<p>I'm a 23 year old college freshman. I did terrible in high school and
decided that college wasn't for me right away so I entered the workforce.
I've been successful in both the computer hardware and mortgage banking
businesses but I did not find them to be fulfilling enough so I decided to
return to school. I'm currently maintaining a 4.0gpa at a community
college here in Phoenix, AZ and I know I could score good on the SAT if I
need to take it.</p>
<p>My question is: What are the chances of me getting into a program like
Columbia's "General Studies", designed for returning and non-traditional
students such as myself?</p>
<p>I know I don't have much going for me. I've travelled the world quite a
bit (11 countries, 3 continents), I have years of experience in the
workforce, and I'm currently working on a column that might appear in a
national newspaper, but will these things even matter?</p>
<p>Are my grades and test scores, in addition to the few extras I've
mentioned, enough for me to be considered for admission at top schools
such as Columbia?</p>
<p>What about other top schools such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and NYU?</p>
<p>Should I just forget about it and apply to Arizona State?</p>