Are there a lot of parties? Do people generally go to bars to drink or to parties? I’m considering applying to Columbia early decision and am a little concerned that the social scene is nonexistent and is something you have to source outside of the Columbia campus (NYC bars, clubs, etc.) rather than through social events and parties on campus. Can anyone tell about their experience? Thanks!
w/r/t parties, there are a fair amount, certainly enough to keep you occupied if you want to go out and party every weekend. MY experience is that I never go to parties, because I don’t like them, but I certainly know people who go to parties every weekend, both in NYC at large and on campus, and they both do pretty well for themselves. There are also a fair amount of bars near campus that people go to. So I would say the things you’re worried about are probably fine.
There’s definitely an on-campus social scene. People hang out with their friends in different venues, most of which are on campus or nearby, i.e. the bars. It’s quite concentrated in the Morningside Heights area.
There’s probably less venturing to downtown bars mostly because they’re less lenient about fakes and it’s more effort than 1020.