New York Times Journalist Recommendation

Parents Forum
1

<p>A good friend of mine is a Times journalist who covers education. I’m applying to U Penn’s College of General Studies, the School of General Studies of Columbia University, and Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College. A lot of the applicants to these schools have already had experience in the Liberal Arts. I have no experince in the Liberal Arts. Upon graduating high school however, I enrolled in a college level technical school where I earned great grades. I’ve been told by a committee member at U Penn that since I have no experience in the Liberal Arts, I wouldn’t be viewed “favorably.” Neither Columbia nor Boston College have expressed what the committe member at U Penn expressed. Would my recommendation letter from my Times friend possibly fill the Liberal Arts gap (Remember, she covers education for Times)? Thank you.</p>

<p>PS: Additional infromation is available upon request. Thanks again.</p>

2

<p>a letter from your friend really would not help you because other than a personal rec. what could s/he really write about you?</p>

<p>"I have known will X number of years…</p>

<p>Has s/he ever taught you?</p>

<p>Is s/he really in a postion to assess whether or not you will be able to handle the work load.</p>

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<p>My take on this is that while you have taken “college level technical school courses” you have never attended an accredited college so these credits will not do anything for your cause. This means that the emphasis will be placed on your high school record, SAT scores, personal statement and probably resume to show what have you been doing since graduating from high school.</p>

<p>I think that your best bet would be to first go the local community college route and then look to transfer into one of these programs.</p>

3

<p>I already have Fordham University as my safety. I’m not looking to transfer my potential college level technical school credits to any of these schools. I’m just hoping that my 100’s and 90’s will compensate for my high school grades as well as my Liberal Arts gap. She is my friend and writing mentor. She wrote an article about a high school I was in. I was profiled in the artice.</p>

<p>“Is s/he really in a postion to assess whether or not you will be able to handle the work load.”</p>

<p>She covers education for the New York Times.</p>

<p>“…to show what have you been doing since graduating from high school.”</p>

<p>After high school I enrolled in a college level technical school where I earned great grades.</p>

4

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<p>If you have already been accepted to fordham, then attend fordham, use the opportunity to build up a transcript of good grades and then transfer to one of the other schools.</p>

<p>Your other option:</p>

<p>Columbia’s Undergraduate degree applicants must submit the following:</p>

<p>Official* high school transcripts, secondary school records, or GED test results. Those applicants with a GED and two or more years of high school will need to submit their high school transcripts. </p>

<p>Official* transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. </p>

<p>Official* scores from the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American College Testing Program (ACT) taken within the last eight years. Students who have no test scores or old test results must arrange with the Office of Admissions to take the General Studies Admissions Examination at a cost of $25. The ETS code number for General Studies is 2095. </p>

<p>One typed, double-spaced, essay. </p>

<p>Two letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources. Please follow the instructions listed on the recommendation forms. </p>

<p>A nonrefundable application fee of $65 in the form of a check or money order payable to Columbia University. Applicants using the online application may use a credit card to pay the $65 fee. </p>

<p>If you are looking to attend Columbia GS, then you should arrange to take their General Studies Admissions Examination . </p>

<p>Your friend will not be considered an acceptable recommendation for this purpose. </p>

<p>Are you working? If yes, then you can get a recommendation from your manager. </p>

<p>If possible you should try to obtain your second recommendation from the technical school which you have attended since you will need to submit transcripts from this school. While you cannot apply any credits toward the degree (the courses which you have taken at technical school are most likely going to be transferable to an academic degree because they came from an accredited vocational school) it will help to demonstrate that you have turned things around since high school (keep in mind that your high school grades will still be a factor in evaluating you).</p>

5

<p>The thing is, my first rec is going to come from a former high school principal of mine (he’s a former GS student). The second one is coming from the director/founder of a grassroots community organization I’ve been a part of for three years. And the third, well you already know (she is going to be considered, the rec form is very different from what’s stated above). The instructors and dean at my technical school do not know me, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a rec from someone there. I’m thinking that my technical school transcript will speak for its self. Why do you recommend me to take the GS exam rather than the SAT/ACT?</p>

<p>PS:
I am not working as of now.
I’m pretty sure I’ll get into Boston College.
I think I have a good chance of getting into Columbia.
I’m not feeling too good about U Penn.
Would you like to take a look at my “full picture?”</p>

6

<p>My take on this that it is likely your technical school grades will not be considered, because a liberal arts education is like the opposite of a technical education and doing well in one is not necessarily going to predict doing well in the other</p>

<p>I would have a good selection of other schools with transferring in mind if that is still desired after you get more of an academic background</p>

<p>If you do not submit any recommendation from the tech school, since you are submitting the transcript, they are going to wonder why you left them out and instead used a friend.</p>

7

<p>If you have taken the SAT/ ACT and are comfortable with your scores then submit them. IF you have not taken them and Columbia’s application deadline is March 1, you still have a few days to make an appointment, walk in and take the test at Columbia. </p>

<p>From what I have been told by students that we have sent there (this is what I do for a living- adult ed and workplace learning) the exam is really not too bad just math, reading comp, vocab and essay.</p>

<p>NYU’s Paul McGhee school also has a program for non traditional student where they have events that you can walk in with proof of graduation, your transcript, take their admissions exam and get an answer with in a day or 2.</p>

8

<p>Sybbie, I’m now going to apply to NYU’s Paul McGhee school. I looked at their website, their program suits me well! Thank you.</p>

9

<p>We used to transfer 2-3 students from the Community College of Philadelphia into Penn a year all the time. No matter how low your grades were, I can guarantee we had some that were lower than yours. (including at least a couple high school dropouts/convicted felons.)</p>

10

<p>My rule of thumb for supplemental recommendations is that they should add something IMPORTANT about you or your abilities that can’t already be found on your application or in other recommendations. They should be used sparingly. Recommendations from someone just because they are well-known, famous, or successful in a field related to college or an area you want to study would probably not make any difference in your chances unless the person can add IMPORTANT information about you.</p>