<p>What are the big differences between Columbia and the Other Ivies? What about the Political Science program? What should go into account when choosing between Columbia and some of the other Ivies. Could you compare things like location, academics etc. Thanks!</p>
<p>From what I have learned with my D through this processs, if your heart is set on Ivy League, apply to all of them. The competition is SO unbelievably competitive and all students are the best of the best. My Ds heart is set on Columbia due to location in NYC and the fabulous core curriculum. She visited Columbia last month and LOVED the campus. Gated campus with guards posted on each gate. Subway entrance is literally right out of the gate. You can be in the heart of the greatest city on earth in 10 minutes! If you long for a first class education, small class size, and the excitement of an unsurpassed location in NYC, then Columbia is for you. </p>
<p>We have also been to Harvard campus in Cambridge. Also beautiful and prestigious but a different feel. More conservative. Boston is an incredible city with much to offer right across the river. Apply to all Ivies, and if you can, plan a visit to the schools that accept you. You will know where you belong from the visit. Good luck to you! </p>
<p>I disagree. If your heart is “set on the Ivy League,” you should reexamine your heart. The eight universities are drastically different and each caters to a specific subset of students. I HIGHLY doubt that anyone is truly attracted to all eight (unless, of course, he/she is obsessed with prestige; in which case, the immaturity will hopefully be grown out of).</p>
<p>I can’t speak on behalf of a columbia student, though. I just thought I’d criticize the “Ivy League Lottery” idea.</p>
<p>MikeNY5, There is a long and very involved thread concerning this very issue. Not sure if the link works, but you can look it up if you want… <a href=“Why do seemingly perfect students get rejected from Ivies? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>Why do seemingly perfect students get rejected from Ivies? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;
<p>A great article on chancing. <a href=“http://phs.princetonk12.org/guidance/Forms/Betterton%20College%20Planning.pdf”>http://phs.princetonk12.org/guidance/Forms/Betterton%20College%20Planning.pdf</a></p>
<p>I agree that applying to all eight Ivy League schools doesn’t make a lot of sense. First, assuming you also want to apply to some matches and safeties, it will make your application list ridiculously long. Second, there are plenty of terrific non-Ivy League schools that may be better “next best” choices, based on what you’re looking for, than another Ivy League school. For example, my son really wanted to be in a major city. That ruled out Dartmouth, Cornell and Princeton, and made Brown and Yale less attractive (all five of those schools were less attractive to him for other reasons as well, but not being in a major city was definitely an issue). He ended up only applying to Harvard and Columbia among the Ivy League schools, and was lucky enough to be accepted at both. But “next best” choices were non-Ivy League schools such as University of Chicago, Berkeley, McGill and Georgetown.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry! I didn’t explain well enough. Columbia is my top choice right now, but I was wondering what were the big differences between it and other top colleges(such as other Ivies). What makes it standout? Why should I pick it over other top schools?</p>
<p>*are not were</p>
<p>The Core, the hustle and bustle of NYC.</p>
<p>Oren8er, it might help if you told us what you were looking for in a college and why Columbia is your top choice. In my son’s case, he just felt very comfortable every time he visited Columbia - liked the students he met and the classes he sat in on and felt it was very intellectually vibrant. In addition, they had a particularly good program in his main area of interest, and he was also involved in some outside activities in New York that he wanted to continue to pursue and believed he would not be able to pursue them as effectively anywhere else (e.g., Cambridge/Boston). He has continued to pursue those activities and I think he was right that he needed to be in New York to do so. He’s loving Columbia and is certain it was the right choice for him. It doesn’t mean it would necessarily have been the right choice for someone else.</p>
<p>Some of my reasons are the Core Curriculum, NYC(lived here my entire life and only want to go to college in a big city), the campus, and many other reasons. i want to know a bit more about Columbia’s political science program(which I would like to major in). </p>
<p>Any other reasons?</p>