Burb Parent

Wow! As a GS alum from far too many years ago, I am really shocked that the anti-GS feelings at CC and SEAS are so strong with some students. I really didn't feel that tension in the late 70s, perhaps because CC and SEAS were not nearly so competitive then. I guess the young'uns don't like to share their prize with adults.

"'Adults in Columbia classes are ruining our University'." Well yes, it is a University filled with adults taking graduate courses as well as GS students. I don't have the exact numbers, but I think CC and SEAS students are clearly outnumbered by those suspicious adults. GS is celebrating its 60th year. I think it will be around for a few more years. While it hasn't ruined CC and SEAS during those 60 years, students who have the time, energy and bigotry to try to disband GS could ruin the University.

Denzera

60 years? Why was I under the impression that Langston Hughes had gone to the early editions of GS back in the early part of the 20th century?

columbia2007

Langston Hughes, believe it or not, was in SEAS.

GS was formally founded in 1947. Prior to this, similar programs were known as "Extension Teaching" or "University Teaching", and these belonged to a tradition that stretched back to the first nontraditional curriculum, offered in 1831, although the extension programs only really began to be established in the 1890s.

See the history section of the GS website:
http://www.gs.columbia.edu/history.htm

GS_Banding

How nice of those students. Let them waste their time with inconsequential matters.

If GS students make absurd and unrelated arguments in classes, why don't CC or SEAS students argue logically and refute them?

If GS students have too much experience and dominate classes, well, aren't CC and SEAS students supposed to be the best and brightest?

If the fact that there may be 3 or 4 'older' students in some of your classes the most important issue in your life, then that is a very sad life.

I could say the same about CC/SEAS students. Some of them are really bright, others are really freaking dumb. You don't see me up in arms about it, I just don't care enough.

columbia2007

Eh, how does one "refute" a boring life story or bragging rights over someone's career experience? The problem in question is that most of these contributions are not, in fact, arguments or valid points relating to the material whatsoever.

WindowShopping

A good professor would (and should) shut them up, regardless of division.

GS_Banding

People have vocal folds for a reason. "John's ideas are interesting but I don't think they're relevant to the subject at hand. I think that blah blah blah..."

redlinekid2

And here I thought that the admissions folks at Columbia GS was going to change things by shuting out everyone who has less than a 3.7 to 4.0 GPA, so that they could match CC admissions standards. This way, the lines between GS and CC would no longer make a difference. At least that has been my experience with the GS admissions office. Straight "A" students. Nothing less than that.

ConfucianNemisis

"So, Columbia College is at the same level as GS?"

For all intents and purposes, yes. A General Studies student is an undergraduate student at Columbia University. As a GS student you have few if any restrictions in terms of course registration at Columbia. There are some weird anomalies (until recently, only GS students could major in Creative Writing).

However, GS has a separate administration from Columbia College and SEAS (which are under the domain of the blandly named "Division of Student Affairs". Student affairs runs admissions, programming, residential life, student activities, financial aid, etc. etc.) GS has its own student affairs division separate from the traditional undergrads. As a result GS ends up being somewhat of the black sheep undergrad school on an administrative level. Cause for lots of *****ing and moaning. GS students don't live in Columbia undergrad housing, but can get digs through Columbia's apartment housing (grad students and stuff live in the buildings around campus etc.)

In terms of career services, I think GS students have access to all the same stuff as CC students. Not certain though.

I want to stress that GS serves three purposes- 1) School for non-traditional students (drop outs looking to re enroll, people who took a few years off, and of course older students. We have some random people in GS, I think the guy who programmed Internet Explorer is currently enrolled.) 2) School for students enrolled in a dual degree program with Jewish Theological Seminary's List College. Many of them are traditional college aged but apparently JTS requirements don't mesh with the Core or something silly like that. So the students have to get their BA through GS. They can live in JTS dorms adjacent to the campus. 3) Post-Bac Pre med students. I think that covers the majority of GS students.

ConfucianNemisis

Burb parent- most people dont care in their later years. During your early years in college, especially first year, you're coming off a process in which you feel incredibly special. You are among the 'chosen' few who were accepted into a special college. You feel elite, you've been set for life! So it becomes part of your experience to look down on people who didnt get into your elite bastion. And then you feel cheated when you realize other people are getting all the same benefits without having to go through the sheer ridiculousness that is the admissions process these days. It warps everything about college.

As for closing GS, I'm ambivalent, I'd like to see the University reorganize the schools under one umbrella, and raise the bar for admissions. Then no one can complain.

redlinekid2

ConfucianNemisis,
Columbia GS HAS raised the bar with its admissions policy. NOW they require at least a 3.7 to 4.0 GPA to warrent serious consideration, regardless of your previous college. Anyone below that, your eliminated. It used to be at least a 3.0 GPA; how times has changed for Columbia GS.

I was rejected for having a 3.5+ GPA in a very strong academic program at my previous college. I certainly hate to see The Harvard Extension School follow Columbia GS lead to match their traditional counter parts in the admissions arena.

nervousmommy

I recently hired a Columbia graduate for an entry level job in my company. Only after she arrived did I learn that she was a GS graduate. I did feel that it was a question of "bait and switch." She looks very young for her age, so it seemed reasonable that she was 22 rather than 32. I realize it's an isolated incident, but she is having trouble in the job and I can't help but wonder how a CC grad would be performing.

Sweetny007

^ The same thing could have happened with a cc grad. Some people just interview well...

WindowShopping

nervousmommy:

1. this is really your company?
2. you hired someone without looking at their age?
3. you don't believe columbia university is enough to justify her degree? i - and many of my gs colleagues - plan on stopping at columbia university. how exactly is this bait and switch?
4. you wish to go ahead and assume deep down for all intents and purposes that any given columbia college graduate would perform better than your hire?

nervousmommy -- stop being so nervous about your hire and the little things that came along with her history.

Denzera

in other news, SEAS graduates are extremely diligent, humble sorts who would never do such a thing as frequent a message board during work hours.