Columbia is an elite school, and elite schools want to see you get specific on your applications. They want you to have developed a specific niche, have done your research, and know how your niche fits into their niche. We know, it’s a lot of niches. Like if your brother has a lot of daughters. Wait, that’s nieces. Gosh we’ve been looking at the Columbia site for too long.
Anyways, in order to show that you’ll fit in nicely (or... niecely) (we’ll stop), you’ll need to dive into the programs at Columbia that would help you achieve your goals and back up your “why” in your essays. We’ve assembled a list of some of the unique things you could explore or talk about when applying to Columbia below.
Columbia Core
The Columbia Core is Columbia’s favorite thing about themselves. We’re serious. They’re in love with the Core. We’ve covered the Core before in more detail, but what you really need to know is that you’re going to need to be cool with taking 2 years of classes not in your major before applying to Columbia. The requirements are broad, require a lot of interdisciplinary study, and there’s even a physical fitness requirement.
Sustainable Development
The Earth Institute at Columbia partnered with Columbia College, the School of General Studies, the School of International and Public Affairs, and the Departments of Earth and Environmental Science, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, and Earth and Environmental Engineering (whew. A lot of schools) to bring you this major. They want to know how we can be sustainable, not just in areas of science and technology, but how sustainable development can help or hurt communities.
Black Rock Forest
Not exclusive to Columbia, the Black Rock Forest is sponsored by a consortium of schools in NY and the northeast. A great place for study, Black Rock Forest is open for a ton of different research opportunities in conservation, wildlife, and natural sciences. Current research at Black Rock covers things like how animal behavior impacts the forest and how forests grow. Neat!
Economics - Philosophy
Economics is one of the most popular majors in the Ivy League, but Columbia’s philosophy track within their economics major is very unique. While other programs look at current and more modern theories of economics, this program focuses on the classic texts of Plato, Kant, Mill, Marx, and Smith. Economics nerds rejoice!
Cross-Registration Program with Julliard
For this program, you have to get into both Columbia and Julliard. Yeesh!! You’ll get to take weekly classes at Julliard in instrumental (classical and jazz), composition, and vocal instruction, along with your regular Columbia classes.
Human Rights
Located within the School of General Studies, the Humans Rights major is, well… the study of human rights. They use the words “human rights” to define a lot of what the program is, which is a little circular, but we get it. You’ll look at intersections of justice, politics, race, class, and economic issues and learn more about how they impact global human rights.
Modern Greek Studies
Modern Greek Studies is a concentration (read: minor) only program within General Studies. Not as straightforward as a Classics program, Modern Greek Studies attempts to bring more of a modern sociopolitical context to classical texts. You also have to take Greek or Latin, but you do get to study abroad in Greece or Italy!
4+1 Program with Columbia School of Public Health
Another dual degree program, this program gets you a B.A. degree from Columbia College and an M.P.H. degree from the Mailman School of Public Health in 5 years. You apply your junior year and use part of your senior year to begin your M.P.H. If you’re serious about public health, this would be great in combination with either a public health B.A. or a life science.
So there you go, a bevy of unique programs for you to look into! And don’t worry, there’s tons more where that came from. Make sure to do your own research and see if Columbia really is the best fit for you while you’re at it.
If you’re reading this and thinking “oh man, how do I even get started with a Columbia application?” Don’t worry – we’re here! We can help with everything from the Common App to the college list to the supplements. Contact us today if you’d like to get started.