<p>I just want to clear the air of what i've been reading by supposed students on college review sites. Some said that the staff at Columbia is very standoffish, they don't offer tutoring, and the administration is terrible. There was also bits about the school being overrated and people cheating. From any current students is that true? I really had my hopes up for Columbia and I don't want this to dampen it. I'm going to visit for myself but I still won't fully know what it's like. Thanks very much.</p>
<p><em>bumps</em> this thread</p>
<p>Every school has bad things about it. Columbia is an excellent school, and, like any other, is not perfect. If you have your sights set on Columbia, I would definitely apply.</p>
<p>Yeah, good point. I can’t expect it to be perfect without any flaws. I’m still going to apply.</p>
<p>Search this forum for posts my “admissionsgeek”. He does a very good job of acknowledging and responding to the criticisms of Columbia’s administration/bureaucracy. As a first-year student, I can tell you that the administration really doesn’t hold your hand, and advising is mediocre, but there is tons of peer tutoring available. Honestly, there is an incredible amount of resources available (from peers and even from the administration); you just have to know what they are and how to take advantage of them. If you want a school that’s going to guide you through college life, Columbia is probably not the place, but if you’re fairly independent, you’ll probably do fine. That said, you may prefer an administration with a more…“hands-on” approach to student life.</p>
<p>^I agree that admissionsgeek’s posts are tremendously helpful. Based on my Columbia son’s experience, however, I would bifurcate the administrative experience (e.g., misplacing a mail item) from the advising experience. My son has gotten extremely helpful academic advice, althouth his mail service is somewhat lacking.</p>
<p>I’ll be sure to check his posts. I’m fairly independent with my studies and in my work, but my concern was just if at the beginning of the year would they tell you where to find all these resources or would you have to network with the site and just ask about it on your own.</p>
<p>there is no “handholding” at this school – it is Ivy League, after all.</p>
<p>I know ^^ just some of them do that like dartmouth, which is more undergrad friendly; but I love Columbia and the core.</p>
<p>Columbia’s bureaucracy is hilariously bad. Financial aid doesn’t talk to the billing/tuition department, maintenance can take forever, etc. That said, the faculty is almost universally willing ti talk to you and very helpful, but there are definitely flaws in nonacademic employment.</p>
<p>@Karbin
So, when it comes to the financial part and advising it’s very bad as in you have to really go out of your way and take charge to get what you want. Maintenance as in dorm life or if something needs to be fixed?</p>