Columbia University in the City of New York Top Questions

The best thing about Columbia is its location and reputation

What many people consider the best thing about Columbia (I mean, they call it "Columbia University in the City of New York") is New York City. The city provides the social life that the campus lacks, and there are all the obvious shows, museums, etcetera that serve as entertainment and additional class materials. There is nothing like being able to get virtually anything to eat at three in the morning, or seeing the Vermeer your Art History professor blathered on about for fifty million years in class up close and in person. New York City provides access in a way, I believe, few other universities can. On the other hand, the city stunts the social life on campus. Traditional social events are often phased out, and the tough policies on IDs and so on that have overtaken the city have had similar effects at the local bar scene. Underage drinking is definitely on it's way out, which may be a positive for some but is often seen as a flaw by anyone looking to have the quintessential college experience. The administration here can be difficult to navigate--it's a lesson in patience, smarts, and dealing with customer service people. People who choose Columbia should be aware that the red tape they'll deal with may make parts of their experience wholly unpleasant, and I've rarely encountered a Columbia without complaint about the advising system here. Many claim that good advising exists, you just have to dig for it, but in my experience there are a lot of bumps to finding it. Of course, Columbia is a name brand school and when you tell friends and family you're going here, they may be impressed. That's probably a bad reason to choose a college.

I love columbia as a whole, but right now I am too bitter about the social situation and hearing my best friends complain about it to comment on anything else

Columbia has many different aspects that are grouped into 2 categories: social and academic. The academic side seems ridiculously rigorous. The amount of homework I am assigned per class is basically impossible to finish and when you add up all the homework for every class you get an amount so large that it would drive 99{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of people insane. The teachers seem to not care about the student but then a very small percentage care enough to make it worthwhile. You cannot get too into your work or you will go crazy and you need to realize that college is more than just grades it is the entire experience that makes it what it is. The social aspect can seem very lame at a distance, but if you find the right people and make your own fun, it can be a great time. However, you certainly need to know how to find fun on your own because it most definately does not come to you. At the end of the day if you do not take yourself to seriously Columbia can be a decent experience.

It's nice but it's small so by the time you're a senior you know everybody. People act too intellectual - that's what I would change. Not a college town.

Best thing about Columbia is the city, and then classes. The level of education you receive is worth every penny that you pay. I may complain about going to classes frequently, but the truth is that I really enjoy what I am studying and the opportunities (such as going abroad) that Columbia offers. The fact that you are in the center of the world doesn't hurt either, whatever you want to do, at whatever time you want to do it, the city will most likely offer it. It is the most vibrant and lively place in the world that you will never cease to be bored to explore.

Columbia is great for its diversity. Lots of students from different places, different backgrounds, etc. I think the size is perfect: I feel like I know everyone but I keep meeting new people. There is no college town, per say, but Morningside Heights is homey and has a real college atmosphere. I love it here.

Columbia is really great. The location is wonderful and has just enough college town feel.

When Columbia students are asked "So, how do you like Columbia?" the most popular refrain you'll hear is "Oh, New York is great!" There is really not much of a campus life here; they really aren't kidding when they say that New York is our campus. This is good and bad, as we do have access to one of the most amazing cities in the world, but at the same time it makes it hard to feel like you have any connection to the campus other than that it houses the buildings where you have class. It almost feels like a commuter school in that everyone has their own thing going on. Granted this depends some on what dorm you live in, and whether you are good friends with people on your floor (which can add to the sense of campus community), but for the most part you don't just "run into" people a lot here. Other than choral or dance group performances and random (and severely under-attended) student council events, I honestly can't think of any events that people here actually get excited about. That's another big thing - there is absolutely NO school spirit. Absolutely none. Whatsoever. A lot of people you will talk to have a Columbia shirt because they like repping that they got into an Ivy, not because they are particularly huge fans of Columbia or what it stands for. That's mostly because it stands for very little besides its stellar academic reputation. There are few places better for a lot of academic specialties, but as far as you having a "typical college experience"... not so much. Overall, this school will not give you a complete college experience by default, but it will give you a diploma from an amazing school.

I sometimes wish the school were a little larger, because I feel like I constantly run into the same people every single day. It would be nice to see a few more new faces from time to time. I love being in NYC for college, this is definitely a plus as there are so many opportunities to take advantage of in the city. There is not a lot of school pride and I wish there was more. This is one of students' more frequent complaints. People are always impressed when they hear you are a Columbia grad or student, because it is an amazing school, after all.