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.