CM's Guide to Columbia University

Columbia University

Columbia University Instagram

The Vibe

Work hard, play hard.

What it feels like to go here

While New York City is such a massive city and full of many people, going to Columbia feels like home. A small campus tucked away in Morningside Heights, close to the Upper East Side, is home to 8,500 students. It’s so small that it is almost 100% likely that you will bump into someone you know on the street or strolling around campus (so be careful who you “talk” to because chances are you’ll see them again). But with small also comes closeness and tightness of the students here.

Attending the prestigious Columbia University does feed the ego a bit, but it’s more than just an Ivy League school. Going to Columbia means having something new to do every day of the week and never getting bored on weekends because of all of the amazing things to do in New York City. It means you can take a morning stroll in Central Park right before classes or take the train over to Chelsea and watch the sunset. It means you’re in the heart of New York with so many opportunities to take and memories to make.

Awesome Alumni

Columbia is known for their politicians and entertainment celebrities when it comes to alumni. With a prestigious school, you get prestigious people. One of the biggest politicians out of Columbia University is former U.S. President Barack Obama. Julia Stiles, a big-time actress, also graduated from Columbia. A fun-fact alumnus that most people don’t know about is United States founding father Alexander Hamilton. There’s even a statue on campus in honor of him.

Where they hang

On a nice day, you’ll always see the famous Columbia steps full of students. The steps are right outside of Low Library and are one of the best places for students to chill and hang out. Another popular place for students is JJ’s, the dining/snack hall that’s open all night long. If you’re an athlete, you can expect to hang around Dodge, the athletics building, a lot. On a night out, you might find a lot of freshmen students enjoying a football game at Mel’s Burgers.

Q&A

Is there a lot of partying at Columbia, and where does it take place?

“Yes, but not on campus. Most people go downtown to bars for nightlife. Most things on campus are for clubs or frats, so they’re more exclusive,” Columbia University senior Vera Kong said.

What would you tell incoming freshmen about Columbia?

“Be yourself, explore the city, and try as many new things as you can. Take advantage of opportunities,” Columbia University sophomore Evelyn Cheng said.

What’s the dining hall situation like?

“Dining halls are pretty good with a lot of variety. The only one I don’t like is John Jay,” Columbia University freshman Janet Chen said.

How are the classes?

“The classes are very good. They inspire a lot of thought and creativity, however sometimes the work can be challenging and overwhelming,” Columbia University sophomore Nick Harvey said.

Is it really as rigorous as people think it is?

“No, you learn how to cut corners, so it’s not all it’s made out to be,” Columbia University sophomore Bogdan Hamilton said.

Student Reviews

“It feels like a dream to go to school in New York City. It’s very different from home since it’s a big city, but I love it,” Columbia University sophomore Colby Harley said.

“It’s amazing to be in a place with such diverse people. Columbia encourages curiosity but is also very competitive and at times stressful,” Columbia University sophomore Bogdan Hamilton said.

“It feels great to be in a university with so many intellectual people around me. It’s kind of nerdy here, a lot of studying and stress,” Columbia University sophomore Aidan Hassan said.

Top 3 Majors

1. Computer Science

2. Economics

3. Political Science

Top 3 Student Organizations

1. Athletics

Athletics play a big role in most schools in America, and that’s no exception for Columbia. Sure, the campus may be small, but the sports organizations are mighty. With 31 different sports teams and 825 student-athletes roaming the school, athletics takes up a big part of Columbia. Even if you aren’t playing the sport yourself, you can always attend their matches and games on campus.

2. Cultural Organizations

Columbia prides itself on its diversity, especially with the amount of international students studying here. With that comes a multitude of cultural organizations. From the Japan Society to the Black Students Organization, Columbia has an organization for many different cultures and backgrounds. If you’re looking to meet people more similar to you or have a place to feel more at home, cultural organizations are an amazing place to look.

3. Academic Organizations

With Columbia being an Ivy League school, the students there are incredibly ambitious, and academics are incredibly important to them. That’s why the academic organizations and student groups at Columbia are so popular. At Columbia, there’s pretty much an organization for every major and even some that are for help in the professional field. For example, they have women in engineering, pre-law society and an academic success program organization. The academic organizations are also a way for students to meet like-minded individuals.