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Hi everyone. I'm a high school junior wanting to know more about Columbia (sorry guys if this intrudes with any chances or acceptance posts-congrats to those were accepted!) Umm..so yeah...can someone please tell me the basics about the college: the general atmosphere there, academics, diversity, core curriculum, NYC, etc.? Thank you sooo much.

By Hegemonhenenen (Hegemonhenenen) on Sunday, December 21, 2003 - 12:24 am: Edit

The atmosphere is neat, there are many people of different backgrounds... basically a very social environment.
Academics are focused, and despite popular belief that the Core Curriculum is overlimiting, most students end up taking courses that would be under the CC anyways.
NYC is awesome, there are tons of opportunities waiting for you;)
...Basically a very energetic environment!
Columbia tidbit: you need to pass the swim test (unless a disability prevents you from being able to swim) to get your degree -- one of the school's interesting graduation conditions;)

By Greenapples016 (Greenapples016) on Thursday, December 25, 2003 - 01:33 pm: Edit

Thanks Hegemonhenenen...anyone else?

By Gabushida (Gabushida) on Thursday, December 25, 2003 - 05:56 pm: Edit

Cornell has the swim test also. Its from WWII.

By Usamad (Usamad) on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 01:40 am: Edit

dartmouth has that swimming requirement too....hm, we're sure seeing a trend here. haha.

By Greenapples016 (Greenapples016) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 10:42 pm: Edit

LOL well I guess if all the Ivies have swim tests I can't graduate from any of them....unless thrashing around wildly in the water for 5 seconds before sinking to the bottom and then drowning counts as passing. Hmmm...

By Mmccullough (Mmccullough) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 05:43 pm: Edit

haha...the swim test was actually b/c of the revolutionary war--if the british invaded manhattan, cu wanted to insure that all of its graduates could swim across the hudson. the funny thing is that the test is only like, 75 meters (three lengths of a pool)...not quite as wide. if you can't swim, apply to SEAS--they don't have to pass it because cu figured that the engineering kids would be smart enough to build a boat or bridge and escape.

By Hegemonhenenen (Hegemonhenenen) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 10:03 pm: Edit

Ironic how the acronym is SEAS, isn't it?

By Godis (Godis) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 02:27 am: Edit

hahaha, touche.

By Starladki (Starladki) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 08:29 pm: Edit

O_o im applying to SEAS for biomed engineering...i don't think i'll be learning about boat building. but maybe i could make myself a prosthetic leg for when one of those hudson sharks bites mine off.

By Piquant77 (Piquant77) on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 10:46 am: Edit

you guys are hilarious. one question though - does it have to be the crawl stroke? i never understood what was up with U.S. swim tests and the crawl stroke. Who cares, as long as you don't drown...;P

By Mmccullough (Mmccullough) on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 09:24 pm: Edit

yeah it doesn't matter what stroke you do...even doggy paddle works. all they want is a continuous swim. i'd suggest NOT doing fly

By Number9 (Number9) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 05:37 pm: Edit

When do you have to do this, anytime during the year before graduation?


Following with the original question --
How is the English/Literature program?

I've been looking into Columbia because its in NYC, and the wealth of opportunity, and I'm considering being a writer. Just wanted to know how good they are considered as a college in that dept.

By Mmccullough (Mmccullough) on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 09:31 pm: Edit

hahah well, columbia's the best journalism school in the nation, so i'm guessing that its general english/lit department is good. the swim test can be taken at any point during your undergraduate education--some kids go to the graduation ceremony with wet hair
i hear vanderbilt is pretty good for writing/lit as well...good luck w/ your search!