International Community

Campus community: "As an international student, I mostly leaned on our incredible international student community to build friendships and support networks when I first arrived on campus. We even have had a bunch of zoom calls in the months leading to our arrival, so I already had friends that I was looking forward to hanging out with even before I arrived on campus! Some of these people are still some of my closest friends, and the multicultural aspect of Columbia truly creates spaces for anyone to feel like they belong to a community here!"

Why Columbia: "Having grown up in a big city, I knew I wanted to be in a big city for college. Similar to Dubai, New York City is incredibly diverse and dynamic but is incredibly larger. There is always something new you hadn’t really noticed before. In every place you visit, you always find something new to admire and this truly is a place for everyone! Living in the city, you have the opportunity to be exposed to new cultures and cuisines you maybe hadn’t had the chance to interact with before. I am a huge foodie, so I really enjoy trying new dishes and exploring the different aspects of other cuisines. I also knew I wanted to be surrounded by cultural landmarks."

Transition to Columbia: "As an international student from Hong Kong, I was fortunate to have a lot of support during my transition to Columbia. From attending countless International events and gatherings where I met some of my best friends, to going on immersive trips to the Broadway museum and Voguing dance class with my NSOP my transition was smooth, easy, and seamless. My NSOP leaders and RA served as great point-people during my first week here, always attentive to any questions or concerns I had."

Living in Morningside Heights: "My favourite parts of Morningside Heights is the greenery. Specifically, the two parks we have on either side of campus. My favourite one is Riverside Park which is right by the Hudson River. The building I live in faces it and sometimes I'll take the long way to class so I can walk through the park and kick the leaves around."

In the greatest city: "New York City has so many opportunities to offer at any time of year, but the most prominent thing that makes it special being in the city as a college student is the fact that you can engage with work or internships throughout the semester. I’m a big foodie and love visiting museums so the variety of restaurants and art exhibitions have been amazing, but I would say the fact that I have access to so many company headquarters and can continue to work throughout the semester definitely makes Columbia unique."