Columbia University in the City of New York Reviews

  • 489 Reviews
  • New York (NY)
  • Annual Tuition: $66,139
92% of 489 students said this degree improved their career prospects
92% of 489 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Mari Leos
  • Reviewed: 1/19/2017
  • Degree: Law
"Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs is an amazing school. You have access to distinguished professors, top-notch professional networking, and a global student population. I couldn' t be happier with my choice to attend this school! The only drawback is that it is quite expensive and does not offer much financial assistant (fellowships for grad students are few) even when compared to other Ivy League public policy schools, so that's definitely something to consider when deciding on grad programs. Other than that, I love it!"
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 1/3/2017
  • Degree: Healthcare Administration
"I thought that it provided a great education. However, I wish that I didn't have to take out so many student loans. My advice would be to apply for more scholarships."
crappymcflee
  • Reviewed: 1/3/2017
  • Degree: Engineering
"Very diverse. You will have a lot of fun provided you have discipline."
Amanda Browne
  • Reviewed: 12/30/2016
  • Degree: Social Work
"Likes about Columbia's Social Work program: - access to resources within the whole of Columbia. For me this has been mostly in the form of professors and networking opportunities that have led to internships or potential jobs/research opportunities. You can cross-register with different schools and people tend to be pretty open to hearing you out because you are part of the Columbia community - the brand - this kind of goes with the first point. For better or worse, dropping the Columbia affiliation can elicit more positive responses in certain communities (mostly in highly visible institutions, non-profit or otherwise) - the students - this has been a mixed bag for me, but the students I've developed relationships with have helped challenge my world view and shaped how I can incorporate elements of social justice and allyship in my work, even though my interests are more international than domestic. Dislikes: - the administration - the advertised experience is not necessarily what you get in the classroom and it could be managed much better. Part of the challenge is that the School of Social Work gets the least amount of resources from the University and part of it is that some administrators are driven more by the bottom line than the student experience. There are efforts to hold the administration more accountable, but it's definitely a challenge - There is a heavy dependency on adjunct professors, including for core classes. When the adjunct professor is good, this can be great, because you sometimes get a more innovative class experience, but sometimes you get professors who don't have the time to dedicate to a core competency class. This means there's a lot of variation across student experiences as well, which then can get tricky when navigating difficult conversations around race, inequity, and our general role as social workers. - the size and experience of the student population - my cohort was 400 students, about 80% came straight from undergrad and were also predominantly white females. For the most part they are all wonderful people, but a lot of the administrative issues could be addressed by making the class size smaller and, while there is more diversity in the classroom than some of the other schools I was looking at, the lack of experience and the level of privilege skews the conversation. That being said I am a white female, but I came in with 5 years of work experience and seeking a diverse environment where I could learn from my classmates. The program tends to cater to the 22 year-old recent graduate, so I had to be more proactive about creating the experience I wanted. Basically, the experience is what you make of it. It depends on what you're looking for. For the Mailman School of Public Health, in addition to some of the more general things like resources and brand: Likes: Faculty: The Population and Family Health department is full of incredible, supportive faculty and interesting programs for anyone interested in Force Migration, Humanitarian work, and public health in complex emergencies. The Core: it's really intense and has its downsides, but it's really nice to get all of the foundational requirements out of the way in the first semester. Students: I encountered a wider variation of experience, backgrounds, and interests in the Core at Mailman along with a greater number of students with similar interests. This made classes much more enriching and created a greater sense of community and belonging compared to a more professional degree program like the one at the School of Social Work Career and Student services: Mailman makes a good effort to invest in their students and help them succeed. They're career services are especially helpful for resume and job search advice. Dislikes: The Core: I think the Core is an overall strength, but there's also a lot of volume in terms of assignments and homework that tends to emphasize more of a rote learning or 'teach to the test' type of practice. It is quite the pedagogical endeavor, so the faculty are open to and make an effort to incorporate feedback to ensure high quality learning, but it's not the perfect formula just yet."
Manual Terrell
  • Reviewed: 12/12/2016
  • Degree: Conflict Resolution
"Columbia University provides a diverse campus where the students and Faculty are held in high regard. The University is located in the middle of New York City along the west side, presenting various eateries, cultures, etc., there is always events to attend or participate in all year around. So come along and see what Columbia University has to offer, you won't be disappointed."
Jean Paul Laurent
  • Reviewed: 12/5/2016
  • Degree: Economics
"I joined the Executive MPA program and it completely changed my life. I was able to gain real life experience from high level teachers who work in different areas of government, private sector, and non-profit industry. This program has completely equipped me with the knowledge to be a great leader in my field."
Sifiso
  • Reviewed: 11/30/2016
  • Degree: MBA
"Great college! Offers world renowned programs and faculty. The location is great because you are in New York City and have access to this great city and all it has to offer. Many opportunities to do internships and work in the city as well. A lot of the faculty are industry professionals and have relations with various organizations around the city like the UN. Highly recommended!"
RM
  • Reviewed: 9/7/2016
  • Degree: Management
"Columbia is an ivy league institution with great teaching staff. Located in the heart of Manhattan, it has tremendous diversity. The classes are challenging but with the right amount of perseverance the program is definitely manageable. Classes are held mostly during the evening to accommodate working adults."
Alberto Estrella
  • Reviewed: 8/28/2016
  • Degree: Business
"Columbia's Executive MBA program is top ranked and one of the best in the world! Living, working, and studying in New York city is a great opportunity that only Columbia can offer at a higher level. I appreciate the once in a lifetime opportunity to enrich my mind and network, working intimately with and learning from highly talented peers on weekends. This is a unique advantage of the cluster system, which combined with the diverse backgrounds of the class, will produce enormous dividends at work and for my professional development."
Kay
  • Reviewed: 7/26/2016
  • Degree: Public Health
"The Mailman School of Public Health has numerous faculty that are recognized nationally and internationally in an array of fields such as global health and human rights. The opportunity to work along side and learn from these faculty members is quite amazing. I truly believe that this program offers a great core program that really delves into numerous aspects of public health (the six studios) and provides a core foundation for everyone in the program. My department is Population and Family Health and the program is set up to provide tangible skills that students can apply outside of the classroom. I found myself challenged academically and it has definitely been a rewarding experience thus far. Mailman has established relationships with many organizations where students have the opportunity to do fieldwork domestically or globally. I highly recommend this program to those who are really interested in public health and looking to build upon skill sets that can cut across other fields outside of public health."
Angel Au-Yeung
  • Reviewed: 6/29/2016
  • Degree: Journalism
"While I have yet to attend Columbia University in the City of New York, I am already impressed with the administration's attention towards prospective and incoming students. As I went to a large public undergrad school, I’ve experienced an educational institution with a lot of bureaucracy and a lack of communication amongst student service departments. From the day I attended an Open House session for the school to now, a mere month away from my first day at Columbia, I’ve received nothing but detailed attention and instruction from the deans. I can’t wait to start my journey at Columbia!"
Greg
  • Reviewed: 6/20/2016
  • Degree: Technology Management
"Great program. Lots of experienced mentors and professors with deep industry experience. Practical and invaluable defense training for senior leadership. Global program , so you get to meet and learn from a diverse cohort from different backgrounds and regions and industries."
Cortney Newell
  • Reviewed: 3/31/2016
  • Degree: Public Administration
"Columbia is a very competitive place, but the opportunities are there for those who are willing to work very hard for them."
Ben Feibleman
  • Reviewed: 3/30/2016
  • Degree: Public Policy
"Quite simply, Columbia University's journalism program is the best in the world. Classes take place in the Pulitzer building, and anytime you need some inspiration, just take a ride on the elevator to the 8th floor to the office where they choose Pulitzer Prize winners every year. The alumni network penetrates every journalistic institution of renown, the campus is beautiful, and you get to live in the heart of New York City. There are few more transformative experiences than an education at Columbia University."
Geoffrey Canales
  • Reviewed: 3/25/2016
  • Degree: Social Work
"The pros are that it is one of the best social work programs in the country.The location definitely sets a person up to experience a lot in terms of culture, diversity, and social life. The only con is affordability it is very expensive to live in New York and tuition is very expensive as well. The school should be a little more able to help in paying for school. Maybe have the policy like Harvard or Yale where they help you pay if you cant."
Lynn Desire
  • Reviewed: 3/15/2016
  • Degree: Public Health
"Columbia University is one of the top schools for any field! It is known around the world and it is in the beautiful NYC. Unfortunately, you do not get a lot of funds for graduate school unless you hit 80th percentile or had a 8.75 GPA. Hopefully I get a super amazing job which will help me pay for these loans."
Xu Ren
  • Reviewed: 3/15/2016
  • Degree: Mathematics
"This is a three semesters program. Required courses are Prob & Stat Inference, Linear Regression, and Advanced Data Analysis. The electives are very flexible. You can choose the courses from both stat and other departments to count toward your degree. I chose some math department course, which are awesome. Some of my classmates chose computer science and B-school classes. The workload depends on individual class. The department has career officers, who help you revise resume and cover letters and arrange workshops. They are helpful."
Thomas Bilach
  • Reviewed: 3/12/2016
  • Degree: Social Sciences
"Columbia University offers a unique program in applied statistics and research in the social sciences. As a New York City Police Officer, applied training in quantitative methods is both vital and necessary, especially in the age of big data. Aside from the costs of graduate school, there are no cons associated with my program."
Jonathan Chew
  • Reviewed: 3/7/2016
  • Degree: Journalism
"Reputable program with great access to alumni, faculty, leaders in the field (weekly seminars are a highlight/must to attend, and there are documentary screenings that are amazing as well). Career services is top-notch. Have also been generous with financial aid. Cons: expensive city to live in, and course is a little too short (less than a year, maybe 9-10 months)."
Emily Siu
  • Reviewed: 2/25/2016
  • Degree: Public Policy
"Yes, it's Columbia. Comes with the name and you will PAY for that. Faculty are largely more interested in research than teaching or supporting their students properly. You'll be hard-pressed to find a class with fewer than 10 students. The bureaucracy is crazy and takes a lot of fight to get through, but it does help sharpen your self-advocacy skills. Networking opportunities are great with the peers you'll meet."