What is it like to go to school at Columbia University?
552131
My best friend went there and she said that it was a great experience. The first thing she told me when she got there was that the campus was beautiful and nicely landscaped. She had said that it was exactly what she had expected it to be. That the professors were extremely helpful when came to asking questions and getting answers. The classes were easy choose from based on what your major was and the professors were very knowledgeable about the courses. When she graduated she told me that if she had to do it again, she said definately without a doubt. She would recommend this school to anyone who had the desire to go there.
96252
It's an Ivy League school. It's very highly selective, and the people that go there are all very intelligent. They have some wonderful, world-renowned professors, too. \nPlus, it's expensive.
780590
It's hard to say, they are different on various levels and will depend on some of your personal preferences. For example, NYU is in the middle of a huge city.  USC is in a big city, but it has a much more campus-like feel. Whether those things matter to you will influence which one you might prefer.\n\nRegarding academics, again, it depends on the field that may be of interest to you. For example, USC has a very strong communication program. But NYU is better in other areas (e.g. more traditional fields like economics).\n\nIf sports is a big deal to you then USC may be more exciting as it has some serious sports programs while NYU is not huge on that.\n\nI highly recommend visiting both schools to get a feel for how you enjoy the local environment. You should try to meet with some students, possibly stay in dorms to get as good a feel as possible for what it would be like to live and go to school there.
197676
NYU has a nation fame associated with it.  It is a good college, but it will cost you (unless you have a lot of scholarships).  It is one of the most diverse campuses since NYC is the most diverse city in the world.\n\nYou will have to live in a major metropolis too, so that could be a good or bad thing.  Your class sizes will be HUGE to start with, and should get smaller as you define your major.
319363
nice, i went to Penn State University.\n\nBest time of my life!!!\n\nhave fun and don't skip class too much!!!  i'm sure it's tempting with those beaches and surfing!
656452
I believe that Columbia University in NYC has a very strong teaching graduate program. They are Ivy league. NYU also has a very strong program.
434179
It can be.  Depends what you are looking for.  Some want big city, small city, suburban, small town, etc.  \nNYU does not have that much of a campus feel because it is smack in the middle of the city, and students live all over the place, with even some dorms miles from the main campus area.  \nBut, if you want to be in the big city, especially if you want to study the arts or business, it could be the place for you.\nI find that people appreciate grad school there more than undergrad.
893435
Well it wasn't hard for me though the college is supposedly really selective. Just make sure your sat or act scores along with your gpa if you still in high school looks good before you apply.  I'm a freshman and I disagree with what the person above me posted. The school is far from boring. Maybe his cousin attends one of the remote colleges of SCAD. I'm at the main campus and I've never heard anyone say anything negative about the school. You should really look into SCAD. I recommend taking a tour.
557566
A top (if not THE top) journalism school: University of Missouri-Colombia\n\n\nGo to collegeboard.com to get information on averages at every  university or college. \nAs far as recommendations on other schools to consider: it depends on what field you want to go to? And do you want to go to an Ivy League school, a private school, or a state school? Ivy League schools are not always the best, it depends on your major. Do your research.\n\nHere is info on Yale (from collegeboard.com):\n\nAdmission requirements:\n\n    * Essay(s) required\n    * SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject or ACT Required (ACT writing optional)\n\nVery important admission factors:\n\n    * Character/Personal Qualities\n    * Class Rank\n    * Application Essay\n    * Extracurricular Activities\n    * Recommendations\n    * Rigor of secondary school record\n    * Standardized Test Scores\n    * Talent/Ability\n    * Academic GPA\n\nConsidered:\n\n    * Alumni Relation\n    * Geographical Residence\n    * Interview\n    * Racial/Ethnic Status\n    * State Residency\n    * Volunteer Work\n    * Work Experience\n    * First generation college student\n\n\nSAT (the old one) Reasoning Verbal: 700 - 790 96%\nSAT (the old one) Reasoning Math: 700 - 790 96%\nACT Composite: 31 - 34 22%\n*700-790 equivalent to about 2200-2400 on the new SAT\n\n\nStudent Body\n1st-year students:\n\n    * 7% In-state students\n    * 93% Out-of-state students\n\n    * 49% Women\n    * 51% Men\n\n    * 1% American Indian/Alaskan Native\n    * 14% Asian/Pacific Islander\n    * 9% Black/Non-Hispanic\n    * 8% Hispanic\n    * 48% White/Non-Hispanic\n    * 7% Non-Resident Alien\n    * 12% Race/ethnicity unreported\n\n    * 95% in top 10th of graduating class\n    * 99% in top quarter of graduating class\n    * 100% in top half of graduating class
1061535
I'm not sure but several of my son's friends are studying at Columbia in Chicago.
212235
USC is good.  Check out UCLA also.  Think about this.  What kind of resources will be available to you if you go to school right next to hollywood.  Some people may say that if you enter into Hollywood, you are going to sell out or be part of some conformist machine.  Not true.  Sure Hollywood puts out a lot of crap, but you can really learn some good stuff, and most importantly make contacts.  Your professional network is really important to any career.  You should be working on this when you are in school, so when choosing a school, look at more than just academics.  Look at what extracirricular opportunities the school can afford you.  Good luck in your decision.  I have heard good things about Columbia.  If you choose Chicago, it will be a good decision.
650539
I used to be. I graduated many years ago. Truthfully, if it hadn't been for the Honors College, my education would have been lacking. We had special lectures and challenging courses in economics, the arts and sciences and many other fields that simply weren't available to the rest of the campus (which I think, in retrospect, was a crime because everybody could have learned from them). I'm not sorry I did it, and would recommend it to anybody. You may end up not liking it and eventually make the choice to leave the program, but at least give it a try.
430947
Class size.\nAre the courses taught by the professors instead of assistants.\nIs housing available all 4 years. (Important for city colleges)\nLiving conditions? (tour a dorm)\nAre the dorms wired for Internet?\nExtracurricular activities?\n\nAnything that you are looking for in your education ask about
1114672
If you like a world class liberal school where they dont use the word "tolerance" - they use the words like "open hearts and open minds" - then Cornell is for you - Cornell is VERY expensive but it is highly recognised asone of the best places to get an education
881272
I have been in Pennsylvania before and I am a New Yorker and to me it was a big change.  Everything is driving distance and the time I went their the weather in New York was nice and when I was in PA it was COLD!!! The major thing that PA has is a Wal-Mart. The best thing you could say is that you want to go to a college in NY OR NJ. No offense to anyone in PA but I am a New Yorker.
767850
In my opinion, the best way to get into a big name school/ivy is to convince the admissions staff that your interests/professional needs fit perfectly with their programs. They want to see kids that know what they want to do and will utilize their resources immediately (and then become super sucessful and make big time money). You need to convince Yale that their grad program is the only one for you. Research Yale's classes, professors, programs, etc. In addition to getting great grades adn doing all the things you listed, focus your undergrad studies and extracurriculars on a field that will set you up perfectly for a program that you are interested in and that is uniquely Yale.  \n\nThis process worked for both me and a close friend of mine. I will be attending Cornell next semester. My friend is enrolled at Columbia as a grad student.\n\nGood luck.
602929
Colubia College Chicago\nNorthwestern University, Evenston, IL (suburb of Chicago)\nUC Burkley (california)\n\nmy son is going to Columbia in 2007...