As one of the eight Ivy League schools, Columbia University is an elite institution. It’s the fifth oldest institution in the US and the oldest one for higher learning in New York State. Like Harvard, it’s also among the only Ivy League schools located in a major city (New York City).
If you’ve been wondering how to secure a place at this prestigious university, you’ve come to the right place. Understanding the admission requirements is the first step to getting into college. Some of the aspects to prioritize when applying to Columbia University include:
Let’s learn more about the university and the detailed admission requirements for it:
Columbia University was established in 1754 and now stands as one of the most prestigious universities in the US. Not only is it known for exceptional research but its location in New York City means students have access to a dynamic city and business center. Its strategic location, combined with across-the-board strong academic departments, gives its students an edge over those graduating from elsewhere.
You’ll also be impressed by the alumni list of Columbia University that includes famous actors, former presidents, accomplished scientists, and founding fathers. Among these are Warren Buffet, Barack Obama, Jack Kerouc, and Alexander Hamilton.
Every year, over 40,000 students apply to Columbia University, but its 6% acceptance rate makes the college one of the hardest Ivy League schools to break into. Once you’re accepted by the university, it becomes an ideal place for you to begin your career, explore your educational interests, and build your professional network.
The average GPA at Columbia University is 4.12, which means you’ll need to take heavier weighted courses, such as honors or AP courses, to compete with other prospective Columbia students. To push your GPA to a Columbia-approved level, you’ll need to study hard in the first couple of years of high school so that you’re prepared for the advanced courses. Without AP courses, there’s no way you can earn a 4.12 GPA, so be sure to take them.
For the Columbia University Class of 2024, the middle 50% range for SAT scores was 1500 to 1560. If your GPA is 4.12 or lower, you may need to score even higher in SAT to compensate. Seek SAT Tutoring to achieve a Columbia-approved SAT score.
For Class of 2024, the middle 50% of admitted students scored between 34 and 35 in ACT. Again, you’ll require an exceptional score if your GPA is lower than 4.12. Seek ACT Tutoring to score that high on the ACT.
First-year students can apply for admissions at Columbia University through the QuestBridge Application, Common Application, and Coalition Application. You’ll need to pay an application fee of $85, but before you apply, have the following documents ready:
Columbia University looks for applicants who are intellectually curious, open-minded, dedicated to the community, enthusiastic towards varying viewpoints and diversity, fun, respectful of differing opinions, and understand the culture at the institution. While numerous different characteristics and personality traits make up the overall profile, the foundations remain the same: academic excellence and exceptional scores in standardized tests.
To prepare for standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, contact Club Z! Tutoring at your earliest.
No matter how you look at it, college is an expensive proposition these days. Both public and private colleges and universities have had to raise fees and tuition as costs have increased. As a result, college student debt has skyrocketed and many students end up with loan payments years, sometimes even decades, after graduation. But with some careful planning and creative thinking, there are lots of other ways to help pay for college and avoid being stuck with big loan payments after graduation. One final but important step in the college application process is to include an application for financial aid.
As parents, and grandparents for that matter, we consider it to be a bit of a rite of passage to tell our children just how easy they have it compared to what we went through at their age. File this under the “when I was your age, I had to walk 2 miles to school each day, uphill both ways” category.
For any parent of a college-bound student, SAT and ACT test scores are no doubt at the center of most dinner table discussions. While no one will argue that test scores alone are the deciding factor in college admissions, and many colleges are moving toward a test-optional admissions policy, strong scores on the SAT and or ACT can definitely help a student’s chance of gaining admission to his/her college of choice.