<p>
GS is not official undergraduate school for ‘traditional’ undergraduate students.
Continuing education is an official school of Columbia that offers undergraduate programs (e.g. postbac GS also offers postbac program). The students at graduate division of school of continuing education earn the SAME degree as other Columbia schools.</p>
<p>Continuing education is begger than GS</p>
<p>Many universities, ivies included have a form of general studies for non traditional students. The quality of such programs depends on how the schools have constructed it. As to the “value” of the degree as compared to the traditional CC degree, for the most part, people don’t know or care. They do not go into that degree of examining these things unless they are in the know about the way it works and have a prejudice about it. I wish I knew how to italicize because I would do so starting with the “unless”. </p>
<p>If you read on these boards, you will see that there are those who are insistent on the differences and will proclaim that the degree is inferior. So to deny such folks exist—well, you don’t have to look any further than here.</p>
<p>The other difference that can make a huge difference in the experience is that Columbia University does not view the programs as equal. There are restrictions for the GS that are not there for the other Columbia schools in terms of amenities, access to certain courses, and most importantly for many people, financial aid. Columbia guarantees to meet full need for its undergraduates as they define it through PROFILE. And they give out good financial aid packages to their students. Not so to the GS crowd. You often get federal aid, state aid, and you are lucky to get much of anything from the university. This is not a program that Columbia wants to invest its money in attracting students. So if you go in there, thinking that you are going to be treated the same way as the CC and SEAS kids are with the same privileges, you may be very disappointed and upset. </p>
<p>The GS program provides a great opportunity for those who are non traditional students and are not interested in the traditional undergrad experience and who can afford to pay for the experience. And though you might run into some employer who will nit pick about that fact that the degree is from the School of GS, most people do not know or care. Columbia grads are the largest group of people who will, and many of them don’t care either. The way the Columbia kids I know look at is exactly the way it is; a program for those who want to go to Columbia but are not coming directly out of high school or within a few year thereof.</p>