IdreamInIvy

Hey Guys
I was thinking about applying to Columbia GS next week. On the GS website it says that I must submit transcripts from every college I've ever attended. I didn't do well at my first community college so I started over at another community college without transfering credits are informing them of my previous college. My Question: If I only submit transcripts from my current college, how will Columbia Gs know

confidentialcoll

if you're 40 now and you went to that comm college when you were 20-21 they won't know, if you're 22-24 right now they probably will. there's a small risk that they could google you and stuff pops up or if it's recent they'll ask you what you did with yourself for that year(s).

IdreamInIvy

I'm actually 26 and went to the community college when I was 20; google does not turn up anything (i've checked), is there a national database or something that they will be able to find all the institutions that a person has attended?

confidentialcoll

if you only spent a year at the comm college then i guess noone will know, if it's more than that you run a risk.

IdreamInIvy

i'm 25. how can they know???

IdreamInIvy

sorry? I actually attempted to do two semesters but i never completed any classes (withdrew everytime.) excellent grades now. hope they won't know

confidentialcoll

"i'm 25. how can they know???"

because they could ask you what happened to that year of your life, unless you show that you worked, i think it can be part of the story to do badly in comm college, if you're doing fine now it'll show that you have been through bumps and can recover from them.

IdreamInIvy

Yeah I actually was working 60 hrs a week as a general manager which is why I kept withdrawing each semester. I agree that it may be good to put in the story, but i'm afraid of taking the risk. So you think I can tell them that I was just working.

Charlie's World

They'll never know, period. Unless of course you advertise the fact on sites like this

nycollegelooker1

Ha, I have one of the best suggestions available!

How would they know? Okay, the law is as follows,

Schools are allowed to give out "directory information about you without your consent". They aren't allowed to give out information about Your Grades, GPA, etc without your consent generally even disciplinary actions are protected from disclosure without consent. Schools are allowed to give out however "directory information to whoever requests it".

Directory information is hard to define but is generally includes general information about you and nothing specific such as grades. Example of directory information include, your dates of enrollment, date of birth, your major, if you were full time or part time, any awards, degrees or honors received,etc.

Under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy act of 1974, you have the option of instituting what is known as a Ferpa privacy block. I suggest you go to the registrar's office and tell them that you want a complete block under FERPA of all your information so it is not disclosed.

The only way they can then disclose it is if you remove the block or if this a court order, law enforcement,etc.

Another thing you should be aware of is that the National Student Clearinghouse is often utilized by colleges to provide enrollment and degree verification. For example, if an employer or an health insurance company wants to check if your in school full time for health insurance purposes or that you have a degree they can use the clearinghouse. This is not against the law, and the clearinghouse can tell outside sources your directory information (your grades,disciplinary actions, other specifics) etc are still protected.

If you place a ferpa block, then generally the Clearinghouse will double check with the school before releasing any information to 3rd parties.

Federal law does allow employees with at the school access to that information if it is part of their educational duties or in the process of their duties. However, it is strict about disclosing certain information, but directory information is free to volunteered out, unless you put a block.

It was smart of you not to transfer any credits from that particular community college, but you need to follow the advice given if you don't want anyone to know you went to that college.

nycollegelooker1

You need to also tell the school to contact the national student clearinghouse and place a ferpa block on all your directory information for that school.

mikesown

Be honest. Report ALL of your grades as they ask for. If they find that you lied on your application, you're almost surely rejected without consideration for your current stats.

GS is designed for people who have, well, screwed up their lives in terms of education, and are trying to get back on the right track. Showing how you went back to school, realized you weren't prepared, and came back a second time fully ready for the challenges can only add to your app. GS doesn't care about how you did in school in the past; they are interested in two things: what you have accomplished during your life(from 18->26 what did you do?), and what you are capable of academically now(What's your GPA at your current community college? Are you getting a 4.0 GPA?). They don't care so much that you got a 2.0 GPA at a community college in the past; they only care about what you are capable of NOW.