Ever heard of the Columbia School of General Studies? If you’re picturing an auxiliary undergraduate program akin to the Harvard Extension School, you couldn’t be more mistaken! Columbia’s General Studies (GS) program was established in 1947 to serve nontraditional undergraduate students who have had more than one year of academic breaks due to employment or other life circumstances. General Studies is unique among prestigious undergraduate programs, as it shares all of its faculty with Columbia College, and students graduate with B.A. degrees conferred by the Trustees of Columbia University through the Faculty of Art & Sciences.

The General Studies student body is a diverse and vibrant community composed of adults, longtime New York City residents, creatives, and veterans. These students, who bring a wealth of life experiences, contribute to the diversity and character of Columbia’s student body. In fact, 30% of Columbia undergraduates are GS students. Many of them further their academic paths by enrolling in the School’s various dual-degree programs, including cross-enrollment programs at List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Sciences Po in France, Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, Tel Aviv University in Israel, and the City University of Hong Kong.

The School also offers a joint BA/MA Option with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, an Express program with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and five-year joint degrees with the School of International and Public Affairs. Perhaps most notable among the GS offerings is the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, the oldest and most renowned premedical program in the United States. It has helped countless nontraditional students prepare for a medical career and apply to medical school.

The School of General Studies is the Heart of Columbia University

The varied life experiences of GS students make Columbia a more enriched and lively community. Does anyone remember when a janitor and Albanian refugee made headlines for graduating from the School at age 52? He’s an excellent example of the sorts of people that the School was created to uplift and educate. We at Ivy Coach only wish General Studies students were fully integrated into the rest of the undergraduate student body — not separated into their own cohort that only receives full recognition upon graduation. 

Columbia’s recent move to expand the GS financial aid program is a significant step towards supporting its students. This expansion aims to decrease the financial aid gap with the rest of its undergraduate programs, addressing concerns raised by GS students about the school’s affordability, which sometimes leads to debt and even homelessness. While this is a positive step, Ivy Coach will continue to advocate for further action until Columbia commits to covering 100% of the demonstrated need of admitted GS students.

The same goes for the many veteran students who call GS home. These American heroes deserve full recognition on the part of Columbia. Instead of being sidelined in the GS program, Columbia must increase veteran enrollment in their original undergraduate liberal arts college — or make more of an effort to integrate GS students into the broader campus community.

Ivy Coach’s Pro Bono Assistance for Veterans Applying to the School of General Studies

We at Ivy Coach are proud to say that we annually offer our college admissions counseling services completely free of charge to select veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have served our country in uniform. We believe anyone who chooses to continue their education after sacrificing so much for their country should be supported every step of the way. Our team of former elite college admissions officers, including Jen Duran, a former Columbia University admissions officer, is here to help you optimize your odds of admission to the School of General Studies by harnessing the power of a singular hook.

To get started, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our pro bono services for veterans.