Columbia University in the City of New York Top Questions

For the most part, I think they are. I do think, however, that while students are grade-conscious and serious about studying, they are also serious about having fun. With New York City there are endless opportunities for that.

for a small group of people it is, but not for the vast majority of students

I think quirky fits Columbia students best, and I love that!

I grew up in a big city so I was never around the suburban preppy kids so for me it was a little weird but they are definitely not overly egotistic. Some of them are, but a lot are very laid back.

I would say there is a fair share of conservatives around campus, however they aren't the ones being targeted by the biased media

Columbia students are extremely diverse in all interests and a very large percentage hold positions on athletic organizations. The drugs are not at all more common than any other campus, far less I would say, and the people on campus are generally more than wiling to stop and answer questions, talk for a bit, sit and relax on a sunny day, etc...

No way!!

A lot of stereotypes are mass generalizations that may have basis in truth, so, taken into context, some of the stereotypes are true. In my experience, I've found that a lot of SEAS students tend to be a little less social or interested in social activities, and purely by demographics, a large number of SEAS students are Asian. I think the Barnard/Columbia College dynamic is often reported to be less amiable than it actually is; I have good friends on both sides of Broadway, and have found smart, inane, conceited, and brilliant people in both schools. On the whole though, I have found my Barnard classes to be more challenging and provide more options for individual thought, while Columbia's tend to be larger in size, and somewhat dominated by generalized lectures and teaching assistants.

For the most part I have found these stereotypes to be accurate.

Somewhat. There is a lot of red tape, and there isn't a GREAT sense of community, but some common strands hold this diverse group together--probably most of all, the Core curriculum, which creates a common (often unwanted) bond between students in the college. But yes, it is hard to find a seat in Butler Library at 10 PM on a Saturday night.

For engineers I think so; but for kids in columbia college I think that is an overstatement, though many students do focus on that category.

pretty much

not really

In my opinion, Columbia is one of the more politically liberal Ivys, but that does not mean that students are intolerant towards other opinions and philosophies. The students and faculty I have met in four years are among the most open-minded individuals I have encountered. Yes, there are wealthy students here, but that has not bearing on the community at large and is no different than any other school. There is a great deal of diversity at Columbia.

I find that people are eager to make new friends, especially first years. Of course, people are different and some individuals are more prone to staying in and studying at the library or certain people are more introverted than others. However, that exists at every single school. I have been lucky enough to surround myself with energetic, fun and, for the most part, extroverted people that are always looking to form new friendships.

For some of course they are, for others not at all. It just depends on the friends you make.

For a portion of the population, not all

Yes, most Columbia students are very intelligent and also very diverse. They are competitive and strive to do well, but not to the point of back-biting others. Most Columbia students are hard working and devote a lot of time to their studies, as well as to a wide array of extracurricular and multi-cultural activities. There are also some nation-wide stereotypes of American "sorority girls" (as dumb, slutty, etc) but these stereotypes don't apply to the young women in Columbia's chapter of AXO who are, in my opinion, intelligent and classy.

to some extent, yes. obviously there are some individuals who give that name to a larger group.

The stereotypes are half correct. Some kids live in Butler on the weekends, but just as many can be found at bars and parties on campus. The party scene can be lame if you aren't 21 or don't have a fake ID, but other than that there is usually multiple things to do around campus. It is also nice to go club-ing downtown occasionally. Though it is in New York there is a beautiful campus and a strong sense of community. Sometimes it is actually hard to get out of the Morning Side Heights Bubble.