FIRST YEAR ADMISSION

Application Requirements

• The completed Application for Admission (two documents, one of which includes a personal statement)
• The $75 application fee (or fee waiver from a school official)
• The completed Secondary School Report
• An official high school transcript (from all schools attended)
• The completed Mid-Year School Report
• SAT or ACT scores, two SAT Subject Test scores (and English proficiency examination score if necessary)
• Two letters of recommendation from teachers

Dodge Hall houses Columbia’s Department of Music and Programs in Visual Arts and Film Studies.

Please note that Columbia reserves the right to evaluate an application and render a final decision even if all pieces of the application have not been received.

Required Standardized Testing

Standardized tests are required for admission according to the following guidelines; all test scores must be submitted directly to Columbia by the testing agency.

1. The SAT Reasoning test consists of three sections, each graded on an 800-point scale; if you take the test more than once, you will be evaluated on the highest score you receive in any individual section.
2. You may alternatively take the ACT Assessment, graded on a 36-point scale; if you take the test more than once, you will be evaluated on the highest composite score you receive. The writing component offered by the ACT Assessment is mandatory for candidates for Columbia.
3. In addition to either A or B above, you must also take two SAT Subject Tests. For Columbia College, you may take any two; for Columbia Engineering, you must take any mathematics test and either Physics or Chemistry.
4. Additional Requirements: If you attend a school that does not give out conventional grades or if you are home-schooled, you must take two additional SAT Subject Tests in addition to all requirements outlined above.
5. Non-native speakers should refer to the Testing section of Frequently Asked Questions for our policy on English proficiency testing.

You must register with the appropriate testing agency (either the Educational Testing Service-ETS or the American College Testing Program-ACT) well in advance of the date on which you wish to be tested. You should be aware that scores on tests taken after December may not reach the Admissions Office in time for consideration. You must be sure to request that your scores be reported directly to Columbia every time you take a standardized test. The appropriate ETS codes are 2116 for Columbia College and 2111 for Columbia Engineering; the ACT codes are 2717 for Columbia College and 2719 for Columbia Engineering. Please note that scores reported to Columbia’s School of General Studies (2095), Columbia’s School of Continuing Education (2154), or Barnard College (2038), will not reach our office and will not be considered for evaluation. Columbia reserves the right not to evaluate a candidate whose scores are not reported directly by the testing agency. Please do not utilize the “rush” service in sending your test scores to Columbia; doing so does not speed up the processing of your test scores. We obtain all testing via a secure Web site to which we are provided access by the appropriate testing agency.

Columbia's Testing Policy for Score Choice

The application review process for Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is rooted in the belief that students are dynamic, multi-faceted individuals who cannot be defined by any single factor to determine their suitability for admission.

Columbia has long been committed to reviewing the credentials of its applicants in a holistic manner by carefully considering the rigor of the student's academic program, academic achievement, intellectual engagement and commitment to life outside the classroom, along with teacher and counselor recommendations and required standardized testing. No one component is any more important than another, but rather all are reviewed carefully and thoroughly to understand each student's academic and personal history.

When evaluating applicants, we consider only the highest testing results reported from individual sections of the SAT (or the highest Composite on the ACT), and the two highest required SAT Subject Tests, always seeking to give students the greatest opportunity to showcase their academic talents and hoping to make the testing experience as stress-free as possible. We encourage applicants to take those examinations no more than twice, but we do not penalize applicants for exceeding that recommendation. Test scores are always reviewed within the context of the many other components we consider and are never used as a single determining factor when deciding admission. This careful and holistic committee-based review is essential in helping us admit an undergraduate student body that is intellectually curious and ready to make positive impacts in our classrooms, laboratories, studios, stages, athletic fields, campus life and, ultimately, the world.

Columbia has always expected applicants to report all required standardized testing for which they have sat and will continue to do so for the 2009-2010 year. In doing so, we affirm our commitment to a holistic review process that focuses not on a perfect score but on creating a community of learners who will take advantage of and contribute to the Columbia experience.

Columbia’s Early Decision Program

If you are willing to make a binding commitment to Columbia as your first choice, you may apply under the Early Decision Program. All your application documents must be postmarked by November 1. You must have all standardized testing completed by the November test date, and you must be very certain to have your scores reported directly to Columbia by the testing agency. See the Required Standardized Testing section above.

In mid-December you will be notified of the results of your Early Decision application:

1. If you are admitted under the Early Decision program, you are obligated to accept Columbia’s offer of admission. Only students who (after consultation with the Financial Aid Office) cite financial reasons for not attending will be released from the Early Decision agreement. Once you accept Columbia’s offer of admission, you may file no further college applications and must withdraw any other applications that have already been submitted.
   
   According to the National Association for College Admissions Counseling guidelines, “while pursuing admission under an Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions, but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time.” While Columbia does not necessarily encourage the filing of both Early Decision (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) applications, we do not prohibit candidates from doing so. However, candidates should be aware that Columbia’s Early Decision program is a binding agreement and a candidate will be expected to enroll, regardless of any pending applications (early or otherwise).
   
   If you are offered admission under the Early Decision plan, we expect that you will maintain a rigorous courseload and a strong academic performance for the remainder of your senior year. Any non-elective course changes to take place after admission must be discussed and approved in advance by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. You must submit the Mid-Year School Report and eventually a final transcript. Your academic performance will be monitored and evaluated through the end of the senior year.
2. If you are deferred under the Early Decision plan, it means a final decision on your candidacy will be made with the regular applicant pool, and you will be notified in early April.
3. If you are denied under the Early Decision plan, you must consider carefully your other college options. You may not apply to Columbia ( Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science or the School of General Studies) again for that year.

Policy on Interviews

Volunteer members of Columbia’s Alumni Representative Committee (ARC) conduct interviews throughout the world from October through February every year on behalf of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. However, because we have a finite number of alumni volunteers to interview the many thousands of candidates who will apply for admission, we are unable to grant interviews to all of our applicants and can provide absolutely no guarantee that an interview will be available in any given area. Please note that interviews will be offered only in the area where your high school is located; if you have finished high school and are no longer nearby, an interview will not be available to you. The earlier you submit Application for Admission I of your application, the better your chances are for an alumni interview. If the Alumni Representative Committee is able to offer you an interview, you will be contacted directly by an ARC member. Please note that interviews are conducted only by Alumni Representative Committee members, are not offered on campus and are positively not a requirement for admission. Candidates who are not offered an interview are not at any disadvantage in the admissions process. Because the actual assignment of interviews is not conducted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, please do not call or write to inquire about receiving an interview. As noted above, you will be contacted directly (between the months of October and February) if an interview is available in the same area as your high school.

Important Dates & Deadlines

November 1, 2009

Admissions: Application postmark deadline for Early Decision candidates.

November 14, 2009

Financial Aid: Early Decision candidates must submit the CSS PROFILE and their parents' 2007 federal tax returns and, if applicable, business/farm tax information and their Non-Custodial Profile.

Mid-December

Admissions: Decisions mailed and posted online to Early Decision candidates.

January 2, 2010

Admissions: Application deadline for Regular Decision candidates.

March 1, 2010

Financial Aid: All aid candidates must submit copies of their own and their parents' 2008 federal tax returns, all schedules and W-2 forms. All aid candidates must submit their FAFSA. Regular Decision candidates must submit the CSS PROFILE. If applicable, Regular Decision candidates must submit their Non-Custodial Profile and/or business/farm tax information.

Late March/Early April

Admissions: Decision letters mailed and posted online to Regular Decision candidates and invitations mailed for on-campus and regional programs for admitted students.

May 1, 2010

Admissions: Deposit deadline for admitted students.

Late June

Admissions: Final high school transcript due for incoming students.

Late August

New Student Orientation Program and academic year begin.

Please be advised that all deadlines listed above are postmark deadlines.