Columbia University: Focus on Science and
Engineering (an evening presentation)
Columbia has a core curriculum and is is present for both Columbia College and and the school of
engineering but there will be differences in accordance with essence of each institution. This is
considered to be a structural backbone that provides intellectual stimulation that all the students
share in common. It makes you a Columbia graduate with a distinct personality because of its
presence in your educational process.
If you go to school to answer WHY questions and love theoretical learning you will sign up for
Columbia College. For applied science that delves in the HOW you will choose the college of
engineering. Both groups interact with each other through the medium of student life and living.
Topics include, literature (think Great Books), music, art and frontiers of science and technology.
So a Columbia education will be 1/3 core, 1/3 major, 1/3 a minor or double major topic—in other
words, your choice of study.
There will be lectures and hands own for engineers but they aim for a socially responsible, wellrounded outcome the ability to work well in groups. You will do a senior project with a small group.
Faculty here want undergrads as part of the research team and originality of contribution is
encouraged and welcome. Getting you published is not uncommon. They help you find summer
research both on and off campus and stipend money is available.
The relatively new Silicon Alley is encouraging start up ventures and with Google now nearby and
NYU weighing in, this is a growing area.
STEM students feel a solid connection with the community. Engineers without Boarders is very
active in Africa solving the many pragmatic issues that besiege the populations there. The Society
of Automotive Engineers builds a car from scratch each semester. Outreach to teach science to
youngsters in nearby communities is the mission of the Chandler society.
Pre-professional advising is strong and 85% manage to land the MD seats they seek which is well
above the national average. MD.PhD capture last year was 100%. Strong support is available for
Truman, Goldwater etc. fellowships.
Financial aid is 100% NEED BASED. They do not want you to leave with loan debt. Foreign
students are dealt with as NEED AWARE. There are no merit, talent or athletic scholarships.
Holistic review, so answer the supplementary question carefully it is considered very important! If
you did research, submit the abstract and or a letter from your research mentor. It will go to a
Columbia department for review.
There was a panel and Q&A What the three men said was they were very satisfied with their
education and it opened good doors occupationally. The interaction between engineering and
science helped shape the kind of work each was doing today. Location, NYC, very rich, and more
intense that SF. Travel in groups there, it is safer to do so.
Once side comment was that they have the best Bio-Infomatics dept in the country with Wisconsin
a close second.
Finally, my addenda on engineering: it is not a narrow focused as some programs can be. It now
makes sense why I got a three page list of colleges, mostly liberal arts of the smaller variety, who
all have partnerships with Columbia engineering. Your takeaway: you student may choose many
other sites to do the first three year of college and then add two more for engineering completion
at Columbia University