Columbia: The Big Picture
There is not a lot of school pride in the traditional sense of the term--no football games with fans painting themselves white and blue, no tailgating parties, nothing like that. We do have a certain esprit, though. We know we go to a good school. We know we have better opportunities then a lot of the other Ivies by virtue of being in Manhattan. We know we have amazing libraries and lecturers on campus. We don't need to brag about it. We are fine with it. That being said, I find the reaction towards Columbia somewhat mixed. Some people don't even bat an eye, but there are others who look at you with more respect or disdain, depending on where they are coming from.
Columbia Academic Life
My professors have always taken the time to get to know my name--unless I am in a huge lecture class, which is a more common phenomenon at Columbia College than at Barnard. Classes at Barnard are not geared towards the classes the way most Columbia classes are. I like the old-fashioned approach of the core even though it's been controversial lately--because that is the kind of school CU is. If people want a progressive and innovative administration and teaching method, they should not apply to Columbia. Student competitiveness and involvement with their studies varies widely. Some students are capable of never opening a book and graduating with a respectable average. The vast majority, though, will spend a good hour or two each day holed up with their books and laptops in one of the following: the libraries, the coffeeshops, Lerner, the lounges, their dorms.
Columbia's Student Body
ooh, good questions! We never get to sound off on these things.
Any student who defines themselves as one of the following will not fit in at Columbia: a creative learner, a do-it-yourself type, someone who hates structure, someone who works outside the box, people who don't like big cities, socialists, activists. The campus altogether is pretty cynical about even the most well-intentioned causes or the most horrifying events. We just want to get our good grades and go. Each cause (Darfur, Haiti, Burmese monks, Palestinians, you name it) will have events like lectures and screenings but they will be organized and attended by the same 50 or so people--the people from one cause or event frequently overlap with others so that you really only have a couple of hundred truly activist students. That being said, a lot of Columbia students volunteer their time to community service projects and go into sectors related to the not-for-profits. Most students come from quiet suburban upbringings, though there are both the "I'm on financial aid, bitch" groups and the "let them eat cake" groups on campus. Therefore, I think most of the students could be termed slightly left of center: they favor gay rights, they like the right to choose, don't like religion all that much...and will tell you so in complete, grammatically correct arguments with some semblance of passion.
The gay community is nonexistent; while every queer girl or guy knows one or two others, they are pretty much integrated seamlessly into the fabric of the community. Queer events have consistently poor attendance, even though there are a lot (and man, do we mean A LOT) of LGBTQ people around.
I have never ever heard a student talk about potential earnings. I think we all think that's just poor taste.
Columbia Student Activities + Social Life
Here's a good guide to the dating scene at Columbia:
a. it sucks
b. Mentally stable, good looking, available--pick two.
The frats and sororities are not that present on campus but those of us who are in them love them dearly. My closest friends are all from my frat, and these are people I expect to know for the rest of my life.
If you are awake at 2 am you might be finishing some reading for your afternoon class the next day. Or having sex. But that second option is extremely unlikely.
