<p>This is from my boyfriend using my username:</p>
<p>I've applied as a transfer to Columbia for fall '05. I'm a freshman at Lehigh; I got a 4.0GPA in my first semester in a decent range of subjects, and my teacher recs should be good. However, I don't think my essay really had a "hook". I got a 1450 in my SAT II's and 700's-790's in my three SAT II's. I didn't have a lot of extracurrics in high school but I made Director of a club in my second semester at Lehigh. Oh, and I'm English, if that could help (?). Any info from people who transferred to Columbia, go to Columbia or just got into Columbia would be a great help. Thanks!</p>
<p>Oh, and I'm looking into architecture, business/marketing (I know there's no business school but there is finance/econ, as well as internships), bio... Thanks!</p>
<p>I got into Columbia. When I visited, I probably just met the wrong people, but the people I met who are going there for sure and the people who were my hosts/currently attending seemed superficial. The Contemp. Civ. class i attended was not that interesting. This is not representative of all classes and could have been the professor. However, that did not give me the best impression. </p>
<p>On the plus side, I really am a fan of the core curriculum, giving you a great liberal arts education. Campus is really nice, especially sitting on Low Steps looking over at Butler at night. NYC is pretty safe in that area.. and it IS NYC. My friend who goes there calls it a "castle" and absolutely loves it (he's in SEAS).</p>
<p>Good luck. Of course I can't accurately judge your chances. You are not a shoo in, from what I see, but not an automatic rejection either. Admissions is pretty fickle... Columbia is a really great school, and I would probably love it there if I went (I adapt fairly easily), but I'll never know, I guess =(.</p>
<p>Make sure you show passion in your applications, that's my advice.</p>
<p>Come to Penn. Wharton, pretty good bio, idk about architecture... (Yes, I'm going to Penn.)</p>
<p>Is Penn Wharton the same as UPenn? And what does SEAS mean? My boyfriend was considering UPenn but heard the frat/drinking scene was pretty much the same as Lehigh. And I've also heard a lot of people there are stuck-up. But what do I know, I don't care there?! But UPenn would be on the cards if Columbia didn't work out for him I think.</p>
<p>Well, within UPenn there are 4 schools: Wharton, SEAS (=engineering), College, and Nursing. Collectively, they make up UPenn. </p>
<p>At any college I think you can drink or not drink.. it's up to you. Penn is pretty big, you can really do anything, you're not pressured to party all the time or anything. People in all of the ivies can get stuck up, lol.</p>