Pintado finished his Army service on June 12, 2018, and in July, he completed a one-week intensive academic boot camp through WSP at the University of Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, he found out that he had been accepted to GS.
“Columbia took a huge chance on me, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community,” says Pintado. “I worked really hard to be ready for the education that was being offered to me, and I had to create a system that would allow me to survive in this new world.”
Pintado’s connection to WSP continues to this day. Not only is he an alumni ambassador, but he was also invited to be a Mobile Training Team Fellow, mentoring current participants and coordinating with on-campus staff.
“I love being able to meet veterans who are in the same place I was not too long ago,” says Pintado. “I share my story and give them some tips and tricks on how I have made the transition from the military to an Ivy League education.”
For Pintado, Columbia stands out from the crowd for veterans like himself and others in part because the university has an entire school dedicated to the non-traditional student.
“GS is an amalgamation of characters from all over the world and all life experiences,” says Pintado. “Columbia doesn’t just say that they strive for diversity—their actions back it up.”
As he looks ahead to the future, Pintado envisions either obtaining his master’s degree in International Studies from Columbia’s School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA) or continuing on to law school.