Columbia University in the City of New York Top Questions

This is Columbia's weakest point without a doubt. There are a lot of "chillers" here, meaning kids that sit around in groups of 5 or 10 and smoke hookah, smoke pot, drink, and... well, just sit there. It's hard to overcome that culture if you get plopped into it by chance with freshman year room assignments or the like. There are definitely people that overcome this stereotype and a lot of kids that enjoy big parties, going out to bars, etc., but a lot of time they will take some searching to find. A social life will not be handed to you here. Part of our being so diverse is that not everyone will be into the same things, and the individuals that prefer the former as their almost sole form of enjoyment definitely win out as far as numbers go. There are also a lot of people that don't ever go out. Period end of story. There are a huge number of study-all-the-time types; be advised: on Friday nights they will weird you out and on Monday mornings you will hate them for beating the curve on your Calculus exam. Fraternities and sororities provide a great option for those who want a more typical college experience, but many students who are not in them complain that they don't have a presence on campus. In reality, they actually do, except the administration's current war on fun make the packed, red cup-littered frat parties that some expect from them totally absent. There is a crazy registration and supervision system that is seriously enforced, making any who are not part of the Greek system wonder if anyone even lives in the letter-donning brownstones on 113th and 114th streets. We do have the occasional party, though, and they are always really fun when they do happen, but they're just few and far between. For that small population who does choose to go Greek, it provides a fulfilling life of more typical college-type socializing that none of them end up regretting.

Greek life is not overwhelmingly important, but it is getting more and more involved in the social scene. It is pretty laid-back in a good way. Off campus, it's fun to go see shows, museums, eat out at restaurants, go see a movie, take a walk in the park....etc. People tend to party every weekend, popular nights are Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays, and Wednesdays for the seniors too.

The social scene starts late because it's in NYC. Really, though, anything you want to do on a given night is possible and you will always find someone to join you. Frat parties, bars near campus, downtown clubs, concerts, bars or restaurants. There are also tons of artistic and music centered options.

Sometimes it is hard to have a social life because of all the school work, but when you do have/make the time, you have the City at your fingertips.

Great opportunities in NYC for anything you could possibly be interested in. Museums, shows, bars, clubs, stores, sports, political speakers, anything. Life is at a break-neck pace in NYC. Can you keep up? People generally go out on Thurs and Sat nights, sometimes Friday and Wednesday nights. People work generally on the other days-- Sunday especially is a major library day.

Doing club activities is super fun, I'm in Alpha Chi Omega, Chess club and Model UN. I've traveled to Pennsylvania and California with Model UN and got to learn so much about they world by being a member of the organization. I have also gotten a chance to play many chess tournaments with the chess team which has been a lot of fun. The meetings end a little late (12am on Wednesdays) but nobody sleeps in college anyways. The sorority is a lot of fun as well I just joined and have had a wonderful time getting to know the people involved with Greek life on campus. my favorite tradition this year has been the Yule Log ceremony which is a ceremony right after the trees are lit up on College Walk. Space is limited but you should definitely try to get in.

I joined my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, first semester my freshman year. My sisters have truly become my family; I live with girls from my sorority (and not in the Sorority housing), when I need someone to talk to, I go to my sisters, and I spend most of my free time with them as well. My big sister is the person I always go to for advice, and she is always there for me. We have sisterhood events like going to see the Martha Stewart Show, and we have library time where we all go to the library once a week to study in a big group together. I love AXO with all my heart, and I wouldn't know what to do without my sisters.

MOck trial, basketball team, soccer, fencing, lacrosse, quizbowl is HUGE. the dating scene is not too out there. if people date its because theyve met in classes or through friends at parties, etc... nothing out of the ordinary. Columbia students don't sleep. this said, we will be found in the eateries around campus, at the gym until 12 when it closes, up and about in the dorms playing games, hanging out and chatting, etc... Greek life usually is the hot spot for parties and events, but there are only 4 sororities and fewer than 20 fraternities. UNlike most other campuses, Greek life is not big at all. I would say one out of 5 people are involved in greek life, but no more. Drinking like all campuses is present. But it isn't force on you, you can go and seek it out if you want it. And on saturday nights if one isn't up for staying around campus, you have the city as your playground. Browadway, concerts, movies are always happening, and restaurants, bars clubs etc...

Not as social as state schools. Sports are kind of down-played here. But we have lots of organizations pertaining to the arts, which is nice.

Students leave their doors open depending on what dorm you are in-some are more social than others by nature of the students who choose to live there. Guest speakers are incredibly popular (they had to cap registration for the State of the Planet conference at 2,000 people), and the popularity of sports games varies depending upon the location and quality of the team (the basketball team gets more support than the football team, as they are right on campus and have a better overall record). I met my closest friends through the squash team and my sorority. The dating scene on campus is more casual than serious. People party Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and the majority of students do not have class on Friday. Fraternities and sororities are as important as you make them. They host good parties and can provide a great social circle if you are inclined to join one as I did. Last weekend I went to a mixer with my sorority and a fraternity at a club downtown. The next night I spend the night in Brooklyn with many members of my pledge class. If you don't want to drink on a Saturday night there are restaurants, movie theaters, jazz clubs, and many more options.

The three bars around campus are always packed on the weekends, but so is the library. A lot of kids go downtown for clubs, restaurants, (other) bars, concerts, theatre, movies, shows. A lot of kids stay in their rooms and rarely leave. I am in a sorority, and while Greek life isn't HUGE on campus, it's presence is felt, and is a great way for new students at Columbia to make an immediate group of friends, to feel like they're part of something larger, part of a community at a school, in a city, that can often feel daunting and unwelcoming.

I am in a sorority. It is awesome and I can count on the girls no matter what.

every group is valued at columbia, im part of teh greek community which is awesome and perfect for me but most groups over lap so you can get the president of young democrats be you big sister in the sorority.

It depends on what dorm room you live in. The LLC is much more quiet in comparison to others. I met my closest friends through my sorority and also, my floormates from freshman year. People party fairly frequently by going to local bars, etc. Fraternities and sororities aren't all that important, mostly because many greek organizations do not have housing that can accommodate more than 6 people. Last weekend I went to a bar in the '80s, did some leisurely studying, laundry, and biked down to the Chelsea Piers.

No matter what you are looking for, no matter what your interests, you will find an outlet on campus. Not only that, but often the campus group will provide opportunities for exploration outside of campus. For example, the Greek Life on campus is a great opportunity to find a home away from home, a family away from family. As part of a sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, I've been able to experience life at Columbia in a way that I never would have without being a member of the Greek community. We have done all the things in the city that I always wanted to do; going to Amateur night at the Apollo, or a Broadway show, or a Knicks game. We've been out dancing to clubs, as well as spending Sunday afternoons at the Guggenheim, or ice skating in Central Park in the winter. Greek life is a great way to get involved or continue involvement in community service. Alpha Chi Omega sisters have raised the most money as a group for Pediatric AIDS at many CU Dance Marathons and when we are not fundraising we volunteer at battered women's shelters in the city. I've loved being part of Greek Life at Columbia.

Being in NYC offers you so many options on any given day of the week, many which do not involve alcohol. Besides going to parties and just choosing not to drink, trust me it is not like the movies where people will force you to binge drink or something similar. Most people are respectful of your choice not to drink. Regardless, there are many other options. You can easily get tickets to see a Broadway show, there are great and affordable tickets available for students at most shows if you go at the right time. You can go ice skating during the winter for a very reasonable price. You can go see a concert. Trust me, there is always a concert. Museums are a blast to go to, especially when they have events for students and during their first Friday parties. It is easy to go to a comedy show, out to dinner, the ballet, the opera, movies, and the list could go on and on. If you do not want to go off campus, there are at least 3 events for every weekend that you could attend. Ranging from theatre to sports events to cultural festivities, Columbia students are very involved and hold plenty of events, including parties.

There isn't much of an on campus social life. The occasional frat party, maybe some parties in lerner, but nothing all too exciting. But what is more exciting than New York city? That's why Columbia doesn't have raging parties every weekend, because there are so many more interesting things to do than drink beer out of a keg in a sweaty basement and most students realize that. If you are looking for the beer keg thing you can find it. Don't expect social life to be delivered on a silver platter to you. You have to look for things, but you will find them.

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I'm in a sorority and it's great because we can both study together and have fun together (fun ranges from cultural events to philanthropy events to exploring NYC to hanging around at the Tasti-D ice-cream shop on campus). There's also a lot of programs and entertaining/educational events sponsored by the residence halls, especially in the Living Learning Center.

greek life isn't big, but it's life for some people. everyone has his or her own niche, but the cliques aren't exclusive--it's pretty easy to move fluidly from one group to another. the city really facilitates a social life different from a college town with just a few bars that everyone goes to (though columbia has those too--westend, 1020, heights, cannons)