2008-2009 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
21
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Columbia University
212 Hamilton Hall, Mail Code 2807
1130 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Fax: 212-854-3393
Phone: 212-854-2522
www.studentaffairs.columbia.
edu/admissions
ADMISSION AS A FIRST-YEAR
STUDENT
Each autumn The Fu Foundation School
of Engineering and Applied Science
enrolls approximately 300 highly qualified
men and women, chosen from a wide
range of applicants. All become full,
active participants in a rich and diverse
university setting. Therefore, the Admissions
Committee is interested in achievements
not only in mathematics and
science, but also in other fields: English,
the social sciences, languages, and the
arts. Considerable value is placed on
personal qualities and attributes like
diversity of interests, special abilities,
maturity, motivation, curiosity, and independence.
Secondary school records
and recommendations are carefully
evaluated to ascertain the content and
difficulty of the applicant’s preparatory
studies and the degree to which this
preparation correlates with standardized
tests. Of importance also is the candidate’s
participation in extracurricular or
community activities. Here the emphasis
is placed on the depth and significance
of involvement rather than on the number
of activities. For its final selection,
the School seeks students with unique
achievements and talents as well as
diverse economic, social, and geographic
backgrounds.
Accordingly, 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:
• 4 years of mathematics (preferably
through calculus)
• 1 year of physics
• 1 year of chemistry
• 4 years of English
and recommends as well:
• 3 years or more of a foreign language
• 3 or 4 years of history and social studies
The Application Process
Students are strongly encouraged to
apply online. You may also download a
paper copy of the application. Information
about both the online application and
the downloadable application will be
available by September 1, 2008, at
www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/
admissions/applications. If you do not
have access to the Internet, please call
the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
at 212-854-2522 to request an application.
Part 1 of the application should be
filled out and submitted as early as
possible along with the $70 application
fee or an official fee waiver request.
All parts of the application must be
postmarked no later than the first business
day following January 1. (See
below for Early Decision deadlines.)
Decision letters are mailed out in
early April.
The Early Decision Program
Candidates for whom Columbia is the
first choice may apply under the Early
Decision Program. In order to qualify for
this program, all application materials
must be postmarked by November 1.
In mid-December, Early Decision
applicants receive notice of their acceptance,
denial, or deferral to regular decision
status. Applicants admitted under
the Early Decision program are obligated
to accept Columbia’s offer of admission
and must withdraw their applications at
other colleges if they are provided with a
financial aid package that enables them
to attend Columbia.
Required Standardized Testing
Please go to www.studentaffairs.
columbia.edu/admissions for our standardized
testing requirements. You must
register with the appropriate testing
agency well in advance of the date on
which you wish to be tested. Please
note that scores reported to Columbia’s
School of General Studies (2095) will not
reach our office and will not be considered
for evaluation. Columbia reserves
the right not to evaluate a candidate
whose scores are not reported directly
by the testing agency. Please do not
utilize the “rush” service in sending your
test scores to Columbia. Doing so does
not speed up the processing of your
test scores. We obtain all testing via a
secure Web site to which we are provided
access by the appropriate testing
SEAS 2008–2009