sense of community at Columbia?

BellaWilde · 10-27-2006, 01:45 AM

One of my fears of going to Columbia (though I am all for it in nearly every other aspect) is that there will be a lacking sense of community throughout the university. I'd be leaving my whole family and friends and extended connections going to Columbia because I live way over in AZ. I feel like I am definitely going to need some sort of fellowship in college if I'm going to survive--I'm not talking about simply making friends, because that's not too hard for me. I'm talking about that sense of community or whatever that there is among students even if you're not necessarily friends. I've spoken with an administrator at Yale who espoused this about their college, but from what I've read (from possibly untrustworthy sources...) Columbia has a very independent, "you go your way I'll go mine," "you're completely on your own" sort of feel. Is this true?

columbia2007 · 10-27-2006, 01:59 PM

People are not automatically going to be your best friend/treat you like a family member here merely because you live on the same campus and/or are getting the same degree in a few years, if that's what you mean.

bing121086 · 10-27-2006, 02:59 PM

I think Columbia realizes this reputation, and there are some things that do create a sense of community, especially freshman year. Most freshmen live in two dorms, so that helps when everyone is new; I think most of all years will say that their closest friends are from their freshman floor (read: it would be beneficial to live in John Jay or Carman first year). The Columbia brochure also touts the Core as a community builder, and I think to some extent it is. You've all got the same complaints about Fronteirs of Science, and you can all also discuss how Dante is thousands of times better than St. Augustine or whatever. Columbia also thinks the Orientation process builds a community, but that wasn't the case in my experience. Then, of course, there's the food in the dining hall. Obviously I can't compare it to other schools because this is the only school I've attended, but I feel like there's a pretty decent community; maybe it's not some school out in the middle of the Maine wilderness with a student body of 500, but it's also not like you're dropped off alone in the middle of the city.

10-27-2006, 03:12 PM

My son is applying to Columbia ED. If he is lucky enough to be admitted, one quality that he sensed when visiting a number of times and appreciates, is that the people there seen so real. At least the students he spoke to weren't into appearances but into what intrigued and interested them, not keeping up with what everyone is wearing and doing. I probably didn't express this adequately, but after visiting other ivy schools, this seemed the most comfortable for him.

Denzera · 10-28-2006, 07:06 PM

the kind of student who gets into and attends Columbia - which includes those who are entrepreneurial, creative and pushy - will tend to find his or her own social situations and do just fine (and, needless to say, be happy). Out of the hundreds of kids I knew at columbia, maybe 2-3 were really unhappy with the place.

metsfan · 10-28-2006, 10:38 PM

There's people for everybody. The student body is big enough for everyone to find their own group, but small enough that you'll have friends in common that you didn't even know about with everyone you know.

zerocool920 · 10-29-2006, 10:45 PM

i dont go to columbia and i have never been there...and i just filled out my ed app. but from what I have heard the core is supposed to help build a common ground for all students. at one point in time, you are likely to have classes with just about all of the types of people that attend the university. it also gives everyone a common background, a common foundation to build on.

Shraf · 10-30-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

at one point in time, you are likely to have classes with just about all of the types of people that attend the university.

I dont exactly know what that means....there arent any specific "types" of people here.

Denzera · 10-30-2006, 08:48 PM

yeah, and i'm not sure anyone knows specifically what "it also gives everyone a common background, a common foundation to build on" actually means, either. It sounds like something from Up With People. Dude, words are coming out of your mouth (or fingers), but you're not saying anything.

Yeah, OK, there are a few specific classes we've all taken. It gives us something to talk about, but the reason taking those classes makes us "more educated" (in any sense of the word) has nothing to do with its universality.

sourpunchsk · 10-31-2006, 03:47 AM

I was a bit anxious about this rumor coming into Columbia, but I've only been here for 2 months and I really don't think it's true. For example, we don't bond as much over sports teams, but we laugh together about how bad they are. Overall, I think Columbia students are more independent than those of some other schools, but this shouldn't be read as callous or insulated. Everyone's here together and we're all going through the same thing. Of course, this is just the perspective of a first-year, but I have no complaints.

College Grad · 10-31-2006, 07:39 PM

I don't think the experience at Columbia is that much different from any other school in that it is up to the individual ultimately to find his/her way. I used to be a residence advisor for two years and we were charged with finding ways to bring the residents together. I would like to hope that I was successful because I got many of them to participate in various activities, i.e., intramural basketball and volleyball, movie nights in the suite as well as cultural events. Eventhough my dorm didn't allow first years, I did live in Carmen my first year and my RA really went out of his way to bring us together.
College is really what you make of it, and I feel Columbia does a great deal in trying to make Columbians connected or at least engaged with the community. Mind you, not everyone will feel it is necessary to become a part of some community but ultimately it will be up to the individual student. The school has people from all of the world, so coming from AZ shouldn't make you feel out of place. There were students from UK, Barbados and France living on my floor freshman year and they seemed to have become engaged in the community.