<p>Do or did you feel that Columbia had a true campus? Given it's location, I'm thinking that the feel would be closer to that of a commuter campus than to that of a college town. However, some of the current Columbia students I've talked to have said that the Mornigside Heights area acts as a sort of "college city" within a city. I'm conflicted because I really want the camaraderie afforded by a traditional college campus but I'm also very drawn to the amenities provided as a result of living NYC. So what do you think? Is there a traditional campus feel at Columbia? And if not, are the opportunities provided in NYC enough to offset that potential con?</p>
<p>I’m very interested to hear about this too, for what it’s worth!</p>
<p>This was my response from another thread</p>
<p>"Independence is an essential skill that all individuals need to learn. I take responsibility for actions I could have taken to enjoy school more. There are always things that one can do better, especially in tough circumstances. </p>
<p>My issue is that Columbia is not supportive enough of it’s student body, which results from space or administrative nightmares. Add on the academic stress and lack of proper outlets and you have a volatile combination. I admit that there are students who enjoy their time and find balance, a way of venting the pressure that we can agree pervades NYC and the campus. However, the administration’s stance has been to use NYC not as an addendum to the undergraduate experience but as the only outlet. Lerner Hall is mini-convention center. Hartley lounge has 2 pool tables and 2 ping pong tables for 5000 undergraduates.
Student space and lounges are almost non-existent relative to the number of students.</p>
<p>Critics say that you should just go downtown rather than stay on campus. Barring time constraints, the fact remains that you don’t meet any Columbia students, people who are most likely to live around you, when you go to midtown or Chinatown. Students need to meet other students on campus, but the opportunity is not there, with most people staying in their singles, perpetuating a negative cycle of competitive academics and social isolation. </p>
<p>Critics also say that the onus is on students to grab coffee and arrange events. My question is where? My primary means of keeping in contact is not grabbing 1 on 1 coffee 10 times with 10 different people. Suite space is only available when you become an upperclassman, when cliques have formed and the social environment is less fluid. This is why joining a club or fraternity is so important, it opens up access to space and a consistent time to meet students with similar interests.</p>
<p>I’ve witnessed this destructive enviroment, an enviroment where the stresses and strains accumulate to a tipping point. Students who are older, such as GS student, may be better able to handle the simultaneous academic stress and lack of social interaction. However,
I find that most undergraduates cannot. </p>
<p>Columbia is not the typical American college. It’s located in the densest city in the Western world, for the worse I’d argue."</p>
<p>It’s highly ironic that you call me a “■■■■■” while telling me to “cool it on the ad hominem attack”. </p>
<p>1) Columbia is not a happy place. It may be the online forum on Bwog that brings out the worst in students, but I truly believe that there’s an undercurrent of unhappiness and despair. It doesn’t permeate throughout the entire student body, but enough of us been through periods of intense sadness that we consider taking time off of school or transferring out. The recent suicide of Tina Bu stoked the debate about student wellness again.</p>
<p>Tian Bu, CC ’13, Has Passed Away – Bwog</p>
<p>How We’re Doing | The Eye</p>
<p>2) Statistics on graduation and freshman year retention rate are great, but I’d argue that it’s a function of the quality of students that Columbia attracts. Advising is ATROCIOUS. I don’t know where you got the information from, but many advisers spend so much time worrying about paperwork that they have a tough time even knowing what the requirements for your major are. “Uhhh…let me check the bulletin on that.” </p>
<p>Columbia Spectator article about how horrible advising is (9/15/11)
A little advice</p>
<p>3) Many students think Lerner is an eyesore on campus. Most schools would die for Lerner because it makes so much $$$$$ as a convention center. As for students, I’m pretty sure most think that Lerner doesn’t have enough space (the ramps are just awful). Almost all the tables and seats are taken in the public areas, and if you need a room for an event, book 2-4 weeks in advance (as someone who took care of room bookings and learned the hard way)</p>
<p>Check out the Student Space Initiative, which has been pushing the administration to open up more space in Lerner for students. (2/20/12)
Student Space Lounge: Coming Soon To A Glass House Near You! – Bwog</p>
<p>Bwog’s review of Lerner. (5/6/10)
Lerner 2010: A Place For Students! – Bwog</p>
<p>4) There aren’t a lot of social spaces for undergraduates. Hamilton is the only official space designated as undergraduate only, and it’s most classrooms. There are over 27,000 students at Columbia and it’s NYC. It’s expected that space is limited, but let’s not try to fool everyone else into thinking that space is plenty. What do you mean by inspiring quads, the ones that are never opened unless prospective students come?</p>
<p>South Lawn - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia</p>
<p>Links are from this thread:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1294226-show-columbia-some-love-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1294226-show-columbia-some-love-2.html</a></p>
<p>Ok…so some strong feelings on that one. But, although the issues you pointed out do factor quite heavily, I’m more concerned (at least in this thread) about the strictly social aspect of campus life at Columbia. </p>
<p>I think I can derive from last couple posts that the general feel, at least as it pertains to “Beard,” is one extremely distant from the warm sort of cozy nature of the traditional campus. Is that everyone’s experience?</p>
<p>Im actually pretty surprised at the negative tone here after all the positive remarks and sentiments that I’ve heard from current students. Nearly everybody that I’ve spoke with in person seems to love it. I’ve heard stories of being able to meet with professors and distinguished alumns over dinner in the professor’s in-dorm residences. My friend actually showed me this place a few blocks over in Harlem of all places where we got to have BBQ and listen to some great live blues (at least in this instance, about 10 other Columbia students were there and I was led to believe that sort of a crowd was typical). So is it really that miserable? If it is then so be it, but from what I’ve seen and experienced in person so far (admittedly quite a limited sample), I had the feeling that Columbia would be a great place to go to school.</p>
<p>So what’s the general consensus? Yea or nay?</p>