REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Columbia University
Columbia University is an Ivy League institution in the heart of New York City. Founded in 1754 by royal charter of King George II, Columbia is the oldest university in New York and the fifth oldest in the United States. Shaping presidents, poets, comedians and physicists alike through its signature Core Curriculum, Columbia encourages intellectual curiosity, the uninhibited pursuit of classical enlightenment, and students’ multifaceted development as scholars, individuals, and citizens of the world. Grounded in a rich history and animated by the innovative culture of the city, Columbia offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience in one the most groundbreaking and global cities in the world. As one of the most competitive schools in the nation, Columbia has a wealth of resources and opportunities to offer students. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Columbia!
REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Columbia University
Columbia University is an Ivy League institution in the heart of New York City. Founded in 1754 by royal charter of King George II, Columbia is the oldest university in New York and the fifth oldest in the United States. Shaping presidents, poets, comedians and physicists alike through its signature Core Curriculum, Columbia encourages intellectual curiosity, the uninhibited pursuit of classical enlightenment, and students’ multifaceted development as scholars, individuals, and citizens of the world. Grounded in a rich history and animated by the innovative culture of the city, Columbia offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience in one the most groundbreaking and global cities in the world. As one of the most competitive schools in the nation, Columbia has a wealth of resources and opportunities to offer students. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Columbia!
REQUIREMENTS AND CAMPUS GUIDE
Columbia University
Columbia University is an Ivy League institution in the heart of New York City. Founded in 1754 by royal charter of King George II, Columbia is the oldest university in New York and the fifth oldest in the United States. Shaping presidents, poets, comedians and physicists alike through its signature Core Curriculum, Columbia encourages intellectual curiosity, the uninhibited pursuit of classical enlightenment, and students’ multifaceted development as scholars, individuals, and citizens of the world. Grounded in a rich history and animated by the innovative culture of the city, Columbia offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience in one the most groundbreaking and global cities in the world. As one of the most competitive schools in the nation, Columbia has a wealth of resources and opportunities to offer students. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Columbia!
School Location:
NEW YORK, NY
School Type:
PRIVATE UNIVERSITY
Admissions Rates:
ADMITTED: 9.41%
GENERAL INFO
SAT/ACT Scores:
Test Optional for 2021-2022
Admission Cycle
Fall 2020 Test Scores
Math: 740-800
ERW: 720-770
ACT: 33-35
Dates/Deadlines:
Early Decision: November 1
Early Results:
Mid-December
Regular Deadline: January 1
Regular Results:
Early April
School Information:
Undergraduate population:
9,704
Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Most Important Factor for Admissions Decisions: TBD
Interviews Considered: TBD
COLUMBIA TIPS & GUIDE
How difficult is it to get into Columbia?
In the 2022-2023 admissions cycle, Columbia accepted 3.7% of the 60, 374 students who applied. The 50th percentile SAT composite score for that cycle is 1540, while the ACT composite is 35. Furthermore, 99.6% of admitted students were in the top quarter of their graduating class, and 100% were in the top half, so students who hope to call Morningside Heights home one day should aim for top-tier grades.
What is the campus like at Columbia?
Columbia is in Morningside Heights, located just north of the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Morningside Heights strikes a good balance between college town and big city. The neighborhood is dotted with cute cafes, trendy restaurants, and is a walkable distance to both the Hudson River and Central Park. There are 35+ residence halls, 3 local parks and 50+ local establishments to further ensure students feel right at home. As a student at Columbia, you’ll also have access to dozens of performance discounts across the city and free access to more than 30 New York museums through the Columbia Arts Initiative.
Columbia has a vibrant campus life with over 500 clubs and organizations to serve 9,704 undergraduate students within its four schools. There are ample community service opportunities that will help students break out of the Columbia bubble and give back to local enclaves in need throughout NYC. Furthermore, exciting traditions like Night Market, Glass House Rocks and Bacchanal ensure bonding throughout the school community.
What is Columbia known for?
From Warren Buffett to Kate McKinnon to Alexander Hamilton himself (along with 4 other founding fathers), Columbia alumni have risen to impressive heights in a variety of disciplines. The school also has a golden reputation on Wall Street due to its proximity and prestige, which draws many students with aspirations in finance. The school’s excellence in political science is evident in the many Columbia community members who have made a name for themselves in politics, from Professors Hillary Clinton and Amal Clooney to the Obama Foundation Scholars and World Leaders Forum. The campus has also served as the backdrop for important moments in the entertainment industry, including Kendrick Lamar accepting a Pulitzer Prize, Beyonce supporting Jay-Z’s interview at The Forum, or Toby Maguire filming Spider-Man (2002) on campus.
How diverse is Columbia?
As of the fall of 2023, Columbia’s undergraduate student body was 29% white, 21% Asian, 16% international, 17% Latino, 8% black, 7% two or more races, 1% race/ethnicity unknown, and 1% Native/Indigenous American.
According to Columbia’s mission statement, the university “seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions.” The university has an impressive history of diversity — it was the first American university to enroll 1000 international students, the home of the first African American advocacy group on a multi-racial campus in the U.S and of the first gay-rights advocacy group on any college campus. Today, diversity remains a priority for Columbia.
How do I apply to Columbia?
The process for applying depends on whether you’re applying to Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, or Barnard College. Columbia College and Columbia Engineering use the same application, whereas Barnard uses a separate application. Information on the Barnard application (a women’s college affiliated with Columbia) can be found here. Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, and Barnard are all oriented toward full-time students who are beginning college for the first time.
When you decide which undergraduate college is the right choice for you, you can apply through the Coalition Application, the Common Application, or the QuestBridge Application (if you are a QuestBridge finalist). In addition to the personal statement submitted through one of these application portals, Columbia requires you to answer several short Columbia-specific application questions.
Applicants also submit: a high school transcript, a mid-year report, letters of recommendation, one from a counselor and one from teachers who have taught you recently and can speak to your character and work ethic. If you are applying to the school of engineering, one of your letters must be written by a math or science teacher.
In addition to letters of recommendation, applicants have the option to submit supplementary materials. Students who have experience conducting research should submit a one-two page abstract about their project.
Additionally, you can submit architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, film, music and visual arts supplements through SlideRoom.
The application deadlines are November 1 for Early Decision and January 1 for Regular Decision.
Does Columbia have a good athletic department?
In terms of athletics, Columbia is a Division I school that competes within the Ivy League. They have 14 varsity men’s teams and 15 varsity women’s teams. The Yale Bulldogs, Cornell Big Red, and NYU Violets are three of Columbia’s major athletic rivals. Columbia’s basketball, fencing, crew, soccer, and track & field teams are particularly competitive.
What are Columbia’s core curriculum and programs?
Columbia has a core curriculum, which is a set of common seminars all students must take at specific stages during their academic career. There are four core requirements: Science, Global Core, Foreign Language, and Physical Education. Frontiers of Science, Music Humanities, Art Humanities, Literature Humanities, University Writing, and Contemporary Civilization are also a part of the core curriculum.
Columbia also offers 100+ research centers and institutes. The Earth Institute, the Data Science Institute, and the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center are highlights in terms of programming offerings for undergraduate students.
Can I afford Columbia?
Tuition at Columbia varies depending on the school you attend. Columbia tuition currently hovers around $68,400 a year, with the added room and board cost of around $16,800 a year. For the 2023-2024 school year, Columbia’s total cost of attendance is estimated to be $89,587. Over half of admitted students have been offered need-based financial aid, part of Columbia’s commitment to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need for all students admitted as first-years, regardless of citizenship. Fifty percent of Columbia students receive grants from Columbia, and the average amount awarded is $62,850. Students who would like to get a better idea of financial aid package can use Columbia’s tuition calculator.
What is Columbia Engineering?
Founded in 1864 as the School of Mines, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is the nation’s third oldest engineering school. Today, it’s home to 1,500 students studying 16 majors. Columbia Engineering reserves several research opportunities for students through the Student Research Program, meaning that over the course of four years, students will have a high chance to conduct research. If you’re interested in the engineering college but don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to take liberal arts courses, you can enroll in the Columbia Combined Plan. Students from other liberal arts colleges can also apply to this program during their junior or senior year.
What is the relationship between Barnard and Columbia?
Barnard College is an all-women’s college founded in 1889. Barnard itself consists of around 3,000 undergraduate students, but the women there have access to the classes, facilities, resources, and extracurriculars at Columbia College. Thirty-four percent of students at Barnard major in STEM. Barnard has a higher acceptance rate than Columbia (11%), but that doesn’t mean the school is significantly less competitive. Given the smaller applicant pool, women’s colleges typically have higher acceptance rates due to smaller applicant pools.
While the resources available may be similar, Barnard College is the younger sister to Columbia, and the colleges have distinct cultures and offerings. The major differences between these schools are that the admissions process is separate and that there are two distinct presidents and separate teachers/administration, as well as distinct campus locations. Additionally, when you graduate from Barnard College, your degree will say Columbia University, Barnard College. Nonetheless, attending Barnard College means you will have the opportunity to be involved both in a tight-knit community of strong women and a large, resource-filled Ivy League University.
