<p>My son is a first year, and the thing that has made him so happy is that he immediately bonded with his floor mates. At the end of the year, they still do things as a group, and he spends all of his free time with them. It’s really hard to generalize about any school, but perhaps visiting one friend doesn’t really tell you what it would be like to attend a school.</p>
<p>Sorry for hijacking the thread but I’d welcome any comments/observations about the social life at Columbia.</p>
<p>I’m a transfer student and I’m debating about coming.</p>
<p>I’m with so cal 5. My first year son had a blast hanging with his floor mates, random friends, frat brothers and rugby mates. He spent little time in “the city,” unless he was out on an adventure with those friends. And he could not be happier with his college choice.</p>
<p>beard - i respect the fact that you come on here and say your POV. i think it is important for every student to get the wide perspective. but some of your posts veer into outright negativity; if there is ever a post where you don’t sound like a debbie downer, i’d be surprised. i know some folks like you from columbia, kids that went because it was the best name they could get into, but really don’t buy into any of the wonder, go through miserable the whole time. i’d suggest transfer, but the reason you don’t is that you like the name cache. am i right? there is nothing ‘average’ about you.</p>
<p>you’re not like any average of my friends from columbia, any students i worked with in classes or the many ways i was involved on campus. even the kids that liked columbia the least of my friends still had a great time ON campus at any number of parties, events, activities. even folks who had their suites destroyed in a nasty incident back when, who might above anyone have a reason to be down on columbia, love it. </p>
<p>don’t portend to be an everyman, when you’re not.</p>
<p>^^pbr, I’m trying to put the pieces together. Are you by any chance from Seattle? Because I think I might know your son. Feel free to use the private message option.</p>
<p>Admissionsgeek. I’m fine with Columbia and I don’t transfer because I have a good friend base. I find myself playing devil’s advocate to give another point of view, since almost everything that’s said on here sounds like an advertisement. I respect your cheery optimism and perspectives, but there’s no need to attack anyone for having differeny views, such as impying someone’s a loser. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t pretend to be an everyman either. I also won’t deny Columbia’s great opportunities for career development and social activities. There’s a great deal to do in the city when there’s a time. Perhaps it’s the friends I hang out with or your rosy perspective of the past, but the average student is not that gung-ho about the school. I understand that you think that Morningside Heights is an incredible college community, but I think most students don’t feel that way. </p>
<p>My advice for posters here is to take everything with a grain of salt, including what I say. It’s difficult to replicate the exact same college experience, so visit, get a diversity of sources, and take College Confiential posts with a bit of skepticism. I wouldn’t trust an anonymous poster, especially if the posts sound like Columbia brochures.</p>