A great place to start is the Office of the University Chaplain (OUC). The OUC ministers to the individual faiths of Columbia University's diverse community of scholars, students and staff from many different faith traditions while promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding. Toward this goal, the Office of the University Chaplain creates and sponsors programs concerning justice, faith, and spirituality. Part of the OUC is the United Campus Ministries (UCM), an umbrella organization comprised of clergy of different faith traditions and serves the needs of the diverse religious communities at Columbia, including weekly meetings and worship services. In addition to connecting with others through traditional religious ceremonies, services and pastoral counseling, you can meet others through their wide assortment of lectures, outreach projects and discussion groups.

Columbia also has a diverse array of over thirty religious, spiritual, and faith-based student organizations. All groups are open to every student, including those who may practice the same beliefs as well as anyone interested in learning more about various faiths and practices.

If your student group is interested in connecting with international alumni, please contact Chia-Ying Pan, Director of Education, Outreach & International Student Support, with your request. You may be asked to provide further detail.

To find events abroad, first check the alumni events calendar. Events listed with green stars are school based and may be restricted. Alternatively, you may send an email to the Office of Alumni and Development with the region and dates in question and someone will let you know. The Columbia University Internship Network (CU IN) offers alumni connections in select cities for summer interns in the United States.

Yes, you can open a bank account and many students choose to do so to help manage money and pay for certain items. International students do not need a Social Security number or a letter from the ISSO or any other university office to open a bank account. You do need your passport, I-20 or DS-2019, and letter of admission to Columbia. Other items that could be helpful if you have them are your Columbia ID, a lease or housing contract with your name on it, and, if you have a bank account at home, a statement from your home country with your name and address printed on it. The bank that is opening an account for you will let you know if there’s anything else they need. ISSO has compiled a list of banks in the Columbia neighborhood.

Undergraduate students who live in the residence halls are subject to the policies outlined in the Guide to Living. These policies, which range from the Cable Television and Cooking policies to the Alcohol and Other Drug policy, are put in place to ensure a residential community that is engaging and safe for all its members

It is true that Dining Services are closed during academic breaks. During break periods, students remaining on campus are still able to use their Flex Accounts to purchase food at off-campus vendors. You can add money to your Flex account through SSOL. First year students have the option of choosing a meal plan that includes flex. This is a nice time to gather with your peers and try local neighborhood eateries or explore another area of the city together.

Yes. Under New York State Law, all enrolled students are required to have health insurance. Columbia students are automatically enrolled in the basic student insurance plan administered by Aetna. If you already have private health insurance or are covered by a parent/guardian, you can request a waiver if the coverage meets or exceeds the New York State requirements. However, it is strongly recommended that all international students utilize the Columbia plan as if offers the best coverage and providers in the neighborhood. For more information, visit the website on student health insurance.

The liberal arts education has its roots in ancient history and the subjects deemed necessary for a citizen to take part in civic society. In the modern era, a liberal arts education stems from the belief that an interdisciplinary education prepares students for society through exposure to a breadth of academic disciplines while allowing for depth in a major area of study. Students need to be adaptable in a fast-paced, interconnected world; through a four-year discourse with peers, students will learn analysis, argument, quantitative reasoning, logical inference and creative thinking. Students are encouraged to ask critical questions; not just the how, but the why. Not only will this instill personal passions for students, but many employers rank skills such as working in a team structure, communication, decision making and problem solving, and obtaining and processing information very highly in job candidates. A true liberal arts education is achieved without concern for vocational utility, yet at the same time prepares students for the evolving world and job market within which we operate today. The mission of Columbia College is for students to achieve Intellectual, Social and Career mobility that will allow them to adapt to any surrounding, any circumstance – including those not yet encountered or even in existence. Similarly, the mission of Columbia Engineering focuses on training socially responsible individuals through interdisciplinary education.

Yes. Many fellowships support work and other experiences in the U.S. and abroad and are open to international students. Those with a U.S. location will require U.S. work eligibility.

Living in a location where the language spoken is not your first or even second language can be a difficult part of adjusting to Columbia. It is useful to keep in mind that in the English speaking world, terms and phrases vary widely, so in a sense, everyone is getting used to Columbia’s language and academic rhetoric. One option for first year students looking to improve their English skills is a section of University Writing designed for English Language Learners (non-native speakers). This section is identical in content and rigor to other sections with added support and instruction on sentence-level issues and expectations of American academic writing. Please email your Advising Dean before class registration if interested. Columbia is home to the American Language Program (ALP), another option you may discuss with your adviser.

One of the more informal ways to strengthen English skills is to practice with native speakers. Engage in conversations with your floor-mates, peers and friends. Watch TV shows and listen to the radio or your friends’ music playlists. Reading a U.S. based English newspaper everyday will build vocabulary and comprehension skills; if you’re crunched for time, start will a small section and expand as your reading speed increases.

Official resources used by many students include the Writing Center, located in 310 Philosophy, for writing consultations in a variety of subjects (academic and personal), and some of the consultants have a specialty in English as a Second Language. For practice with conversational English, The Language Resource Center offers Language Maintenance Tutorials (LMT), which are non-credit courses for a fee. English is one of the LMT options and you can register for Individual Tutorials or Group Conversations. LMTs are open to Columbia students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Full time F-1 and J-1 students are eligible for “casual” employment on campus, defined at Columbia as an employee on the Columbia University payroll who is performing non-exempt work (i.e., hours worked are tracked) for a limited period of time. This does NOT include work-study positions (work-study is a government subsidized financial aid program for U.S. citizens and permanent residents). On-campus work is limited by immigration regulations to part-time (maximum of 20 hours /week), except during official school vacation periods. See the Center for Career Education (CCE)’s Tip Sheet, which includes campus offices and contacts for casual jobs for help with your search.

All international students in F-1 (and J-1) status are required to file at least one tax form if present in the US at any time in the previous calendar year—even if they had no US income. This process happens between January and April each year for the previous year. For example, 2013 taxes will be filed by mid-April of 2014. Students with U.S. income do pay taxes (taken out of their paycheck) and need to file taxes by April 15. Students without income (no tax has been paid) need to file by 15. ISSO offers tax information and resources. Nonresidents do not need to file for income earned outside of the United States.

As an international student, it is essential that you fully understand your eligibility to work in the location of the internship or job and the process to gain work authorization. Eligibility to work considerations include:

• Location of the internship or job, i.e., is it in the U.S. or another country?
• Your visa/work authorization for the location of the internship or job
• How long you have been in full-time student status in the U.S. for positions in the U.S.
• Requirements specified by the employer for the internship or job
• Whether the position is paid or unpaid (Note: for off-campus positions in the US, any wages or other compensation like a stipend or housing requires authorization through Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is approved in your field of study and requires an application to the immigration agency. The ISSO will assist with this. Refer to this summary of employment possibilities)

There is no list available of internships or jobs that are open to international students. Each employer determines eligibility requirements and states them in their job/internship descriptions so you must read internship and job descriptions closely. With respect to employers recruiting at Columbia, the Center for Career Education (CCE) provides a list of participating employers at career fairs willing to sponsor international students to work in the US. CCE also provides access to a list of employers who have sponsored international students in the prior year through its subscription to Going Global, which you can access using your UNI and password used for SSOL.

Interning and volunteering offer opportunities to gain experience, build your skills, and strengthen your resume. For unpaid work on or off campus such as volunteering or an unpaid internship, you may start right away and do not need OPT. You must be sure the position is unpaid for anyone (i.e. not just you because you want to take the job as a volunteer). Start by using these tools:

• What is an internship and how do I find one?
• CCE internships
• How to Fund an Internship
• Volunteering: Community Impact at Columbia University, Idealist, New York Cares

Networking is the process of making connections and building relationships that provide you with information, advice, and further contacts, all of which will enhance your ability to make informed career decisions and tap into unadvertised internship/job vacancies. Networking can take place in a group or one-on-one setting. The Center for Career Education (CCE) offers networking tutorials, receptions, alumni panels, career fairs, employer information sessions, site visits, online tip sheets, and networking preparation workshops throughout the year. Other ways to build or expand your network include joining a student club or professional association, volunteering, and talking to professors, family members and friends about who they might know in your fields of interest. See the Network section (section 3) of CCE’s core career skills page for more information and resources.

The two most important requirements are to remain registered full-time every term, making normal progress toward your degree, and not to accept any employment, either on- or off-campus, without written permission from the ISSO, and, if necessary, authorization from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Be familiar with the information in Maintaining F-1 status. Under certain conditions status may be reinstated if lost for reasons beyond your control. You may also regain status by leaving the U.S. and re-entering with a new I-20 for a new SEVIS record.

If you are leaving the U.S. during your program of study, you need an unexpired passport, unexpired F-1 entry visa, and an I-20 which has a travel signature obtained from the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) on page 3 that is less than 12 months old at the time that you return. Please read Travel and Re-entry in F-1 Status for more information. If you are traveling within the U.S., although only your passport is needed as identification, it is recommended to carry the aforementioned documents with you in case enter a situation that requires proof of status.

The Center for Undergraduate Engagement provides basic visa advice for study abroad candidates. Whether you need a visa to visit a third country almost always depends on your nationality, not your status as a student in the U.S. You will have to look at the website of the embassy of the country you wish to visit to see their requirements for visitors. Columbia is conveniently located in New York City where you can easily visit the consulates from around the world if you do need to apply for a visitor visa.

We recommend you secure reservations off-campus. For a list of hotels that give a Columbia rate, please visit and book your reservation through the Columbia University Visitors Travel Portal.  There are other options in Manhattan and other nearby areas as well. Hotel options near the 1 subway line may be the most convenient for you to travel to the Morningside campus. 

Many families travel to campus during the move-in period and families traveling long distances often plan a vacation or stay a few days to enjoy New York City.  If travel restrictions or concerns limit your travel, we encourage you to consider planning a future trip to New York City instead. 

If you do plan to travel, check the website of a local U.S. consulate or embassy to determine if you are able to enter the U.S. You also should also check with your country of permanent residence and/or citizenship about your ability to reenter after traveling to New York City, New York. 

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the guest policy has been revised for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Go to the Housing Office’s Guest Policy for this year and each year regarding non-Columbia University guests, non-building resident guests and guest passes for the current academic year. First-year students who have been granted housing will receive instructions regarding move-in by email. 

Families traveling for commencement will receive additional information and can browse the GradZone website.

.

While Columbia is unable to offer summer storage, there are several vendors in the area that students may use for a fee. Columbia has no affiliation with these companies, however more information can be found at Hudson and Manhattan Mini Storage. For other ideas on disposing of personal items, please read the Green Check Out tips.

If you are applying to Columbia College or The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science as an undergraduate candidate, please read the Application Requirements. As an international student, it is important to read the section for International Student Admission and the frequently asked questions for international students.

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.