<p>So guys why columbia? What do you like about Columbia that attracts you to Columbia? Why did you choose this school over other great schools like Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, etc.?</p>
<p>simple enough, nyc</p>
<p>This is like the second or third time you've posted this question....</p>
<p>I feel that Columbia offers a richer college experience than the other Ivies. There is so much about Columbia that people don't know. One thing that I like about Columbia in particular is the campus. It's size is perfect -- large, open spaces abound while all of the high-profile researchers and first year students share the same buildings and come in contact with each other. Morningside Heights has the dual advantage of being in Manhattan and being secluded at the same time. Over half of the faculty live right right across the street in the neighborhood. And when it comes to faculty eminence, Columbia's faculty receives more money from their patants than those of all other universities in the world, and in the last decade, Columbia's faculty won more Nobel prizes than those of any university in the world.</p>
<p>Hmmm, my "Why Columbia" response would, of course, include the CORE. I 'm a Physics freak,but I love Humanities. Columbia offers that balance between the liberal arts and abstract Science. And if you didn't know, Columbia's Physics department is legendary. Enrico Fermi? Brian Greene? </p>
<p>Plus Peter Parker, aka Spiderman, supposedly attended Columbia in the movie. :D</p>
<p>If you're planning on majoring in philosophy, psychology, or even anything remotely related...mention John Dewey. That HAS to score points with the adcom (j/k). For those not already in the know, John Dewey is one of the biggest names in a field of philosophy called pragmatism. He more or less developed this field after earlier pioneering work was done by William James (Harvard) and Charles Peirce.</p>
<p>and for physics people, brian greene I guess (if any physics students dont know that name they need to get on google now!)</p>
<p>for history ppl alan brinkley</p>
<p>For history people again, Eric Foner. That guy is HUGE in the field. For political science folks, Robert Jervis is currently on Columbia's faculty and he's absolutely brilliant. Kenneth Waltz, the biggest name EVER in the field of international relations, received his PhD at Columbia and taught there for a few years before taking a tenured position at Berkeley.</p>
<p>I visited other schools and I didn't see anyone that was EXCITED about the program. Columbia was the only place I visited where they actually told me WHY I should go to Columbia, instead of just talking about how amazing the name is. I was excited when I heard about Columbia and read about their classes, and I felt like it was a place where I could be challenged and never be bored.</p>
<p>i'm really into physics and i always wondered if ppl like Brian Greene actually teach the classes, and talk to students and such.</p>
<p>Anyway...I guess I'll post...</p>
<p>Brian Greene, Eric Foner, campus (architecture, study rooms inside Butler, awesome size, great how you can step out of dorm and basically be in the middle of campus in no time, the 1/9 right next to the campus), the core (specifically lit hum and contemp civ), classes like professor jackson's history of new york, The Fed, Uptown Local, the fact that an opportunity to volunteer at afterschool programs like YMCAHarlem is really close, the fact that NYC = thousands of opportunities for anything (fun, work, internships, etc)</p>
<p>Columbia University is just an intellectual mecca. It's clearly the intellectual hub of New York City and I think it very well could be the most vibrant, culturally diverse, and intellectually stimulating campus in the country. What an amazing place to study, research, learn, and grow.</p>
<p>Greene actually teaches an elective that undergrads can and do take (I think it graduate level based on the course number). I've heard he is very approachable, too.</p>
<p>any other big names for psychology? :D</p>
<p>We visited Columbia yesterday and the admissions rep said there are two reasons one should NOT give on their "Why COlumbia" essay -
1. because it's in NYC - she said, then you should consider a university in Washiongton Square
2. because I want an Ivy League education - she said, the Ivy League is an athletic conference and the 8 schools have little else in common</p>
<p>At Columbia they have this really great system where you have to take these certain courses, and it is a great thing because it really adds to the whole liberal arts education, because at another ivy (ahem... Brown) there are no core requirements and therefore you don't necessarily get the whole liberal arts education. So talk about how these requirements for your freshman and sophomore years really interest YOU.</p>
<p>spikemom: how rigid is that first rule, do you know?</p>
<p>if you're going to apply to Columbia because it's in NYC, why not save yourself the grief and apply to CUNY Medgar Evers, they accept 100% -
come on, I'm just telling you what she told us in the info session, but the NYC thing must be pretty old to them at this point....</p>
<p>spikemom were you at an info session on thursday at around 10 oclock at low library? i was there too, she was very informative</p>