Columbia University in the City of New York Top Questions

highly depends on which school you go to: CC or SEAS CORE is going big in recent years, CUFE/CFIG/CIBD/Consulting club are the 4 biggest professional clubs.

School will provide some university housing and since lots of the students are international, it's a good chance to communicate with each other and gain some friends and life experience.

We have over 500 student clubs and organizations, and it really feels like they're all extremely active. Some that I think of off the top of my head: -student government -greek life -sports clubs: club level and intramural -service clubs: volunteering around Columbia community or for a national organization -political clubs -cultural clubs -performance clubs: dance, a capella, orchestra, etc. -cultural performance clubs: indian dance, etc. -theater -cooking -pre-professional clubs -global activism clubs I am most involved with three groups: 1. I volunteer for Let's Get Ready, a not-for-profit that helps thousands of underserved high school students get to college every year 2. I am a sister in a sorority and I hold a board position 3. I am a tour guide for the Columbia Undergraduate Recruitment Committee In terms of leisure social life and partying, there seems to be a definite divide of people who "go out" and people who stay in. Each is its own distinct community. People who "go out" do so in the morningside heights community, and gradually move more into the city as they turn 21. Greek life definitely goes out a lot. People who stay in spend time in suites with friends, explore the city, or work. The dating scene at Columbia is pretty weird. There's a sort of a pool of "go out"-ers who all hook up with each other. Otherwise, Columbia is pretty couple-y. Columbia students and Barnard women students are always mixed, so there is a greater percentage of undergrad women than men. However, it doesn't really feel like that all the time.

If there's a holiday of any kind - for any major religion or ethnic group and most minor ones too - likely some group on campus will be holding an event for it. There are organizations for practically everything. It's not that easy to start a recognized student group but it's quite easy to find your place in one that interests you. There is always something going on - you can never claim to be bored! Plenty of non-drinking fun is available. Around campus there are no end of restaurants and cultural centers, plus we live in New York where you could find practically anything that suits your interest. Definitely go to the Bhakti Club events - they have something for everyone and tons of the best delicious (and suitable and/or modifiable for practically any restrictive diet) FREE food!

If I had to pick a certain type of group that's most popular, it would be the cultural groups. From dance to martial arts to choirs and more, there is the opportunity to get involved in any sort of social or cultural activity from any part of the world. I'm a white student from Maryland, but I'm a proud member of Columbia Raas, a traditional Indian dance team. We perform garba/raas dance in cultural showcases around NYC, as well as competing in dance competitions all over the country. It's just one example of how you can totally step out of your comfort zone and experience something you never thought you would.

I believe the visible aspect of student politics (protests, ect.) has really died here and Greek life has been on the rise this year. The largest group is the Jewish organization, Hillel. Athletics here are very poorly attended. Socially, people meet people through student groups and first-year housing. Parties are generally pretty lame, but securing alcohol is rarely a problem. Clubs aren't really an option in NYC until you actually are 21 (no one's going to take your "Maine driver's license"). People enjoy our free museum passes throughout the city, along with the shopping and food. Central Park is rather close and Riverside Park gives a very flattering view of Jersey.

We work hard, but make time for other things. If you want to party, you'll find plenty. Maybe not as much as a large state school, but there's always a Carman or East Campus (dorms) party, or something going on the city. If you're not that into the party scene, there are others like you too, though not many. If it's one thing that I've learned from my first year here, it's that Columbia students really like their alcohol. But you'll find your niche no matter what. Spots like the Coffeehouse underneath St. Paul's Chapel on the weekends are always fun for the sober crowd. Columbia's not a place you get bored easily, and if you are, it's probably your fault. There's always something to find or explore when you live in New York City.

nothing. everyone goes out and drinks at bars with fake id's. there are frats, they have frat parties that are like frat parties anywhere, but you can escape that crowd by paying 4 dollars + for beer elsewhere. i played ultimate frisbee (a club sport) for a while, it did have a bit of a social scene attached, but i think mostly you have to find smaller groups of people to find an on-campus social scene. you won't run into that girl you want to talk to from your class at a party - you won't run into her anywhere, so you sort of have to get numbers in class if you actually want to meet people. it's not the easiest (but then, i was from the backwoods, so maybe i just needed to adjust to this urban world...)

Most people don't party. Those who do think that they party really hard but have obviously never visited a state school on a Thursday night. The first two years students have bad fakes, so they stick to campus for horrendous frat parties and the fun local bars. The second two years everybody starts turning 21 (or gets better fakes) and takes advantage of Downtown (or just stays home and studies). Greek organizations are always looking to party and even sometimes go out on Wednesdays (gasp). They also provide for a more "college" atmosphere. There is also a semi-secret society, St. A's, that throws great invite-only parties. People don't date. They usually have a boyfriend or girlfriend that they never part from or they hook up randomly. Dorm life is pretty fun, especially the "party dorms" like Carman and McBain. RAs are chill, but they do break up loud, lame parties in dorms. The problem with being a lowerclassman (and even an upperclassman) in New York City is that no one has their own place, so you have to have a fake ID.

My living situation as a transfer is far from ideal, but my social life is centered around ADP, a literary, co-ed fraternity that I'm pledging, so I spend a lot of time there and will be living there this summer and next year. Other than that though, sororities/fraternities play a pretty insignificant role on campus, and parties tend to be pretty small and in dorms or suites. Because we don't have class Fridays, Thursdays are usually a big night for going out. I've found that most people take off either Friday night or Saturday night to stay in or watch a movie.