A good friend of mine, now an attorney,
recently revealed to me that her first choice of careers, upon graduating from college,
was to work in undergraduate admissions. I
guess my own experience as an undergraduate was so life altering to me, I wanted to be a
part of offering that opportunity to others, she said.
As an Admissions Officer here at General Studies, I can honestly say her words
articulate perfectly the motivation underlying each admissions decision. There is nothing like the thrill of informing an
anxious applicant that yes, they have been admitted to Columbia University. Offering a person the opportunity to encounter new
ideas, to read hundreds of books, to meet new friends and colleagues is, just as my friend
put it, an offer that changes lives.
Because the impact of any admissions
decision – positive or negative – is so great, the materials submitted for
review by the committee must be considered very carefully.
Transcripts are evaluated, of course, as are test scores. Autobiographical essays are read several times. The professional and personal development of each
applicant is taken into consideration as well. Sometime
we revisit a file ten or eleven times before a decision is rendered. In many ways, the Admissions staff must function
like detectives, searching for clues and indications of the applicant’s potential. No detail can be ignored; no decision can be made
lightly. It is a fascinating endeavor, and
endlessly interesting. But nothing measures
up to the warmth and satisfaction of meeting new applicants. Declan Joyce, a new GS student attests to this; “my interview felt more at ease.”
For that reason, we have worked hard to
ensure that contact with prospective students is integrated into the application process. We are available to meet students even before they
apply. And we’ve established regular
Information Sessions designed to allow small groups of prospective applicants to gather
together to meet the admissions staff and learn more about the application process. We enjoy these sessions a great deal. A transcript or a passport photo may offer the
Admissions staff a glimpse of he applicant, but nothing takes the place of meeting that
applicant in person.
Here at GS, we are eager to dispel the
common misconception that Admissions offices are in place to keep people out. We want applicants to experience firsthand our
willingness to help, to guide, to welcome any person who has aspirations to attend
Columbia. We are aware of the fact that the
questions and confusion surrounding the application process can seem overwhelming, even
discouraging. By meeting individuals in small
groups, concerns can be addressed and questions can be answered before frustration takes
over. In addition, the small group atmosphere
allows applicants to see that they aren’t alone out there, important information
given that a significant number of our applicants are individuals who have been away from
school for some time.
In fact, time away from school and the
desire to return is often the one thing our students have in common. In every other way, GS students are unique. What type of person characterizes the typical GS
student? Perhaps the only response to that
question is this: what type of person are you? We
have world class dancers in our school. Athletes,
musicians, international students from as far away as Israel, China, and Germany. Students who have completed a year or two of
college elsewhere, students who have never attended college, professionals in fields like
business or education who return to complete second degrees in disciplines they’d
always been drawn to, but had not pursued until now.
The student body is eclectic, and their careers and life choices following the
completion of their degree are as diverse.
That is why, here at Admissions, we see
every student who graduates GS as an extension of the admissions process. Our alumni and alumnae are proud of the work
they’ve done here, and are loyal to their alma mater.
Word of mouth is one of our most valuable recruiting tools. The testimonies of alumni and alumnae allow
inquiring applicants a window into the full GS experience.
In short, the Admissions office is not just an office on the fourth floor of
Lewisohn Hall. It is a much larger place,
comprised of members of the greater GS community. With
alumni and alumnae in every part of the country, we can honestly say that we have one of
the largest Admissions teams around. In other
words, we hope you’ll join us as we work to build a school and create a college
experience that will allow new and incoming students the opportunity to grow into alumni
and alumnae like yourselves, individuals who can proudly pass along the message: Apply to GS.
It will change your life!
