Columbia University Reviews

Prestigious academics with a rigorous and innovative Core Curriculum that encourages deep engagement with Great Books and artistic works in small classes.

Prime location in New York City, offering access to vast educational, cultural, and professional opportunities.

Diverse and inclusive community with a wide range of personalities, backgrounds, and interests fostering rich social life options on and off campus.

Extraordinary libraries, collections, and research opportunities, supported by distinguished faculty leaders across fields like business, journalism, earth sciences, data science, etc.

Frequent visits from major celebrity politicians and academics enhance learning experiences.

Interdisciplinary initiatives promote creative problem-solving on global challenges through practical projects.

The academic pressure is intense due to the demanding Core Curriculum combined with high GPA (4.12+) and test score expectations (SAT 1500–1560 or ACT 34–35), creating a competitive atmosphere that can feel cutthroat or stressful for some students.

Dormitories are comfortable but generally considered less impressive compared to peer institutions like Yale or Harvard houses.

Some students attend for reasons other than academic passion (e.g., enjoying NYC lifestyle) which can lead to complaints about the neighborhood or curriculum culture.

The student body’s diversity sometimes results in fragmentation rather than unity among classmates; competition can manifest as "complaining contests" about workload stress.

Administration may be perceived as distant or obstructive toward extracurricular activities rather than supportive.

High cost of attendance combined with living expenses in New York City poses financial challenges for many students.