What are classes like at Columbia?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>This is a question commonly asked, but rarely answered. Forgive me if I am asking too many questions, but I have done extensive research and have yet to encounter an answer.</p>

<p>In your opinion:</p>

<p>Can you describe a few of your favorite and least favorite classes, and why?
In those classes, how much work did your receive on various days?
In the end, how much did you work that semester and how much free time did you have?
What did you do with your free time?</p>

<h2>Also, after my visit to Columbia, I was in some kind of lecture hall listening to a woman speak. The acoustics were horrible and I couldn't hear a thing. Is this a common problem (It was the 2nd biggest lecture hall)</h2>

<p>Is there some sort of article or journal with this type of information in it?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>Bump Bump Bump Bump</p>

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<p>I wish someone would answer this too!!!</p>

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<p>Me too! Can anyone answer this please?</p>

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<p>You probably went to Havemeyer 309 (it’s the one with stadium seating with green blackboards)</p>

<p>that particular lecture hall does have ****ty acoustics and every professor who I have had teach a class in there used a mic.</p>

<p>Favorite classes (hours spent per week): Contemporary Civ (4) Political Economy (6) Intermediate Macroeconomics (2) Japanese Politics (1) University Writing (4) Chinese (6)
Comparative National Security Strategies of the Middle East (2)</p>

<p>Least favorite classes (hours spent per week): Chinese Foreign Policy (0-1) East Asian Civ (1) Statistics (3) Chemistry (0-1) Frontiers of Science (4)</p>

<p>There may be a weak correlation between how much I liked the class and how much work I did per week but that has more to do with how much work I was willing to invest as a result of how much I liked the class rather than a more work = more like relationship.</p>

<p>My favorite classes all taught me something that I felt could not be learned from a book or through self-study, which is why I actually showed up to class and cared about what I was learning. </p>

<p>When I first started at Columbia, I choose classes based on their reported difficulty and workload but now with the benefit of hindsight, I believe that was a mistake.</p>

<p>I’ll try to elaborate on these points and address your other questions in another post but I’m signing off for now.</p>

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<p>Somewhat related - I’m trying to plan my Fall schedule (first semester at CU), and am wondering if trying to take a 4000 level class wouldn’t be a great idea? Should I focus on 1000 and 2000 level classes for my first semester as a good intro? Or does it really just depend on the Professor?</p>

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<p>yeah this is exactly what I felt, as an Denzera an old poster put it, some classes are boring and some ‘open up new gears in your head’</p>

<p>I’ll do what Karot did:</p>

<p>Favorite: Intermediate Macro Econ (3) Intermediate Micro Econ (8) Industrial Economics in IEOR dept (4-5), Econ of Uncertainty and Information (0 weekly + few days before the final), Intro to Applied Stat (3-4), Contemp Civ (5), Uwriting (5-6), Econ of the Environment (3-4), intro to accounting and finance (3-4), Intro to stochastic models (4), P.E. squash (0), Art Humanities (2)</p>

<p>Least Favorite: Partial Differential Equations (5-6), Intro programming Java (4-12), The science of Psych (1), Gateway Lab (4-5)</p>

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<p>when I first started Columbia I chose classes that were interesting, but then with the benefit of hindsight I just chose easier classes in my later years. I wouldn’t have it any other way.</p>

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<p>i will provide my own gist and answer AMorrison’s question, i took a 4k class frosh year, and it was fine, but i was prepared for it, i think it depends who you are, and also whether or not you have the prereqs for it, regardless you can do shopping to figure that out. culpa is a life saver i’d say more for upper level classes than lower level because teacher turnover is so much higher for a 1k, 2k class than a 4k class.</p>

<p>Favorite: LitHum 2nd half (6), Art Hum (2), University Writing (4), Intermediate Macro Econ (3), Scientific Revolution (5), Modernism (6), Econ His of LatAm (3), Intro Catalan (4)</p>

<p>Least Favorite: this core class for hispanic studies (1), lat am civ (2), radical traditions with foner (5 - worst lecture course i took, best TA section though), intro stat b (3 - taught by a grad student who had trouble teaching)</p>

<p>Best classes always were with the best professors. Of the ones on my list, ironically enough some of the worst were with well-known professors, some of the best with grad students or young ttrack profs. Some were huge lectures, others small seminars. In general I only had 3 bad experiences at columbia, each is on this above list. The first because of extenuating circumstances, the second because of too high expectations, and the third because of just an unprepared instructor.</p>

<p>But 3 out of 40 aint bad, the rest were rich, fun, and continue to be sources of inspiration in grad work, and gave me a broad understanding of how things work with each other. I am a huge fan of profs at Columbia, I think that they are really talented teachers, and in the end it is why I post so much about it - to really hammer it in that you have dozens of reasons to apply to Columbia, but of the most relevant to it being an educational institution, you really have nothing to sweat, you’ll find far more amazing experiences than ‘eh’ ones. I actually wanted to list off more for favorites, but I thought it might make me seem lame and bookish.</p>

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<p>I think I’ve spent about five hours on CULPA so far, it’s such an awesome resource! I’m a transfer with Junior standing so I’m trying to balance out taking the classes that sound most interesting (3000 and 4000 level) and pacing myself knowing I’ve only got two years, instead of four, to take them. Thanks for your guidance, it’s very helpful.</p>

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<p>Yay! I’m excited to read the responses.
However, can anyone elaborate more on the work load?</p>

<p>Answer some of the OP’s other Q’s</p>

<p>“In those classes, how much work did your receive on various days?
In the end, how much did you work that semester and how much free time did you have?
What did you do with your free time?”</p>

<p>Also do you feel that the classes are extremely more challenging than any of the courses you took in HS? If not, can you compare it to one of your HS courses?
Lastly, how much harder is it to make the grades at Columbia that you did in high school?</p>

<p>Sorry for all the questions…</p>