The bubble that is Columbia

Introduction
Columbia can be a great school for those who are see themselves as independent souls. It is an extremely liberal, easy going, laid back school. If you do what is required of you and can focus your attention at least 70% of the time you will find Columbia surprisingly easy. The teachers I have encountered are all very helpful if you reach out to them, but they will make no effort to reach to you. Columbia University gives you responsibility with a structured network of support, which students may utilize at their own discretion

Campus Life and Social Life
Social life is there. There are fraternity parties in the brown houses that have a suburban school feel. There are also many different bars in the area that many kids often attend. Definitely nothing to brag about, but the actual NYC party scene compensates for Columbia’s lacking; as long as you are willing to head more downtown.

The campus life in Columbia University is eerily comfortable. Columbia is a huge land owner in NYC and has obvious pull over even the local cops. Once past 112th street you begin to see the strange shifts in the area especially with the cleanliness. Upon entering the Columbia campus newcomers are shocked. The pristine, up-kept, large buildings are not NYC. The Columbia bubble of beautiful buildings, green grass, and college kids completely removes you from actual NYC. Yet outside of a dorm window students can watch the incessant toil of the New York City in a comfortable relaxed contemplative and intellectual environment. The problem is that one also has to acknowledge that this Columbia bubble is a monopoly dominating and capitalizing on many individuals, families, and small businesses that can not defend themselves the huge real-estate power Columbia has. Advertisement
Academics
Columbia work is challenging. They assume kids to be intrigued, motivated, and enthusiastic. If you are not, the workload might seem like a lot more to you. Yet the Columbia environment does have a very motivated population of students that often times have influenced the self proclaimed slackers. I have been fortunate to have encountered many impressive teachers immediately upon entering school Names to look out for: De Bary(Asian Texts), O’Meally (American Lit./Jazz), Helfand (Astronomy).

Student Body
There is an eclectic mix of students at Columbia. There are many clicks and social circles yet a lack of ignorance in the behavior of students as a whole. People are generally explorative and open to others yet still often times surround themselves in the comfort of their specific groups. Personally as a freshman, I have seen surprisingly less amount of cultural clash than I imagined in an Ivy League environment comprised with the New York City population.

In Closing...
The majority of kids that I know and meet every day at Columbia all seem to be very happy about being in Columbia. It is a lenient, laid back environment, where one can choose to do many things or hide away and do nothing. It’s great if you’re an ambitious opportunity seeking individual yet one who still sees the importance in being recluse at points.