<p>I’ve recently been accepted to GS, but have gotten rejections from 6 other public schools so far, including my safety school that is in-state (Stony Brook). Since I don’t think GS will offer me a full ride and I am currently homeless without a job, I don’t think I will be able to attend college at all since I cannot take out a bank loan without any credit.</p>
<p>I am grateful that at least one school believes that I have some potential, but in the end it is ultimately meaningless since I cannot continue my education from community college. But this does make me question the admissions at GS since I have explained my situation in other school essays, yet GS is the only school that has accepted me thus so far. Considering the schools I applied to had an average 50% acceptance rate, it seems quite odd to me.</p>
<p>This is a total guess, but how old are you? I ask that because I know many public universities prefer to cater to the traditional 18-22 year old undergrad experience rather than addressing non-traditional student needs. My 2nd choice specifically discourages non-traditional students from applying for transfer.</p>
<p>Secondly, “easy” can be subjective. Yes, it is easier for some to get into GS because they fit the specific criteria of the GS adcom. On the other hand, many of the same applicants that were accepted into those public schools would likely be rejected by GS. Because of that, being rejected by one and accepted by the other is not the best measure of competitive admissions. That is also supported by the difference in their admission rates.</p>
<p>Good luck on the scholarships. Don’t lose hope! :-)</p>
<p>However, those students getting accepted as traditional students would apply to Columbia College, not GS. So there would be no point in them applying to GS as it’s against the rules anyway.</p>
<p>I know a few people who didn’t get into GS but got into UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Cornell ILR. GS has a unique way of evaluating prospective students. I wouldn’t presume to know their evaluation rubric, but they seem to be looking for “something.” What that something is specifically is quite nebulous, but students who do gain addmission, and end up matriculating, tend to do very well academically.</p>
<p>I haven’t checked CC’s admission requirements, but is there an age restriction on who can apply? Because that doesn’t seem fair as CC offers full need, but GS doesn’t so if you’re getting the same education, then it’d be better to be in CC as their endowment pool is significantly larger than GS’s.</p>
<p>Just remember to give back once you’re an alumni so the way is paved for future GS students. Yeah it sucks for us right now, but we’re in a unique position to help future generations.</p>
<p>GS is unique because it serves non-traditional students. It exists and is popular because it’s one of the few competetive institutions offering a similar program. Many of us are at GS because we don’t fit into the model that many universities expect. The fact that some people get into GS, but not other colleges, isn’t some dirty secret. It’s the entire reason GS exists.</p>
<p>You’re right, GS does not offer full-needs financial aid, because GS caters to specific non-traditional students, namely people who have succeeded in starting their own business and decided to return to school, athletes/Olympians who have trained since they were young and are beginning college in their later years, etc.</p>
<p>GS is not meant for non-traditional students in the sense of unnaturally impoverished students who grew up in an unfortunately destitute lifestyle so as to impede them from attending school. So yes, it is unfair to people such as yourself who cannot matriculate at a college due to financial obstructions, but that’s life and if you truly want to succeed in academia, you will find the motivation and a way to get the education you want.</p>
<p>What should I do if I don’t have the money and cannot come up with the deposit fee money to enroll in a school? I called the school and asked them about it, but they said it could not be waived, and I don’t get my financial aid until after I matriculate and register for classes. Is there any financial aid service that covers this, or some sort of loophole I could exploit in my current position? (24 year old independent student, no job, no permanent residence.)</p>
<p>Agree, no matter what, there will always be some things that will need to be paid for while waiting for financial aid to cycle in and any overages to be paid out. How much is the deposit? When is it due? What are you doing if you aren’t working?</p>
<p>Hi Sdgal2 and momofthreeboys, thanks for taking the time to respond. To answer some of your inquiries:</p>
<p>I live at a church, I get food assistance from the state, and I am currently looking for jobs near here would accommodate my current school schedule, as my courses are scattered throughout the day, ranging from 8am to 11pm, including weekends.</p>
<p>The deposit is $700-some, I think due by around the end of December or so. I am taking classes/studying. Last year I tried to work part-time while taking classes, and it didn’t work out that well because my GPA began to drop and I was falling asleep during classes since I wasn’t able to sleep that much.</p>
<p>*Alternative loan options?
For a homeless 24 year old (U.S. citizen) with no credit that has been accepted to GS for this upcoming spring semester, what options are there since private loans are seemingly out of the question for someone without any credit? Are there other types of loan opportunities (aside from having maxed out Direct Loans) applicable for this type of student?
*</p>
<p>Is this for Columbia-GS??? IF so, how are you paying for your other costs? GS doesn’t give great aid. </p>
<p>If you can’t pay the expected costs, that is your bigger problem. NOt being able to pay the deposit would be a blessing.</p>
<p>Hi mom2collegekids. It is a private school, yes (Columbia University). I’m not sure what qualifies as a “for-profit” school, since it seems to me that all colleges “profit” in one way or another. I was admitted early action for this upcoming spring semester.</p>
<p>Anyway, I am just speaking about schools in general, as they all seem to require deposit fees around the same price (Stony Brook’s is like $650 or something, and it’s a public school [but they’re giving me a full scholarship]).</p>
<p>Have you explained your situation to Stony Brook?</p>
<p>The bigger issue is not that you will not be able to pay the deposit at Columbia GS, it is that unlike Columbia University, Columbia GS does not meet 100% demonstrated need. After you pay the deposit, how are you going to pay for school?</p>
<p>Are you a NYS resident? If yes, I would recommend going to stony brook. Since you are getting full scholarship - (is it covering room and board or just tuition and fees?), they may be more amenable to working with you. Even if your scholarship only covers the tuition, between Pell and direct loan, you should be able to pay your room and board in order to have a roof over your head.</p>
<p>Hello sybbie719. Yes, I have explained it to each school I’ve been accepted to.</p>
<p>The main issue with choosing a school is balancing the strength of the particular programs I’m interested in, and the costs of attendance. If I am unable to perform adequate research in my field of interest during undergrad, I may not be able to attend a decent graduate school for my specific topic that will pay me a decent stipend and possess enough resources to fund my dissertation research. So attending the right undergraduate program is critical to admissions for the correct grad program for me.</p>
<p>Is the congregation interested in sponsoring you?</p>
<p>There are going to be many times when your aid & expenses wont algin.
Living in a church explains where you sleep, but what do you * do?*
Are you working?</p>