Columbia University Admission
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The Facts

Columbia University is located on the far Northwest end of the island of Manhattan in Harlem, and takes advantage of the thriving cultural and intellectual life of New York City. It is the smallest of the Ivy League schools in terms of undergraduate enrollment, with only 4,181 undergraduates studying at Columbia College, which is the undergraduate school that houses the main arts and sciences division. Many undergraduates at Columbia are preparing to go on to graduate school in medicine or law, or to Columbia’s prestigious Graduate School of Journalism. As a result, the courses are rigorous and the students are expected to be independent and mature.

Admission is extremely competitive. In 2004, over 14,500 students applied, and only 1,643 were admitted. The Class of 2004 had a combined SAT score range from 1310 to 1500, and a combined ACT score ranging from 26-32. Over 81% of them ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating class, with a total average GPA of 3.8.

Columbia is known for the high quality of its core curriculum, which many guidance counselors acknowledge as among the best in the country. The required courses include studies in literature, art, music, philosophy, contemporary civilization, logic and rhetoric, science, non-Western culture, foreign language and physical education. However, these required classes are usually quite small and take place mainly in small group discussions.

Columbia offers a staggering 106 majors; some of the most popular choices are English, political science, linguistics, Asian and Russian studies and psychology. There are plenty of internship opportunities available throughout Manhattan, beginning as early as freshmen year.

The Social Scene

A lot of parents and guidance counselors worry about the location and safety of the school, as it is located in Harlem, which isn’t exactly a place with the best of reputations. Most students say that the campus is pretty boring, and outside of classes, they usually have to hop the subway downtown for their social exploits. However, there are always parties (with lots of drinking, of course) scattered throughout the fifteen on-campus dorms. Housing is guaranteed for all four years, with many students living in single rooms. Any off-campus housing tends to be wildly expensive, so students generally take the university up on their offer.

Greek life doesn't have much of a presence at Columbia, and thus has minimal influence on social life. Most students head off-campus for social activities, and take advantage of the amazing options New York City offers such as art museums, shows, movies, shops, restaurants, cafes and much, much more.

There isn’t much of a sports scene at Columbia either; without the physical education requirement, most students wouldn’t even know the school had a gym.

As for dating, soulful emo guys abound, and intellectual girls with a penchant for vintage fashions are plentiful. Sounds trendy, no?

What’s Good

“It’s nice to come back to Columbia’s relatively quiet campus as a home after a long day of trudging around New York.”

“The classes are incredibly small, so there aren’t as many massive lectures to fall asleep in.”

“The required classes are actually quite engaging and are probably things I would have chosen on my own anyway.”

What’s Bad

“The off-campus housing in NYC is exorbitantly pricey, so chances are, unless you score an insane real estate deal, you will be living in the dorms until you graduate.”

“The people here tend to be a bit cold. No one will just help you out without you asking for it, and even then, it’s rare.”

“For a school with a five billion dollar endowment, we certainly don’t see any evidence of it in financial aid.”

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