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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

There is no Core Curriculum, housing is segregated off campus, and they don't guarantee meeting full financial need - hints of its odd backdoor status at Columbia. [/quote]

What a bizarre post.

We were not "segregated" (and why use such a loaded term that has such a negative connotation?).  As I explained in my previous post, many 3/2 students lived in a Columbia owned apartment building converted to dorms on Riverside Dr. with a great view of Riverside Park. My suite-mates were mostly grad students from all different parts of the University -- History PhD candidate , a poet in the school of Journalism, SIPA, Harriman Institute, architecture. It was a great experience. I would hardly consider this "segregated."  I did not feel at all isolated and I'm sorry if that was your experience.  Where would you expect the school to put us --- the freshman dorms on campus?  That would be ridiculous because we were essentially seniors by the time we got to Columbia having completed 3 years at another school.  I was very happy with the housing situation and I was even able to make friends with some of those who went through the front door (but perhaps they took pity on me for my "backdoor" status).

Yes, there was no Core Curriculum requirement. But that was the point.  We were at Columbia for the Engineering school.  The three years I spent at the small, liberal arts state college gave me plenty of opportunity to take "Core Curriculum" required classes (in fact, I was required to take Western Civ, humanities, history, music..).

What schools guarantee financial aid?  In any event, I applied for aid and got student loans like everyone else.

I am thankful to this day for this "backdoor" opportunity to attend and get a degree from Columbia.  If my entry through the backdoor offends you, then it seems like you have a problem.
[/quote]

Columbia guarantees meeting full financial need and no loans to all other CC and SEAS students. Other transfer students to Engineering take the required half of the Core because its the centerpiece of the Columbia undergraduate curriculum and academic community/experience. And, segregated means that they are not housed with any other CC and SEAS students.

I applaud the students who go through the program. My complaint is more with Columbia SEAS and its partner colleges using 3-2 as a marketing tool and revenue source.  If SEAS believed in the program, it would "integrate" it with the rest of the undergraduate program and standards and use part of Columbia's $9B endowment to support it. [/quote]

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