<p>I know it's summer but I happen to find myself in NY on Thursday, so if I'm there anyway, why not visit Columbia?
Since its one of my top choices, I already visited, took a tour and info session in the spring.
Now I just want to determine if Columbia is the right fit for me. How then can I maximize this upcoming visit?</p>
<p>Check out fitness center, grab a bite to eat at one of the on campus places, see if it’s possible to check out a dorm, meet with an alum, read a chapter of a book in the library, and listen to student’s conversations as they pass. Mind chancing me for Columbia? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1528524-columbia-chances.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1528524-columbia-chances.html</a>
Good luck!</p>
<p>Okay, you won’t be able to get in to most of the above listed buildings because you need swipe access (read: unless you know a student who can sign you in, you can’t get in). That being said, walk around Morningside Heights. Check out BookCulture (either the one midway down the block on 112th, which is where most students buy textbooks, or the more commercial one on 114th where we’d buy novels if we had time to read them), buy some Westside cookies, get a bagel at Absolute, wander through Riverside and Morningside parks. If it’s nice, grab a book and sit on Low Steps for a while (cliche, I know, but if you want to people watch or listen to conversations, that’s the place to be). Further advice: if you want to get a sense for the student body, read Bwog, The Blue & White, and various Spectator columns. The campus has a pretty distinct sense of humor that I personally appreciate, but it’s not for everyone. Finally: avoid Uni Cafe like the plague.</p>
<p>I realize I’m a day late to this post, but if you are in the area in the future prior to matriculating, or anyone else that comes across this, you can use this advice.</p>
<p>Actually everything @mrduckyfeet said is impossible without special request for access, which I’ve never done but are usually difficult to get (I believe the only one you can get as a visitor is Butler access, which is actually definitely worth the effort. You can get it at Butler on the room to the left as you walk in). However, what you should know is that the buildings where classes take place are open usually from 9am-9pm every day, requires no special access, and classes are in session essentially five days a week all year. You should google: “columbia college bulletin”, search for a class you’re interested in, and find the classroom and time that it takes place. If you can’t find it there, try “columbia college directory of classes”. It has a much worse GUI but usually is more accurate. I would recommend doing this only for a class size that is over 50. Go to an introductory-level lecture for a topic you are interested in studying where you can sit in, understand what the professor is talking about, and not turn heads, so you can leave whenever you want.</p>