Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a different application for international students?

No. The admissions process for applicants applying with citizenship or schooling outside the U.S. is nearly identical to the general admissions process for all other candidates. The only differences are:

  • If your high school does not employ a U.S.-based system, your school must submit the International School Supplement to the Secondary School Report.
  • If your home language is not English and if your primary language of instruction has not been English for at least five years, you are required to take an English proficiency examination, either the TOEFL or IELTS.
  • Financial Aid application

Please visit International Admissions for more information.

Related FAQ Topics: Applying International Financial Aid International Students Testing

Related FAQs

What is your policy on the submission of supplementary materials (i.e. musical recording, artistic portfolio, science abstract, etc.)?

While we request that the submission of supplementary credentials be kept to a minimum, there may be occasions where such credentials provide information that the standard application does not. As a result, some guidelines are offered below.

If you plan to submit supplementary credentials, please follow the instructions below instead of those in The Common Application Arts Supplement. Applicants should not submit The Common Application Arts Supplement.

Please note that we specifically ask that you do not send collections of award certificates and the like and explicitly direct that you refrain from submitting your application in binders or folders.

Science and Engineering

If you have been involved in scientific research and you are interested in studying engineering or the sciences at Columbia, you are welcome to provide a 1-2 page scientific abstract for our review.

Creative and Performing Arts

If you are considering a major or concentration in Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Jazz Studies, Film Studies, Music or Visual Arts, or if you wish to contribute to the creative and performing arts community at Columbia through extracurricular involvement, we welcome supplementary credentials and materials (such as DVDs or CDs, slides or professional resumes) that reflect your artistic ability and commitment. Please follow the directions below to submit the appropriate supplement for the appropriate interest. Note that we are unable to return materials to you.

Musical performance

Students may submit an electronic supplement only via a web portal. Audio materials will be accepted as .mp3 files. Composition scores may be submitted as .pdf files. You will need your Common Application ID number to upload a supplement, and a processing fee of $5 will be required at the time of submission. Applicants who are eligible for a Common Application fee waiver may request that their processing fee be waived by contacting Lindsay Dussing, Senior Admissions Officer, at lrd2124@columbia.edu. Please note that musical supplements are not a required part of our admissions process.

Students submitting a music supplement should select two works contrasting in period and tempo. Students will choose from one of three possible types of submissions:

  • orchestral instruments (specify instrument);
  • jazz (specify instrument or composition);
  • piano, voice, non-orchestral instruments (e.g. classical guitar) or composition (score or recording of score).

We require that you also list the composer, title of the work and movement title or opus number. The total length of recordings should not exceed 20 minutes and should not include any biographical or introductory material.

Students in rare circumstances may submit two music supplements only when their talent is equally impressive in two different areas within music performance or composition.

Live auditions are not part of the admissions process, but auditions for private lessons and selective ensembles are held for enrolled students at the start of each academic year.

Candidates applying to the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange should still submit materials for Columbia faculty to assess your talent and potential. For more information on this program, please visit the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange webpage in this Admissions section.

Visual Arts

Students may submit an electronic supplement only via a web portal. Digital images will be accepted as .jpg, .gif or .png files, up to 5 MB each. You will need your Common Application ID number to upload a supplement, and a processing fee of $10 will be required at the time of submission. Applicants who are eligible for a Common Application fee waiver may request that their processing fee be waived by contacting Lindsay Dussing, Senior Admissions Officer, at lrd2124@columbia.edu. Please note that artistic supplements are not a required part of our admissions process.

Students submitting a visual arts supplement should select up to 20 digital images that highlight the best work in their portfolio.

Live portfolio reviews are not part of the admissions process. 

Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts and Film Studies

Students are welcome to submit professional resumes that list artistic achievement. Please refrain from sending DVDs or hard copies of writing samples, as they will not be reviewed. However, if samples of your work can be viewed online, please clearly indicate the relevant links in the Additional Information section of The Common Application. Finally, please be advised that while we welcome the submission of such credentials-providing they follow the directions outlined above-and we often request that our faculty evaluate submitted supplements, we can provide no guarantee that all materials will be reviewed or evaluated, as they are not required for the admission process.

Related FAQ Topics: Applying

When do application decisions become available?

The Columbia community is committed to environmental responsibility; in keeping with this commitment, we will provide some admissions decisions only online, not via regular mail. Applicants will receive specific instructions as to how to check their decisions online before decisions are released.

Admission decisions for first-year candidates who apply Early Decision are typically available on or before December 15.

Admission decisions for first-year candidates who apply Regular Decision are typically available on or before April 1.

Admission decisions for transfer candidates are typically available on or before May 15.

Admissions decisions for Combined Plan Program candidates are available in mid April.

Admissions decisions for Visiting Student Program candidates are typically available on or before May 15 (fall applicants) or December 15 (spring applicants).

Related FAQ Topics: Applying, Dates and Deadlines, Early Decision

What criteria are used for admissions decisions?

The Columbia University first-year class of College and Engineering students is chosen from a large and diverse group of applicants. In the process of selection, the Committee on Admissions asks questions about each applicant’s academic potential, intellectual strength and ability to think independently. The Committee also considers the general attitudes and character of the applicant, special abilities and interests, maturity, motivation, curiosity and whether he or she is likely to make productive use of the four years at Columbia. In its final selection, Columbia seeks diversity of personalities, achievements and talents, and of economic, social, ethnic, racial and geographic backgrounds. Each applicant’s academic record is examined, together with reports on personal qualities that have been supplied by the principal, headmaster or counselor and by teachers. The student’s record of participation in the life of his or her school and community is also important, as is his or her performance on standardized tests.

Related FAQ Topics: Admissions, Applying, Parents and Families

What is the Combined Plan Program?

Columbia offers a five-year plan in which you can attend Columbia College for three years and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science for two additional years, graduating with both the B.A. and B.S. degrees. If you are interested in the Combined Plan Program (sometimes known as “3-2”), you should apply to Columbia College.

Another five-year program allows you to complete your four-year B.S. program in The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and then, with an additional year of study in Columbia College, to earn the B.A. degree as well. If you are interested in the “4-1” Program, you should apply to The School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Related FAQ Topics: Accelerated and Joint programs, Applying, Combined Plan, Engineering

Are admissions requirements different for home-schooled students?

No, however, home-schooled students should submit the Common Application’s Home-School Supplement to the Secondary School Report.

If you take both the ACT and any SAT Subject Test, we encourage you to submit those Subject Test scores.

Related FAQ Topics: Admissions, Applying

I have already graduated from high school. How may I apply to Columbia?

The answer depends on a number of factors, so pay careful attention to the distinctions below. You should also consult the instructions in the application itself. If you still are unsure of your status, please contact us by phone.

The distinctions below apply to all candidates as specified, regardless of citizenship or visa status or need for financial aid. If you are enrolled at a college or university overseas that follows a U.S.-style curriculum (e.g., the American University of Paris), then you should follow the same policy as a student at a college or university in the U.S.

Prospective Columbia Engineering Applicants

A gap in your schooling, whether for military service or any other reason, does not affect your admissions status as delineated in these distinctions.

  1. If you have not already spent a full academic year or more in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to Columbia Engineering as a first-year student.
  2. If you have already spent a full academic year or more in a university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to SEAS as a transfer student.
  3. If you have spent more than two full academic years in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to Columbia Engineering as an undergraduate at all.
  4. If you have spent a full academic year or less in a university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you must still apply to Columbia Engineering as a first-year student.
  5. If you have spent more than a full academic year in a university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to Columbia Engineering as an undergraduate at all.

Prospective Columbia College Applicants

I. If you have had no interruptions in your schooling of more than one academic year in total, or if the interruption in your schooling has been for the minimum length of your country’s mandatory military service:

  1. 1. If you have not already spent a full academic year or more in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to Columbia College as a first-year student.
  2. If you have already spent a full academic year or more in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to Columbia College as a transfer student.
  3. If you have spent more than two full academic years in a college/university in the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to Columbia College as an undergraduate at all. (See paragraph II.)
  4. If you have already spent a full academic year or less in a college/university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you must apply to Columbia College as a first-year student.
  5. If you have already spent more than a full academic year in a college/university outside the U.S. or Canada, then you are no longer eligible to apply to Columbia College as an undergraduate at all. (See paragraph II.)

II. If you have had any interruptions in your schooling of more than one academic year, or if you have been referred here by item I.3 or I.5 above, then you are strongly advised to apply instead to Columbia University’s School of General Studies, Columbia’s college for nontraditional students who want to earn a degree while attending full- or part-time. Nontraditional students have had a break of one year or more in their educational paths or have compelling personal or professional reasons for completing their bachelor’s degrees part time. Students in the School of General Studies take the same courses with the same faculty and undertake the same majors as all other undergraduates at Columbia.

By visiting the General Studies website, you will find information on applying either as a first-year student or as a transfer. Financial aid is available to all candidates who qualify.

If the foregoing criteria apply to you, you may still apply to Columbia College if you insist, but you should be aware that you are doing so at a great disadvantage and that your acceptance is extremely unlikely.

Related FAQ Topics: Admissions, Applying, Other Columbia Schools and Programs

What are your secondary/high school course requirements for admission?

Columbia College

The College has no explicit number of unit requirements for admission, but applicants must present evidence that they are prepared for college work in the humanities, mathematics, social sciences, foreign languages and natural sciences. Accordingly, the College strongly recommends the following preparation:

  • Four years of English literature and composition
  • Three to four years of mathematics
  • Three to four years of history and social studies
  • Three to four years of one foreign language (ancient or modern)
  • Three to four years of laboratory science

Students who plan to become scientists, engineers, physicians or dentists should be as solidly grounded in mathematics and the sciences as their high school schedules and curricula have permitted. The study of mathematics, at least through pre-calculus, is strongly advised wherever possible.

Modifying the preparatory program just outlined - by taking more work in some subjects and less in others - is not only acceptable but may be desirable in individual cases. The vast majority of successful applicants to the College have taken five academic courses per term for all four years of secondary/high school.

Columbia Engineering

The School of Engineering and Applied Science prescribes no standardized course of study for secondary school students applying for first-year admission. The School does, however, strongly recommend the following academic preparation:

  • Four years of mathematics (preferably through calculus)
  • One year of physics
  • One year of chemistry
  • Four years of English
  • Two to three years of a foreign language
  • Three to four years of history and social studies

Related FAQ Topics: Admissions, Applying

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