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Columbia University

By: Brooks Butler

Address: 116th and Broadway, New York, NY 10027Phone: 212-854-1754Medical center: 212-315-CUMC

+Overview

Columbia University in New York City is one of, if not the, most selective schools in the world. It is the oldest college institution in the State of New York, and the fifth oldest in the United States of America. Furthermore, Columbia University is one of the nation’s nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution took place.

+How do I get in?

- AHHHHH! I’m so sick of the idea that “You must have a 36 on your ACT to get into an Ivy League school.” Let me debunk this common misconception right here and right now: you don’t have to win a Nobel Peace Prize to get accepted to a good school.

+Requirements

Columbia University does not have any stated requirements for grades and/or test scores. That being said, if you have a 2.6 GPA and a 14 on your ACT, you can kiss the idea of going to Columbia goodbye.

+Advanced Placement Policy

No student can receive any more than 16 credit hours from AP courses.

Biology: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP Biology test.

Chemistry: A student can receive 3-6 credit hours for a score of 4-5 on the AP Chemistry test.

Computer Science: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 4-5 on the AP Computer Science test.

Economics (Micro and Macro): A student can receive 4 credit hours if they get a 5 on one test and a 4 or a 5 on the other test.

+Advanced Placement Policy

English: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP English test.

French: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP French test.

German: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP German test.

Government and Politics: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP Government and Politics test.

History: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP History test.

+Advanced Placement Policy

Italian/Latin: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP Italian/Latin test.

Mathematics AB: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 4-5 on the AP Mathematics AB test.

Mathematics BC: A student can receive 6 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP Mathematics BC test.

Music: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 4-5 on the Music test.

Physics: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 4-5 on the AP Physics test.

+Advanced Placement Policy

Spanish: A student can receive 3 credit hours for a score of 5 on the AP Spanish test.

Statistics: I think you can guess how this goes.

+Tuition and Other Fees

Tuition: $22,514 per semester (ouch).

Housing: Around $7,000 per year is the average cost for housing.

http://housingservices.columbia.edu/content/overview

+What do I want to do?

My career field is wide open. I am destined to be a doctor, however, I don’t know if that is what I will end up doing. I have not included my major because I don’t know what I would like to major in.

+Interesting Facts

1. Columbia was founded by King George II through a royal charter (1754), hence the original name of King’s College. It was only one of three colleges founded through a royal charter. The original intent of the school was to educate civil leaders. The name was changed in 1784 to Columbia.

2. Columbia has the second largest international student body in the nation. They have the most students receiving the Fulbright Grant for study abroad out of any other university in the world.

3. In 1902, newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer donated a substantial amount to the university to create a journalism program. Lest, Columbia administers the Pulitzer Prize annually. My cousin won three Pulitzer Prizes during his life.

+Interesting Facts

4. Columbia University has educated five of the founding fathers of the country, four presidents, nine Supreme Court justices, 26 heads of state, 20+ billionaires, and 97 Nobel Prize winners, which is the most out of all Ivy League colleges. Among those include, Teddy Roosevelt, Alexander Hamilton, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Warren Buffett, and Barack Obama.

5. Columbia College has a 7.4 % acceptance rate, making it the third most selective college in the world.

+Sources

http://www.ivy-league-online.com/columbia-university-online/columbia-university-5-fun-facts/

http://www.columbia.edu/