<p>Well Columbia is not undergrad focused, they are known for their excellent grad schools. </p>
<p>The number one reason people go to Columbia for undergrad I think is for the city, and it's something they're very proud of. </p>
<p>The campus is nice, but very condensed. </p>
<p>In any case, I think the social scene there is very active. A lot of the clubs are very active and hosts fun events and parties all the time.</p>
<p>Why are there parents on this discussion forum? ok, whatever, i just find it wierd.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm currently a student at Barnard. As far as social life goes, Columbia students seek their fun off-campus. At least, those who know how to have real fun in the city, because going off-campus for fun does not mean going to the West End bar that is 3 blocks away. You won't find much of an on-campus social life because most students like to go downtown, away from the sterile, academic neighborhood of Morningside Heights. Besides, who wants to go to a frat party when you're living in Manhattan? (Actually, frats and sororities often get looked down upon precisely because they're so college-esque.) So if you're not into binge drinking or getting high, you're not alone. There's plenty to discover and explore in Manhattan, whether it's during the day or the night. The tough part is finding the time to go downtown. The courseload at Columbia and Barnard is very, very heavy. But then again, you can just avoid the heavy classes. But if you're serious about your education, then you'll have to master the art of time management.</p>
<p>And I know that someone before mentioned that most students like to do their own thing and don't need much nurturing, and I find that is very true with the students here. Nobody really cares about on-campus parties or events, unless it's very well publicized and for a good, liberal cause. ;) Most people find their niches very quickly during their first year here, so you'll find different groups of people doing a wide variety of things on the weekends. So if you're like me, and you hate the traditional college campus frat parties and the like, then you'll love it here as well as the students who go here because they appreciate and understand this. The city never sleeps, so take advantage of it.</p>
<p>I'm a current first-year at Columbia College and so far I've had a great experience, but, of course, I do have concerns that I feel like I should share with prospective matriculants.</p>
<p>The number one issue here is the sense of community. Honestly, there really isn't one here. The problem is New York City makes it difficult to foster some sense of campus unity because on the weekend people are running off in all different directions through the island of Manhattan. It's definitely awesome that we have the city at our disposal, but I can't help but feel a little jealous when I talk to friends at more campus-oriented schools and they speak of parties in dorms or frats or whatever. We really just don't have that here.</p>
<p>Not that I really mind. I have a pretty good group of friends and I have good times with them, but I think I may have been happier at a school where the social life centers more around the campus. I don't like that I'll look back on my college years and remember NYC instead of Alma Mater. That seems to be why alumni/ae giving is so low.</p>
<p>ALSO: Those who do decide to come here (and I do recommend it) when filling out your housing request form this summer, DO NOT PICK FURNALD. The website makes it look very good and it is indeed the "nicest" dorm, but it's also the least social. I've been here for months and months and I barely know anyone on my floor. Making friends the first few weeks was seriously an uphill battle. If I could do it over again, I'd pick either Carman or John Jay.</p>
<p>Thank you, Achilleus for that insightful advice, that's just what I was talking about a few posts before about the community. Personally I like the feeling feel very much, but it's probably because the schools that foster such a community feeling do not have a very appealing surrounding. I can't think of one university which is surrounded by NY-like city and still have a great community sense...</p>
<p>I'll definitely try to get into Carman (Or is it Carmen?), I don't like John Jay particularly because some of the rooms are way too small...at least the tour-guided ones.</p>
<p>IF you want a community Carman is the way to go for sure.</p>
<p>hey slipper</p>
<p>i dont know if you saw my post on the first page or not. how are you liking it as a grad student?</p>
<p>Achilleus, I was looking to Furnald because I wanted something quiet. I don't really care to know people on my floor as long as I have friends somewhere on campus. Is it really that bad? Can you not go hang out at Carman whenever you want? BTW how is it having Sophmores in your hall? Are they helpful at all when it comes to some of your classes?</p>
<p>I'm really want to get Furnald also bc I am extremly turned off by the thought of sharing my room with someone.</p>
<p>Furnald has doubles too. I am thinking I might apply for a double. BTW, Columbia has the new year room apps online now here: <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/reshalls/firstyr/%5B/url%5D">http://www.columbia.edu/cu/reshalls/firstyr/</a></p>
<p>I don't know if we are supposed to be able to go there already though.</p>
<p>Smithk--if you really want a single, the way to go is John Jay, which is almost entirely singles. </p>
<p>With apologies to the poster who doesn't think parents shouldn't post here (though it's not labeled student-only), I can tell you that JJ is working out great for my son, who loves his single and also loves the extreme sociability of his floor.</p>
<p>If only Carmen and Furnald have air conditioning, then isn't everyone else freezing in their dorms when it snows??</p>
<p>BTW, im from south florida</p>
<p>This is probably also a dumb question, but who cleans the bathrooms?, and how often? Does it depend on if you're in a suite or on a floor with two bathrooms?</p>
<p>Air conditioning = cold, heat = hot. All the dorms have heat, never fear.</p>
<p>I STILL have no idea which one to choose, John Jay or Carman.</p>
<p>I think I am still going with Furnald. I don't think I will mind not knowing people on my floor. I just can't decide on a single or double. Anyone want to room with me?</p>
<p>i still want furnald also......a couple of people got into Columbia from my school, so if i dont make friends on my floor, i wil have friends elsewhere.</p>
<p>Ok, as a current Furnald resident I think I'm most qualified to discuss it's various merits and downfalls.</p>
<p>Pros:
Furnald is beautiful. If you've been on the tour and seen the building you know that our first floor reception lounge is absolutely gorgeous, bar-none best on campus. The halls are clean, the rooms are clean, no bugs, no rodents, no weird smells, nada. It's quiet, which means I can study in my room instead of having to go to the library like many others complain of having to do. There is a lounge with a kitchen on every floor and, since there are only 20 or so people per floor, there isn't much competition to use the area, except perhaps weekend nights.</p>
<p>Cons: Meeting people at the beginning of the year was tough as hell. Not for nothing, but I'm a good looking, fun and social guy who has always been pretty popular, so I didn't expect to have much trouble making friends. I made friends, but I felt at the beginning that I really had to sell myself to complete strangers to do it. I have very few friendships which seem serendipitous, which is a shame. The problem is that because half the residents of the floors are sophomores (who already know as many people as they would like to, in most cases, or are weirdos who WANT to be all alone) you are only exposed to about 10 other first years in an intimate setting. For the first couple weeks, most people are hanging out with people on their floor only, because nobody knows anyone from classes or clubs yet. As time goes on, everyone branches out, but if you're a really social person now you're going to have a tough time for the first few weeks in Furnald. I was so miserable at times that I contemplated transferring because I couldn't believe I had basically no friends when everyone else seemed to have tons. It wouldn't be an uncommon sight to see half an entire Carman floor (like 20 people) going out to bars together the first week acting like they were all old friends. It's a tough thing to see when you really have no one.</p>
<p>At this stage in the year, halfway through 2nd semester, I have lots of friends (only 1 in Furnald - not on my floor) and I also have a nice single overlooking Broadway. Still, if I could do it all over again, I would go for Carman or John Jay. That's my advice, take it or leave it.</p>
<p>To address some independent concerns:
Synthetic Angel: The sophomores in Furnald aren't really concerned with the freshmen. I suppose you could ask them about classes and stuff, but I tend to ask other older people that I know. I can't emphasize enough that I don't really know people on my floor and that most on the floor don't know one another, except a few sophomores who knew each other last year as well. With respect to hanging out in Carman, of course you CAN go, but you need to have good friends there. It would be a bit silly to just waltz into the place to "hang out" if you didn't live there, but nothing is stopping one from doing that.</p>
<p>EDAcceptee_CC: I know Furnald bathrooms are cleaned by maintenance, because there are only 2 bathrooms on the whole floor (1 M, 1 F). I believe suites in Carman are responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms, but, from what I've seen, nobody does.</p>
<p>SmithK: Don't bank on being friends here with people you knew in high school. Especially don't bet on being able to just hang out with them instead of finding your own friends.</p>
<p>Ok, I requested John Jay single as number 1 and Carman coed as number 2. . . </p>
<p>Any advice on the meal plan???</p>
<p>did u turn in your room form yet?</p>
<p>yeah, and now I'm supposed to fill out a meal plan form</p>
<p>I'll room with you SA. Just don't have the techno up too loud.</p>