GS Welcomes the Spring 2025 Incoming Class
Columbia GS welcomed 220 new students at Spring 2025 Convocation and the New Student Orientation Program.
On Monday, January 13, the School of General Studies’s Spring 2025 Convocation was held at Alfred J. Lerner Hall. Students, families, GS staff, alumni, and orientation leaders gathered to celebrate the start of 156 new undergraduate and 30 Postbac Premed students’ Columbia journeys.
Guests were welcomed by Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch ‘90GS, who spoke about what students could expect as they begin the next chapters of their educational endeavors: "You are about to embark on a journey that will challenge you—academically, socially, and ultimately, professionally. Embrace this opportunity and make the most of the challenges ahead."
Following Dean Rosen-Metsch’s remarks, the Interim President of Columbia University, Katrina Armstrong addressed students, praising the value of nontraditional paths.
"We know that lives are not linear, that talents are not uniform, and that the perspectives, skills, and life experiences of individuals who have followed different paths have elevated the experience of being at Columbia for all of us."
Guests also heard from Amy Hungerford, Executive Vice President for Arts & Sciences; Marlyn Delva, GS Dean of Students; James Colgrove, Dean of Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program; Josh Kraus '93GS, Co-Chair of the GS Alumni Association (GSAA); Eric Yu, Vice President of Finance, General Studies Student Council (GSSC); and Robert Mulvey, GS New Student Orientation Program Crew Captain.
An Overview of the Incoming Class of Spring 2025
GS is home to a diverse community of students whose non-linear paths contribute to the rich intellectual discourse of Columbia’s undergraduate classrooms.
- 29% of incoming students are international students
- 59% of incoming domestic students are eligible for a Pell Grant
- 15% of incoming students are U.S. military veterans
- 45 incoming students are first-generation college students
- 13 incoming students are pursuing their second Bachelor’s degree
Enrollment
Undergraduate: 156
Postbac Premed: 30
Demographics
- Age Range: 18-57
- Percentage of women: 42%
- Percentage of men: 58%
States represented: 18
- California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington
Countries represented: 31
- Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burma, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Malawi, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom