Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Columbia University has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College (CC), the School of General Studies (GS), and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), as well as an affiliate, Barnard College. You should determine which school best serves your needs by considering your background and academic goals. Student services at each school are geared toward the student population for which the school is designed. For instance, the School of General Studies is designed to serve nontraditional students. Academically, GS is integrated with Columbia's other undergraduate colleges, with students taking the same courses taught by the same faculty, earning the same degree, and being held to the same rigorous academic standards.

Just as the various undergraduate schools at Columbia are administratively distinct from one another, as well as the graduate schools at the University, which include the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Columbia Business School, and the School of International and Public Affairs, to name a few. Each graduate program has its own admissions process and requirements. Follow this link to learn about all of the schools of Columbia University.
 

Please visit the How to Apply section of our website for information about applying. You may also register for an upcoming Information Sessions or schedule an appointment to speak with one of our Admissions Officers for information about applying to the School of General Studies.

If the primary language of instruction in your secondary or high school was not English or you were not taught in English for all four (4) years, you must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting official scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo. On your application for admission, you must indicate which exam you intend to submit.

Applicants who have earned one or more of the following subsection scores may submit their test results to fulfill the standardized test requirement:

  • 650 or higher on either the Critical Reasoning or Writing sections of the SAT before March 2016.
  • 700 or higher on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the redesigned SAT (beginning in March 2016).
  • 29 or higher on the English or Reading sections of the ACT.

All transcripts should be submitted electronically directly from the issuing institution. If your school uses a transcript service, or can email the transcript as an attachment from an official school email address, please have them send it to [email protected].

If any of your institutions, including high schools, do not offer the option to transmit documents electronically, you are responsible for sending us a link from their website directly stating they do not provide electronic transcripts. Your school, from an official school email address, may also email us directly indicating that they do not issue electronic transcripts..

Please note during the application process, you can submit unofficial copies of transcripts. The Admissions Committee will review your application using the unofficial documents. If you are admitted, all materials must be received officially to finalize your admission.

High school transcripts will not be required during the review process for students who have completed at least 30 college or university credits and indicated such on the application. You are still required to list the high school information in the Previous Education section of your application. The checklist item will show as awaiting on your checklist. If this is the ONLY outstanding item on your checklist, the application will move to the next step of the review process.

Please note, if you are admitted to the School of General Studies, your official high school(s) transcript is required and an official copy must be received electronically before you enroll.