<p>everyone on here is mainly concerned with chances of getting in. my question is what are the chances of staying in/failing out. My friend who went there told me that it is indeed one of the toughest schools to get into unlike a big state U, however it seems that it is more difficult to actually stay in the state school whereas once youre attending CU, it is more of a breeze... this true? of course theres subjective factors such as partying and commitment levels at the state schools, but as far as curriculum/ faculty at CU are concerned would this be a fair assessment?</p>
<p>anyone who gets in has the capability to get out. you will never be totally out of your depth, unless you're a recruited athlete.</p>
<p>that said, it's by no means a breeze. very smart people are competing to get the A's in a class, and you have to not just meet but exceed their level of commitment and ability to get 'em yourself. the administration will give you second chances but you have to earn and deserve those too... incompletes are hard to come by.</p>
<p>some classes are easier than others and some are harder, but nobody gets out without having to take a few ball-busters, of which there are many. it's certainly a more academically rigorous school than some of its peers - the core is proof of that, as it represents the university's commitment to the undergraduate curriculum.</p>
<p>You need an A++ to get in and only a C-- to get out at first.</p>
<p>There are some people that push themselves to either extremes.
There are some PhD candidates or less, some of them terminal cases that have not showered for days, so they will not have to lose their focus studying.
Some geniuses, others mini Einstein bagels with a big hole in the middle.</p>
<p>There are some other students though that have immolated their academic success to the notoriously great NY club scene, kicking the grade bucket with both feet.</p>
<p>uh... what?</p>
<p>I can't tell if you're an alum or not - a previous post says you don't live in NYC, and you refer to the "Broadway Avenue bus" - but that seems like a rather oversimplified and misleading POV. What's your basis for that?</p>
<p>The number of fellow students I knew who could AFFORD to "immolate [in] the notoriously great NY club scene" was very very small. Even most of the rich ones were pretty serious about their studies, even if they had wilder hobbies.</p>
<p>If you enjoy your major and do the work, there's no reason why you should have less than a 3.3 gpa. The only gal I know to have fallen behind was because she was actually so involved in other academic achievements that she let her schoolwork suffer. I'd say thats really the only danger.</p>
<p>^i disagree, sometimes the major makes a big difference. I can see people in seas with lower grades because they curve classes worse than CC, i know several classes curve to like B-s. I can also see people taking difficult science majors or even econ and liking it, but genuinely finding it difficult and not doing a stellar job.</p>
<p>Well, the ones I knew definitely could AFFORD wild partying!
Many of the rich little "poor" kids don't like to boast about their megabuck inheritance, some they are even ashamed of it, but they spend it nevertheless.
Private all night Columbia parties with a delicious international flavor and top quality belly-dancers have their cost, monetary and academic, but some students could AFFORD them.
They could AFFORD PLENTY of these PARTIES. </p>
<p>Candles that burned twice as bright and twice as long.</p>
<p>You are right though that even the wildest Columbia graduates eventually they have to get pretty serious about their studies.
How did they graduate from Columbia after all?
A school of intransigent excellency.</p>
<p>Top quality belly dancers?</p>
<p>it's very hard to fail but it is also hard to do well. i got to know alot of people who were not exactly serious about their school work but they all graduated (on time or otherwise) without exception. it is typically difficult to get an A in most classes but it is easy to get a C and at the end of the day those who get A's and those who get C's all get a degree. i think the hardest step really is getting in...once you're in it isn't hard to walk away with a degree.</p>
<p>But what good is an Columbia degree with a mediocre GPA?</p>
<p>man I tell u, ya gotta love those belly dancing galas- especially when theyre the "top quality" ones.... wait didnt they shut down "plato's retreat" in the 80's?</p>
<p>^^HAHA.</p>
<p>Yeah I agree with Shraf--although I'm going to say it's pretty tough to get a C unless you really screw up. It's easy enough to let your grade drop from an A to a B, though--slacking off during finals and all that.</p>
<p>obviously every prof is diff but is most of the grading based on mid terms and finals or do alot of classes require weekly papers?</p>
<p>"it's pretty tough to get a C unless you really screw up"</p>
<p>in seas it's quite possible to get a C even after trying a fair amount. In the college you have to try to get a C, doing the minimum level of work will get you a B- (except for econ).</p>
<p>conf. is generally correct.
The profs in most depts. are a great lot.
Nice people, the best.
They try to help a future alum when it's possible.
Their line of thinking is that with a little help the emotional/maturity I.Q. of an under-performing freshman student will eventual grow to an acceptable level.</p>
<p>"alot of classes require weekly papers?"</p>
<p>Very few do, in my experience. If weekly papers are required, writeups aren't usually more than a couple of pages, which is nothing. Plus, they're easier to do well in and that takes the pressure off doing well on midterms/finals.</p>
<p>In general, though, most of the emphasis is on the midterm(s) and final. Finals are usually about 35-40%, and midterms a little bit less. the remainder is left for papers, class participation, etc.</p>