Columbia University

Columbia's main campus is on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, in New York City. Riverside Park and Broadway surround Morningside Heights, with West 114th Street to the south and West 120th Street to the north. The campus is known for its pleasing mix of Neoclassical and modern architecture. The famous Low Memorial Library is the center of attention, built in the Roman classical style and serving as the administrative hub of the campus. Butler Library is one of the most important buildings on campus for research and study.

The Alma Mater sculpture is another famous building, and it has come to represent the university's academic and cultural presence. Several important subway lines run close to Columbia, so getting to and from school is easy. The 1 train, for example, stops at 116th Street and runs directly under Broadway, which puts the rest of Manhattan and beyond within reach. Many bus lines also stop near the school. Columbia offers you a range of housing choices, such as standard dorms, apartment-style units and brownstones. Most of them are within walking distance of the main academic buildings.

This clever design creates a close-knit community feel, and it keeps the trip from classes to libraries to homes simple.

Student life at Columbia is dynamic and inclusive, and the rich cultural and intellectual atmosphere of New York City shapes it deeply. The university has more than 500 student organizations, covering a diverse range of interests and passions. They include cultural clubs, political advocacy groups, performing arts societies and academic unions. These organizations offer you the chance to immerse yourself fully in your passions and to take charge of projects. They also let you build relationships with a supportive network of people who share your interests.

The Varsity Show, an annual musical that students create and perform, is one of the most anticipated events on campus. It reflects life at Columbia with humor, and it has been a beloved tradition since it first began in 1894. The university also organizes a variety of prestigious events through the academic year, and they add to the student experience. The World Leaders Forum, for example, invites global heads of state and other international dignitaries to campus. It gives you exclusive perspectives on global politics and policy straight from influential figures.

Columbia's location in New York City also offers you the chance to expand your learning beyond the campus. You can gain valuable experience through internships and take in diverse cultural experiences. You can also build professional networks in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. The city serves as an expansive classroom, with museums, theaters, multinational corporations and non-profit organizations open to you. These resources greatly enrich the education Columbia offers.

• Barack Obama
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Madeleine Albright
• Zora Neale Hurston
• Jack Kerouac
• Isaac Asimov
• Allen Ginsberg
• Jake Gyllenhaal
• Amelia Earhart
• Andrei Okounkov
• Tsung-Dao Lee
• Orhan Pamuk
• Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
• Margaret Mead
• Sonia Sotomayor
• Kimberle Crenshaw