Yes! As a Scholar, you participate in an academic enhancement program featuring speakers, cultural events, field trips, opportunities to meet with faculty and alumni, and summer research programs, internship and research assistantships. We are always looking for new opportunities to enrich your experience here at Columbia.

We welcome suggestions for future speakers - in fact, some of our most exciting and thought-provoking programs have come about as the result of a Scholar's request for a certain speaker (Ernest Drucker, Diane Ravitch, Philip Gourevitch, Samantha Power, and George Bizos, to name just a few).

At every CUSP event, you will need to swipe your Columbia ID at the door. Additionally, following most events, you will be asked to submit a brief online evaluation. Your participation will not only ensure that you remain in good standing, but will also enhance your Columbia journey.

While participating in the Program may help you with your financial aid needs, all Scholars' aid packages are determined on a case-by-case basis. Your financial aid officer can assist you with questions regarding educational financing.

Scholars without secured internships can still apply for the internship fellowship, and should list in the application all of the internships they have applied for. Scholars are required to inform the CUSP office by May 30th to provide an update on what internship was finally secured for the summer. Please speak with a CUSP Advisor if this applies to you.

No, the funding is intended to fund one experience at a time.

CUSP Advisors cannot complete the Recommendation Form for the CUSP Summer Enhancement Fellowship. However, if you have a good relationship with our Graduate Student Mentors (GSMs), then they can complete the Recommendation Form at your request.

If you wish to take an unrelated summer class at the same time as your summer project, be mindful that the pace of summer classes is accelerated, and you should beware of the potential of overcommitment, as well as check with your internship supervisor or PI whether additional commitments are permitted. If you wish to take a summer class in connection to your project, be advised SEF funds cannot be applied toward tuition or school supplies; some summer programs may be considered for SEF funding if they contain a strong research, fieldwork, or experiential education component, but you should see a CUSP Advisor prior to submitting your application if your project falls in this category.

Yes, both low-paying and unpaid opportunities are eligible for the supplemental funding to help offset the related expenses.

All grants are based on availability of funds. Please note that CUSP cannot guarantee that you will receive the full amount that you requested.

The CUSP Fellows Selection Committee selects the SEF awardees.

Interviews will no longer be conducted. 

Exercise caution, as using Columbia funding for a business venture can cause that venture to fall under Columbia ownership. Check with your GSM and your Advisor.

Yes, your creativity is welcomed and encouraged, whether your ideas are artistic or scientific.

Yes, you need at least one sponsor, but you are not limited to only one. You may mention in your application that you intend to have a second faculty sponsor. The main faculty sponsor must be a permanent Columbia University faculty member.

No, the funding is not meant to be used for tuition expenses. When in doubt, please discuss with your GSM or your Advisor.

No! You are certainly welcome to dig into an aspect of your current field of study, but you should also feel free to use this time to pursue opportunities in other fields; some of our greatest success stories have been from students who tried something different!

No, this is not wage or a salary; it is a stipend for expenses necessary to carry out your project, such as supplies, housing, food, and travel.

See our website, as well as the websites for the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Center for Career Education for some ideas to get you started. Discuss options as well with your GSM and your Advisor.

There is no minimum GPA requirement to qualify for financial aid. However, the student must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress towards a Columbia degree.

It is not our policy to automatically match other offers, and we do not negotiate financial aid awards. We will not match offers from institutions that offer merit-based awards. However, if you fax us a copy of another need-based offer, we will review your application to determine if a change is appropriate. We do this because different schools may have different information at the time the application was evaluated. Or perhaps your circumstances are complex and have been interpreted differently by another school. The new documentation you provide our office may give us a better understanding of your family’s financial circumstances.

Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the Federal Work Study Office website.

After you find a job that interests you, you must bring an Employment Authorization Form (available from the Federal Work Study Payroll Office in 207 Philosophy Hall) directly to the employer. If you are hired for a work study position, your employer will complete the Employment Authorization Form, which then must be returned to the Federal Work Study Payroll Office.

Non-Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the

website.

The scholarships you receive from outside sources will be used to reduce the work study portion of your financial aid package. For example, if you are awarded a $2,000 National Merit Scholarship, your work study expectation will be reduced by the full $2,000. Only after your work study has been completely eliminated will your scholarships begin to reduce any Columbia Grant you may have received.

Student employees generally receive biweekly paychecks for the hours they worked. These earnings do not appear as credits on any bill received from Columbia. Instead, a paycheck will be given to the student and the money earned may be used to purchase books and other personal items.

Wages for work study jobs range from approximately $7 to $12, depending on the job and your qualifications. Most first-year students earn approximately $7-8 per hour and therefore work about ten to twelve hours a week to fulfill their work study allocation.

Once you submit the missing documents we will attempt to notify you of your aid eligibility within a week. If you have any questions regarding any of the missing materials please call of the Office of Financial Aid & Undergraduate Financing at 212-854-3711.

Yes, Columbia students are expected to work during the summer, incoming first-years are expected to earn $1,850 during the summer before entering Columbia. This amount should be available to contribute toward your educational expenses during the academic year.

There is no minimum GPA requirement to qualify for financial aid. However, the student must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress towards a Columbia degree.

The deadline to submit the renewal application for financial aid is early May. We will contact you in early March with instructions on how to complete the renewal application process.

Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the Federal Work Study Office website.

After you find a job that interests you, you must bring an Employment Authorization Form (available from the Federal Work Study Payroll Office in 207 Philosophy Hall) directly to the employer. If you are hired for a work study position, your employer will complete the Employment Authorization Form, which then must be returned to the Federal Work Study Payroll Office.

Non-Federal Work Study jobs are listed on the

website.

Aetna Student Health manages the medical insurance waiver process for Columbia, which is separate from Health Services. An overview of the Health Insurance information may be found online at http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/overview/index.html. There is an online waiver form, which you must complete and return every year during the summer prior to the beginning of the academic year (and no later than September 30 each year). When they receive the waiver form and are able to determine that you receive adequate medical coverage, Aetna will take appropriate action, and you will not be billed for medical insurance. We encourage you to complete this process no later than July 15 so that an anticipated charge for medical insurance will not appear on your Student Account Statement for the fall term. Please note that the online waiver will not activate for the upcoming academic year until summer: http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/csmip/waiver/index.html.

Student employees generally receive biweekly paychecks for the hours they worked. These earnings do not appear as credits on any bill received from Columbia. Instead, a paycheck will be given to the student and the money earned may be used to purchase books and other personal items.

Wages for work study jobs range from approximately $7 to $12, depending on the job and your qualifications. Most first-year students earn approximately $7-8 per hour and therefore work about ten to twelve hours a week to fulfill their work study allocation.

If you are participating in a study abroad program you will be charged regular tuition as if you were enrolled at Columbia. Your financial aid budget will be adjusted to reflect your costs while abroad. If your financial aid credits exceed the tuition charged then you will be issued a refund to help cover any costs incurred while abroad (e.g., room, board, books, personal expenses, travel).

Your financial aid budget includes the cost of a standard residence hall room and the standard meal plan, both of which all first-year students are required to purchase. After your first year, you will no longer be required to sign up for a meal plan, however, your financial aid budget will include a food allowance based on the availability of kitchen facilities in your dorm. For dorms with no kitchen, your food allowance will be equal to the cost of the standard meal plan. For dorms with kitchens, your food allowance will be lower than the cost of the standard meal plan, since you will be able to cook some of your meals for yourself. If being on a meal plan is important to you, you should select a dormitory without kitchen facilities, so that you do not spend more on room and board than your budget allows.

At Columbia we call each bill a Student Account Statement. You will be sent the first Student Account Statement for the fall term in late July or early August, and the first statement for the spring term in early December. The payment due date will be approximately 30 days after the first Student Account Statement for the term has been sent.

In addition, you will receive monthly Student Account Statements when there is a current activity on your account (a new charge or credit), or if a debit or credit balance remains on your account.

Student Account Statements will not be mailed home. Instead you will be able to view your Student Account Statement via Student Services Online (SSOL). Also, on SSOL you may authorize your parent(s) to view the E-Bill.

Yes. A family that experiences a change in circumstances may apply for financial aid at any time. For example, it is not uncommon for a family to suffer a job loss or illness or for a younger sibling to begin attending college. Please note that institutional aid will usually be awarded only in cases that involve an involuntary change in circumstances. Parents who decide to retire early or to invest in a business start-up may not be awarded institutional aid. It is a good idea to include a letter describing your family’s change in circumstances with any new financial aid application.

Please note: foreign students and transfer students who were admitted without institutional financial aid are not guaranteed institutional financial aid even if there is a change in circumstances.

Columbia College and the undergraduate division of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science provide need-based financial aid to students, awarding grants, loans and on-campus work-study jobs to applicants on the basis of their family’s financial circumstances. There is no limit on the number of students who receive need-based financial aid as each application is considered individually. In 2007-2008 the average financial aid package was over $30,000.

The College Board will mail the IDOC cover sheets to your home address by mid-March. If you do not receive your IDOC cover sheet by this time, you can print another one from the IDOC Web site. You will need the student’s social security number and date of birth in order to access the IDOC cover sheet.

There are a few payment strategies that Columbia parents commonly use:

Payment Plan: Some families simply take the total billed costs minus the total amount of financial aid and pay the remaining amount through the 10-month payment plan. If you choose this option you would make ten equal monthly payments starting July 1. Remember that unbilled expenses are not included in this scenario. For example a family with billed costs of $30,000 would make ten $3,000 monthly payments. A family receiving some financial aid that has $15,000 in unbilled costs would make ten $1,500 monthly payments.

Long-Term Financing: Some families choose to borrow most or all of the cost of education, thereby spreading out the payment of educational expenses over ten years. For example, a family may take a $30,000 Federal PLUS loan to cover the billed costs and would begin making monthly payments of approximately $372 to the lender, beginning sixty days after the second Federal PLUS loan disbursement. The second disbursement typically occurs in February since the loan is disbursed one-half for the fall term and one-half for the spring term.

Unlike the payment plan only strategy, long-term options like the Federal PLUS loan allows families to finance unbilled costs like books, miscellaneous expenses and travel. Therefore, a family may choose to borrow more than the billed costs, resulting in a small credit balance for the student each term. Credit balances are made available as a refund to the student.

Please note that there is usually an origination fee associated with long-term financing options and, therefore, the net proceeds received by the school will be slightly less than the total amount borrowed.

Combination Strategy: We realize that many families do not have the cash flow or liquid assets to accommodate the payment plan strategy. In addition, many families strive to keep borrowing to a minimum. As a result, we often counsel families to use a combination of payment plan and borrowing that fits the family’s circumstances. In general, it is best to pay as much as possible, interest-free, through the payment plan and borrow the rest using one of the long-term financing options. For example, a family paying $15,000 may choose to sign up for a $10,000 payment plan and borrow the remaining $5,000 using a Federal PLUS loan. In this case, ten monthly payments of $1,000 would be made to the Payment Plan and a monthly payment of approximately $63 would be made to the Federal PLUS lender starting sixty days after the second Federal PLUS disbursement.

For more detailed Information regarding loans available to students and parents please visit the Student Financial Services Web site.

Approximately 50% of Columbia undergraduates receive some sort of financial assistance. In addition, about 80% of first-year students applying for financial aid for the 2007-2008 year received a need-based financial aid award.

Financial aid award letters for continuing students are mailed at the end of June.

It is extremely rare for a family to ask to be released from the Early Decision commitment for financial reasons. However, on occasion possibly due to a lack of understanding of need-based aid (i.e., they were expecting merit-based aid, they did not submit complete information when using a financial aid estimator, etc) families have requested to be released from their Early Decision contract.

It is the family’s determination that they cannot afford to pay for a Columbia education that allows them to be released from the binding early decision admission offer. The family must first speak with a financial aid officer, before the release is granted. Ultimately, it is the family’s decision whether or not they feel capable of accepting the need-based Columbia financial aid award.

Those who do opt out of their Early Decision contract are released to pursue lower-cost school options, such as state schools and/or schools that award merit aid. The admission offer at Columbia is then cancelled. A candidate who declines Columbia’s Early Decision offer will not be allowed to reconsider Columbia’s financial aid estimate during the spring Regular Decision cycle and will not be able to reinstate the original offer of admission.

There are no academic, athletic or talent-based institutional scholarships at Columbia as all of our institutional financial aid is need-based. Our students are often the recipients of merit-based scholarships from outside organizations (state grants/scholarships, local/national merit-based awards, etc.); however, no merit-based aid is offered directly from Columbia University.

The scholarships you receive from outside sources will be used to reduce the work study portion of your financial aid package. For example, if you are awarded a $2,000 National Merit Scholarship, your work study expectation will be reduced by the full $2,000. Only after your work study has been completely eliminated will your scholarships begin to reduce any Columbia Grant you may have received.

Though Columbia is not need-blind in its admission of foreign students, if you are admitted then we will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. If you plan on applying for financial at any point during your four years of study then you must apply for financial aid at the time you apply for admission.

No, you must be an undergraduate SEAS or CC student with guaranteed housing status.

Columbia College:

The minimum requirements to be permitted to study abroad are:

• GPA above 3.0
• Sufficient progress on Core requirements
• At least 4 semesters of language study (or the equivalent) in the language of the country in which you wish to study abroad
• One course about the country or region in which you wish to study abroad

CC students should meet with a study abroad adviser in the Office of Global Programs.

Columbia Engineering:

• GPA above 3.0
• Sufficient progress on First-Year Sophomore requirements

Engineering students should look through the Engineering Global Initiatives website and plan to meet with Dean Leora Brovman.

The mark of "R" or registration credit is equivalent to auditing a course.  Please note that no points/credits are earned.  The "R" credit option is available only to Columbia College seniors who submit a completed petition found HERE.  

"R" credit petitions will only be authorized if:

• the courses are in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree
• the courses are not used to fulfill a requirement for the B.A. degree, and
• the student has the permission of the course instructor.

For more information regarding the "R" Credit option, please see your Advising Dean.

Science Requirement: Columbia College students who wish to request an exception to the Science Requirement should go to the Dean's Office in 208 Hamilton Hall.

Global Core/Major Cultures: Students who wish to request an exception to the Global Core or Major Cultures Requirement should meet with their advising dean at the CSA and submit the Global Core Petition Form.

Columbia College Students

Pass/D/Fail:

The purposes of the Pass/D/Fail option are to encourage students to take courses of interest to them outside of their field of specialization and to permit those who have not decided upon a major to test their talents in a particular field that may be of interest. Instructors are not informed if a student in their classes elect to use the Pass/D/Fail option. 

Courses used to meet the stated degree requirements (except those only given on a Pass/Fail basis) may not be taken for a Pass/D/Fail grade. All Core Curriculum courses (i.e., Literature Humanities, University Writing, Frontiers of Science, Contemporary Civilization, Art Humanities, Music Humanities), as well as courses for the Global Core Requirement, Science Requirement, and Foreign Language Requirement, must be taken for a letter grade.

All courses used to meet the requirements of a major, concentration, or minor including courses in other departments that fulfill requirements for a major, must also be taken for a letter grade, with the possible exception – to be determined by the relevant academic department or program – of the first one-term course taken by students in their eventual major.

All students registered in Columbia College during the regular academic year may elect one course each term during the regular academic year to take on a Pass/D/Fail basis (in addition to any courses that are graded only on a Pass/Fail basis). Students who do not utilize both Pass/D/Fail options during the academic year may elect, in the summer immediately following, to take one Columbia Summer Session course on a Pass/D/Fail basis. No more than one course may be designated to be taken on a Pass/D/Fail basis at any point in a given semester.

Students who wish to exercise the Pass/D/Fail grading option may designate in Student Services Online (SSOL) a single course for the grade of Pass/D/Fail until the Pass/D/Fail deadline specified on the Academic Calendar. After that deadline, students seeking to exercise the Pass/D/Fail grading option must petition the Committee on Academic Standing for an exception. Students should consult their advising deans in the Berick Center for Student Advising about the petition process.

In order to encourage students to engage more fully in the courses they elect to take for a grade of Pass/D/Fail, students are allowed to uncover a grade of Pass in SSOL until the end of the Change of Program period of the following semester. Students have until the end of the Change of Program period in the Spring semester to uncover the grade of a course taken in the previous Fall term, and until the end of the change of program period in the Fall semester to uncover the grade of a course taken in the previous Spring or Summer term. Seniors who graduate in May have until June 1 to uncover the grade of a course taken in their final Spring semester. Students who wish to uncover a grade of Pass can do so in Student Services Online (SSOL).

The grade of Pass is not included in the calculation of grade point averages; the grades of D and Fail are included in the calculation of grade point averages.

Columbia Engineering Students

Pass/Fail:

Columbia Engineering students can take up to two non-technical courses pass/fail and the courses will count towards their non-tech requirement. Courses must be at the 3000 level or higher. Students should check that the department offering the course allows courses in their department to be taken pass/fail.  Students cannot take any core classes or language instruction classes pass/fail.  Only one class per semester may be taken pass/fail. (This restriction does not include courses that are only offered pass/fail.) The course grade cannot be uncovered. Courses taken pass/fail cannot count towards a minor; all courses taken for a minor have to be taken for a letter grade.

Before the Deadline

The Pass/D/Fail deadline is the last day of classes for Columbia College students and in the 10th week of classes for Columbia Engineering students. Students may elect to change the grading option via SSOL on the P/D/F Grading tab. Students should reach out to their Advising Dean with any questions. 

After the Deadline

Students must petition the Committee on Academic Standing. Find all instructions and forms online.

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students declare their majors online during the major declaration period in their sophomore year.  Engineering students declare in October; CC students declare in March.  Look for an email from your Advising Dean with a clickable link.

Some College majors require departmental signatures to finalize online major declaration.  If your major is housed within one of the following departments, download the CC Major Declaration Form and bring it to 403 Lerner:

• Archaeology
• Architecture
• Art History and Visual Arts
• Astronomy
• Astrophysics
• Biochemistry
• Comparative Literature & Society
• Creative Writing
• Drama and Theater Arts
• Earth & Environmental Sciences
• East Asian Languages & Cultures
• Film Studies
• Hispanic Studies
• Italian
• Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies
• Physics
• Portuguese Studies
• Sustainable Development
• Urban Studies

You can find information about the 3-2 Program in this brochure.  Take a look and contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.

Read the CSA fact sheet regarding the SIPA 5-Year MIA/MPA Program. Contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.

A sample schedule may include: Principles of Economics and Calculus I or Calculus III.

Take a variety of classes that interest you! Your first year is a great time to explore classes and to figure out what you are really passionate about. Peruse the Directory of Classesand the CC Bulletin, make a list of classes that interest you, and then put them intoVergil to see what might work best with your schedule. You may also take classes that fulfill your core requirements, such as a foreign language, a Global Core class, or a class that fulfills the science requirement.

Can I change my section of Literature Humanities?

To change your section of Literature Humanities, use the CHANGE SECTION feature on SSOL when your registration window opens.  If that fails, the Core Office in 202 Hamilton will accept requests to change sections starting at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of classes, Tuesday, September 8 through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14.   The Core office will accept pairs of petitions from students wishing to swap sections with each other. The method of receiving requests is TBA. 

Can I change my Frontiers of Science discussion section?  

To change your Frontiers of Science discussion section, use the CHANGE SECTION feature on SSOL when your registration window opens.  If that fails, the Core Office in 202 Hamilton will accept requests to change sections starting at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of classes, Tuesday, September 8 through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14.   The Core office will accept pairs of petitions from students wishing to swap sections with each other. The method of receiving requests is TBA. 

Please consult the CC Bulletin or SEAS Bulletin.

• Don’t panic! During NSOP and once classes begin, it is likely that more spots will open up as all students finalize their schedules. The first two weeks of classes are known as the Change of Program period. You'll be able to add courses to your schedule during that time. 
• You should check to see whether or not the course has a waitlist; if so, add yourself to the list.
• If you still want to get into a class that is full, it is essential to attend the first class.
• In case a seat does not open up, you should plan to attend the first class meetings of the next best options on your list. Twelve credits is the minimum required for all students. If you drop below 12 points, you risk being withdrawn from the term (except in your last term, when you are permitted to go below 12 points).

Placement exams will be given during the New Student Orientation Program (NSOP). You will receive a list of all placement exams during NSOP. For languages, you may consult the Academic Planning Guide to see if AP or SAT II scores place you into either a higher level or place you out of the language requirement.

For the subjects below, please consult the appropriate department’s website for more information:

• Math
• Physics
• French
• Spanish

Typically, advising deans add AP/IB and other outside credit to a student’s record the summer after his/her first year at Columbia. Please consult the Academic Planning Guide to see if AP credit or SAT II scores may place you into a higher level class or give exemption to a requirement.

Student Engagement has voicemail request forms that must be submitted to Communications Services at least five working days in advance of your message distribution. The cost is $375. If you want to record your own message, please make an appointment by emailing OCS at ocs-design@columbia.edu or by contacting OCS at 212-854-2897. Remember to keep your message short and to the point.

It can take anywhere from two weeks to a month, depending on the time of year and whether the University has previously paid the vendor. Make sure to include all information including the tax ID number of the vendor and a detailed contract or invoice in order to expedite the process. You can choose to have the check mailed directly to the vendor or held in Student Financial Advising (Lerner 515) for pick-up.

You can rent BBQ equipment from the University. Guidelines for BBQ events are available on the UEM website. Please work with your adviser so that your plans incorporate the current policies. Remember that you must submit a space request form to Lerner Hall staff to reserve outdoor space.

Student Engagement has many resources available to your organization. You can stop by and visit your adviser to look through various catalogues and give-a-way books. Vendors that we use frequently are:
Silver Screen Design
Ultimate Impressions
Imprint Products

There are University Copy Centers in the International Affairs Building (401 IAB, 854-3797) and in the basement of the Journalism Building (106 Journalism, 854-3233). Village Copier, who is one of our vendors, is another option.

Below are some testimonials from past JADE participants: 

"My favorite part of JADE was definitely connecting with everybody from the coordinators to the other JADErs. I posted a picture of a site visit on my Instagram and one of my older peers told me messages me asking if I was doing JADE. Turns out they were a previous JADE participant as well! Now both of us are able to connect deeper not only personally, but also business-wise. She visited other companies and our combined pool of contacts will be helpful to the two of us."- 2020 JADE participant

"I really like doing the web development. I loved seeing my work change and get better every time I refreshed the page. It was really cool and I feel like it connected well with my interests in art and tech bc of the creativity and the application of programming." -2019 JADE participant

"I learned a lot about the tech world, or just workplace general. I was studying computer science but I was kind of scared and had no one to ask questions. But now I know I can ask the leaders or just the members of the group. I also learned how to ask questions that are challenging and also productive. I learned a lot from the other students." - 2020 JADE participant

Participants will still have the opportunity to connect and network with featured companies through virtual and in-person visits, panels, and Q&A sessions. Current employees and past JADE alumni in the workforce will be featured. JADE is a great opportunity for establishing industry and mentorship connections. Fun bonding activities will be led by current upperclassmen so participants can meet each other and form lasting friendships!

Our office serves Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science undergraduates and alumni.

We hope to include all class years in each ambassador group. Our fundamental goal is to connect people from different backgrounds and this includes age and class year. GAP is a learning and sharing experience for all members of the group  - the premise of your ambassador group is an equal rather than a mentor-mentee relationship.

The Columbia Mentoring Initiative (CMI) is structured as a group of first-years who share a common social identity. The groups are led by two students who share the same identity and have navigated Columbia College or SEAS.  Mentors conduct social meetings and are open to talking with students about any questions or concerns that they have. 

Ambassadors are expected to participate in programs on Fridays (twice a month), sometimes as a large group and sometimes as a small peer-group. These meetings will typically last for about 75 minutes and start at 5:00 P.M. EDT. Additional optional programming like excursions may be added throughout the year.  Participants who have been able to fully participate are more likely to feel that the GAP has been a positive experience for them. 

Expected absences due to academic requirements can be discussed.  

Yes! GAP is open to all CC and SEAS undergraduate students.  You do not have to be an international student to apply to be a part of the program.  Various perspectives make this program richer for all involved. 

All Columbia College and Columbia Engineering undergraduate students are welcome to apply.  Please email gap_coord@columbia.edu if you have any concerns or questions.

Housing is only available from the first day of Summer Bridge Program (check-in) to the last day (check-out).

Since this is an enrichment program, you will not receive grades or credits for the summer courses. However, there will be a written evaluation shared with each student at the conclusion of the Summer Bridge Program that will review strengths and growth areas.

Yes, you are required to have a Zoom account to attend some workshops and tutoring sessions. Please sign up for a free Zoom account.

Yes, all meal options are labeled with appropriate ingredient information. Should you need additional guidance, please reach out to the Dining Team.

There are no shuttle services from the airport to campus, but cabs are readily available. Ask the driver to take you to "Columbia University at 116th and Broadway."

When you arrive on campus on your move-in day, Public Safety will greet you, guide you to a temporary unloading area, and provide a map to nearby parking garages.

Once you establish your Columbia email login, also known as your UNI, you may log on to Student Services Online (SSOL) to change your address. For any issues in creating your account, please email studentservices@columbia.edu.

Kosher, vegetarian, and vegan dining options will be available during orientation week and beyond. Have allergies? Let our dining staff know!

While it is common to have family members stay in NYC for an extended amount of time to sightsee and/or visit other family and friends, the week of orientation is packed with mandatory and social programs and affords little time much else. It is a vital opportunity to learn the Columbia ropes, make connections, and build friendships within your new undergraduate community.

The New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is a required program for all undergraduate students in Columbia College and Columbia Engineering.

Please visit the Berick Center for Student Advising website, and look for an email from your advising dean over the summer.

Don't fret! This is why name badges were invented. Both staff and students will wear one throughout orientation week. They are required for all NSOP events, so people’s names will always be accessible.

If you must arrive before the general move-in date, are not participating in a special program and do not have special permission from the Housing Office, you will need to secure off-campus accommodations. A list of area hotels and other options is available on the Columbia University Travel Portal.

NSOP 2020 will be held virtually. It will begin on Sunday, August 30 and end on Monday, September 7.

We will update students should any changes be made to programming in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. We thank you for your patience, and we look forward to welcoming you to campus!

With NSOP 2020 being held virtually this year, you will be able to set your own schedule with both mandatory and social programs. While most days are packed with mandatory programming, we have made a sincere effort to add numerous breaks to the week. To plan your week, we recommend marking required programs, events of interest to you and all of the breaks in your schedule to make the week seem less hectic. Making time to relax and meeting new friends is an important part of NSOP!

Each night, CUE participants select their preferred New York City activity from four amazing options. Past activities have included excursions to the Apollo Theater, Hungarian Pastry Shop, Times Square, Magnolia Bakery, Tom's Diner, Upright Citizen's Brigade Improv Theater, the Nuyorican Poets Café, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more.

Columbia Urban Experience (CUE) participants spend the week with a team of five to six other participants and one student leader, working at one of our service sites. They select their preferred non-profit site on the first day of the program, which they have already received descriptions of earlier in the summer. CUE-ers also engage in article-based discussions on critical and ethical perspectives of responsible service. Each evening, participants have the option explore NYC with free night activities led by a team leader!

Applications are due Friday, May 18 at 12 p.m.

Students will move directly into their first year housing assignments on move-in day. However, the program takes place in Special Interest Community (SIC) housing throughout the duration of CUE week. Therefore, academic year housing is not accessible during CUE week. Students are instructed to pack a week’s worth of their belongings to take with them to the SIC house.

Yes. Participants should bring any necessary prescribed and over-the-counter medication. Their trip leaders will have the medical information provided during the registration process. If medications have changed after the submission of the program registration, students should submit that information to a COÖP coordinator by email. Please note, COÖP leaders are not permitted to administer EpiPens.

COÖP is designed to surround its participants in nature and community. The time away from technology and cell phones allows the COÖP participant (COÖPers) to maximize their outdoor orientation experience. While COÖPers are out of reach during their four-day trip, COÖPers and their families should rest assured that COÖP takes safety very seriously.

COÖP invests a tremendous amount in training its leaders to prevent, prepare, and respond to emergencies that may come up. It has designed an experience that is both fun, but safe for its COÖPers and leaders. Accidents, however, can and do happen. In addition, life doesn’t stop while the students are attending COÖP. Emergencies back home also can happen.

In these situations, COÖP uses these emergency communication protocols to keep everyone informed.

Emergency at home

If something has occurred (death in the family, family emergency, etc.) that requires a COÖPer to be pulled early from his/her COÖP trip, please follow these protocols:

Have COÖPer’s emergency contact the Columbia University Public Safety office at 212-854-5555. Public Safety will put that person in contact with the proper administrators who can contact the COÖPer, and if necessary, get that COÖPer back to campus.

Depending on the time of day and situation, COÖP can reach most COÖPers in about an hour and can have a COÖPer back on campus in half a day.

Emergency on the trip

If a COÖPer is involved in an accident or medical emergency of some kind, the COÖP student leaders and Administrators work together to use their training and systems to (1) stabilize the situation, (2) secure help from a professional first responder (if necessary), and provide whatever needed medical treatment is required.

A COÖP and/or Undergraduate Student Life Administrator reaches out to the participant’s emergency contact to inform that person of the situation. If that person cannot be reached, Undergraduate Student Life then reaches out to other authorized contacts.

Participants should plan to move in all of their belongings for the school year into their fall housing assignments when they arrive to campus on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. 

The New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is mandatory for all students and begins on Sunday, August 26th. While students who did not attend a pre-orientation program will move in for the first time, families of COÖP students are welcome to help their student finish up any final move-in related tasks they have remaining on this date. Additionally, family orientation will begin on Sunday, August 26th. If you have family members who would like to attend programming, we would love to welcome them back to campus! 

Please check back in the spring for more information about times and logisitics pertaining to move in processes. 

COÖP staples include GORP (similar to trail mix), macaroni and cheese, pita, hummus, oranges, s’mores, and much more. Come hungry!

Move in for first-year student participants is Tuesday, August 21, 2018. The COÖP trips will depart on the morning of Wednesday, August 22 and return on Saturday, August 25.

COÖP is an administrative, student-led program supervised out of Student Engagement, within Undergraduate Student Life. The student coordinators for the 2018 trip are Nick Rio (ROP), Sam Kodama (BOP), and Adekunle Balogun (HOP); they can be reached via coop@columbia.edu. The staff administrator is Marnie Whalen. She can be reached at (212) 854-9675 or emailed at mpw2135@columbia.edu.

Students should be considered unavailable for any and all non-COÖP interactions beginning at 2:30 p.m. the afternoon before departure.

We will be distributing equipment upon your arrival to campus. You will be given time to pack your belongings into the frame pack (HOP) or dry bag (ROP), if you choose to rent one, prior to departure. Sleeping bags and frame packs (HOP) are $10.00. Drybags (ROP) and bicycles (BOP) are free of charge. Equipment rentals can be paid at time of registration. 

Please see below for whether your event requires tickets. Events will be added to this grid as they are confirmed.

Our Visiting Columbia webpage has lots of information to help you plan your trip to New York City.

Email us by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, October 3, and we will honor your refund request. We are unable to accept refund requests after this date.

Columbia University makes every effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you require disability accommodations to attend an event at Columbia University, please contact Disability Services at (212) 854-2388 at least 10 days in advance of the event. (View the campus accessibility map.) 

We are excited to give families special access to discounted tickets. Starting in late Spetember, families will be able to select the show(s) that most excite you and your family!

Students receive complimentary admission to the student seating section by showing their Columbia University ID. However, if you wish for your student to sit with you in general admission seating, you will need to purchase a football game ticket for your student. Check with your student to determine his/her preference.

Please register if you plan to take advantage of our Saturday offerings (lectures and tours).

We are aware that some students have midterm examinations during Family Weekend. The date for Family Weekend is determined by Columbia University's Homecoming. We encourage you to speak with your student to learn about any academic or other commitments s/he may have during Family Weekend.

We understand that coming to New York can be expensive. The Family Weekend registration fee helps us to provide you with a quality experience and variety of refreshments and programs.

Any new international program that is Columbia-Led, Columbia-Facilitated and/or Recognized International Travel that is open to undergraduates of Columbia College, Columbia Engineering and the School of General Studies requires Program Approval.  

Approved programs will be automatically available in the Undergraduate Travel Web App each semester. However, existing Columbia-Led, Columbia-Facilitated and/or Recognized International Travel programs that have changes to program destinations and/or to any of the risk variables must log in to the Undergradute Travel Web App to reapply for Program Approval.

You will receive an email from utrc@columbia.edu when your application is received, as well as when a final determination has been made. You may also check the status of your application or any other required steps of the Program Approval process by logging in to the Undergraduate Travel Web App.

Yes, this is required for all additional destinations you will be visiting while abroad, including travel seven days before or after your program.

You may make edits to to your application for School Sponsorship at any point in the process. Please note that the addition of new destinations will place your School Sponsorship application in “review” status until newly added travel has been reviewed, assessed and approved. If destinations added are of a medium, high or extreme risk rating, your application may require additional steps, including, but not limited to, an International SOS Itinerary Review.

Before planning or booking any side trips/independent travel, students should check with their program to ensure that side trips/independent travel is allowed and confirm any additional requirements the program may have in place for side trips/independent travel.  

Prior to Departure

Any travel information (including air/ground transportation and accommodations) on-hand prior to departure for pre-planned side trips should be included in the School Sponsorship application.

Side trip information entered into a School Sponsorship application will be subject to a standard review. Side trips to medium or higher travel risk locations will be submitted to ISOS for itinerary review. In addition, side trips to high travel risk locations will require that the dean of the student’s respective school, and in extreme travel risk locations the Provost, be notified of the travel. It may also require parental notification due to the risk level and/or safety implications associated with the proposed travel.

While In-Country

Students who participate in unplanned personal travel during a Columbia-Led, Columbia-Facilitated and/or Recognized Travel program have two options for registering their independent travel

• log into your ISOS MyTrips account and add your travel details (transportation & accommodation) to the trip you already have entered for your current travel program. 
• log in to the ISOS Assistance App and “check in” upon arriving at each new destination. Just remember to then check-in when you get back to your program location. 

Side trips to high travel risk locations will require that the dean of the student’s respective school, and in extreme travel risk locations the Provost, be notified of the travel. It may also require parental notification due to the risk level and/or safety implications associated with the proposed travel.

Your application for School Sponsorship must be started and completed in one sitting, therefore please have the following on hand before beginning:

• your UNI;
• the name of the program you will be attending;
• the program type (i.e. study abroad, conference, service-learning, etc.);
• your dates of travel;
• your emergency contact while abroad — name, phone number, email address, and their relationship to you; and
• all locations you plan on traveling to while abroad, including those that are not an official part of the program’s curriculum and/or itinerary — this includes side trips during the program and any pre- or post-program travel occuring within seven days of the program's beginning or end date.

Once you have all of the necessary items, log in to the Undergraduate Travel Web App to begin your School Sponsorship application.

Your additional safety contingencies are safety precautions that may include additional travel insurance, securing a satellite phone and/or consultation with the CU on the Road Travel Medicine Program. If necessary, the list of required safety contingencies will be available in the Undergraduate Travel Web App. When you have completed each contingency, please email utrc@columbia.edu with the proper documentation to have your status updated.

The required Pre-Departure Orientation will be available through the Undergraduate Travel Web App once you have been granted School Sponsorship.

Visit International SOS for a list of countries and their travel risk rating. Visit the International SOS Columbia University member site for more detailed information about your travel location.

Students not in compliance with the Undergraduate International Travel Policy and/or the Columbia University Travel Planning Policy will be reported to Student Conduct for disciplinary action. Additionally, the student may be subject to having their sponsorship and/or program funding revoked and/or their program terminated.

While abroad, travel location(s) may be re-evaluated to have elevated safety concerns. Students will be advised of the risks, including newly determined ones, in their location and, if necessary, they will be provided a recommended course of action which may include departure from the country or region. Schools reserve the right to revoke sponsorship, support and funding should students not follow these recommendations.