2009-2010 Bulletin â PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University
2009-2010 Bulletin â PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University
2009-2010 Bulletin â PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS<br />
21<br />
Office of Undergraduate Admissions<br />
<strong>Columbia</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
212 Hamilton Hall, Mail Code 2807<br />
1130 Amsterdam Avenue<br />
New York, NY 10027<br />
Fax: 212-854-3393<br />
Phone: 212-854-2522<br />
www.studentaffairs.columbia.<br />
edu/admissions<br />
ADMISSION AS A FIRST-YEAR<br />
STUDENT<br />
Each autumn The Fu Foundation School<br />
of Engineering and Applied Science<br />
enrolls approximately 300 highly qualified<br />
men and women, chosen from a wide<br />
range of applicants. All become full,<br />
active participants in a rich and diverse<br />
university setting. Therefore, the Admissions<br />
Committee is interested in achievements<br />
not only in mathematics and<br />
science, but also in other fields: English,<br />
the social sciences, languages, and the<br />
arts. Considerable value is placed on<br />
personal qualities and attributes like<br />
diversity of interests, special abilities,<br />
maturity, motivation, curiosity, and independence.<br />
Secondary school records<br />
and recommendations are carefully<br />
evaluated to ascertain the content and<br />
difficulty of the applicant’s preparatory<br />
studies and the degree to which this<br />
preparation correlates with standardized<br />
tests. Of importance also is the candidate’s<br />
participation in extracurricular or<br />
community activities. Here the emphasis<br />
is placed on the depth and significance<br />
of involvement rather than on the number<br />
of activities. For its final selection,<br />
the School seeks students with unique<br />
achievements and talents as well as<br />
diverse economic, social, and geographic<br />
backgrounds.<br />
Accordingly, the School of Engineering<br />
and Applied Science prescribes<br />
no standardized course of study for<br />
secondary school students applying for<br />
first-year admission. The School does,<br />
however, strongly recommend the following<br />
academic preparation:<br />
• 4 years of mathematics (preferably<br />
through calculus)<br />
• 1 year of physics<br />
• 1 year of chemistry<br />
• 4 years of English<br />
and recommends as well:<br />
• 3 years or more of a foreign language<br />
• 3 or 4 years of history and social studies<br />
The Application Process<br />
Students are strongly encouraged to<br />
apply online. You may also download a<br />
paper copy of the application. Information<br />
about both the online application and<br />
the downloadable application will be<br />
available by September 1, <strong>2009</strong>, at<br />
www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/<br />
admissions/applications. If you do not<br />
have access to the Internet, please call<br />
the Office of Undergraduate Admissions<br />
at 212-854-2522 to request an application.<br />
Part 1 of the application should be<br />
filled out and submitted as early as<br />
possible along with the $70 application<br />
fee or an official fee waiver request.<br />
All parts of the application must be<br />
postmarked no later than the first business<br />
day following January 1. (See<br />
below for Early Decision deadlines.)<br />
Decision letters are mailed out in<br />
early April.<br />
The Early Decision Program<br />
Candidates for whom <strong>Columbia</strong> is the<br />
first choice may apply under the Early<br />
Decision Program. In order to qualify for<br />
this program, all application materials<br />
must be postmarked by November 1.<br />
In mid-December, Early Decision<br />
applicants receive notice of their acceptance,<br />
denial, or deferral to regular decision<br />
status. Applicants admitted under<br />
the Early Decision program are obligated<br />
to accept <strong>Columbia</strong>’s offer of admission<br />
and must withdraw their applications at<br />
other colleges if they are provided with a<br />
financial aid package that enables them<br />
to attend <strong>Columbia</strong>.<br />
Required Standardized Testing<br />
Please go to www.studentaffairs.<br />
columbia.edu/admissions for our standardized<br />
testing requirements. You must<br />
register with the appropriate testing<br />
agency well in advance of the date on<br />
which you wish to be tested. Please<br />
note that scores reported to <strong>Columbia</strong>’s<br />
School of General Studies (2095) will not<br />
reach our office and will not be considered<br />
for evaluation. <strong>Columbia</strong> reserves<br />
the right not to evaluate a candidate<br />
whose scores are not reported directly<br />
by the testing agency. Please do not<br />
utilize the “rush” service in sending your<br />
test scores to <strong>Columbia</strong>. Doing so does<br />
not speed up the processing of your<br />
test scores. We obtain all testing via a<br />
secure Web site to which we are provided<br />
access by the appropriate testing<br />
<strong>SEAS</strong> <strong>2009</strong>–<strong>2010</strong>