For those of you that have visited Columbia...

<p>Is Columbia in Harlem...or is it situated around Harlem? I was wodnering of the exact location of Columbia in relation to Harlem! Any help/input on this will be great! Thank you</p>

<p>Columbia is in a neighborhood called "Morningside Heights," which borders on Harlem. All along Broadway are shops, bookstores, cafes, bars, and restaurants frequented by the university's many undergrads and grad students. The area is happening and lots of fun. <a href="http://www.morningside-heights.net/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.morningside-heights.net/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If you walk south from Columbia, you walk through blocks and blocks of neighborhoods like Aparent5 describes. North is similar for quite a while, too; when we visited S for Parents Weekend, we went up Amsterdam Ave. to a great Italian restaurant. I haven't been far to the east, but apparently you'll run into Morningside park; Harlem is on the other side of that. To th west a couple blocks, you come to Riverside Park (absolutely beautiful) and the Hudson River. I'm just starting to get to know the whole area, and I've already become a huge fan of it.</p>

<p>Thank you for that info! I was a bit confused because I've always heard that it was in Harlem! But then when the addy said Morning Heights I didn't know whether that was in Harlem or not!! So i'm guessing Morning Heights is within Harlem right?</p>

<p>No, Morningside Heights is west of Harlem.</p>

<p>Oooh ok...because im trying to integrate the whole thing bout Columbia being in Harlem, and how harlem has developed etc..is that such a good idea?</p>

<p>You mean in your essay? I'd be careful about that, since you don't really know the area that well(and Columbia isn't in Harlem...)</p>

<p>Yea...thats truee! maybe i shouldnt do that! ahh..! Its soo annoying the fact that they give us 8 lines with only 50 charcters ine ahc line 2 explain why we want to go there! ahh</p>

<p>The key idea (from an essay standpoint) is that Columbia is near Harlem but not in it. I'd second the suggestion for caution about using geographic specifics unless you know what you are talking about - you might give the impression you are struggling to find something good to write about, and just made something up. Good luck!</p>

<p>that "why Columbia?" space sure is tiny. There's just not much you can do with it, especially in terms of being original. My son just basically said The Core-NYC-the Core-NYC a lot, because, reallstically, how many people are going to be choosing Columbia for any other reasons? These were his, and he just figured he'd be upfront about it, since there was so little space to be creative.</p>

<p>One main reason for the Why Columbia space is to determine if you have taken the time to really get to know the school, so mentioning anything that details the school - the core, its political science department, its location in morningside heights - is appropriate.</p>

<p>The difference in neighborhoods (like everything in NYC) is a matter of blocks. So, yes technically columbia is not in harlem but harlem is literally five blocks away. However, it doesnt matter much since the campus is pretty separate from the street and they have security.. but i wouldnt wander around after midnight or anything.</p>