On August 26, the School of General Studies welcomed more than 430 new students at New Student Orientation. Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger and GS Dean Peter J. Awn addressed the assembly of nontraditional students--students who not only have had a break of one year or more in their undergraduate educational careers, but also those who are enrolled in the Dual BA Program Between Columbia University and Sciences Po, the dual-degree program with City University of Hong Kong, and the Joint Program between List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary; Students who are more traditional-aged undergraduates, but by nature of their seeking two degrees concurrently, are following a nontraditional path to their Bachelor's degrees.
In the days following New Student Orientation, the new matriculates participated in the Extended New Student Orientation Program activities which were GS-focused events as well as University-wide events including speed meeting, educational financing and academic seminars, city-wide neighborhood walks, and a dance party at Victorian Gardens in Central Park.
An Overview of the Fall 2013 Entering Class
Summary
The School of General Studies continues to be one of the most diverse undergraduate colleges in the Ivy League. The presence of GS students in the Columbia classroom enables the University, already one of the most ethnically and economically diverse undergraduate communities in the Ivy League, to define diversity on much broader terms—a truly global diversity of socio-economic background, age, life and career experience, and perspective.
- 33% of the incoming students are international students.
- 28% of the incoming students are first generation college students.
- 30% of the incoming students are Pell grant eligible.
- 22% of the incoming students are U.S. military veterans.
Enrollment
- 437 total new undergraduate students
- 29 GS-JTS Joint Program students
- 27 new students are enrolling in their third year of the Dual BA Program Between Columbia University and Sciences Po
- 2 students are entering as part of the Dual Degree Pilot Program between City University of Hong Kong and Columbia University
Demographics
- Age range: 17 to 58 years old
- Women: 41%
- Men: 59%
- Marital status: 9% of new students are married
- Dependents: 5% of new students have children
- US residents hail from 29 states
Citizenship
- 33% of the incoming students are international students
- 39 foreign countries are represented
- New international students come from as close as Canada and as far away as Moldova, Malaysia, and Macau
Educational Paths
- Enrolling at GS to earn a second B.A. degree: 5%
- First generation college students: 28%
- Educational Break: At least one person has a 38-year break in her educational path.
- Entering Columbia with transfer credits: 86%
Occupations
This year’s class includes: professional actors, dancers and musicians, small business owners, IT professionals, writers, fashion models, a professional soccer player, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, and a Water-skiing instructor, to name a few.
We are also pleased to welcome 95 new students who have served in the armed forces in either the U.S. or their own countries.
- U.S. Military: 68 (30 – Marine Corps, 16 – Army, 13 – Navy, 9 – Air Force ); 55 new students are expected to be supported by the Yellow Ribbon Program
- Foreign Armed Forces: 27 (15– Israeli Defense Forces, 6 – Republic of Korea Armed Forces, 4 – Singapore Armed Forces; 1 – Germany; 1 Canadian/United Kingdom)
