From The Columbus School to EIA

 

Former Columbus School students experience changes and challenges after graduating and moving on this year to La Escuela de Ingeniería de Antioquia.  

Many former TCS students with an interest for math enroll at the EIA. The EIA offers many engineering careers, including administrative and mechanical engineering, which are popular with new students.

“The good thing about La Escuela is that for some branches of engineering, you can begin the first semester without being completely sure what to study because many careers begin the same,” Camilo Giraldo, TCS alumnus and EIA student, said.

After the first semester, students can switch careers paths if they are not satisfied with their current course of study. The EIA lets students create schedules to their preferences and choose their free time. This freedom is a huge change between university and TCS where the schedules are more rigid.

“But seriously, the freedom in comparison to school is what I love the most. The day gets longer and you can do everything you love. But a school, the fixed schedule was the worst,” Andres Posada Saldarriaga, student EIA student and TCS graduate, said.

Unfortuantely, too much freedom can also have a negative affect on students’ academic performance. At TCS, teachers  remind students frequently about their duties, while in the university, students are on their own. Academically, university classes go faster, are more intensive and it’s the student’s responsibility to catch up.

“Maybe the only thing I miss are the constant reminders of TCS teachers and school, because with too much freedom you can very easily forget things.” Santiago Trujillo, EIA student and TCS graduate, said.

One mission of TCS is to prepare students for success at the university. Many alumni agree that the school does a great job preparing students so they arrive at university well prepared, academically and mentally.

“Actually, many other students say that The Columbus School doesn’t prepare students as well as they should for the university, but actually, is all about the student. If he is responsible throughout the school, he will be well prepared,” Andres Posada, EIA student and TCS graduate, said.