<p>Okay...so one of the main reasons I applied to Columbia was because of the core....I want a liberal education. However, it's also one of my reservations. I've read that the core takes about 50% of all the classes a student will take at Columbia which...well, it seems like a lot. Has anyone ever experienced something like you want to take a really interesting class, but oh wait, you've got to fulfill the core requirements, so you can't take that class? Do any of you know of anyone who somewhat regretted going to Columbia because of the core, because they felt like they didn't have enough freedom to choose?
How much (percentage-wise) do the classes for a major take up?
How much time do you guys spend studying? Do you feel like you have enough time (outside studying) to do most things you want?
Sorry if it sounds like I've just rambled along....I'm trying to get a better feel for the school.
Thanks.</p>
<p>Tbone</p>
<p>The core is, ideally, supposed to take up a third of your classes at Columbia--they draw you a nice pie chart at orientation or on the tour or something: one third core, one third major, one third electives/double major/concentrations/other. Core will take up less if you test out of foriegn language or are a science major and the science requirements are fulfilled without having to go out of your way.</p>
<p>I haven't met anyone who's had to sacrifice a class they really like for a core class, because most have a decent amount of flexibility in their schedule--it is very rare, I think, to find someone who has all four years filled to the brim and without any wiggle room; some majors are tighter than others, but, of my friends at least, there's room for electives and "fun" classes. I have a friend, however, who can't find time to study abroad with pre-med requirements. I have another who decided on a double major late in the game and had to sacrifice study abroad to do so. Now obviously a semester abroad is much bigger and more wieldy than one interesting class here and there.</p>
<p>There are a lot who jokingly say they wish they'd gone to Brown when CC or Frontiers has got them down, but it's more disliking your professor or the assignment than because it takes up too much time.</p>
<p>Oh, and about free time, I'm sure when I say that there will be time to do fun stuff and clubs/groups and such, someone will chime in with, "Well, it depends on your major; certain engineering majors barely have time to get dressed in the morning not to mention join a club," which may well be true enough, so the answer to that one, I suppose, is that it depends on your major and how much studying you choose to do for it. If I had to put a number on it, I'd say 4-5 hours a day of outside of class work on weekdays and weekends vary--some are working weekends, some I'll take a day or even two completely off. That time could easily be used for clubs, work-study jobs, etc (PS if you get the right work-study job, you can do homework while working).</p>
<p>Which type of work study would this be?</p>
<p>If there is a class that counts as a core class (symbolic logic) would it also count toward a major?</p>
<p>depends on what your major advisor thinks. generally, those classes only count, as a major is concerned, as a "nontech elective".</p>