COVID-19 Strikes again! I can’t escape it, be it the media or my life. Most recent and importantly because of the virus Days on Campus was canceled! I am lost. I was looking forward to meeting future students, possibly finding a room mate and also deciding if I will accept my offer. I am very intimidated by Columbia U and never looked at it thought the eyes of “I’ll be going here” because I never thought I would be accepted. Now that I am accepted, I NEED to see the school and live like a student before I can even imagine accepting my offer. I currently live in Texas and the political change and also environmental (country to urban) is scary. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get the same experience I was hoping to get from the College day on Campus? Or if anyone is in the same pool, maybe we might be in NY at the same time and could meet up at the dining halls. Thanks in advance
Even under normal circumstances, you cannot just wander in off the street and around the campus without proper ID. Columbia U has security gates. On top of that, they may be enforcing new “social distancing” measures in response to the virus (which is known to be in NYC already).
You have until May to decide, don’t you?
Have you contacted admissions for advice?
@tk21769 they do? Last year my D19 was thinking of applying, so while in NY visiting cousins- one who was an alumni, they took us on an unofficial tour of the campus. We walked around without anyone stopping us.
Since when (seriously)?
If you mean that one cannot just wander to a place like Dodge or a residence without proper ID, you are correct. But one can enter College Walk from Broadway after getting off the 1 train (or enter the campus through any gate)
@mjmnov, congratulations! I totally understand your concern about Days on Campus cancellation. I wished my rural daughter had been able to attend last year. I believe that just visiting the campus cannot provide you with the full experience you might need to make a well-informed decision. Columbia with its compact campus and NYC culture can be a bit of shock. That said, I have found that the staff is amazing! Reach out to Admissions and maybe Student and Family Support for guidance. Wishing you the best!
Nothing stopping you from going to NYC, staying in a hotel and wandering around the campus. You can’t get into most buildings without an ID or a student to usher you in. The latter shouldn’t be too hard to find.
You’re not going to be able to find a roommate. First, they assign you one, unless you get a single room in John Jay. Second, all your potential roommates/future students will still be at home. You may have a local alumni club which holds a reception for admitted students (if coronavirus doesn’t cancel those too).
Choosing Columbia over a comparable school is simple: Do you love NYC and are you dying to live there? Are you independent and self-reliant? if so, yes. If not, go somewhere else.