PS The Statement of Academic Purpose should be approximately 1,000 words, or four pages, double-spaced. GPA We have no fixed cut-off on grades, but given our numbers, applicants are unlikely to be admitted unless they have an undergraduate GPA of 3.7 or higher (in the U.S. system based on a 4.0 scale), or its equivalent. Our admissions committee is well aware that different countries' grading systems vary widely from the U.S. system, so this remark about grade point averages applies only to students who have done their undergraduate work in the U.S. Fee A nonrefundable fee of $105 must accompany the completed online application. RL Letters of recommendation should be submitted through The Columbia GSAS system Slate. Applicants may have letters sent to GSAS from other programs such as Interfolio but they should be aware that these letters are often very general and may not address issues directly relating to the degree programs at Columbia, and may therefore be less persuasive to the Admissions Committee. Transcript Applicants should upload a transcript or record (e.g., web-based transcripts, mark sheets, Relevé de Notes) of any academic work from each university-level institution you have attended for use in review of your application. If you receive an offer of admission, you will be required to send official paper documents for verification before the offer is considered official. Do not send official transcripts before being notified by GSAS. Transcripts that are in a language other than English must be translated into English. The translation must be certified to be an accurate translation of the original and be notarized or otherwise authenticated. Both non-English and translated transcripts should be uploaded.