<p>Just wondering about some of the basic differences between the two colleges.
1. I heard they had different Cores. Is that true?
2. How is the separation handled? Are there certain classes specific to a college, do you have to cross register etc
3. Does the Fu deal with only engineering and applied science? So, if i wanted to study molecular biology or theoretical physics, is the college a better place?</p>
<p>And to squeeze another bit of utility out of this thread...
Are there certain topics too cliche to focus in the WHy Columbia question? I was planning on either talking about the core or the uniqueness of its location in NY (i've heard this is an application killer). Any advice</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>for the first three questions, do your own research.
As for the Why Columbia question, most current Columbia’s students’ advice is don’t write about anything that can be found on the brochure. Though i personally love the location of the campus, right next door to the Central Park</p>
<p>“Does the Fu deal with only engineering and applied science? So, if i wanted to study molecular biology or theoretical physics, is the college a better place?”</p>
<p>As one may reasonably conclude, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering & APPLIED Science is not the place for the study of THEORETICAL physics.</p>
<p>They have different Core courses, yes. SEAS Core has less humanities I believe and a computer design course (or something similar). And there is no swim test for the SEAS because an engineer can build a bridge, boat, etc to escape across the Hudson, while a CC student must swim, according to the tour guide at the campus tour.</p>
<p>A representative told a group of us that the two biggest mistakes made for the Why Columbia section are saying (1) because it’s an Ivy League school (an obvious one to avoid), and (2) because it’s in New York (because there are plenty of other schools in NY besides Columbia).</p>
<p>You can definitely talk about the Core in the Why Columbia essay. After all, it’s the hallmark of a Columbia education (a wording that I probably used in my essay).</p>
<ol>
<li>The Columbia College core consists of </li>
</ol>
<p>2 semesters Lit Hum
2 semesters CC
2 semesters Global Core
2 semesters math/science
passage of 4th semester language
1 semester art hum
1 semester music hum
1 semester frontiers of science (this may have been dropped)
1 semester university writing</p>
<p>The Fu core consists of </p>
<p>2 semesters of lit hum, or 2 semesters of cc, or 2 semesters of global core
1 semester music hum or 1 semester art hum
1 semester university writing
+
the engineering core
2 semesters chem
2 semester phys
1 semester gateway
(a bunch of other stuff…i wasn’t an engineer.)</p>
<ol>
<li>There is no separation. The only thing that is different between the schools is the requirements to graduate and the majors available. If you want to studied mechanical engineering, you have to go to FU. If you want to study art history you better be at CC. If at some point you decide half way through that you are a poet and not an applied mathematician its actually not that difficult to switch between the schools.</li>
</ol>
<p>In short registration is done simultaneously, and all students can register for all classes.</p>
<ol>
<li>FU only deals with engineering and applied science. If you want to study theoretical physics, the physics program at the college will be a better fit. Same with molecular biology unless you intend to pursue biomedical engineering.</li>
</ol>
<p>As for why Columbia…when I did the app the question was limited to something like 120 characters…so I didn’t put that much thought into it. Your main essay carries far more importance so don’t sweat it. As for talking about the Core and NYC…those are all easy outs but they aren’t game breakers by any means. You just have to find an appropriate angle. Also get creative…we had 120 characters…a girl that lived on my hall wrote a Haiku.</p>
<p>Yeah, my question about theoretical sciences at Fu were kinda stupid…</p>
<p>Is all research at Columbia University internal? One of the reasons I’m split between it and Harvard/MIT is that the Cambridge area is literally unparalled for molecular biology research. Does Columbia have a similar level of research potential?</p>
<p>I’m glad I can talk about the Core, it’s one of my favorite things about columbia (strangely i’m equally in love with brown and amherst’s open curriclum. attracted to extremes, i guess). Don’t think I could manage a haiku but am definitely doing more than “I like columbia because…”.</p>