<p>sadly, i'm not a columbia applicant. but i'm curious as to what attracts you all to the columiba core curriculum. so why do you choose structure (or the like) over other curriculums?</p>
<p>Because I know I wouldn't take (many) humanities classes if I had more of a choice, even though I know I SHOULD and that they're beneficial.</p>
<p>I'd prefer middle of the road. Not 100 open like brown, but a bit more freedom than columbia's core.</p>
<p>For someone who is extremely interested in Math/Science, I thought that the Core would really help me learn about the humanities and expand my knowledge beyond the fields I am currently interested in. I am looking forward to my LitHum, CC and MusicHum classes. :)</p>
<p>As long as the teacher's good, I like most subjects. I also like the idea of the liberal arts education without sacrificing math/sci.</p>
<p>because you have versatility</p>
<p>and Columbia's core classes cap at 22 (i think). how awesome is that?</p>
<p>I believe in the idea (or at least the spirit) or a renaissance man</p>
<p>^ ditto. more like renaissance woman though</p>
<p>Right on. I understand that people who know what they want to do for the rest of their lives think it's best to get started right away. But, for example, what good is all sorts of medical knowledge if you have no philosophical/history background to explain why humanity is worth saving?</p>
<p>beautifully put there indytucker</p>
<p>haha, in my essay, I talked a bit about how I am a renaissance man!</p>
<p>Interesting... in her rec, my GC called me her "renaissance child"... :D</p>
<p>I hate the core. I dont need to be arm wrestled into taking classes I dont want to.
I guess its a necessary evil at every college, but its gone too far at Columbia.
After 4 years of being force-fed education like an animal, this is the last thing I want.</p>
<p>I'm a fan of the Core, but it's not for everyone. One thing I like about it is that it practically guarantees some level of cultural literacy for grads from the College. The experience shared not only with every classmate but with past and future CC students is unusual, too. There was an earlier Core</a> Curriculum discussion, now visible in CC's Columbia</a> University Library.</p>
<p>I started out not really liking the Core, but now, toward the end of my first year at Columbia, I've begun to appreciate it a lot more--it's definitely nice to have something in common with all of your schoolmates. The new Frontiers of Science class can be kind of boring, especially for many who are very involved in science already, but I found the introduction of new scientific thought and discoveries very interesting (maybe because I'm more of a humanities type person).</p>
<p>The Core IS kind of annoying if you want to double major and are trying to figure out how to fit all your classes in, but I'd say that you'll probably end up appreciating it at least a little bit.</p>
<p>like everyone else, I'm attracted to the core because I want to learn about the humanities, no matter what. </p>
<p>Besides that, I think that it would be nice to go to school with a group of students that are interested (and informed about) more than their major. I feel like a school with a core like columbia's attracts a different kind of student, to an extent.</p>
<p>cc08 -- It's great to see you on here, so you can offer the reactions and information that we parents only get second hand. </p>
<p>islander- You make a good point about the type of students attracted by the core. I think it attracts people who like to read and think and talk about books, even if they are planning to spend their lives looking into microscopes or managing financial accounts.</p>
<p>I love the core, in theory, but unfortunately too many people who end up matriculating at Columbia don't seem to be very interested in it. As a result, some discussions can stagnate.</p>
<p>The worst part about the Core (hands down) is the major cultures requirement. I took a course last semester on Chinese Civilization from earliest timees to now and it was absolutely brutal. I hear similar things about other "major cultures" classes. The Core should really be focused on Western Humanities, in my opinion. Literature and Philosophy, Art, Music, etc. None of the Science or MC requirements are necessary.</p>