<p>Contrary to what's been said, on a given day on campus you'll see plenty of students sporting Columbia apparel. I can't speak to what it's like at other schools on a regular basis (except for Brown, which I've visited a lot), but suffice it to say that Columbia apparel is well-represented--certainly more so than that of any other school. I actually haven't seen a lot of people wearing t-shirts/sweatshirts from other schools, and when they do it's usually because a sibling goes there (which is my case). All of which is to say that, in my experience, Columbia students don't have an inferiority complex. And what's more, we have no reason to; Columbia has the best general ed curriculum in the country, an amazing faculty with plenty of opportunities for interaction/research, a generally cool student body (there are exceptions, naturally), a beautiful campus, great performing arts and activist groups, a decent-to-great social scene depending on one's ability to find a niche and/or procure a fake to hit up local bars, and (oh yeah) a comfortable location in the best city in the world. Columbia offers a truly singular college experience, and I know plenty of people (myself included) who turned down one of the illustrious HYP trifecta in favor of four years in Morningside. Sure, our sports teams are middling on a good day, and you won't find much in the way of Greek life, but if you're really interested in those aspects of college life then you probably shouldn't come to Columbia, because you'll just spend your time here trying to make it into something it's not. </p>
<p>Why do some people think we have an inferiority complex, then? Well, probably because Columbia students (by and large) are opinionated and vocal in expressing their opinions, including what we want to see improved. This doesn't mean we hate our school; we just realize that no school is going to offer four years of paradise, and it's better to try to make a community better while you can. Among almost all of my friends, Columbia was their first choice. We worked just hard as anyone at HYP to get into Columbia, our college experience is just as great, and we know it. Just ask some Columbia students if they'd rather be at another school; as at any other top school, you will hear "NO" nine times out of ten.</p>
<p>And I wouldn't necessarily say that HYP are perfect. They just offer different college experiences (Cambridge, an urban wasteland, and suburbia, respectively). People come to Columbia because they want an experience that is just as strong academically, but one that also provides all the opportunities offered by NYC without sacrificing a great neighborhood and campus. The Core is also, as I've said, the best curriculum of its kind, and it's definitely been one of the best parts of my college experience so far.</p>
<p>One more thing: don't come if you buy into the idea that HYP are untouchable/infallible. That's definitely not true (for example, with all the fallout from Summers' departure, Harvard's a bit of a mess right now), and it's stupid to always place yourself, and by extension, your institution, in competition with others when it comes to prestige. Columbia is strong most everywhere it matters--as strong as any other university, in my opinion--and anyone with a brain knows the immense value of a Columbia education, so don't waste your time worrying about its prestige. The prestige of HYP (which is not much greater than that of Columbia) does not guarantee that any of them will offer your ideal college experience. Columbia offers something that's truly distinctive; it's not for everyone (what school is?), but the vast majority of students here couldn't imagine going anywhere else.</p>
<p>Okay, I'm going to stop with my mini-treatise now. I just wanted to dispell the idea that Columbia students have an inferiority complex. And I just had a few cups of coffee, so I'm feeling pretty verbose (which in itself is a time-honored Columbia tradition).</p>