Columbia University in the City of New York
About
Columbia University, an Ivy League institution situated in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, is renowned for its world-class research facilities and seamless integration with the professional and cultural ecosystem of New York City. Undergraduates in Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science excel in top-ranked programs spanning economics, political science, biomedical engineering, and journalism. Student life is intellectually rigorous, politically engaged, and fast-paced, offering a classic enclosed-campus environment set directly within a bustling global metropolis. The university is uniquely defined by its historic stewardship of the Pulitzer Prizes and its signature Core Curriculum, a century-old sequence of small, discussion-based seminars on foundational texts in literature, philosophy, and science.
Wikipedia:Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a private Ivy League research university in New York City, United States. Established in 1754 as King's College by royal charter under George II of Great Britain on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan, it is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States.
Location
Cost & aid
Outcomes
Admissions
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Essay prompts
List the titles of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.
100 words maxTell us about an aspect of your life so far or your lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia's multidimensional and collaborative environment.
150 words maxAt Columbia, students representing a wide range of perspectives are invited to live and learn together. In such a community, questions and debates naturally arise. Please describe a time when you did not agree with someone and discuss how you engaged with them and what you took away from the interaction.
150 words maxIn college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not anticipate. Please describe a situation in which you have navigated through adversity and discuss how you changed as a result.
150 words maxWhy are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia.
150 words maxWhat attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering?
150 words max
Quoted from Columbia University in the City of New York's own page. The application itself is the final word.
The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.
Student Body
Varsity sports
- ArcheryWomen's
- BaseballMen's
- BasketballMen's · Women's
- FencingMen's · Women's
- Field HockeyWomen's
- FootballMen's
- GolfMen's · Women's
- LacrosseWomen's
- Other SportsMen's
- RowingMen's · Women's
- SoccerMen's · Women's
- SoftballWomen's
- SquashMen's · Women's
- Swimming and Diving (combined)Men's · Women's
- TennisMen's · Women's
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)Men's · Women's
- VolleyballWomen's
- WrestlingMen's
Programs & Earnings
Institutional
Wondering if Columbia University in the City of New York is the right fit for you?
SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.