<p>Hello, would appreciate any insights on this topic... I figured I'd start a topic here as the question isn't getting answers in the transfer section:</p>
<p>That is, how difficult is it for transfer students to use credits from similar courses taken to cover the Columbia core? To what extent are credits awarded?</p>
<p>Also, is it difficult to fulfill the Columbia core reqs as a transferred-in sophomore, junior?</p>
<p>Thanks so much and Happy New Year!</p>
<p>From Columbia FAQ:</p>
<p>Do I have to take the Core curriculum, even if I’ve already taken similar courses at my current college/university?</p>
<h2>The Core is the cornerstone of undergraduate academic life at Columbia. Even those transferring in with advanced credit should expect to take elements of the Core, if not all of it. Students are very rarely exempt from Core classes like Literature Humanities, Contemporary Civilization, Art Humanities and Music Humanities. </h2>
<p>In practice - it means you usually can get credit for uwriting if you took a college comp class (1 class), for global core if you took anything about another culture (up to 2), forlang if you took another language (up to 4), science if you took anything science or math (up to 3). You usually get an evaluation when you’re admitted about what they will or wont count for core, you can of course petition when you get here.</p>
<h2>But most of the major core classes you will have to take.</h2>
<p>It isn’t hard to complete it (there are plenty of sections available), but usually this means that you should know your academic major already and have taken courses toward that end. If you are truly undecided by end of sophomore year, it makes it hard to finish the core and major requirements.</p>
<p>In fact no matter how great a candidate you are, CU says it admits transfers that they primarily believe can finish columbia and the core on time. So they look to students who are realistic about their expectations and know they might not have a lot of freedom to roam.</p>
<p>Thank you, admissionsgeek. I had previously read the Columbia FAQ, but your comments and clarification were very helpful. Thankfully I’m planning my spring semester smart and I’ll be on-track with my major. </p>
<p>Can one class count for two core requirements, or is that pushing it? (E.g. a class about Andean Culture that’s in Spanish.)</p>
<p>usually you can’t have a class double count as a core requirement, but it could count as both a major and a core requirement.</p>