Columbia University in the City of New York Top Questions

highly depends on which school you go to: CC or SEAS CORE is going big in recent years, CUFE/CFIG/CIBD/Consulting club are the 4 biggest professional clubs.

School will provide some university housing and since lots of the students are international, it's a good chance to communicate with each other and gain some friends and life experience.

We have over 500 student clubs and organizations, and it really feels like they're all extremely active. Some that I think of off the top of my head: -student government -greek life -sports clubs: club level and intramural -service clubs: volunteering around Columbia community or for a national organization -political clubs -cultural clubs -performance clubs: dance, a capella, orchestra, etc. -cultural performance clubs: indian dance, etc. -theater -cooking -pre-professional clubs -global activism clubs I am most involved with three groups: 1. I volunteer for Let's Get Ready, a not-for-profit that helps thousands of underserved high school students get to college every year 2. I am a sister in a sorority and I hold a board position 3. I am a tour guide for the Columbia Undergraduate Recruitment Committee In terms of leisure social life and partying, there seems to be a definite divide of people who "go out" and people who stay in. Each is its own distinct community. People who "go out" do so in the morningside heights community, and gradually move more into the city as they turn 21. Greek life definitely goes out a lot. People who stay in spend time in suites with friends, explore the city, or work. The dating scene at Columbia is pretty weird. There's a sort of a pool of "go out"-ers who all hook up with each other. Otherwise, Columbia is pretty couple-y. Columbia students and Barnard women students are always mixed, so there is a greater percentage of undergrad women than men. However, it doesn't really feel like that all the time.

If there's a holiday of any kind - for any major religion or ethnic group and most minor ones too - likely some group on campus will be holding an event for it. There are organizations for practically everything. It's not that easy to start a recognized student group but it's quite easy to find your place in one that interests you. There is always something going on - you can never claim to be bored! Plenty of non-drinking fun is available. Around campus there are no end of restaurants and cultural centers, plus we live in New York where you could find practically anything that suits your interest. Definitely go to the Bhakti Club events - they have something for everyone and tons of the best delicious (and suitable and/or modifiable for practically any restrictive diet) FREE food!

If I had to pick a certain type of group that's most popular, it would be the cultural groups. From dance to martial arts to choirs and more, there is the opportunity to get involved in any sort of social or cultural activity from any part of the world. I'm a white student from Maryland, but I'm a proud member of Columbia Raas, a traditional Indian dance team. We perform garba/raas dance in cultural showcases around NYC, as well as competing in dance competitions all over the country. It's just one example of how you can totally step out of your comfort zone and experience something you never thought you would.

I believe the visible aspect of student politics (protests, ect.) has really died here and Greek life has been on the rise this year. The largest group is the Jewish organization, Hillel. Athletics here are very poorly attended. Socially, people meet people through student groups and first-year housing. Parties are generally pretty lame, but securing alcohol is rarely a problem. Clubs aren't really an option in NYC until you actually are 21 (no one's going to take your "Maine driver's license"). People enjoy our free museum passes throughout the city, along with the shopping and food. Central Park is rather close and Riverside Park gives a very flattering view of Jersey.

We work hard, but make time for other things. If you want to party, you'll find plenty. Maybe not as much as a large state school, but there's always a Carman or East Campus (dorms) party, or something going on the city. If you're not that into the party scene, there are others like you too, though not many. If it's one thing that I've learned from my first year here, it's that Columbia students really like their alcohol. But you'll find your niche no matter what. Spots like the Coffeehouse underneath St. Paul's Chapel on the weekends are always fun for the sober crowd. Columbia's not a place you get bored easily, and if you are, it's probably your fault. There's always something to find or explore when you live in New York City.

nothing. everyone goes out and drinks at bars with fake id's. there are frats, they have frat parties that are like frat parties anywhere, but you can escape that crowd by paying 4 dollars + for beer elsewhere. i played ultimate frisbee (a club sport) for a while, it did have a bit of a social scene attached, but i think mostly you have to find smaller groups of people to find an on-campus social scene. you won't run into that girl you want to talk to from your class at a party - you won't run into her anywhere, so you sort of have to get numbers in class if you actually want to meet people. it's not the easiest (but then, i was from the backwoods, so maybe i just needed to adjust to this urban world...)

Most people don't party. Those who do think that they party really hard but have obviously never visited a state school on a Thursday night. The first two years students have bad fakes, so they stick to campus for horrendous frat parties and the fun local bars. The second two years everybody starts turning 21 (or gets better fakes) and takes advantage of Downtown (or just stays home and studies). Greek organizations are always looking to party and even sometimes go out on Wednesdays (gasp). They also provide for a more "college" atmosphere. There is also a semi-secret society, St. A's, that throws great invite-only parties. People don't date. They usually have a boyfriend or girlfriend that they never part from or they hook up randomly. Dorm life is pretty fun, especially the "party dorms" like Carman and McBain. RAs are chill, but they do break up loud, lame parties in dorms. The problem with being a lowerclassman (and even an upperclassman) in New York City is that no one has their own place, so you have to have a fake ID.

My living situation as a transfer is far from ideal, but my social life is centered around ADP, a literary, co-ed fraternity that I'm pledging, so I spend a lot of time there and will be living there this summer and next year. Other than that though, sororities/fraternities play a pretty insignificant role on campus, and parties tend to be pretty small and in dorms or suites. Because we don't have class Fridays, Thursdays are usually a big night for going out. I've found that most people take off either Friday night or Saturday night to stay in or watch a movie.

And then there's New York... simply amazing. You will not get the opportunities that the City offers at university of comparable excellence. There are so many restaurants, museums, clubs, concerts, political functions, and other events that it's impossible to see it all.

New York is amazing and offers more opportunities and fun things to do than any other U.S. college location. Morningside and Columbia serves as relatively calm home bases (certainly more leafy and not as dense as downtown), and the subway and cabs will take you anywhere you want to go. There are museums, concerts, restaurants, bars, historical sites, and stores on par with the those of greatest cities in the world, and you can enjoy so much of that even without spending a ton of money.

When you go to school in New York City, you have a lot of options if you have the money. If you don't have a lot of money, it's a good idea to get involved around campus. I don't think there's one big thing everyone gets involved in. Athletics are important, but our teams never do well (except for our fencing team, which regularly produces Olympic competitors). The theater groups are a little insular, and actors and writers generally float between groups. We have two improv comedy groups, as well as a sketch comedy group. Sometimes the humor is a little esoteric, but they manage to keep it fresh. There are a lot of parties, but people often have trouble deciding when to host them, and as a result, there can be three parties going on the same night. Fraternities and sororities aren't really important. And only one has good parties. Incidentally, the one with good parties is one of the few co-ed Greek organizations in the country (Alpha Delta Phi). Very social campus, very kind, lots of drinking, some other things, lots of fun. If you're not into any of that, you can easily leave and explore New York City. Chinatown is a personal favorite.

Can't comment as I don't tend to go to them. Why would you stay around campus when the real NYC is just a subway ride away?

The social scene on Columbia's campus is notoriously bad, the frats are awful as are the bars in the immediate surrounding area. Parties in dorms routinely get shut down. However, like I said, Columbia's best feature is its location in Manhattan, and all the fantastic social opportunities it provides. Columbia is split between people who party a lot, and nerdy engineering students who don't leave their rooms (not to stereotype...).

the school is too fractured and does not have a centralized campus really and so the most vocal events include student council, cudm, greek organizations, varsity show, and cupal, and bachanal. athletic events should be more popular and there isnt a great way to advertise events on campus.

Columbia athletics isn't too big on campus--our best sports are archery and fencing. Columbia is more famous for the arts (theater/dance/music groups) and for politics and bringing guest speakers. Greek life is maybe 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the population, so not huge, but it's fun and there are multicultural Greek organizations which add extra flavor. Columbia has bars near campus, but it's also easy to move throughout the city in search of something more exotic like karaoke or a jazz club.

greek life is not very big on campus but those who are active in it get a lot out of it, there are always events on campus by some organization, and there are lots of events where you can meet new people

Orchesis is a Barnard-Columbia dance group that's a lot of fun. The dating scene is about hooking up. I met my closest friends through classes and through my sorority. People party at least once a week in their first years, but as they get to be upper classmen it's less important. The sororities are fantastic because they aren't filled with stereotypical "sorority girls" -- the girls in sororities are smart, involved, passionate, compassionate, intelligent, politically and socially aware students working to improve the campus and the world around them.

The dating scene is awful. Hook up at bars or date from day one of freshman year. Other than that you're pretty much out. Greek life doesn't affect most students, but I'm involved in it and therefore it seems like a big part of life.

Fraternities and Sororities provide many avenues to get involved and to have a good time, with mixers, parties, and charity events. There are several events put on by the campus as a whole too, such as Relay for Life and CU Smile. Most students go out to bars rather than going to room parties, because the bar scene is good in NYC.

most people hang with their own groups- greek life, sports teams, personal friends- people usually go to campus wide events to support their friends or to get free stuff, not because they love their school.

I joined a sorority to make my social life more exciting. like i said, the parties aren't always good and not always existing. but otherwise i'm content. the grad parties off campus are a lot of fun. and i just love hanging out with my friends doing whatever on or off campus. And the whole city is just a subway away so there is ALWAYS something to do!

Greek life isn't that big on campus; only 13{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students choose to participate. However, I like how it created a smaller community for me within Columbia. Aside from that, on campus there are always guest speakers and free concerts (last week John Legend performed!). On weekends clubs throw parties or have study breaks with free food. I tend to go down town quite a bit to restaurants and clubs. Its nice to be able to get away from campus every once and a while.

The social scene at Columbia is very different than most colleges, for better or for worse. Unlike many state universities, we do not have a very high percentage of Greek life. As a result, people tend to leave campus, but stay within several blocks of campus, when they go out. One of the best things is that New York has so much to offer, so if you want to leave campus there is so much to do in the city.

Columbia is way more fun than i thought it would be. You dont read in books about greek life, but it's definitely present. probably every other weekend a frat will have a party, which are laregely attended bc everyone who doesn't have a fake ID and usually parties in a dorm goes to these parties. People bars thurs-saturday. Fake IDs are a MUST here, seriously you can't really go out if you don't have one. However, almost no one goes out on week nights. WHile you probably aren't studying the whole night, you just lay low in your hall with friends.

Culture is key at Columbia.

The amazing part of Columbia's social life is the range of activities that are permissible on any given night. If a person didn't want to drink on a Saturday night, he or she could go to a Broadway show, a concert in Brooklyn, a Zagat-Rated restaurant in The Village, or just experience the nightlife in the Meatpacking District. If a person did want to stay on campus, he or she could definitely meet up with people at one of the local Columbia bars, go to one of the frat parties around here, or rent a movie at our indie video store Kim's and stay in with friends.

I go out usually 3 to 4 nights a week, starting on Wednesday. Yes, I am in a sorority, in fact, I am a VP. It's awesome and I love it! It only enhanced my college experience and I met awesome girls and made incredible connections. There is a lot to take advantage of in the city as well if you can make time for it, which I highly recommend that you do. On campus there isn't much to do...explore the city, that's part of your education.

As a member of Greek life on campus that has been a great way to get involved. The campus is only about {4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}11 Greek so its a smal part of the school but a great social outlet. Being in NYC the options are endless.

The best thing about being located in New York is the number of resources it provides to ensure a fabulous social life. If the bar scene doesn't thrill you, there's always a concert, or bowling, or jazz clubs, or theater, or the movies, and at any hour of the night, any day of the week that you're looking for it. Most recently I went to a venue that has pool tables, foosball, ping pong, and other games in addition to a live jazz band through most of the night, and actually amused myself with some friends simply playing Scrabble. You never know what's in store for you when you go out in NYC and that is exactly what makes Columbia so fabulous.

I am in Kappa Alpha Theta and really enjoy my sorority/greek life at columbia. Although not that many students are Greek, the community is still fun and is a great way to meet more people here. Freshman dorms have their doors open, but most upperclassmen dorms do not. Athletic events are not popular at all. If I am awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, I am most likely doing a problem set/studying for a test. Traditions each year are homecoming, december tree lighting/yule log ceremony, bacchanal, spring concert, etc. People usually go out Wed-Sat night, most people stay in on Friday nights. There are plenty of things to do that do not involve drinking since we are in new york city.

sucks. students don't leave doors open, i don't know anyone on my hall.

What is great about social activities and social life is the fact that we are in NYC and ther is just tons to do allthe tme. I do think that affects our sense of school spirit, and takes away from peoples experiences on campus. Most people I know are on campus to study, aand go out around the city, not necessarily with school friends.

there aren't enough. Greek life is being phased out

Columbia social life is what you make of it. At a glance it is incredibly lame, but if you meet the right people and can make your own fun it is a great time. The Greek life seems to be run but neonazi's as there is basically no such thing as a frat party anymore. There seems to be a war on fun at our school and I hear people complaining all the time. There are ways around it and as I said if you know the right people and put yourself out there, a good time can be had.

Football/basketball/sororities ... dating is lame ... bars are ok but only a few.

Since I am involved in Greek Life, for me it is a large part of my life. I really enjoy being part of such an intimate group of young women who I easily get along with and can call on when I need anything. Its a great feeling to have such a great support group or people to go out and just have fun with. There is always something going on at Columbia, whether it is free theatre tickets, speakers, or class semi-formals, etc.

I'm in greek life and I think its great. Considering the negative image it has, I think it adds a lot to the campus community.

Political, religious, and cultural organizations are very popular. You could never be bored at Columbia whether it be a Saturday or Tuesday night. There are so many shows, lectures etc. available and publicized for students.

This is Columbia's weakest point without a doubt. There are a lot of "chillers" here, meaning kids that sit around in groups of 5 or 10 and smoke hookah, smoke pot, drink, and... well, just sit there. It's hard to overcome that culture if you get plopped into it by chance with freshman year room assignments or the like. There are definitely people that overcome this stereotype and a lot of kids that enjoy big parties, going out to bars, etc., but a lot of time they will take some searching to find. A social life will not be handed to you here. Part of our being so diverse is that not everyone will be into the same things, and the individuals that prefer the former as their almost sole form of enjoyment definitely win out as far as numbers go. There are also a lot of people that don't ever go out. Period end of story. There are a huge number of study-all-the-time types; be advised: on Friday nights they will weird you out and on Monday mornings you will hate them for beating the curve on your Calculus exam. Fraternities and sororities provide a great option for those who want a more typical college experience, but many students who are not in them complain that they don't have a presence on campus. In reality, they actually do, except the administration's current war on fun make the packed, red cup-littered frat parties that some expect from them totally absent. There is a crazy registration and supervision system that is seriously enforced, making any who are not part of the Greek system wonder if anyone even lives in the letter-donning brownstones on 113th and 114th streets. We do have the occasional party, though, and they are always really fun when they do happen, but they're just few and far between. For that small population who does choose to go Greek, it provides a fulfilling life of more typical college-type socializing that none of them end up regretting.

Greek life is not overwhelmingly important, but it is getting more and more involved in the social scene. It is pretty laid-back in a good way. Off campus, it's fun to go see shows, museums, eat out at restaurants, go see a movie, take a walk in the park....etc. People tend to party every weekend, popular nights are Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays, and Wednesdays for the seniors too.

The social scene starts late because it's in NYC. Really, though, anything you want to do on a given night is possible and you will always find someone to join you. Frat parties, bars near campus, downtown clubs, concerts, bars or restaurants. There are also tons of artistic and music centered options.

Sometimes it is hard to have a social life because of all the school work, but when you do have/make the time, you have the City at your fingertips.

Great opportunities in NYC for anything you could possibly be interested in. Museums, shows, bars, clubs, stores, sports, political speakers, anything. Life is at a break-neck pace in NYC. Can you keep up? People generally go out on Thurs and Sat nights, sometimes Friday and Wednesday nights. People work generally on the other days-- Sunday especially is a major library day.

Doing club activities is super fun, I'm in Alpha Chi Omega, Chess club and Model UN. I've traveled to Pennsylvania and California with Model UN and got to learn so much about they world by being a member of the organization. I have also gotten a chance to play many chess tournaments with the chess team which has been a lot of fun. The meetings end a little late (12am on Wednesdays) but nobody sleeps in college anyways. The sorority is a lot of fun as well I just joined and have had a wonderful time getting to know the people involved with Greek life on campus. my favorite tradition this year has been the Yule Log ceremony which is a ceremony right after the trees are lit up on College Walk. Space is limited but you should definitely try to get in.

I joined my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, first semester my freshman year. My sisters have truly become my family; I live with girls from my sorority (and not in the Sorority housing), when I need someone to talk to, I go to my sisters, and I spend most of my free time with them as well. My big sister is the person I always go to for advice, and she is always there for me. We have sisterhood events like going to see the Martha Stewart Show, and we have library time where we all go to the library once a week to study in a big group together. I love AXO with all my heart, and I wouldn't know what to do without my sisters.

MOck trial, basketball team, soccer, fencing, lacrosse, quizbowl is HUGE. the dating scene is not too out there. if people date its because theyve met in classes or through friends at parties, etc... nothing out of the ordinary. Columbia students don't sleep. this said, we will be found in the eateries around campus, at the gym until 12 when it closes, up and about in the dorms playing games, hanging out and chatting, etc... Greek life usually is the hot spot for parties and events, but there are only 4 sororities and fewer than 20 fraternities. UNlike most other campuses, Greek life is not big at all. I would say one out of 5 people are involved in greek life, but no more. Drinking like all campuses is present. But it isn't force on you, you can go and seek it out if you want it. And on saturday nights if one isn't up for staying around campus, you have the city as your playground. Browadway, concerts, movies are always happening, and restaurants, bars clubs etc...

Not as social as state schools. Sports are kind of down-played here. But we have lots of organizations pertaining to the arts, which is nice.

Students leave their doors open depending on what dorm you are in-some are more social than others by nature of the students who choose to live there. Guest speakers are incredibly popular (they had to cap registration for the State of the Planet conference at 2,000 people), and the popularity of sports games varies depending upon the location and quality of the team (the basketball team gets more support than the football team, as they are right on campus and have a better overall record). I met my closest friends through the squash team and my sorority. The dating scene on campus is more casual than serious. People party Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and the majority of students do not have class on Friday. Fraternities and sororities are as important as you make them. They host good parties and can provide a great social circle if you are inclined to join one as I did. Last weekend I went to a mixer with my sorority and a fraternity at a club downtown. The next night I spend the night in Brooklyn with many members of my pledge class. If you don't want to drink on a Saturday night there are restaurants, movie theaters, jazz clubs, and many more options.