SECOND BACHELOR's @ GS - chances?

randomhall
Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:02:37 +0000

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone here has advice (or experience) concerning SECOND BACHELOR’s at GS. On the official Columbia GS website it appears that they do admit candidates seeking a second bachelor’s degree…but in reality how common is it?

I have a B.S. (double major, with honors) from Caltech…which is a pure, theoretical math/science college (and hands-down the most hardcore, theoretical all-science-and-nothing-but-science institution in the world, even more hardcore than MIT…with ZERO liberal arts bent; in fact just about every single social science course there is math- or proof-based, and the humanities offerings are either a pathetic joke or somehow science-related). I detested every single minute of it and despite doing well on paper, it was the most suicidal experience and biggest regret of my life. My heart ALWAYS belonged to the humanities and liberal arts and back then I had been admitted to several Ivies (Columbia College included, with a named scholarship)/Stanford/etc…with the plan of studying humanities (my passions lay in international relations, politics, philosophy, etc.) and a math/science second major (to please the parents). However, back then I had extremely overbearing adults in my life who forced me to attend Caltech (a school I loathed so much from the onset that I couldn’t even stand to visit for admit weekend), where I’d then be forced to study nothing but hard-core math/science/engineering (since that’s just about all that Caltech offers). I was not even allowed to transfer out. I had all the choices in the world…and yet no choice in reality.

I’ve worked for a number of years and gone through some unique life experiences and know that life is too short to give up my own dreams to live a “life” that others want for me. Missing out on an Ivy league liberal arts/humanities education is something that aches my heart daily. I do not ever want to work in anything remotely related to math/science/engineering…ever…despite the high salaries & relative job stability in those fields, my mental health and happiness are far more important. I want to go into international affairs, journalism, public relations, or possibly marketing. Columbia GS is the only top/Ivy-level university offering a second Bachelor’s. Both Columbia and NYC also offer superb networking (and internship) opportunities in those fields I’m contemplating.

How competitive is Columbia GS admissions for candidates seeking a second bachelor’s? Anyone encountered instances similar to mine before? For those pursuing a second bachelor’s at GS, is it easier to finish up in 3 years or less? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.