College Reviews: Columbia University

New York, NY

Total undergrad enrollment: 7,743

Ranked #4 in 2011 edition of Best Colleges (US News)

50% male/50% female

Application deadline - Jan. 1

Early decision deadline - Nov. 1

Application fee: $80

Acceptance rate: 9.8%

Early decision acceptance rate: 22%

Range SAT Critical Reading: 680-760
Range SAT Math: 680-780
Range SAT Writing: 670-760

Required standardized tests: either SAT or ACT

Admissions interview: neither required/recommended (alumni offered)

SAT subject tests: 2 (math and chemistry/physics for engineering)
Common App

Tuition and fees: $43,304

Room and board: $10,570

10% in fraternities, 10% in sororities

Most popular majors: biological and biomedical sciences, engineering, English language and literature/letters, history, and social sciences

Average freshman retention rate: 98.5%

NCAA I

Academic Life:

Student-to-faculty ratio - 6:1
Small classes - 80% of classes have fewer than 20 students
Students in school of engineering & applied sciences pursue technical education with a liberal arts base
Strong biomedical engineering
Offers challenging combined majors
150 study abroad programs in 100 countries
World class labs
Internship opportunities
Ranked #10 - best college library
In addition to the thriving music community at Columbia, exceptionally talented Columbia College students may have access to instrumental, jazz, composition, or voice instruction, and other resources, at The Julliard School through two distinct programs.

Student Life:

Coursework "tremendously grueling"
Advising not strong
Columbia's administration is very out of touch with the students' needs and there's a lot of frustration with the curriculum, housing, financial aid, etc.
Expensive social life
Can be so liberal it can be overwhelming
Not very good housing

College Reviews