<p>i dont know if i want it or not! what are the advantages and disadvantages of it? I dont really want to waste time with a bunch of math and science classes, I mean its interesting and all and its understandable that Columbia wants students to be well rounded or whatever, but I'd much rather focus on my major and pursue classes im totally interested in. Im applying to Northwestern, Columbia, and Stanford--I know Columbia has the core, but do Stanford and northwestern?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Advantages: you're guaranteed a solid foundation in college so you aren't too one sided, you get to meet people who you may not meet in classes that are related to your major, you can discuss what you're doing in a Core class with anyone at the university (in Columbia's case, at least).</p>
<p>Disadvantages: you might be too one-sided, you may not have a solid foundation, which grad schools want, and what if you don't end up pursuing your major? You need to take classes in a broad range of subjects. If you're one of those people who's curious about everything anyway, then you don't need a core. But, if I'm not mistaken, almost every school has requirements. They usually aren't as specific as the Core at Columbia.</p>
<p>I'm going to Stanford next year, but I'd've loved to go to a school with a core. I really think being educationally well-rounded is extremely important...as well as fun! But oh well, S still has general education requirements -- every school has them, so you'll have to look up what they are on a school-by-school basis.</p>