Frequently Asked Questions (for Parents & Families)

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions annually welcomes and receives thousands of questions from prospective parents and families about Columbia, the admissions process, the financial aid process and life in New York City. Below are questions and responses specifically for parents and families from both our staff and our students (who really know Columbia best). Please visit the general Admissions Frequently Asked Questions which cover a variety of topics in the application process and academic and campus life. For information more relevant to parents and families of admitted students, the Parent and Family Programs Frequently Asked Questions are helpful.

All Columbia first-year students attend the week long New Student Orientation Program (NSOP). Students can additionally elect to participate in Pre-Orientation programs to bond with future classmates.

Questions

1. Does Columbia offer scholarships and if so, how many?
2. Does Columbia offer merit scholarships?
3. How can I afford to send my child to Columbia?
4. How competitive is admission to Columbia?
5. What criteria are used for admissions decisions?
6. What percentage of students live on campus?
7. What are the advising and support services on campus?
8. What is the student-faculty ratio?
9. How large are Columbia classes?
10. What role do parents and families play in the Columbia community?

Answers

1. Does Columbia offer scholarships and if so, how many?

Columbia College and the undergraduate division of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science provide need-based financial aid to students on the basis of their family’s financial circumstances. There is no limit on the number of students who receive need-based financial aid. Each application is considered individually.

2. Does Columbia offer merit scholarships?

No. There are no academic, athletic or talent-based institutional scholarships. University grants are offered on the basis of demonstrated financial need. However, our students are often the recipients of merit-based scholarships from outside organizations (state grants/scholarships, local/national merit-based awards, etc.)

3. How can I afford to send my child to Columbia?

We know that choosing the right college involves a variety of factors, and the cost of the institution and how you will finance your student’s education are extremely important considerations. A student should never decide not to apply to Columbia because they think the cost exceeds their family’s ability to pay. Need-based aid makes it possible for everyone to afford a Columbia education.

Columbia reviews each admitted student’s family’s financial circumstances, determines your financial need, and awards aid to meet a family’s full demonstrated financial need. For many families, Columbia can be as affordable, if not more affordable, than a state-college or university education.

We make every effort to help meet students’ financial needs. Columbia recently announced extensive enhancements to its undergraduate financial aid program. In our quest to make Columbia affordable for all students, especially those from low-income and middle-income families, the University implemented the following financial aid enhancements for all incoming and continuing students, beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year:

• Columbia eliminated loans for all students receiving financial aid, whatever their family income, and replaced them with University grants.
• In an effort to further assist low-income families, parents with calculated total incomes below $60,000 (and typical assets) are not expected to contribute anyof their income or assets to tuition, room, board and mandatory fees.
• Families with calculated incomes between $60,000 and $100,000 (and typical assets) have a significantly reduced parent contribution.
• To support students pursuing study abroad, research, internships and community service opportunities, Columbia offers the opportunity to apply for additional funding and exemptions from academic year and summer work expectations.

These enhancements build on previous financial aid initiatives and a long standing commitment to make Columbia affordable for all admitted students as illustrated by the following facts:

• Columbia meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all students admitted as first years who applied for financial aid, including foreign students, and we continue to meet your 100% of your demonstrated financial need for all four years of study.
• Columbia has the highest proportion (16%) of undergraduates receiving federal Pell Grants in the Ivy League and among the nation’s most elite private research institutions (top 25).
• About 50% of Columbia undergraduates receive some sort of financial assistance.
• 80% of first-year students applying for financial aid received a need-based aid award.
• Last year, Columbia committed over $90 million of its resources for grant aid to undergraduate students.
• Alumnus John Kluge, CC’37, recently pledged $400 million to Columbia, all designated for financial aid. This marks the largest pledge ever devoted exclusively to student aid to any single institution of higher education in the United States.

4. How competitive is admission to Columbia?

Admission to both Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is broad-based but highly selective, and the Committee is only able to offer admission to only a small fraction of all applicants.

Last year, under 10% of first-year applicants were admitted.

Admission for transfer students is also highly selective. Over the past decade, the Committee has admitted between 5% and 10% of transfer applicants each year.

A profile of the Class of 2013 is available on the Admissions Statistics webpage.

5. What criteria are used for admissions decisions?

The Columbia University first-year class of 1,024 students in the College and 317 in Engineering is chosen from a large and diverse group of applicants. In the process of selection, the Committee on Admissions asks questions about each applicant’s academic potential, intellectual strength and ability to think independently. The Committee also considers the general attitudes and character of the applicant, special abilities and interests, maturity, motivation, curiosity and whether he or she is likely to make productive use of the four years at Columbia. In its final selection, Columbia seeks diversity of personalities, achievements and talents, and of economic, social, ethnic, racial and geographic backgrounds. Each applicant’s academic record is examined, together with reports on personal qualities that have been supplied by the principal, headmaster or counselor and by teachers. The student’s record of participation in the life of his or her school and community is also important, as is his or her performance on standardized tests.

6. What percentage of students live on campus?

Columbia undergraduate students are guaranteed housing for all four years. Nearly all undergraduates live on campus all four years and first-year students are expected to live on campus.

7. What are the advising and support services on campus?

Columbia administers one of most comprehensive advising systems in the nation. For more detailed information on advising resources at Columbia, please visit Resources for Columbia Students.

8. What is the student-faculty ratio?

The student to faculty ratio is 6 to 1.

9. How large are Columbia classes?

Over 75% of undergraduate classes taught at Columbia have fewer than 20 students.

10. What role do parents and families play in the Columbia community?

We believe that college is a time when young adults begin to separate from their parents, assume greater responsibility for their decisions and actions, and seek to rely more on institutional support systems. This philosophy, however, does not preclude our belief that familial support systems are extremely important for students, and that parents and families can and should be involved in their student’s education.

How then can you be involved in your student’s Columbia experience while allowing for his or her development? Here are just a few ways:

Listen—Hear what your students have to say. While respecting their newfound autonomy, check in with them every once in a while to see how they’re doing. Don’t assume you know what it’s like for them; remember that the college experience has changed since you were their age!

Learn—Find out more about Columbia. Learn about the school’s history, constituents, leadership, and mission. Check the Columbia website for the latest news on events happening on and off campus. Consult the Family Handbook to learn more about the various resources available to your student.

Help—Help your student take advantage of these resources by directing them to the appropriate office. Remember, we expect students to take responsibility for their own actions and consult these resources themselves, so don’t call on their behalf. Rather, suggest they seek out various resources and follow up with them. Remember that they value your advice, even if they don’t always say so!

Network—Get to know other parents and alumni living in your area. Network with other parents, alumni, and administrators. Attend a College Day, Dean’s Day, panel discussion, or other event.

Volunteer—Get involved through the Office of Parent and Family Programs. Welcome new families to campus, help staff a registration table, or sit on a panel at a Summer Advising Session. Volunteering is a great way to get to know other parents and a great way to give back to Columbia. For more information, please visit the Family Handbook or the Office of Parent and Family Programs.