GS and two that have gone to top-tier grad schools (Yale and Harvard). Im not aware of the GS financial aid options.
OBVIOUSLY Yale is my first choice though.
That’s why I had said that it really depends on the person applying and what matters to them. To some people, it’s not as big of a deal.
What I worry most about is finding a place to live in New Haven. I can’t afford over 1000 rent.
@IndirectProofs If you’re a single girl looking for a room it should be relatively easy I believe.
What’s bothering me is that my safe school asks me to confirm the enrollment by May 1st. #facepalm
I’ll have to lose the deposit if Yale takes me in later, or I’ll lose my opportunity to go if Yale doesn’t take me. Ugh.
@realcheese I’ve heard that you can contact admissions office at schools with earlier deadlines and ask for an extension if you need it. I’d give it a shot if you were to be in that predicament.
Aha! Thank you. Never knew it was an option. I’ll call them tomorrow and see how it goes.