Admissions

Don't be afraid to take chances. If you're thinking of applying to Columbia, but are hesitant because you don't think you'll have what it takes, apply anyway. You may just surprise yourself. Taking chances is one of the most important actions that has to be taken at a university like Columbia. The work is hard, but you need to be able to take risks and challenge yourself, because it is the only way in which you’ll succeed at Columbia. In connection to taking chances, remember where you are, and take advantage of every opportunity that Columbia has to offer. Columbia has so many different resources for jobs, internships, and research opportunities, and it is so important to put yourself out there and try to make a name for yourself. While a Columbia degree can get you many places, it will only go so far; the career placement opportunities that Columbia has can definitely help you go so much further.

1. Approach everything with intellectual curiosity, or else experiences which are potentially tremendously rewarding will become long slogs of work which you will find meaningless.
2. Extracurriculars at Columbia are people by the most passionate, intelligent people you will ever meet. Get involved. You will learn that there are beautiful things which you never knew existed.
3. Get off campus at least once a week. You live in New York, not New Haven. If you're not paying attention to the city, you're missing a big part of your education.

You are no longer in the top 5%, you are no longer the class president, you are no longer the "nerd" with a super high GPA, in fact, you are no longer smart. Everyone there has 9.00 GPAs, knows how to play at least two musical instruments, is good at least at one sport, and is richer than you and probably hotter. If you haven't grasped the concept of humility yet, get cracking. (Which I hadn't and it hit my right in the face so hard it knocked me out for a year.)

If you're interested in Columbia, definitely do your research. There are many required courses, which is something that most students have strong feelings about, and there are some aspects of the school (the food, the housing etc.) that don't always live up to people's expectations. But if you want to live in the city, but be on a campus, and have a set of required courses (but have them taught by the world's preeminent scholars), then Columbia would probably be a great school for you.

As a freshman, the dorm you live in can have a big impact on your experience at Columbia. Carman and John Jay are often considered the most social dorms. I lived in Carman in my freshman year, and had some wild experiences with my floor. I also made the majority of my close friends there. Wallach, Furnald, and Hartley are generally the quieter places to live, although it’s certainly still possible to have fun while living in any of these three – I knew several people who completed their work in their rooms in Furnald and came to Carman to hang out with friends. Above all, don’t be afraid to meet people and open up to new possibilities. Expanding your worldview is an integral part of being at college, and the only way to do that is to be open to it.

Try to go to office hours. Sometimes that is the difference between you receiving a B- and a B.
Don't get caught up in the hype during orientation week, also known as NSOP (New Student Orientation Program). Many students, afraid of not making enough friends, add the phone numbers of almost every student they meet. However, this causes one to lose focus because they become worried about keeping up with acquaintances and hanging out. I follow this rule of thumb: Only add their number after you've had three real conversations. An example of a real conversation is talking about what state/country you guys came from, your family, finding study partners, or a 1-hour non-awkward conversation at Starbucks, not a fake conversation about favorite colors or matching outfits. That way you won't end up with 50 numbers of classmates whom you briefly saw twice at the beginning of the semester. And yes, you will at least meet 50 new students during NSOP.

I know this sounds cliched, but do extracurriculars you are passionate about. I had many leadership positions in my activities since I love doing them and work hard for the clubs.

Get those grades and SAT/SAT II scores up. Participate in clubs/sports. Be a leader, challenge yourself and take it upon yourself to put yourself in leadership positions, be it in a school club or in something outside of school. Volunteer and give back to the community. Apply early if you can, your odds are better. Get good recommendations (build relationships with your teachers!) and spend time on your essays, they DO matter. If you can, visit the school, and if offered an interview, TAKE IT. Apply elsewhere too, so this way you won't stress out as much when waiting to hear a reply.

Best tips would be keep up with your work and reading. Make sure you attend all classes no matter how tired or busy you are, they are all very important. Do not allow procrastination to bring you down and always keep good communication with your professors.

The most immediate bit of advice, I'd wager, is to visit the campus if you're able; this often gives students an idea of the ambiance of the place and whether they'd like to genuinely consider the option. (Also, as an aside: you'll hear people complain about the dining hall food quite a bit, but it's honestly exaggerated and more for the sake of Columbia tradition than anything else; and if just so happens that you don’t find the food to your liking, say hello to the cheap supermarkets down the street!) If you do choose Columbia, don't be shy to explore any possible adventures of the Big Apple--being in the heart of New York is part of the perk, after all.