<p>^What UCBalumnus said, which is why I said you need to make sure you don’t drop below full-time. That’s why the “shopping” period is usually the first 2-3 weeks before the add deadline - I wouldn’t recommend a student to take an overload and then drop before the W deadline, not the least because you would also have to pay for at least part of that class.</p>
<p>Also, I want to address this:</p>
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<p>OP asked what universities were either “very well-rounded” OR “very flexible in its course/major selection and allows the student to really explore what he wants to do.” Columbia, even with the Core, is both of those things. The Core is nothing if not well-rounded, first of all. Second of all, when looked at on its face, Columbia’s Core isn’t that much more onerous than the divisional and gen ed requirements at most other schools. For example, I compared the Core to my own undergrad college’s gen ed and divisional requirements and they’re only different by about two classes. It’s just that Columbia gives you a little less choice with some of them (like Lit Hum and CC), but the point is that every Columbian - going back to the early 20th century - has a unified Core experience.</p>
<p>Anyway, my third point is that the Core by no means interferes with a student’s flexibility in selecting a major. Much like college students anywhere else, Columbia College students try on different majors - often well into their sophomore year - and switch majors when they want.</p>