Columbia University School of General Studies

Columbia University School of General Studies GS is also home to the oldest and largest Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program in the United States.

The School of General Studies is the undergraduate college at Columbia University specifically dedicated to students taking a nontraditional path to a traditional Ivy League education. The School of General Studies (GS) is the undergraduate college at Columbia University specifically dedicated to students taking a nontraditional path to a traditional, rigorous, Ivy League education. GS students in

clude students with work or life experience, students completing a second bachelor’s degree, and students enrolled in a dual- or joint-degree program.

Before she became one of history’s most famous aviators, Amelia Earhart was actually a GS student!Amelia attended GS fro...
08/31/2026

Before she became one of history’s most famous aviators, Amelia Earhart was actually a GS student!

Amelia attended GS from 1919–1920, and briefly again in 1925, through a program at Columbia that would later become the School of General Studies. This photo (dating all the way back to 1920!) proves that her adventurous spirit was taking flight long before she took to the skies.✈️

📸: Columbia University

Take a walk through the streets of New York and see what you can learn! 🏙️Walking the city blocks every day is what led ...
08/28/2026

Take a walk through the streets of New York and see what you can learn! 🏙️

Walking the city blocks every day is what led John Tauranac ’63GS to create the map posted in every subway station for the past half-century, earning him a commendation for design excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Transportation. From there, he went on to write books about the city’s built environment and history, including his latest work, New York’s Scoundrels, Scalawags, and Scrappers: The City in the Last Decade of the Gilded Age.

When he was younger, John wasn’t sure he would ever get into college—until he found GS. “For people like me, it was basically the last real chance to get an education,” he said. “Did I love GS? Yes. The fact that they gave me a chance—and I’ve lived up to the possibility.”

Read his story: https://www.gs.columbia.edu/news/map-quest

In partnership with CityUHK, GS is officially welcoming our first full cohort of students admitted to the new four-year ...
08/26/2026

In partnership with CityUHK, GS is officially welcoming our first full cohort of students admitted to the new four-year Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program track!

With the first half of their studies completed in Hong Kong, and the second in New York City, students will get the unique opportunity to earn bachelor's degrees from both universities, while experiencing the cultures and livelihood of both cities. 🗽

Learn more about the new program or apply for Fall 2027: https://bit.ly/4q83qkX

Have you heard about the New York Fashion Workers Act? It has deep roots at GS 👀Enrolling at GS was a turning point for ...
08/21/2026

Have you heard about the New York Fashion Workers Act? It has deep roots at GS 👀

Enrolling at GS was a turning point for Sara Ziff '11GS that helped her reframe the frustrations of her fashion career, from personal struggles to systemic issues that could be changed. By connecting with Dorothee Grant ‘21, both students and former models began realizing the injustices within the industry they once loved.

With mentorship from Professor Dorian Warren, former codirector of Columbia’s Program on Labor Law and Policy, Sara started the ‘Model Alliance’ to fight for the rights of all fashion workers - from the runway, to the factory floor.

Read their full story: https://www.gs.columbia.edu/news/model-advocates?utm_source=facebook_gs&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=news&utm_content=fashion_workers_act

(Photo credit: Briana Elledge, 2025)

Way back during the pandemic, Fin Colleton ’26GS walked to the park with a sign that read, “How’s your day going?” He ha...
08/17/2026

Way back during the pandemic, Fin Colleton ’26GS walked to the park with a sign that read, “How’s your day going?” He had no expectations—he was just looking for some connection. Surprisingly enough, people stopped. At a time when people were more disconnected than ever, Fin showed up day after day with a new conversation prompt, turning quick chats into seated discussions. Shortly after he transferred to GS in 2023, his series finally got a name: “American Dialogue.”

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, we read: “Six years and thousands of strangers later, Fin has a theory about why the tables work: There is just enough anonymity that people feel comfortable saying what they actually think, but not so much that they say things they’d be ashamed of.”

Read the full WSJ article below🗞️:
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/how-one-mans-cure-for-loneliness-started-a-movement-b4d386dd?st=wJKZMw

We spy a familiar ballerina in Olivia Rodrigo's new music video for "stupid song"— GS student Kennedy Targosz 🩰Kennedy ...
08/14/2026

We spy a familiar ballerina in Olivia Rodrigo's new music video for "stupid song"— GS student Kennedy Targosz 🩰

Kennedy has been dancing since she was 4 years old, when she first stepped into a ballet class. Today, she's a professional dancer with the New York City Ballet, bringing her talent from the stage to the screen.

Read more about her experience: https://bit.ly/4yMGQlM

Congratulations to the 5 GSers named 2026 Social Impact Fellows!Join us in celebrating Alexis Baltazar '27GS, Isadora Ev...
08/12/2026

Congratulations to the 5 GSers named 2026 Social Impact Fellows!

Join us in celebrating Alexis Baltazar '27GS, Isadora Evers '27GS, Elisa Goislard Nguyen '27GS, Nicolle Kathleen Riley '28GS, and Jeffrey Vazquez '28GS on being selected for this year's Social Impact Fellowship through Columbia World Projects (.global).

During the five-week summer fellowship, students deepen their knowledge and leadership skills while connecting with social impact leaders tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges.

This year's GS fellows bring interests spanning criminal justice reform, cognitive linguistics, and cultural heritage—and a shared commitment to creating meaningful change.

To learn more about the 2026 Fellows and their commitment to social impact, read here: https://www.gs.columbia.edu/news/five-gs-students-named-2026-social-impact-fellows?utm_source=facebook_gs&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=news&utm_content=school_social_impact_fellows2026

In a new study published by Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, GS Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch worked alongside Postbac...
08/10/2026

In a new study published by Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, GS Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch worked alongside Postbac Premed Program Dean James Colgrove, lead author Rae Chang '23CC (a 2023 GS Honorary Owl recipient!🦉), and co-author Nicholas Ganek '20GS to highlight the stigma of disclosure within the healthcare system.

Research across 1,240 physicians and dentists nationwide found:
➡️ 82.5% believed that substance history would impact their admissions decision
➡️ 50% believed the risk still existed even if it was their reason for pursuing medicine

"Whether or not these perceptions reflect actual admissions decisions, they reveal a widespread belief among physicians and dentists that disclosing a history of substance use carries professional risk," said Dean Rosen-Metsch.

Read the full study: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/most-physicians-dentists-believe-disclosing-past-substance-use-medical-dental-school-applications-could-hurt-admissions-prospects

Welcome to 99 Claremont! Take a first look inside our newest student residence, created exclusively for GSers!The fully ...
08/06/2026

Welcome to 99 Claremont! Take a first look inside our newest student residence, created exclusively for GSers!

The fully renovated historic building has been upgraded with modern interiors, featuring:
📚 Multiple study areas
🏋️‍♀️ A fitness center
🧑‍🍳 A communal chef's kitchen
🌻 A rooftop terrace
✨ Gathering spaces on each floor

We can't wait to welcome students as they move in this month!

Read more about the new space: https://www.gs.columbia.edu/news/first-look-inside-99-claremont-columbias-new-home-gs-students?utm_source=facebook_gs&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=news&utm_content=school_99_claremont_first_look

📸: Diane Bondareff

Address

2970 Broadway, 408 Lewisohn Hall
New York, NY
10027

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+12128542772

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