Columbia University Reviews

House parties are popular but can...

House parties are popular but can get grimy, especially in Carman. There are always ragers in East Campus and chill sessions, too. You really need friends to properly introduce you once, and then you are set. Bar hopping is a definite thing for students on a Friday or Saturday night.

People do not come to Columbia for...

People do not come to Columbia for varsity sports. Dodge Gym is pretty nice with a great facility, and IM and club sports do thrive as those niches do.

Varsity sports are poorly...

Varsity sports are poorly attended, but I highly recommend them. Games are always fun events.

As a cheerleader, I think our...

As a cheerleader, I think our sports are really good. There are tons of intramural sports, and everyone here is really active.

We live in New York...

We live in New York City—everything is bigger, better, and off the hook!

It’s embarrassing, but they try so...

It’s embarrassing, but they try so hard.

Many people are surprised to learn...

Many people are surprised to learn that Columbia even has football, basketball, baseball, and soccer teams. They are there for those who enjoy watching and competing in collegiate sports, but not many people attend these events. This is due in part to the fact that the fields and stadiums are nowhere near campus, and the activities are not widely publicized.

Marijuana is the illegal drug of...

Marijuana is the illegal drug of choice, and it is almost always available, as it’s tough not to be exposed to a possible contact high at most parties. There’s very little peer pressure, though. The potheads would rather keep their stash than waste it on someone who does not even want to try it. This drug is highly visible in the social scene, but it is the individual’s choice on whether or not to partake in this vice.

It doesn’t really dominate unless...

It doesn’t really dominate unless you want to. However, I think that there were record amounts of girls who rushed for sororities recently.

There are a few fraternity parties...

There are a few fraternity parties each year, but they are packed, and the bad beer keeps flowing, so it’s worth going to at least one to check it out.

Greek life is a complete joke at...

Greek life is a complete joke at Columbia. Fraternities and sororities definitely do not have the same meaning and clout that they do at other universities. Houses that try to act like those at state universities get laughed at.

I’d say the campus police are...

I’d say the campus police are pretty lax about drugs and drinking and stuff. When dorm parties get busted, no one ever really gets in trouble. The worst thing that will happen is that the people who live in the suite throwing the party might get probation, so they can’t throw another party for the rest of the semester . . . but even that’s rare. A lot of it depends on your RA. Some RAs are stricter than others about drinking and drugs. However, I think it’s mainly the freshman RAs that are strict.

You don’t need a car, just a...

You don’t need a car, just a Metrocard.

No. Don’t bring a car. Bad idea.

It’s pretty impossible to have a...

It’s pretty impossible to have a car in the first place. The subway, buses, and cabs are the best way to go. Living in New York City really makes you appreciate the convenience of public transportation.

I haven’t had a problem. Many...

I haven’t had a problem. Many smoke pot on campus right in the open.

No one cares too much about...

No one cares too much about drinking or anything. You can generally smoke pot in peace. If you want to do ecstasy, then you’ll probably be at a club, and no one will know. If you want to do coke, like many rich kids, then you are an idiot!

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.

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.

Columbia is great. It’s very...

Columbia is great. It’s very bureaucratic, and the faculty is not very responsive, but there are so many opportunities in New York. It can be a bit overwhelming, but it is really amazing nonetheless.

Columbia has been like a dream to...

Columbia has been like a dream to me. There’s no place I would rather be. It truly is the consummate urban campus, and I have really grown to love the city.

Overall, I love attending...

Overall, I love attending Columbia. My only regret is that there is not a big athletic or Greek scene.

Some parties suck because there...

Some parties suck because there are a few kegs of cheap beer, but there is not even a bag of chips to share, so you have lots of hungry drunken students. Not a good combination. A word to the wise—have a snack before you go to a party unless you know that the host supplies grub for their guests.

The good things about most of...

The good things about most of Columbia’s teaching assistants (TAs) are that they are easily accessible to their students, and they will try to work with students who are having problems in class. The bad news is that they are notoriously hard graders who are difficult to please, and they tend to be petty.

The academics are intense. At...

The academics are intense. At Columbia, the teachers are uniquely committed to shaping the minds of all of their students.