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Home(/) / Apply(/apply/admissionsprocess) / FirstYearAdmission(/apply/firstyear) / What Does

Columbia Look For

What Does Columbia Look For?

We use a holistic review process when evaluating applicants for admission. That means
admission to Columbia is not based on a simple formula of grades and test scores. Instead, we
consider a variety of factors: the students academic record, extracurricular interests,
intellectual achievements and personal background.
Columbia follows a committee-based approach; no candidate is admitted to Columbia College
or Engineering without discussion and examination of the application by multiple officers.

HowdoestheCommitteereviewapplicants?
We look at a variety of factors to help us inform our decision on a candidate including:
The students curriculum and grades - we hope to see that a student is challenging herself
or himself with a rigorous course load
The context of a particular candidate, including family circumstances, secondary school,
community, interests and access to resources
The quality of a students involvement in activities beyond the classroom
The character and personality of a candidate, and the impact she or he will make on our
diverse, residential campus
The candidates fit for the distinctive Columbia experience, which includes the Core
Curriculum; a both traditionally collegiate and unmistakably urban campus life; and an Ivy
League school where curious thinkers come to grow
Recommendations - which provide evidence of intellectual curiosity and promise,
classroom and school and community participation, and overall potential for the candidate
to make an impact at Columbia, in the classroom and beyond

HowdoestheAdmissionsCommitteedistinguishamong
candidates?
The admissions process at Columbia is a holistic one, taking many factors into careful
consideration. We do not rely on standardized testing and grades alone and instead look at all
parts of every application to help inform our judgment. We read personal statements to try to
understand each candidate and what motivates him or her. We read teacher recommendations
carefully to understand a candidates contributions in the classroom and what that candidate
might offer his or her Columbia classmates.
Every part of the application matters. In the end our goal is to find the students who are the best
fit for Columbia. Each year, there are many more qualified applicants than there are places in
our class. With such an appealing pool of applicants, it is the job of the admissions committee to
get to know all students and select those that we believe will take greatest advantage of the
unique Columbia experience and will offer something meaningful in return to the community.

AdvicefromStudents
With good time management, you can do most everything you hope to do in college. Make each and every moment
count!
RachelG.(/explore/students/rachelg)SantaClarita,California

"Why Columbia" is a pretty typical question, and one that deserves a lot of thought as students are beginning to consider
the college process. The thing is, you've got to pay a lot of attention, because there are SO MANY excellent colleges and
universities in this country and across the world. It's definitely possible to find the place that will suit you, so you have to
go with your gut.
SimonJ.(/explore/students/simonj)Waldorf,Maryland

Viewalladvice(/ask/advice)

ContactUs
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
212 Hamilton Hall, Mail Code 2807
212-854-2522
ugradask@columbia.edu(mailto:ugradask@columbia.edu)
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RelatedWebsites
ColumbiaCollege(http://college.columbia.edu)
ColumbiaEngineering(http://engineering.columbia.edu)
AlumniRepresentativeCommittee(https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/arc)
ColumbiaUniversityHome(http://www.columbia.edu)