<p>I am thinking of applying early but wanted to know a few things.</p>
<li><p>Are there plenty of oppurtunities for undergrads to assist in faculty research? How about over the summer?</p></li>
<li><p>How distinct of a community is the Fu Foundation from Columbia College? Are they all housed in the same buildings? I’ve visited the campus, but wasn’t sure. Do students at the SEAS feel like they’re at a Liberal Arts College or does it feel like an engineering school after you get the core cirriculum out of the way?</p></li>
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<li>Yes, definitely as an upperclassman. It will be hard for you to get into a lab as a freshman, since you don't know that much (but if you have previous experience, it will help a ton). No matter what, you have to assert yourself if you want to do research. You have to make an effort to email / drop by professors and tell them that you're hard working and interested in their research. There are plenty of opportunities out there, but you just have to be proactive (no prof will randomly call you up and ask you to work in his lab).</li>
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<p>Summer is harder, because you'll presumably want to get paid (or at least get enough money to pay for housing). A prof isn't likely to waste funding on a new person, but may pay you something if you're already working for him.</p>
<p>However, there's a formal program called SURF through the Bio department. You get like $3000 and get matched up with a prof for the summer.</p>
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<li>You're in the same dorms. You'll be in classes with CC people until you start taking engineering courses your junior year.</li>
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<p>Most of the SEAS students that are in Calc I are just as bright as everyone else but came from underpriveleged schools. Columbia sees through that in the admissions process.</p>
<p>That's a pretty snobby thing to say. I was a Cornell engineer and some of the smartest people I know didn't take calculus in high school. They are now at Caltech, MIT, and other great schools for graduate school. You'll realize that although strong high school prep is important and it certainly helps, the main factors that determine success are natural intelligence and diligence.</p>
<p>I knew plenty of underprivileged kids who got out of Calc 1. Most high schools teach calculus these days. The kids who did take Calc 1 generally did take calculus in high school and didn't do well enough on the AP (or didn't take it).</p>