Navigating the Columbia University School of General Studies Application Portal: A Comprehensive Guide

Columbia University's School of General Studies (GS) offers a unique opportunity for non-traditional students to pursue an undergraduate degree. This guide provides a detailed overview of the GS application portal, requirements, and key considerations for prospective students.

Understanding the School of General Studies

The School of General Studies caters to students with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including those who have interrupted their education, pursued alternative paths, or have significant life experience. Unlike Columbia College (CC) or the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), GS focuses on non-traditional students. Importantly, candidates cannot apply to GS and any other undergraduate division simultaneously. Furthermore, individuals who have applied to any of these divisions within the last three years and were not accepted are ineligible to apply to the School of General Studies.

Required Application Materials

To have their application reviewed, prospective undergraduate degree candidates must submit several items. Notably, unofficial documents are accepted during the application process and can be used for admissions decisions. However, failure to submit complete, accurate, and authentic application documents consistent with the instructions may result in the denial or revocation of degree.

Here's a breakdown of the essential components:

Transcripts: Official high school transcripts, secondary school records, or GED/TASC test results are required. Additionally, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended (or currently attending, if applicable) must be submitted. Official documents are those that arrive directly from the institution, testing service, or recommender electronically. Paper transcripts may not be delivered or forwarded by a student.

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Essays: Applicants must articulate their educational history, work experience, present situation, and future plans. A crucial aspect of the essay is reflecting on why the applicant considers themselves a non-traditional student and why they have chosen to pursue their education at the School of General Studies. Successful essays should identify and describe specific elements of the program, academic or otherwise, that meet the applicant’s needs as a non-traditional student. The admissions committee is particularly interested in situations in the applicant's life from which they have learned and grown. This may include past academic experiences, professional accomplishments, or turning points and transformative events: new beginnings and personal achievements, but also events that may have affected their education, such as health and family challenges, personal obstacles or even issues with the justice system.
Test Scores (Optional): Submitting an SAT, ACT, or the Online GS Admissions Exam is optional. Applicants choosing to apply without an exam on record will be reviewed holistically without any impairment to the candidate’s potential to be admitted to GS. The admissions process is a multi-layered review that highly contextualizes an applicant’s candidacy within their life experiences. For students who choose to submit ACT or SAT test results, the school will continue to accept self-reported scores and only require official testing for enrolling students. The SAT code number for GS is 2095 and the ACT code number is 2716.
English Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting official scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test. The TOEFL or IELTS must be taken within two years of application to the School of General Studies. To be eligible for admission, GS requires a score of 100 on the internet-based TOEFL (or 600 or better on the paper version), a score of 7.0 on the IELTS, or a score of 120 on Duolingo. Students enrolled in Columbia’s American Language Program (ALP) who have achieved a minimum level of 8 should forward their placement information to the GS Office of Admissions, as it can be used to satisfy the test score requirement. If admitted to GS, students will still be required to continue coursework with ALP until they achieve level 10.
Application Fee: Upon submission of the application, the Application Status page will allow applicants to submit an online payment or to choose to submit a fee waiver request. The non-refundable application fee for Master's degree programs is $150 USD.
CSS Profile (For Financial Aid): Submitting the CSS Profile is required for any applicant seeking financial aid. Applying for financial aid does not, in any way, affect the admission decision.

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The Online GS Admissions Exam (Optional)

Undergraduate applicants have the option to take the Online GS Admissions Exam, but it is not required. After submitting an application for admission, applicants will see a link to pay the online exam fee of $50. Disability Services reviews accommodation requests and determines an applicant's eligibility for accommodations on the exam. The review process takes approximately three weeks, and does not begin until a student's completed registration form and disability documentation are received.

The Online GS Admissions Exam (with sections derived from the College Board’s Next-Generation Accuplacer) is designed to test an applicant's skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing. It assesses the test taker's ability to derive meaning from a range of texts and to determine the meaning of words and phrases in short and extended contexts. Passages on the test cover a range of content areas, writing modes, and complexities. Both single and paired passages are included. The exam also evaluates a test taker's ability to revise and edit multi-paragraph text. The School of General Studies keeps all student registration and payment transaction information confidential.

Application Deadlines and Decisions

Each admissions term has three corresponding application deadlines: Priority Early Action, Early Action, and Regular Decision. Decisions will be released on a rolling basis approximately six to eight weeks after the close of each deadline; therefore, early submission is encouraged.

Key Considerations for Non-Traditional Students

The School of General Studies values the unique perspectives and experiences of non-traditional students. When crafting your application, consider the following:

Highlight Your Journey: Clearly articulate your path to GS, explaining any breaks in education, career changes, or significant life events that have shaped your goals.
Connect Your Experiences to GS: Demonstrate how the specific academic programs, resources, and community at GS align with your needs and aspirations as a non-traditional student.
Showcase Your Growth: The admissions committee seeks candidates who have learned and grown from their experiences. Share stories of resilience, perseverance, and personal development.

Additional Resources

Columbia University offers a wealth of resources to support prospective students:

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Prospective Student Appointments: The Office of Admissions dedicates time for prospective students to speak directly with an admissions representative. Topics that might be discussed during these appointments include: Academic records, Eligibility, Major and the Core Curriculum, Transfer credit, Admitted student questions regarding the enrollment process. An appointment is recommended for students who cannot attend an information session, or have attended an information session and have specific questions, to more directly discuss the opportunities offered at the School of General Studies and the application process. Appointments are 20-30 minutes in length and may be conducted over the phone or in person. Students who seek admissions advising appointments should note that appointments are only listed if they are available. If no appointments are listed, please check back for additional availability. Prospective students who previously applied to the School of General Studies should not electronically schedule an appointment, and should instead contact the Office of Admissions at 212-854-2772.
Virtual Office Hours: Led by an admissions representative, prospective and admitted students are encouraged to attend GS Undergraduate Virtual Office Hours. This session is designed to answer questions about the application process, program details, financial aid resources, and more. Students are welcome to drop in at any time during the hour to ask questions.
Website: Start your application and learn more about the application process, requirements, and deadlines. Start or Access Your Application and learn about your program of interest.

Credentials Verification

Columbia University requires all incoming students to complete a credentials verification process before enrollment. The process includes verification of letters of reference and of all post-secondary transcripts and degrees awarded. Upon submission of the application, applicants must provide written consent to participate in the verification of all academic, professional, and reference information provided during the application process. The School of Professional Studies has contracted with Re Vera Services to assist with the verification of letters of recommendation.

A Holistic Approach to Admissions

The admissions process at Columbia is a holistic one, which means that every part of the application matters to help inform the judgment.

Important Reminders

Applicants must submit all materials directly, not through an agent or third-party vendor. In addition, the applicant will be required to attest to the accuracy and authenticity of all information and documents submitted to Columbia.

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