Columbia University - Overall ExperienceCollege Prowler0.00

College Prowler Take

Most students absolutely love Columbia. They discovered the school that filled their academic, social, and professional needs. Since Columbia is so selective, most people who attend are thrilled to be here and would never wish to be anywhere else.

Columbia has the potential to give any student what they are looking for—be it prestige, socialization, culture, or a degree from one of the finest schools in the world. The city is not for the weak-hearted. Those who need hand-holding may not find that kind of support here, but then again, they might, if they look in the right place. It takes time to find and access the things you want and need (and often students discover fulfillment in things they never thought they’d like before like exploring the city late at night or finding joy in Medieval Italian Literature), but if you’re willing to work a little bit and leave a little up to chance, you may get more out of college than most of your high school friends who went to smaller, less diverse schools with fewer opportunities. Sure, there are some disappointments, but on the whole, there is no place like Columbia in the city of New York—a place where you can not only get an Ivy League education, but also enjoy everything that the most exciting city in the world has to offer.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

Sometimes, I wish I was somewhere...

Sometimes, I wish I was somewhere more relaxed and warmer, but right now I wouldn’t trade anything for the city. It takes effort, the school doesn’t really help you much, so you have to do a lot on your own. That can be a good thing if you’ve got the guts.

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Anonymous says:

I am really happy with Columbia. I...

I am really happy with Columbia. I love pretty much everything about it! I don’t think that I could be happier anywhere else. The school is awesome, classes are hard but not impossible, and the core is a pain but a blessing in disguise—I have learned so much because of it, and sometimes, it can actually be fun.

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Anonymous says:

If I had known, I probably would...

If I had known, I probably would have gone to Smith or Vassar instead. The academics are really good, but in many ways, you do not learn enough for the amount of money that you are paying. I wish I had more caring counselors and people to tailor my program for me. I was one of those people who slipped through the cracks and had to struggle in the advanced classes because I never got my basics down-pat. All in all, I learned a lot and had a good experience, but I probably would have decided differently had I known what I know now.

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Anonymous says:

All I can say is that New York...

All I can say is that New York City is a great place. The bars, clubs, and people are real cool. They call it ‘The City That Never Sleeps.’ Well, that’s definitely true.

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Anonymous says:

The most important thing is that...

The most important thing is that if you want to live in New York, come to Columbia. If you don’t want to live in New York, don’t come to Columbia. It’s pretty simple.

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Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Alexandre Millet
Hometown: Washington D.C., Geneva
Major: Economics and Computer Science

Fun Fact: Alexandre has been to Antarctica!

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