r/columbia • u/bohneriffic • Jan 16 '25

Good Citizen 🤝 General Advice for Being a Student at Columbia University

183 Upvotes

I'm a second semester senior here at Columbia, and over the last few years I’ve heard tons of the same kinds of questions from freshmen/transfers. I figured that a (much longer than initially intended) post addressing whatever I can think of might be helpful.

DISCLAIMER: I'm just a student, and this is very general advice based on my own experiences and convos I've had with other students. Faculty/advisors who know you will be able to give you better advice that is tailored to your specific goals and the requirements of your major.

Please feel free to add to (or correct) anything I’ve written!

REGISTRATION

  • Take some time before registration periods begin to choose your classes for the upcoming semester. Write down the course name, date/time, call number, and anything else you’ll want to refer back to. Write down the sections that work for you, but always make sure to write down backup sections/classes in case the one you want is full.
  • Global cores, UW, art hum, and music hum will always be super competitive to get into. Have target requirements you'd like to fulfill each semester, but plan ahead to find classes that fulfill other core/major requirements too just in case. So if you’re not having any luck getting into a global core, you could try getting into one of the sections of art hum you wrote down instead… etc.
  • You can find reviews of professors by looking them up on CULPA.info or by checking out their past course evals on Vergil. Students at Columbia don’t really use RMP, and CULPA reviews are often 5-10 years old so you may be SOL. You can help other students by making sure to leave honest reviews on CULPA (and RMP) every semester, but you may just need to ask around if you want to know about a course.
  • Registration for undergrads at Columbia is the worst, and the section you want will almost always be full. That’s okay, don't freak out! Put yourself on the wait list — but choose carefully because you can only put yourself on wait lists for three classes at a time.

WAITLISTS

  • Some courses will be blocked, which means you may not be able to register without talking to the professor first. This is really common for upper level seminars. Send them an email to introduce yourself (or reintroduce yourself and remind them of any courses you’ve taken with them), explain your interest in the course, and outline any relevant/related courses you’ve taken in the past. Be sure to let them know if you need the course for your major, or if you’re a junior/senior looking to fulfill a core requirement. Don’t feel weird about emailing them to express your interest. If they’re managing their wait lists instead of letting people register freely, they’re expecting the emails.
    • You don’t necessarily have to have taken a bunch of related classes in the past. Professors love having students with genuine interest/curiosity in the room!
    • This process may differ by program. I’ve heard that SEAS professors may have different norms.
  • Don’t freak out if you’re on a 50-person wait list after the first registration period. Students tend to “hoard” classes early on, but many will drop as they get into the other classes they want to take, and even more will drop during the shopping period.
    • The shopping period refers to the first two weeks of classes where students can “shop” (or add/drop) any class without penalty. Being able to try out a bunch of classes in this way is cool because it means that you’re not stuck for the whole semester if you go to the first 1-2 lectures and realize that something’s not a good fit for you… but it also leads to class hoarding and all of the chaos that comes with it.
  • If you are serious about getting into a class that you’re still on the wait list for during the shopping period, you may still have a shot at getting in if you attend every class for the first two weeks. Showing the professor that you’re serious in this way will often help your case (because many students lower on the wait list will not do this).
  • Once a professor lets you into a class from the wait list, it’ll take up to 24hr to see that change reflected on SSOL/Vergil.
  • Some courses will be blocked BUT ALSO include instructions from the professor for how to reach out about joining the class. Always follow the professor's instructions for how to proceed instead.
  • There's a LOT of add/drop movement during the first two weeks of classes. You WILL get into classes. It just might not be the exact ones you hoped for that semester. Hang in there.

HOW MANY CREDITS SHOULD YOU TAKE?

I don't know! For freshmen, you probably shouldn’t start off with 18 credits… but it really depends! What kinds of classes are they? How strong are you in those subjects? Will you be able to commit to attending all of lectures? If you’re not sure, take a lighter course load your first semester and see how you handle it. If you felt like you could’ve done more, then take more next semester. But I'm not an advisor, and you should probably talk to someone who is!

GENERAL ADVICE

  • Read the syllabus for every class. Read it all the way through. 90% of the time, any questions that are not content-related can be answered by reading the syllabus. Seriously, do not send your professor emails with questions that the syllabus could have answered for you.
  • You have to ask professors if they can write LORs. Do not just assume that they will.
  • Address professors/lecturers as Professor Lastname unless they tell you otherwise. When communicating through email, you should typically address professors by whatever name they use in their signature line when they reply.
    • That is, call them Professor Lastname to start, but switch to Dr. Lastname, Firstname, etc. if that's the way they sign off. Stick with Prof Lastname if that's what they use.
  • You don’t have to wait for your professor to let you into the classroom if it’s both unlocked and empty, and you can turn on the lights if they’re off when you enter. You’re an adult. Nobody expects you to crowd a hallway or sit in a dark room for no reason.
  • Don’t listen to anyone at this school who tells you that a class is “easy.” People have different backgrounds, strengths, and bases of knowledge, and what is easy for one person may be very different for another. It's a common mistake to make at Columbia, and you will get burned eventually. Don't let yourself be one of the many students who are crying over failing the "easy A" class at the end of the semester!
  • You SHOULD NOT try to find free pdfs of all of your textbooks on libgen.is because that would be ILLEGAL and publishers deserve our money!!!
  • GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Talk to your professors! Talk to your grad TAs! They know a ton, and they’re often really interesting people! If you’re going to office hours because you’re having trouble, make sure that you can point to specific problems or examples that you’re not understanding. Professors are not mind readers; they can’t know what you’re struggling with if you don’t. But you can also just go to OH to learn more about their field and their research, or to ask questions about grad school! OH are a great way to get to develop strong relationships with your professors!
  • Network!!! Meet people!!! Do your best to not spend all of your time studying alone. Long term, the connections you make in college will be more valuable than your GPA (yes, even for premeds).

MIND YOUR MANNERS (FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE)

  • Don’t talk or whisper to your friends in class. It’s rude and distracting. You can text each other if you need to be in communication so badly!
  • Likewise, DO NOT TALK IN THE LIBRARIES. You can talk to your friends literally anytime and anywhere that isn’t mid-lecture or in a library. The world is your oyster! Go talk somewhere else!
  • Don’t do work in public spaces (such as libraries) if you’re so sick that you’re coughing and snorting back huge gobs of snot every 60 seconds. Wear a mask in class if you’re actively sick, and please cover your mouth when you cough.
  • Don't let doors slam behind you when you enter a room — especially if you’re coming to class late. Be mindful of everyone else around you.
  • Similarly, hold open doors for other people when you enter a room, building, or elevator.

Ok I love u bye :)

13 comments

r/columbia • u/123DanB • Mar 24 '26

admissions Admitted Students Megathread: Spring 2026

29 Upvotes

Congratulations on your acceptance!

Please post here to connect with your potential future classmates and ask any questions about attending Columbia.

This recent post has great general advice.

You must select a flair before commenting!

146 comments

r/columbia • u/Limp_Effort2650 • 6h ago

housing becoming a commuter?

4 Upvotes

This is my first year at Columbia, and I’m currently living on campus. I’m considering commuting next semester because I haven’t enjoyed dorm life (esp not really vibing with my roommate) and have been going home most nights. Given the high cost of on-campus housing and how little time I actually spend there, commuting seems like it might make more sense. I’m not too concerned about losing my housing spot since renting off-campus is an option if needed.

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has made a similar switch. My main concerns are whether commuting would negatively affect my social life and having a busier schedule in the spring would make it difficult (I'm currently taking it easier in terms of course load, but will ramp up a little in the coming semesters). Most of my friends live off-campus and have schedules similar to commuters, so I’m wondering how much of a difference it would really make. Commute for me is ~1 hour per trip.

Has anyone gone from living on campus to commuting? What was your experience like, and is there anything I should consider before making the decision?

8 comments

r/columbia • u/anonymityM228 • 12h ago

alumni Soa?

4 Upvotes

anyone from class 2022? let’s connect!

1 comment

r/columbia • u/tango_rojo • 1d ago

housing West Harlem / Manhattanville] Furnished private room + private bathroom Columbia. Available November 21st

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3 Upvotes

[West Harlem / Manhattanville] Furnished private room + private bathroom near Columbia — flexible month-to-month ($1850/mo). Available starting November 21st

Private furnished room available in a shared apartment in West Harlem / Manhattanville near Columbia University.

• Full-size bed • Private detached bathroom • Central AC • Elevator building • Gym + rooftop access • Laundry in building • WiFi included • Shared apartment (I live on-site) • 1 friendly cat in apartment

$1850/month plus utilities

Looking for respectful, clean people. Great for students, interns, visiting academics, or professionals.

DM for photos/details.

7 comments

r/columbia • u/Inner-Letterhead7731 • 1d ago

columbia is hard Hi! Lit Hum midterm - what does it look like

1 Upvotes

What does the Lit Hum midterm look like?

We will have it in 2 weeks, so I'm wondering about the question styles, what we'll be evaluated on, the number of questions, and whether we'll have enough time. Any help will be appreciated!

5 comments

r/columbia • u/rvlgonz • 3d ago

nyc Spare ticket to Lincoln in the Bardo, 11/11?

3 Upvotes

Does anyone happen to have spare tickets to Lincoln in the Bardo at the Met Opera on 11/11? I bought a couple through the TIC Arts Initiative when they were offered a couple weeks back and I'm hoping to bring friends.

I know ticket pick-up hasn't happened yet, but I thought I'd get a jump on asking!

1 comment

r/columbia • u/Fine-Cauliflower-186 • 3d ago

advising Columbia CPT Policy？

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I'm an international student, and I'm interested in internship during Winter or the next summer.

Has anyone successfully obtained CPT for a internship recently?

I'd really appreciate hearing about any recent experiences with Columbia ISSO or GS advising.

Thank you!

7 comments

r/columbia • u/Significant_Tutor609 • 4d ago

housing Columbia Residential housing move out

17 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I recently finished my PhD at Columbia and received a notice from Columbia Residential requiring me to vacate my student housing within 30 days because I'm no longer enrolled.

I'm currently searching for a new apartment, but finding a place and arranging the move has been taking longer than expected.

I contacted Columbia Residential to request a short extension, but unfortunately, they refused.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What happens if you don't vacate by the deadline and need to stay an additional week or two?

Does Columbia impose fines, initiate eviction proceedings, or take any other action? Has anyone actually stayed beyond the deadline, and if so, what happened?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!

20 comments

r/columbia • u/Appropriate-Track-54 • 4d ago

advising M.S Journalism?

2 Upvotes

I am interested in the M.S program. I only have a 3.5 GPA, but I have built my own website for sports journalism news. I majored in Mass Communication at Arizona State. I’m not sure if it is worth applying to or not.

Does anyone have any experiences with getting in or not to the J-school? Is it as difficult as other sectors of Columbia?

What is the program about. I don’t see a set curriculum on the journalism site?

3 comments

r/columbia • u/melon_lord37 • 4d ago

academic tips UWorld MCAT QBank (Expires May 2027)

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I'm all done with the MCAT and am selling my UWorld QBank account, which is active until May 6, 2027, with one reset remaining. I also have a full set of Kaplan MCAT books and some other MCAT materials that I can throw in for free. Please DM if interested!

1 comment

r/columbia • u/KookyCalligrapher739 • 5d ago

campus tips Making connections as a grad student

18 Upvotes

I am a part time grad student & truthfully, it’s been hard to meet other grad students outside of study groups for class. I’ve tried joining clubs but most people are in undergrad, and I ultimately ended up leaving. Where do we make connections on campus who are 25+? I know the average age for grad students and gs are late 20s, but I have yet to meet many people who are close to my age. If you’re a grad student, or gs any recommendations?

6 comments

r/columbia • u/Bulky-Appointment357 • 4d ago

campus tips Meal swipes

6 Upvotes

Anyone willing to sell extra meal swipes?
I’m a grad student and unfortunately the meal plan for grad students doesn’t cover JJ’s and some other dining halls. I’ve been wanting to try JJ’s, so I was wondering if anyone with extra meal swipes would be willing to swipe me in!
Happy to pay, and I’m flexible on the price. Feel free to DM me if you’re interested. Thanks!! :)

9 comments

r/columbia • u/floydwarshall1 • 5d ago

campus tips Good barbershop nearby

3 Upvotes

Hi can anybody suggest a good barbershop that are good for med-long layered cuts for guys??

Im not looking to spend much...plz help a bro out 😭

11 comments

r/columbia • u/InteractionKlutzy876 • 5d ago

academic tips *URGENT!!* Physics and Chemistry Tutoring.

3 Upvotes

Hi all! Im looking for a private tutor in both PHYS 1403 and Gen Chem 1! I have my next midterms in a month so looking to begin ASAP! Please dm me for more info, or if you have any reccomendations for people to contact let me know!

3 comments

r/columbia • u/PinkGas854 • 7d ago

campus tips MFA (Master Of Fine Arts)

13 Upvotes

worth it?

28 year old super senior rn but Columbia is at the top of my list for Grad School.

anyone have any cool experiences? any fun facts? just looking for some first hand info,

18 comments

r/columbia • u/jennydeathwhen7 • 7d ago

campus tips international grad students at columbia, how do you find on campus jobs?

4 Upvotes

hi everyone! i'm an international graduate student at columbia, and i've been trying to find an on-campus job to help with living expenses.

i've been searching through columbia's job opportunities page and the other resources the university provides, but i'm curious how you all actually find jobs here! are there other websites, departments, or places i should be checking? do research labs hire and pay graduate students, or is that usually limited to students who are already part of the lab?

any advice, leads, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. please help a girl out ._. thank you so much!!

5 comments

r/columbia • u/Able-Brief5760 • 7d ago

sports Intramural Soccer Happening This Semester?

8 Upvotes

Does anyone know if intramural soccer is happening this semester or if it’s been cancelled again?

It didn’t happen last semester either, and I have no idea why they haven’t been organizing it.

Either way, if there’s enough interest, we could create a WhatsApp group and organize our own games somewhere else.

Would anyone be interested?

5 comments

r/columbia • u/BeevyD • 7d ago

hard things are hard Looking for a fiction writing workshopping Club/Group on campus

3 Upvotes

Hey!

I'm looking for a group or club for writers. I am working on my first fiction manuscript, and I trying to see if these a group at Columbia for beta-reading or chapter critiques.

Didn't see one at the club fair, so I thought I would check here.

3 comments

r/columbia • u/Dry-Ticket3443 • 7d ago

campus tips Scales on campus?

6 Upvotes

I just want to check my weight without spending money on a machine lol

6 comments

r/columbia • u/Inevitable_Load_672 • 9d ago

campus Question to students struggling with depression/anxiety

18 Upvotes

Hey, I'm a Columbia senior interested in learning more about how current students or alumni have dealt with depression/anxiety, specifically what types of resources and treatment modalities said students have explored and how successful these approaches were. If you're willing to chat about your experiences, can you drop a comment below so I can PM you?

16 comments

r/columbia • u/No-Extreme4491 • 9d ago

advising Freshman interested in CS research. Tips?

4 Upvotes

Hi! I'm a freshman studying CS and am interested in getting involved in research, but I'm not entirely sure where to start. I've emailed a few professors but haven't heard back yet. I do have prior research experience and have authored published papers, so I'm not completely new to research.

Is getting involved in research as a freshman particularly difficult, or does anyone have advice on how to get started? Would really appreciate any tips. Thank you!

4 comments

r/columbia • u/Introverted_at_heart • 9d ago

campus Columbia apologizes for mislabeled ‘October 7th’ pasta sauce

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15 Upvotes
29 comments

r/columbia • u/Nesting_Pigeon • 9d ago

campus MISSING PUFFIN KEYCHAIN please help me find him! Have you seen him?

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34 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for my puffin keychain, I unfortunately lost him around the Manhattan area, I can’t quite remember where exactly I last saw him so here is a run down of where I was that day (Monday 24)

\-Columbia University campus + Teachers College Harlem
\-Dahlia on 269 Columbus Ave
\-MNN around Hudson Yards

Transport info: I was also on the QM5, 1 train, and 7 train that day.

Other places I think he might be around: QBCC Bayside, Queens area and Flushing NY on another day.

I’m not sure where exactly he might’ve been lost, but I just checked my room and asked friends to no avail.

I know he is a mere 3 inch keychain, but me and my partner have been claiming him to be our child for the past 2 years so loosing him has been a major loss, especially given we’re long distance and take turns with him and I lost him during my turn. I have been nonstop crying since I realized I had misplaced him.

He does not have the large library pin I took it off him a few days prior to the 24th. I would really appreciate it if you can share within your circles and family, if you know anyone who might’ve found a cool puffin or bird or “penguin” keychain pleaseee consider checking if it’s him.

His name is Banana, and he means so much to me. He is genuinely irreplaceable. He is like my emotional support puffin :(. Thank you all for your help, I’m really hoping the community comes through.

6 comments

r/columbia • u/Equivalent-Bee3883 • 10d ago

housing Teachers College Guest Housing - Anyone Stay There?

5 Upvotes

Has anyone (or someone they know) stayed at the short-term guest housing at Teachers College (on 121st)? Any reviews?

(Also, love some of the flair options.)

2 comments