Columbia University in the City of New York

Simply put, I cannot imagine being anywhere else. My classes are excellent (especially within my major: Chemistry). The social life is great, how could it be anything but in NYC. My friends/peer are an inteligent, and funny group. One major downside, athletics are close to as poor as they get which hurts school spirit a little. No one wants to go to football games when the team is 1-9.

1st Year Male -- Class 2006

Education Quality: A+, Useful Schoolwork: B+

Applied Math in the College
(This particular department is full of the kindest, friendliest, most helpful people you'll ever meet.)

The quality of the education you get is entirely up to you. You need to be very independent to do well at Columbia, the university won't keep track of you. You have to take care of yourself, reach out to others yourself. But there are billions of opportunities all over the place! I acquired a fascinating research job with a well known research scientist guaranteed for the whole of my college career. I may well graduate with a published paper. New York is the greatest city in the world, and you can find anything in it. The students are friendly, the campus has clubs on everything. Take a course on theater, go see it live. Take a music course, go to a concert. Art course - free admission to the met. visit dozens of other art museums. you're just a subway ride and a student ticket away from dozens of operas, concerts, broadway, museums, the statue of liberty, two blocks away from Tom's Restaurant(from Seinfeld). What can I say, it's New York. Anything is possible. But don't go if you don't like the big city.Warning: The core contains a whole lot of classes. I personally love it, but some don't. Also, if you want a winning football team, forget columbia.

1st Year Female -- Class 2005

Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: B

Columbia is a good place to go if you want to think. It's also a good place to go if you love literature. The professors are attentive and have an avant-garde approach to academics. I took a course in which the final exam was a half hour personal interview about the texts we read. They expect you to know the material and develop strong opinions about it. No review would be complete without mention of NYC. My first year I went to 6 Broadway shows and 7 operas. I also went to a ballet, a Julliard orchestral performance, etc. The city is a great resource, and I can't imagine college without it.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2005

Education Quality: A+, Perceived Campus Safety: B+