With some of the most competitive admissions in the Ivy League and a centuries-long reputation for academic excellence, Columbia University is indisputably one of the best institutions of higher education in the United States. Columbia’s factsheet is formidable: it is a founding member of the Association of American Universities, it administers the Pulitzer Prize, and it can lay claim to seven Founding Fathers as alumni. Faculty and staff at the New York City research and academic juggernaut have included influential theorists Edward Said and Kimberle Crenshaw, President Dwight. D. Eisenhower, and a grand total of 34 Nobel laureates.

Even though there are roughly 26,000 postgraduates, the heart of the university is held within the undergraduate body of roughly 8,900 students. This is split between Columbia College (for the liberal arts), the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the School of General Studies (for liberal arts students following a non-traditional college timeline), and Barnard College (the women’s college affiliate to the university whose alumni graduate with Columbia degrees).

Within the Ivy League, Columbia is considered to be one of the most academically rigorous schools. Students at Columbia College adhere to a core curriculum consisting of six coursework categories: Arts Humanities, Contemporary Civilization, Frontiers of Science, Literature Humanities, Music Humanities, and University Writing. Students are additionally required to take four core electives: Global Core, Foreign Language, Science, and Physical Education. Between the four undergraduate colleges, students can choose between dozens of majors, special concentrations, and interdisciplinary paths of study.

Founded as “King’s College” in 1754, Columbia had an early history in colonial lower Manhattan punctuated by internal discord between loyalist elements in the administration and revolutionary figures in the student body such as Alexander Hamilton. In 1857, Columbia moved to a Gothic Revival campus in Midtown, followed in 1896 by a move to its contemporary Morningside Heights campus on the Upper West Side. In the early twentieth century, Columbia became known as a hub for research via government initiatives like the Manhattan project. In 1968, Columbia received national attention for a series of student protests and activism against the Vietnam War and a proposal for a school-sponsored segregated facility in the neighborhood.

Today, Columbia boasts 16 renowned graduate and professional schools, successful alumni in every major industry (including a number of celebrities!), and strong resources for the incubation of entrepreneurial endeavors in tech and business. While undergraduates might not sing the praises of social life on campus (Greek life draws the participation of a slim 10-15% of the student body), the bustle and glamor that abounds in New York City make up for this lack. From attending Broadway plays to exploring the city’s plentiful museums and galleries, Columbia students will never be at a loss for activity in the Big Apple.

With that being said, the extracurricular writing scene on campus remains strong; the oldest student group on campus is the Philolexian Society, a literary and debating club founded in 1802, while The Columbia Daily Spectator is the nation’s second-oldest continuously operating daily student newspaper. There are also a variety of literary magazines, journals, broadcasting organizations, and affinity organizations to which undergrads may contribute their talents. Columbia’s D1 Athletics have made history with some of the oldest sports teams in collegiate athletics and notable alumni such as Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Lou Gehrig and our dear friend and former next-door neighbor, Rose Bowl MVP quarterback Cliff Montgomery.

For the Class of 2029, Columbia received 59,616 applications and admitted 2,557, for an acceptance rate of 4.29%. According to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the main qualities Columbia looks for in applicants are “academic preparation,” “curiosity,” “engagement with others,” “individual voice,” and “knowledge of Columbia.” They use a holistic process that takes in the context of a student’s background when evaluating applications. Ensuring that the information in an application is presented cohesively, with a mind to these attributes, is essential in today’s competitive admissions cycle. New Ivies is here to help you reach your dreams of sporting blue and white.

What are Columbia University looking for?

Columbia University offers a distinctive undergraduate experience through its Core Curriculum, which all students complete and which emphasizes interdisciplinary learning across literature, philosophy, history, science, and the arts. While majors are optional, students can choose concentrations or majors to explore specific interests. Beyond academics, Columbia students engage in rich campus life, including over 500 clubs, traditions like the Varsity Show and Bacchanal, and unique opportunities in dining and New York City.

Columbia’s Academic Offerings: Majors + Core Curriculum

Remember how Columbia’a doesn’t require students to graduate with a major? Let’s dive into the specifics of Columbia’s unique and famous curriculum.

First, here is an overview of the schools that make up Columbia’s undergraduate experience.

Columbia’s Undergraduate Schools

Columbia undergraduate population is divided into two main schools:

-Columbia College
- The larger of the two undergraduate schools
- Home of the Core Curriculum.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science
- Combines the benefits of a small program with the extensive resources of a major research university.
- Offers a blend of engineering, applied science, humanities courses, hands-on projects, and faculty-mentored research.

Within both of the undergraduate programs, students complete Columbia’s one-of-a-kind “Core Curriculum.”

The Core Curriculum: Columbia’s Pride and Joy

You probably have heard the terms “core curriculum” and “required courses,” but did you know that Columbia is home to the original, most famous Core Curriculum?

All students who graduate from Columbia must successfully complete the core Curriculum to graduate — this is no easy task. The Core Curriculum takes up well over half of all the classes students take at Columbia.

The Core Curriculum’s foundational principles are considered “intellectually expansive” and “personally transformative.” One of the distinct features of the Core is that it bridges the gaps between disciplines. It introduces cornerstone ideas and theories across literature, philosophy, history, science, and the arts. In turn, it encourages creativity, reflection, critique, and conversation for all students.

Students work with their peers to study some of the most profound texts that enlighten today’s understanding of the world and its progress. From Homer to Toni Morrison, Plato to Ghandi, Raphael to Andy Warhol, and the composers of Gregorian Chants to pop icon Taylor Swift, the Core Curriculum engages students with timeless works.

The main goal of the Core Curriculum is to grapple with the joys and trials of what it means to be human.

Take a look at an overview of the components that make up the Core Curriculum. Note: Students enrolled in the School of Engineering may not be required to complete all sections of the Core Curriculum

What Is a Columbia Concentration?

Due to the size of the Core Curriculum and the breadth of topics covered, Columbia believes that the Core alone prepares students to enter the world. As a result, Columbia students are not required to complete a full major to graduate. Instead, they can opt to take a concentration or two.

A Columbia Concentration is similar to other universities’ minors. It is a smaller set of course requirements in one field of study.

For example, students interested in Psychology can complete the 11+ class major or the 7 class concentration. The purpose of the Columbia Concentration is to grant students more time to be able to explore various fields of study.

One may choose to supplement the Core Curriculum with concentrations in Public Health and Theatre or a major in Philosophy and a concentration in Applied Mathematics. If you wish to study Engineering and Theatre at the same time — you can.

Columbia Majors + Unforgettable Classes

Outside of the Core, there are so many diverse interests among the student body that “Top Majors” are not highly relevant. The number of students enrolled in each major are set apart by a marginal number, so it wouldn’t be right to characterize slightly larger majors as “Top Majors.”

There are over 80 distinct fields of study beyond the Core, so students are engaging with material that aligns with their passions, whether they be niche fields or popular lines of research. Many students apply undecided to Columbia or end up changing their major after being accepted.

Final Thoughts

Columbia’s application process is challenging. But with Crimson’s expert guidance, you’re set up for success.

Crimson students increase their odds of getting into top schools like Columbia by 7x times. Check out our independently verified student results to see for yourself.

Our unique strategy for success combines a team approach, personalization, and an outstanding bench of talented and dedicated college admissions consultants. Whether you're looking to bolster your extracurricular profile by adding a capstone project, write out a powerful essay, or ensure you don’t make a common mistake on the application — our team is ready for you!

To get to know us better, join some of our upcoming consultant-led webinars and events and learn more about Crimson's story and its unrivaled commitment to helping students around the world access transformative educational opportunities. For personalized feedback and discussing what kind of tailored approach best fits your circumstances, reach out today for a free consultation with a friendly Crimson expert.

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Additional essay questions of the application.

Questions：

1. List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.  (100 words or fewer) 

2. Tell us about an aspect of your life so far or your lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia's multidimensional and collaborative environment. (150 words or fewer)

3. At Columbia, students representing a wide range of perspectives are invited to live and learn together. In such a community, questions and debates naturally arise. Please describe a time when you did not agree with someone and discuss how you engaged with them and what you took away from the interaction. (150 words or fewer)

4. In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not anticipate. Please describe a situation in which you have navigated through adversity and discuss how you changed as a result. (150 words or fewer)

5. Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words or fewer)

6. What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer)