Hey guys! Columbia University definitely sounds like a dream, but I've heard certain schools within Columbia have such low acceptance rates, they could get even scarier. Can anyone tell me about these? I'm not decided on my major yet, so any input will be useful.
Sure, I can help with that. Columbia University includes several different schools, and yes, acceptance rates do vary among them.
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) is known to be quite competitive. In recent years, SEAS had a lower acceptance rate than Columbia College, which is the university's primary undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences.
The School of General Studies is another component of Columbia with a unique admissions process. It caters primarily to non-traditional students, such as those returning to school after a gap, veterans, or those pursuing dual BA programs. The acceptance rate here isn't necessarily low but depends more on your individual circumstances and outlook.
Columbia's Dual BA Programs with Sciences Po and with the Juilliard School are quite competitive as well, given the double degree and international aspect of the program—but also because few spots are available each year.
Please note that all of these schools within Columbia are highly sought after, and getting into any of them is a major achievement. Don't let the acceptance rates daunt you. If you're not decided on a major yet, consider your passion and where you see yourself thriving, rather than focusing too much on acceptance rates. Plus, once you're accepted into Columbia, you can usually switch majors or even schools (e.g., from Columbia College to SEAS) relatively easily. Good luck!
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