<p>Are there any current students with experiences with this? I just recently discovered this. Are these open to undergraduates? Is it a formal thing, where you have to sign up/register? Do graduate students get preference? Can you go to any event regardless of your major? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Yep, they're open to all of the Columbia schools and majors with no preferences given to specific schools or majors. You do have to sign up with a uni but that's usually as far as it goes in terms of formality. The only other thing I can think of is to just wear something presentable when you go, maybe a notch below business casual.</p>
<p>^correct. i went to one once before...it was great. One of the best things about columbia has been the chance to see famous people speak/lecture/sing.</p>
<p>wow thanks for the replies, this sounds great.
now are these generally large/held in hall-type rooms with 100+ people? or are these sessions smaller, where you get a chance to ask questions to the guest?</p>
<p>^i've been to several, some (usually heads of state) are held in the auditorium which seats like 1500, don't expect to ask questions at all, others are in smaller rooms with 100 to a few hundred, these might not be heads of state but heads of large international organizations, and you might get a chance to ask questions. think of it this way, the more personal attention you get the less likely you are to get the spot in the first place. even if you can't fit in your question, others, usually grad students and professors have great, specific and sometimes confrontational questions, that ends up being pretty educational. Half the questions are good, the other half will motivate you to go ask yours.</p>
<p>Overall keep an eye out for the registrations times, if you miss the times you'll miss most of the spots, if you register exactly at the start of registration you should get everything, but don't be a doushe and click on everything without going, i'll hunt you down and kick your a$$.</p>