StudentsReview :: Columbia University in the City of New York - Extra Detail about the Comment
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Columbia University in the City of New York

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA+ Faculty AccessibilityA
Useful SchoolworkA+ Excess CompetitionB-
Academic SuccessB+ Creativity/ InnovationA
Individual ValueC+ University Resource UseB
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA+ FriendlinessB+
Campus MaintenanceB- Social LifeB+
Surrounding CityA+ Extra CurricularsA-
SafetyA
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Approachable

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful, Arrogant

Male
SAT2100
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Individual Value
C+
Highest Rating
Educational Quality
A+
He rated most things higher than other students did.
Date: Dec 24 2009
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
I am very happy to be going to Columbia. The resources and faculty are the highest quality anywhere, and the location in New York is unbeatable. The complaints that I usually hear around campus center around the Core and the administration. Here are my takes on these two concerns:

First of all, if you go to Columbia you should expect the Core Curriculum since it is a major part of Columbia's reputation. I am a very self-motivated student and I still appreciate the basic well rounded education that the Core ensures. Granted some of the classes can be useless depending on your professor, but overall it is incredibly useful. It makes sure that every student has the same basis in philosophy and literature so that there is a common background for class discussions. And on a more basic level, the ideals of the Core Curriculum signify an attitude at Columbia towards a complete, well rounded education that I strongly agree with.

As far as the administration issue goes, Columbia does have a problem with bureaucracy. They don't treat students with individual attention and there is a lot of red tape. That said, this also gives the student a lot of freedom since the university doesn't pay much attention to what you're doing. I was thinking about doing an ethnomusicology degree and while creating the major would have been incredibly problematic with all the appeals and paperwork, the Anthropology dept was fine with me doing an Anthro degree focused on music. The point here is that if you're self-motivated you can find a way to work the system and as long as you fulfill the basic requirements set in place you have a lot of freedom.

Responses
Just all around the best school in the entire world. Incredible people, incredible programs, incredible place to spend 4 years. Everyone at Columbia University in the City of New York is open-minded, Peter Veres incredibly approachable and nice, and so so interesting.
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Columbia University in the City of New York
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