Columbia University in the City of New York Top Questions

Everyone is very smart. Some people are smart in a pretentious way, but most people are modest about their accomplishments. Barnard girls are definitely way more social as far as going out on weekends, and overall more good-looking than columbia girls.

Yes and no. We are the most diverse campus in the most diverse city in the world.

Most of these stereotypes are inaccurate; first of all, although Columbia has a fairly small campus, we do have our own campus in Manhattan that is beautiful and always full of people. I have alot of good friends on sports teams who are doing great (our fencing team just placed 3rd in Nationals, our crew teams are doing well also). I am in a sorority and the members of Greek life on campus are awesome and very involved in creating a better campus life. There are some students who spend hours at the library studying every day, but honestly, there are dedicated students like that at every college, especially Ivy League Universities. Most students around here manage their studies and partying very well.

Basically, if you are looking for preppy people, unless you are in the greek system or an athlete you won't find that here. Most people know they are smart and have no problem letting everyone else know, which is terribly obnoxious and something that really frustrates me. That, or they feel the need to prove themselves and, therefore, constantly make dumb and pointless comments in class so that everyone can at least think they are smart.

yes. For the most part. This is not a party school, and definatly feels like a small campus, but its the best campus in NYC.

Yes. I'd say they are.

While the student body is diverse, it is very disconnected. Students often stick to groups of like race/religion and do not mix very often.

yes.

no!

To an extent, yes. The athletics here are a joke and Greek life is small, and as of late, heavily policed by the university's housing and dining people. The core however, provides a really interesting background in many aspects of Western culture and is not snobby at all.

some

some are some aren't, but they do not reflect every student, some students give a bad name to the whole student body

yes

I personally believe that you can find people here who do fulfill the stereotypes, as well as at any other school. There's a good mix of people who go out and have fun, and people who are more chill. You can basically find a good mix of both or one of the extremes, as you like. Also, there is rarely rivalry between Barnard and Columbia girls, I know various people who have Barnard sisters or best friends. And as for being too liberal - you are in New York City... in general people will be more liberal than the conservative South where I came from.

Sometimes, for the most part NO

No, not really. Columbia is very diverse.

For the most part, the stereotypes are true. However, if you work hard enough you will no doubt be able to find people you identify with if the artsy-weirdo-stoner type isn't quite your cup of tea. Part of this probably comes from how diverse the school is - you will not feel like you are exactly alike any of the people you are around at first unlike you will at schools like Georgetown, for instance. Barnard girls (for the most part) should not be judged as harshly as they are, although you will no doubt come across a few that just make you want to shake your head in shame that you have to share a class with them. Yes, they take advantage of a lot of the Ivy opportunities, but I guarantee you won't know most of them are from Barnard unless you ask.

yes and no. there is most definitely a social life at Columbia, the only problem is that the majority of people are indeed socially awkward.

No.

No! Of course not. We do have campus spirit, we just also have New York... so we can have lives both on and off campus.