Applications & Admission Process

Topics

1. Admissions Criteria and Selectivity
2. Applying, Application Components and Supplements
3. Early Decision
4. Dates and Deadlines
5. Programs
6. Testing

Questions and Answers

Admissions Criteria and Selectivity

What admission statistics are available?
A number of helpful Admission Statistics are available to help you gauge how competitive you may be for admission to Columbia.

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 able to offer admission to only a small fraction of all applicants.

Last year, 8.9% of first-year applicants to Columbia College were admitted, and approximately 14.4% of first-year applicants to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science 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.

What criteria are used for admissions decisions?
The Columbia University first-year class of 1,074 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.

What is Columbia’s policy on admissions interviews?
Interviews are not required for admission. 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, 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 1 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, we respectfully ask that you do not call
or write to inquire about receiving an interview. 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. Interviews are not offered to transfer students.

Is there a minimum test score, class rank or GPA required for admission to Columbia?
No. Columbia does not have a “cut-off” GPA or test score for applicants. All applications receive a thorough review by the Committee on Admissions, regardless of GPA or test scores. For detailed information on the statistics of the most recent entering class, go to the Admissions Statistics page.

What are your secondary/high school course requirements for admission?
For Columbia College:
The College has no explicit number of unit requirements for admission, but applicants must present evidence that they are prepared for college work in the humanities, mathematics, social sciences, foreign languages and natural sciences. Accordingly, the College strongly recommends the following preparation:

• Four years of English literature and composition
• Three to four years of Mathematics
• Three to four years of History and social studies
• Three to four years of one foreign language (ancient or modern)
• Three to four years of Laboratory science

Students who plan to become scientists, engineers, physicians or dentists should be as solidly grounded in mathematics and the sciences as their high school schedules and curricula have permitted. The study of mathematics, at least through precalculus, is strongly advised wherever possible.

Modifying the preparatory program just outlined - by taking more work in some subjects and less in others - is not only acceptable but may be desirable in individual cases. The vast majority of successful applicants to the College have taken five academic courses per term for all four years of secondary/high school.

For Columbia Engineering:
The School of Engineering and Applied Science prescribes no standardized course of study for secondary school students applying for first-year admission. The School does, however, strongly recommend the following academic preparation:

• Four years of mathematics (preferably through calculus)
• One year of physics
• One year of chemistry
• Four years of English

And recommends as well:

• Two to three years of a foreign language
• Three to four years of history and social studies

Are my chances for admission greater if I apply Early Decision?
Although a larger percentage of the Early Decision applicant pool is admitted than of the Regular Decision pool, the higher acceptance rate under our Early Decision Program reflects the remarkable strength of a self-selected group of applicants. A candidate to whom we otherwise would not offer admission is not going to be offered admission simply because he or she applied under the Early Decision Program. We strongly urge you to apply under the Early Decision Program if and only if Columbia is your first choice.

Does Columbia allow early admission for high school juniors?

Early admission is occasionally granted to students of special promise who are completing the junior year of secondary/high school and who meet the following requirements:

1. maintained an outstanding academic record in their secondary schools;
2. have the physical, intellectual and emotional maturity to handle the rigorous program at Columbia;
3. have the full endorsement of their secondary/high schools.

Applicants for early admission should follow the normal procedure in applying, but should indicate they are applying for early admission under the “Additional Information” section of the online Application for Admission.

Does Columbia give preference in the admission process to applicants whose parents attended Columbia?
We are always pleased to receive applications from students whose family members have graduated from Columbia. When an applicant is extremely competitive and compares favorably with other similarly talented candidates, being the daughter or son of a Columbia University graduate (from any Columbia school or college) may be a slight advantage in the admission process. This advantage may especially apply for “legacy” candidates.

Please note: applicants are considered to be “legacies” of Columbia only if they are the children of Columbia College or the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science graduates.

Are my chances for admission greater if I attend a summer program or program for high school students on the Columbia campus?
Not necessarily. Although we recommend that all applicants spend some time on campus before applying, applicants who have attended a program on the Columbia campus are not given automatic preference in the admissions process.

For more information on summer programs at Columbia, please visit the High School Programs Website.

Are my chances for admission to a Columbia graduate school greater if I attend Columbia as an undergraduate?
Not necessarily. Columbia provides a rigorous undergraduate education that prepares a student for any particular graduate program. Columbia’s thirteen graduate schools make admissions decisions independent of those decisions made for admission to Columbia College or to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Students who graduate from Columbia ’s undergraduate programs are not given any automatic preference at the graduate schools. However, many Columbia graduates do choose to continue their professional education at Columbia.

I have already graduated from high school. May I apply to Columbia?
The answer depends on a number of factors, so pay careful attention to the distinctions below. You should also consult the instructions in the application itself. If you still are unsure of your status, please contact us by phone.

The distinctions below apply to all candidates as specified, regardless of citizenship or visa status or need for financial aid. If you are enrolled at a college or university overseas that follows a U.S.-style curriculum (e.g., the American University of Paris), then you should follow the same policy as a student at a college or university in the U.S.

If You Are Interested In The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science:
A gap in your schooling, whether for military service or any other reason, does not affect your admissions status as delineated in these distinctions.

1. If you have not already spent a full academic year or more in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to SEAS as a first-year student.
2. If you have already spent a full academic year or more in a university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to SEAS as a transfer student.
3. If you have spent more than two full academic years in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to SEAS as an undergraduate at all.
4. If you have spent a full academic year or less in a university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you must still apply to SEAS as a first-year student.
5. If you have spent more than a full academic year in a university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to SEAS as an undergraduate at all.

If You Are Interested in Columbia College:

1. If you have had no interruptions in your schooling of more than one academic year in total, or if the interruption in your schooling has been for the minimum length of your country’s mandatory military service:
   1. If you have not already spent a full academic year or more in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to Columbia College as a first-year student.
   2. If you have already spent a full academic year or more in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to Columbia College as a transfer student.
   3. If you have spent more than two full academic years in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to Columbia College as an undergraduate at all. (See paragraph II below.)
   4. If you have already spent a full academic year or less in a college/university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to Columbia College as a first-year student.
   5. If you have already spent more than a full academic year in a college/university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to Columbia College as an undergraduate at all. (See paragraph II below.)
2. If you have had any interruptions in your schooling of more than one academic year, or if you have been referred here by item I.3 or I.5 above, then you are strongly advised to apply instead to Columbia University’s School of General Studies, a non-residential liberal arts division of the university that exists to serve the needs and goals of non-traditional students. By visiting the General Studies Web site, you will find information on applying either as a first-year student or as a transfer. Financial aid is available to all candidates who qualify. If the foregoing criteria apply to you, you may still apply to Columbia College if you insist, but you should be aware that you are doing so at a great disadvantage and that your acceptance is extremely unlikely.

Does Columbia have a waiting list?
Columbia places extremely compelling candidates on a waiting list to be considered for admission if spots in the entering class become available. Every year, the number of spots that become available is different.

We do not ‘rank’ our waiting list, and all candidates are re-considered for admission if spaces do become available. We also strongly discourage the submission of additional letters of recommendation for candidates holding a space on the waitlist.

Are admissions requirements different for home-schooled students?
Yes. We require that applicants who have been home-schooled submit four SAT Subject Tests, rather than the two required of other applicants. If possible, two letters of recommendation should come from different individuals who taught you in two different areas of study.

May students rejected from Columbia appeal their admission decision?
No. If your application to Columbia is denied, that decision is final. There is no appeal process for admission decisions, and applicants are not re-considered for admission.

May I apply to both Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science?
No. Prospective applicants to Columbia must choose either Columbia College or The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.

May I transfer from Columbia College to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (or vice-versa) once accepted and enrolled?
If you are accepted to either Columbia College or Engineering and you genuinely feel that you should attend the other, you may submit an Application for Transfer Admission to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. However, you will be competing with other transfer applicants (from many other colleges), and current Columbia students are not guaranteed or given automatic preference in the transfer admission process. We strongly recommend that prospective Columbia applicants consider thoroughly which undergraduate school is more appropriate for their interests and aspirations at the time of application.

Does Columbia have quotas for a particular region or school?

No. Columbia seeks to enroll students with unique achievements and talents as well as diverse economic, social and geographic backgrounds. We do not have any quotas for any particular population (i.e., race, ethnicity, religion, state, etc.). Applicants are compared to all other applicants, both regionally and globally.

Will Columbia ever rescind an offer of admission?
If a candidate is offered admission, Columbia reserves the right to withdraw that offer of admission if:

1. The candidate shows a significant drop in academic performance or fails to graduate;
2. The candidate has misrepresented himself or herself in the application process;
3. We learn that candidate has engaged in behavior prior to matriculation that indicates a serious lack of judgment or integrity; or
4. The candidate is holding both a place at Columbia and a place in the first-year class of a college other than Columbia after the May 1 deadline.

Columbia further reserves the right to require the applicant to provide
additional information (and/or authorization for the release of
information) about any such matter.

Applying, Application Components and Supplements

Does Columbia subscribe to the Common Application and/or the Universal College Application?
No. Please visit the Applications and Admissions Process webpage for the Columbia Applications.

Should I use the electronic or paper application?
For First-Year Candidates:
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions strongly encourages you to file your application online for First-Year Admission. Paper applications should be submitted only by applicants who do not have access to the Internet.

For Transfer, Combined Plan, and Visiting Student Candidates:
Transfer and Combined Plan applicants must apply online. Visiting Student applicants must apply by submitting the paper application available online to download.

What is your policy on the submission of supplementary materials, and may I submit an artistic portfolio or a tape/CD of my musical performance? How about a sample of my creative writing? A science abstract?
We request that the submission of supplementary credentials be kept to a minimum.

However, there may be occasions where such credentials provide information that the standard application does not. As a result, some recommendations are detailed below.

Please note that we specifically ask that you do not send collections of award certificates and the like and explicitly direct that you refrain from submitting your application in binders or folders.

Be sure to include your name, Columbia ID number or Social Security number (if applicable) and secondary school on each item you provide, and understand that such materials become part of your application and will not be returned to you.

Creative and Performing Arts
Musical performance compact discs should include two works contrasting in period and tempo. The disc should clearly indicate the type of submission: jazz, piano, voice, or instrumental (please indicate the instrument). The disc must list the composer, name of the work and any movement title or opus number. Discs should be limited to no more than 20 minutes in length and should not include any biographical or introductory material.

Artistic slides should be kept to one page and highlight the best work in your portfolio.

Please note that while professional resumes which detail your artistic involvement in dance, film, or theatre are welcome, digital video discs (DVD) and video cassette tapes (VHS) will not be reviewed.

Finally, please be advised that while we welcome the submission of such credentials (providing they follow the directions outlined above) and we often request that our faculty evaluate submitted supplements, we can provide no guarantee that such materials will actually be reviewed or evaluated (as they are not required for the admission process).

Science and Engineering
If you have been involved in scientific research and you are interested in pursuing a career in the sciences or engineering at Columbia, we welcome a one-to-two page scientific abstract you may provide for our review.

May I submit supplementary recommendations?
The Committee discourages the submission of additional recommendations, as admissions decisions will be based primarily on the required recommendations from your high school teachers and secondary school/guidance counselor. In general, we recommend the submission of a supplementary recommendation only if the writer has worked with you in a research or college course capacity.

What is Columbia’s policy on admissions interviews?
Interviews are not required for admission. 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, 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 1 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, we respectfully ask that you do not call or write to inquire about receiving an interview. 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. Interviews are not offered to transfer students.

May I apply to both Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science?
No. Prospective applicants to Columbia must choose either Columbia College or The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Early Decision

What is the 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.

Are my chances for admission greater if I apply Early Decision?
Although a larger percentage of the Early Decision applicant pool is admitted than of the Regular Decision pool, the higher acceptance rate under our Early Decision Program reflects the remarkable strength of a self-selected group of applicants. A candidate to whom we otherwise would not offer admission is not going to be offered admission simply because he or she applied under the Early Decision Program. We strongly urge you to apply under the Early Decision Program if and only if Columbia is your first choice.

What does it mean if I am “deferred” from the Early Decision Program?
A small number of Early Decision Program applicants receive notification that we will hold off on providing a final admission decision until April. Their applications will be reviewed and evaluated again among the Regular Decision applicant pool. Those Early Decision candidates whose applications are deferred to Regular Decision and who subsequently are offered admission in April are not then bound by any commitment to enroll at Columbia.

If I am rejected under the Early Decision Program, may I apply under the Regular Decision Program?
No. If you apply under the Early Decision Program and are denied admission, you may not reapply to Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, or the School of General Studies again that year.

Dates and Deadlines

What is the deadline for applications?
Early Decision Deadline: The first business day on or after November 1.
Regular Decision Deadline: The first business day after January 1.
Transfer Admission Deadline: The first business day on or after March 15.
Visiting Student Program Deadline: The first business day on or after November 15 (for spring admission) or March 15 (for fall admission).
Combined Plan Program Deadline: The preferred deadline is February 15. The final deadline is the first business day on or after March 15.

Please note that these are postmark deadlines.

Does Columbia allow students to start in the spring semester?
No. We do not accept applications for January/Spring enrollment from First-Year, Transfer, or Combined Plan Program candidates. Only Visiting Student Program applicants may apply for January/Spring enrollment.

If I am accepted, may I defer for a year?
Yes. A candidate who has been offered first-year admission may ask to defer enrollment for a year to work, travel, complete mandatory military service or pursue a special opportunity. A student cannot defer admission in order to enroll full-time at another college or university. A second year of deferral may be granted upon request. Students must request a deferral in writing by May 15 of their senior year.

Transfer and Visiting Students are not permitted to defer their admission.

When do application decisions become available?
Admission decisions for candidates who applied for first-year admission under Early Decision are typically available on or before December 15.

Admission decisions for candidates who applied for first-year admission under Regular Decision are typically available on or before April 1.

Decisions will be sent by mail and will be available online.

Admission decisions for candidates who applied for Transfer Admission are typically available on or before May 15.

Admissions decisions for candidates who applied for Visiting Student Program Admission are typically available on or before December 15 (spring) or May 15 (fall).

Admissions decisions for candidates who applied for Combined Plan Program Admission are typically available beginning in mid-March and on a rolling basis until May 1.

Schools, Programs, and Accelerated and Joint Degrees

What accelerated programs with Columbia graduate schools are offered to undergraduates?
Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science allow talented juniors to consider several accelerated or joint degree options including programs with Columbia Law School, The School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Science Po, and The Juilliard School.

For detailed information on programs for each school, please visit Columbia College Areas of Study or Columbia Engineering Areas of Study.

What is the Combined Plan Program?
Columbia offers a five-year plan in which you can attend Columbia College for three years and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science for two years; you then earn both the B.A. and B.S. degrees. If you are interested in the 3-2 Program, you should proceed with an application as a candidate for Columbia College.

Another five-year program allows you to complete your four-year B.S. program in The School of Engineering and Applied Science and then, with an additional year of study in Columbia College, to earn the B.A. degree as well. If you are interested in the 4-1 Program, you should proceed with an application as a candidate for The School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Interested students apply for these programs in their junior or senior year of college.

What is the Visiting Students Program?
Columbia welcomes college students who wish to spend all or part of an academic year taking classes at Columbia. While we will try our best to accommodate students who wish to live on campus, we are not able to guarantee Visiting Student Program students rooms on campus. Admitted students will be notified at the time of admission if we are able to offer campus housing. This program has been designed as an opportunity for students to broaden their college experience and is intended as a supplement to the undergraduate program at their home institution. Students in the Visiting Student Program are not ordinarily permitted to apply for transfer admission.

Students may enter in either January or September and may spend one or two consecutive semesters at Columbia. All Visiting Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at their home schools. Application deadlines are March 15 for September entrance and November 15 for January entrance. No financial aid is available to visiting students, but they are welcome to use financial aid from their home institutions.

What is the difference between Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Barnard College, and the School of General Studies?
Columbia College is the traditional undergraduate liberal arts college. The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is the University’s engineering school, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Barnard College is a liberal arts college for women affiliated with Columbia University. At Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and Barnard College, students usually come directly from high school and attend full-time. The School of General Studies is Columbia’s college for nontraditional liberal arts students who want to earn a BA while attending full- or part-time during the day and some evenings. Students in the School of General Studies take the same courses with the same faculty and major in the same departments as all other undergraduates on the Columbia campus. All four colleges are located on the Morningside Heights campus in New York City.

What is the process for being selected for the Higher Education Opportunities Program (HEOP) or the National Opportunity Program (NOP)?
HEOP was established by the New York State Legislature in 1969 to assist eligible residents in obtaining higher education at New York private institutions. The National Opportunity Program was created by Columbia in 1986 to provide the same kind of academic and financial support to students from all over the United States. Selection for the Academic Success Programs at Columbia involves meeting both academic and economic guidelines.

There are no additional application forms for the Academic Success Programs, and all eligible applicants to Columbia will be considered for these programs. Applicants submit the admissions and financial aid application materials and may be contacted for a phone/in-person interview by a member of the Academic Success Programs staff.

In order to be eligible for HEOP, applicants must:

• Reside in New York State and be high school graduates.
• Demonstrate (through academic records) a need for HEOP support services.
• Meet economic eligibility criteria set by the New York State Education Department (see below).

Economic documentation for HEOP and NOP:

HEOP/NOP Economic Eligibility: Household income can be at or below the amounts listed for the number of family members with the exception of the “single head of household” instruction.

An additional $2,700 may be added to the following figures for a single head of household.

Size of household	Amount
1 household member:	$13,300
2 household members:	$18,400
3 household members:	$21,100
4 household members:	$26,200
5 household members:	$31,000
6 household members:	$36,350
7 or more household members:	$40,450 plus $4,100 for each additional family member thereafter

Please contact the Academic Success Programs office at 212-854-3514, on the Web or asp@columbia.edu with further questions or concerns.

Testing

What standardized tests are required for first-year admission?
Standardized tests are required for admission according to the guidelines detailed on the Applications & Admission Process Page.

May I submit the ACT instead of the SAT Reasoning and or SAT Subject scores?
You may submit ACT scores in place of SAT scores. However, you must also submit the ACT writing section scores and still must submit two SAT Subject Test scores.

My native language is not English. Do I have to take an English proficiency exam?
To be considered for admission to Columbia, you must be comfortable with rapid and idiomatic spoken English. If your home language is not English and if your primary language of instruction has not been English for at least five years, you are required to take an English proficiency examination. Both of the examinations listed here are given all over the world, several times a year; you must take the examination no later than December of the school year in which you are applying:

1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). You are urged to visit www.toefl.org as quickly as possible for more information on this examination. A minimum score of 600 (paper-based test) or 100 (new Internet-based test) is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia by the testing service, using report code 2116.
2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System). You are urged to visit www.ielts.org as quickly as possible for more information on this examination. A minimum score of 7.0 is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions.
3. If you have a 650 on the Critical Reasoning or Writing sections of the SAT, you are exempt from taking an English proficiency examination.

Should I ever “rush” my test scores to Columbia?
No! 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.

Is there a minimum test score, class rank or GPA required for admission to Columbia ?
No. Columbia does not have a “cut-off” GPA or test score for applicants. All applications receive a thorough review by the Committee on Admissions, regardless of GPA or test scores. For detailed information on the statistics of the most recent entering class, go to the Admissions Statistics page.

What is Columbia's Policy on 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.