<p>Dadaist, but unlike high school, you don't have to go there. . . . .so it's not really forced down your throat. </p>
<p>Nobody is forcing Columbia down your throat. . . .but to most people an acceptance to Columbia "wouldn't be hard to swallow"</p>
<p>I suppose it's a good thing you're not going there, isn't it?</p>
<p>Dadaist - forced down our throat? If you don't want the Core, don't come. Simple. But saying it blows?</p>
<p>The real virtue of the Core isn't just that you learn about the masterpieces of western achievement, but that everyone does. When you talk to other Columbians, you know for a fact that they know what you're talking about if you bring up things you learned in the Core. I very much doubt you could walk around the campuses of any of the other top schools and have everyone you speak to know about all these great books and ideas, etc.</p>
<p>Someone that stupid got likelies at Cornell and Dartmouth. . .</p>
<p>but not Columbia...</p>
<p>yeah, i guess an extra 4 classes is high school all over again. </p>
<p>Atleast they don't require swimming like they used to.</p>
<p>This is a random question, but...</p>
<p>Has a school ever rejected a person who they previously sent a likely letter to, assuming that the person doesn't kill anyone/do anything drastic?</p>
<p>Yeah, anyone who doesn't appreciate a core program that crowds out your other classes must be stupid . . . Notice how the major trend in this country is to drop large core requirements, or at least slim them down.</p>
<p>yes, and the trend in this country is absolutely one of increasing intelligence, erm</p>
<p>"yes, and the trend in this country is absolutely one of increasing intelligence, erm"</p>
<p>Bingo. ((applause)).</p>
<p>Dadaist - crowds out other classes? Not really. The core, including distribution requirements, makes up less than 1/4 of all classes one would take at Columbia. The trend may be to drop core requirements, but the trend is also for everyone to go to college. People are going to college not because they want an education but because they want a degree. If someone wants to take whatever they want and have no requirements, they can go to Brown. If someone wants to go to a school where everyone graduates knowing the complete foundation of Western thought (and having everyone else know that they know) then they can come to Columbia.</p>
<p>A core curriculum isn't intrinsically good or bad, it just depends on the individual. No need to get so upset about it.</p>
<p>i thought columbia didn't send these at all.. only maybe for athletes.</p>
<p>I do think this country is getting smarter on average, except that the smartest people are getting smarter faster and therefore everyone else seems less smart, just me.</p>
<p>Columbia sends likely letters, I think to engineering mostly or entirely.</p>
<p>People are getting more capable and informed, on average, but I'm hesitant to say "smarter."</p>
<p>I GOT ONE! from SEAS. im not an URM or athlete, guess I must be top quartile. that makes me feel better about my chances at stanford.</p>
<p>oh and the core? personally, i pride myself in being well rounded, so i dont mind having a well rounded education "forced down my throat." although i could live without shakespearean literature. what a waste of time that is.</p>
<p>Yeah, is it just random who gets likely letters, or are they in the top quartile or whatnot?</p>
<p>Well, first you'd have to define smarter. More capable I'd say would be a good definition of smarter. However, having a good conversation about something neat like philosophy with my peers in high school has always been generally difficult. So who knows?</p>
<p>Everyone I've talked to in SEAS this year received a likely letter. I doubt it's the upper quartile; in fact, I think it's just everyone they're going to accept. But to those who didn't get one, I don't think you should lose hope.</p>
<p>anonymous, you think Shakespeare is a waste of time?! Woah there! Why?</p>
<p>haha i was in columbia for the journalism thing too! go us journalism kids</p>
<p>i guess i think most literature is a waste of time. why are obscure literary symbols and such so important? i dont see a relevance to the rest of my life. i guess i just think like an engineer. =P</p>
<p>and about everyone receiving likely letters, i dont think its true. someone from my high school who graduated last year is attending SEAS, and she says she didnt receive one.</p>