Columbia College Chicago Top Questions

unique

My classmates are pretty normal with somewhat of an artistic flare.

Columbia very much looks like an art school. The "hipster" style is rampant. No one dresses nicely, or like they really are about their appearance. Sweatpants are more common than skirts, jeans are too tight, and everyone has the same pair of "anti-mainstream" shoes. If you wear makeup that isn't super hipster-esque, everyone asks why you look so nice. It was hard transitioning from the suburbs in Missouri to this, but I've made my peace with it. I find it disrespectful to come to class in pajamas, and I know several people who agree.

A lot of students dress-up for class. Not many students I know are too religious. You find a lot fo the religious students in the Gospel choirs offered by the school. I have not really been involved with religious groups on campus. I sometimes attend church that is really near campus and a lot of students from my school and school around the loop attend too. A lot of different kinds of students interact. It is nice to see. Most of the students that go here are from areas surrounding Chicago or from Illinois.

There are so many students at Columbia, it's hard to categorize a "typical Columbia student." However, the general community of Columbia is very accepting. I've never heard of anyone getting any trouble for their race, religion, or sexuality. (The LGBTQ community in particular is very strong.) We're also typically liberal and left-leaning, though I'm sure there's a club or something for people who aren't. Being a bisexual feminist, I feel very safe at Columbia, which is something a lot of other schools might not be able to say. As far as the way students dress, you'll rarely see anyone in sweats unless they're a dance or theatre major. A lot of people dress really nice every day; it's not strange to see someone in high heels and a dress in your math class. There is a slight pressure to be fashionable to some extent. However, you won't be ostracized for wearing jeans and a t-shirt, either. (Though you might get funny looks for a baggy shirt and sweatpants.) Socializing here is very difficult. Most people are very nice but they're also really shy or already have friends that they don't feel like branching out from. There aren't many places where people can really get to know each other. There's no quad or sports games. You have to go out of your way to make friends.

Every student is unique and constantly striving the redefine originality!

My classmates are creative people. Most of them are passionate, and love what they are learning about.

My classmates are diverse in every sense of the word which provides for incredibly innovative and unique art that will one day revitalize the respective industries.

Students at my school are incredibly diverse, ranging from LGBTQ students, various races such as African American, Latino, Asian, and various other races worldwide. Students interact with each other regardless of any of these factors. As far as appearances go, students are encouraged to adorn their bodies however they so choose and are not ridiculed in their choice of expression. Students on my campus are predominantly left when it comes to politics, being that it is a private liberal arts college.

Everyone has there own style and are extremely talented which gives everyone inspiration for their own work. Every student is different and makes the school extremely interesting