Columbia College vs. School of General Studies

jegan3 · 01-27-2005, 03:16 PM

I don't really understand the difference between these two undergrad schools. Someone told me that if you are accepted to CC then you can't do the dual major program, but you can with GS. Is that right or not? I really want to double-major so I need to know before applying. :-/ Thanks.

CC2005 · 01-27-2005, 04:37 PM

GS is for people who are older. If you are coming out of high school, apply to Columbia College. I know people who have two majors in the college so don't worry. GS is also decidedly not as prestigious as CC.

zantedeschia · 01-27-2005, 05:11 PM

School of General Studies is like...night school for adults. Not necessarily at night but do you get my point?

jegan3 · 01-27-2005, 05:27 PM

Ooh yes, thank you

GaussGodden · 02-02-2005, 06:41 PM

i think what means by dual major program is

columbia university offers
dual degree programs for GS students and other grad school with their graduate school of business..

and not columbia college

that program basicly.. when you finished up to 90 credits of your undergrad credits.. if you get accepted to graduate school of business (dual degree program, GMAT is not require if you do this with GS dual degree program, a columbia advisor confirmed it)
you would then be able to start your classes on graduate school of business for a year when you are still a senior in GS
then you would be able to be officially be a business school student.. after your 124 credits
and when you completed the 154 credit (complete your MBA courses) then you would awarded with your BA and MBA at the same time.. (you wont receive your BA even when you completed the 124 units and requirement) if you are in the dual degree program...

only available for GS because generally, GS students have working experience.. and working experience is require for MBA students

GaussGodden · 02-02-2005, 06:48 PM

note only available to GS students with working experience..

jegan3 · 02-02-2005, 08:52 PM

Sorry, I'm still a little confused

Does this mean that if I get accepted to CC, I won't be able to double-major? I really need a school where I can do that.

allureNY86 · 02-02-2005, 08:55 PM

jegan, no, it doesn't mean that.

jegan3 · 02-02-2005, 09:24 PM

okay, thanks

GaussGodden · 02-02-2005, 10:59 PM

no.. you can still double major at CC

just that GS allows you to take BA and MBA at the same time..

generally they have working experience..
and this program usually covers up their lost time in the past (cuz gs students usually have their education prosponed)
therefore, having this program, they can cut back their lost time in the past..
they dont have to wait for MBA admission, spent extra time to take GMAT, in addition, GS students can use 30 business school credits to cover up part of their BA credit requirement...

basicly you'll only have to spend 1 year at business school instead of 2 years..

deferredman · 02-04-2005, 04:30 AM

I am actually at SEAS and know quite a few people (including some of the deans) at GS. Hopefully I can shed some light on this.. GS has dual degree programs, but the fine print is that your app receives no special consideration when you apply as a junior.

You do indeed need to take the GMATs, GRE's, LSATs depending on what grad school you are attempting to apply to. Your undergrad dean, please state his name if you have it, was probably misinformed. They have no control over grad school admissions and your app will be reviewed alongside everyone's application. The only thing GS can do is allow you to apply early.

Since the average age at GS is 29, applying early to a grad school is attractive. However, this is not the same case if you are younger, since if you could get into Columbia Law, business.. etc, you probably also have a good chance at Harvard.

Oh yeah to get back to GS, it is a school for nontraditional students. Classes are taken with other students at Columbia since they do not have classes meant for GS alone. Achieving a high GPA is nearly impossible since they are competing against pre-med students and pre-law students in ALL their classes.

When people talk about prestige, the issue normally centers on schools which are affiliated with Columbia University like Barnard; unlike GS, which is part of Columbia.

Hope this helps!

Good luck everyone

sligokier · 02-04-2005, 11:45 PM

As a GS graduate ( I served in the Army) I can tell you that some of the greatest minds of the 20th Century are GS grads------I can also tell you that you receive a Columbia University degree. I can also tell you that the pre-med program places something like 80% of their grads. By the way, most of the information in this thread is wrong. First of all, GS has its own departments---English, Languages, and a couple of others. You can cross register in any department you want. By the way, I was a history major, graduated magna cum laude, and competed very well against the college kids. Fact is, we use to do much better then them!

deferredman · 02-05-2005, 03:56 AM

Umm, GS does not have its own academic departments. You can simply goto Columbia's directory of classes and verify that. In fact, for you to even make a statement like that makes me question whether you graduated from Columbia at all.

You can cross-register? What are you talking about. GS is a part of Columbia. Who would you cross-register with.. yourself? The only people who can cross register with Columbia courses is Barnard and other AFFILATED schools.

GaussGodden · 02-05-2005, 12:08 PM

GS doesnt have its academic department...

they do have a class meant for GS
only
which is University Writing

General students take C1010

but GS students have an option to take F1010.. and F1010 is not open to columbia college students

sligokier · 02-05-2005, 01:29 PM

No, they have several literature courses, language course etc---thank you. There is a music course open only to GS students---Look for courses with the F prefix. Cross registering essentially means you can take courses with practically any prefix-university wide. Most GS students I knew had rich life experiences and were oh so much mature then most of the 18 year olds at Columbia. GS is an excellent option for those who bring as much to the college experience as they take from it!