Columbia University in the City of New York

Just like any other school, it's what you make of it. The course-work was intense, but I learned a great deal, and now looking back at my experience, I am happy to have finished. It's a great university if you want to get involved in research, and professors are readily available for dicussion. And no, don't go to Columbia if you want your hand to be held -- as this is a top-not school, you won't be required to simply memorize formulas. In terms of course-work, it's not about quantity, but about guality! Tests are especially challenging because they require you to demonstrate what you have learned and not what you have memorized (if you know what that means, you'll probably do well at Columbia). The city is great, but it is NYC, so it's dirty, smelly, and rude...but don't judge a school by its surroundings...Columbia is for education, and if you want a good one, try to get in. Good luck.By the way, I majored in biomedical engineering (had to choose "other"). Also, keep in mind that these are my opinions, and are directly related to the courses that I took, and so it's only obvious that other people, who come from other backgrounds and/or enrolled in a different program, might have had a drastically different opinion of Columbia.

4th Year Male -- Class 1999

Social Life: A+, Collaboration/Competitive: B-