Columbia University in the City of New York Reviews

"This is an outstanding program with easy access to career resources and distinguished professor whom actually want to help you succeed in class and right after graduation. I am so thankful to be at the School of International and Public Affairs as I pursue a Master of International Affairs. The only downside? Absolutely zilch in scholarship for your first year. It has been financially tough and I am working part time to survive in NYC."

"The MFA in Film Directing and Screenwriting at Columbia University is, for me, the most complete and competitive program in the world. It treats film holistically so students can have a broad spectrum of the industry but has a main concentration on "The story". Different from other programs that concentrate on technique, production or cinematography all students in this program concentrate in the creation of the story as their starting point. I think that this is the reason why Columbia films are so successful around the world and are the most recognized in international festivals, Columbia films are mainly good stories and that is what film is all about, you can't have a good film if the story is empty. The professors we have at Columbia are people who are currently in the industry so that makes their classes even more fulfilling and practical. We are always on top of what is happening in the film industry and we have the best people to confront the changes that are coming for film. This is a hands on program where students film exercises constantly to explore different aspects of film but always concentrating on its narrative structure and logic. We have production workshops that enlighten us with the marvels of special effects, sound design, weapon use, music for film, logistics and planning and practical production. I can say this is a program that immerses their students in all aspects of film making them , breathe, live and dream film!"

"The class sizes are getting larger and larger every year and I'm not sure if the campus can physically handle more students. Administration in general leaves much to be desired but many of the teachers make it all worth it with their enthusiasm and friendliness. Washington Heights does not have much going on so I would suggest living further away and commuting. Campus is easily accessible via an express and local line. The area is generally safe but women will definitely be catcalled and there have been some incidents while I've been a student here. Public safety cars are available though and they'll drive you home if it's dark out and you live within a certain area around campus. Career services has their own website and offers consults and is generally great. I've had some problems with their IT but they recently redid their library so the amenities are much better than before. Tuition is absurdly expensive and financial aid is difficult to come by. The workload the first semester is intense but afterwards it is manageable to have a part-time job and study."

"PROS: - Great faculty - Diverse student population - Wide range of subjects CONS: - Poor career services support (except if you are Latin American) - Expensive"

"The courses are great, and the faculty really go out of their way to make themselves available. The year that I took the comp exams, they switched some things around... and it was a complete disaster. It really ruin the great experience I had in the program. The chair had to step in and overrule the faculty who were in charge of the exam. Eventually, we all got through it and now we are onto our dissertations. There isn't much of a campus life as it is located at the medical center and not on Columbia's main campus which is further downtown. But you're still in NYC and there is always plenty to do! I love the fellow students in my class and will definitely have life-long connections with them."

"The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health has a thoughtfully designed curriculum which, though it is not flexible or easily tailored, will leave you with a well balanced and solid foundation in the field of public health. The school is located at the Medical Center, making for less of a typical campus experience than one would get at the downtown main Columbia campus, but it also allows for easy access to medical programs and all faculty interested in health research. The financial aid office is not very supportive, and most students here have substantial debt."

"Very good program. Very well structured and the professors are very knowledgeable about the subject matter. Good mix of students and well qualified."

"Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism offers an incomparable journalism education, producing some of the best journalists in the world. They are constantly working to be on the cutting edge of technology, tracking upcoming trends in how the news will be disseminated by the media to the world. Some of the policies in place are suited a bit toward "old media" (newspapers, etc.) rather than current methods of transmitting news, and the broadcast area of tools/technology is limited at times. Regardless, Columbia Journalism School still remains the top graduate school for journalism, hands down."

"A definite disadvantage to the Columbia School of Social Work is how astronomically expensive it is. They are the leader in the New York social work community and in social action in New York City. Their education and connections are superb. However, it requires getting in to 100k in debt in order to receive such a fantastic education."

"Love my program. Would come again if starting over"

"Great classes, amazing faculty, wonderful network. Just don't expect to have a social life."

"The MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program at Columbia University is an intense one-year program. It combines a mix of science, policy, economics, and ethics courses. The program is fulfilling to those that are looking for a fast-paced program. However, if you are looking for a program that will help guide you in your career direction, this may not be the best fit for you. That is not to say that the career services and faculty are unwilling to assist you in which ever path you may decide. I find the career services and vast alumni network to be extremely helpful. I have really enjoyed this program thus far, and highly recommend it."

"Great education and network. CBS is vastly undermarketed and underrated. Poor financial aid."

"Great courses and teaching quality, top students, a lot of alumni and guest speaker sessions"

"Good school and network. Poor financial aid especially for being in NYC."

"Very expensive, but is well worth it due to the near-guarantee of an amazing legal career."

"Good school, but little help with obtaining employment for graduates"

"The fundraising program is very rigorous, but it's a fast-growing major. The program is small, so professors get to know students well, and are always happy to connect them to other fundraising professionals. The class sizes are limited to 15 students, so there's a lot of discussion-based classes in which you'll learn a lot. Classes are scheduled at convenient times, and the campus is easily accessible from almost anywhere in NYC. I love the school, and its culture. Would highly recommend the program!"

"My program is very small which can be both good and bad. My incoming class has only 37 people which is apparently the largest class they have ever had. I am one of only two males out the class. Interestingly enough, it is hard to fit in but easy to get along. Everyone has a different background and aspirations. Having such a small group lends itself to easy networking and ultimately a strong core group that become connections for life. The professors are amazing as they will give you as much face time with them as required. Grading is less subjective than most other programs in the school but the workload is almost overwhelming which is to be expected coming from a private Ivy League institution. Being in NYC is a plus as there is always something to do. The school is quite expensive. Currently as of November, 2015, the price per credit for my program is $1570. Each class has 3 credits, and to graduate the program you need 36 credits. Total cost is $67k which includes Health and student fees. My program: MS in Fundraising Management. This has been the best decision of my life."

"Graduate school is a great opportunity to move forward with your education. Columbia School of Social Work has opened many doors for me within the short period of time I have been here to expand my horizons. I truly appreciate the staff and their positive energy and the eagerness to teach as well as learn. This has been a great experience and an opportunity thus far."