Columbia's Application - Columbia University

Columbia’s 

Application 

For Transfer Admission 

2012–2013

Thank you for your interest in 

Columbia University! 

A Statement to All Transfer 

Candidates 

Prospective undergraduate students 

may apply for both degree and nondegree 

programs within the University; 

the descriptions below should help 

you identify the division to which you 

should be applying. You should use this 

application ONLY if you are applying 

for full-time study in Columbia College 

or in The Fu Foundation School of 

Engineering and Applied Science. 

Columbia College 

Columbia College is the undergraduate 

liberal arts division of Columbia 

University, serving full-time students only. 

Transfer candidates who entered college 

directly upon completion of secondary 

school typically apply to Columbia 

College. 

The Fu Foundation School of 

Engineering and Applied Science 

(Columbia Engineering) 

Columbia Engineering offers both 

undergraduate and graduate degree 

programs; this application is only for 

undergraduate candidates. 

School of General Studies 

General Studies is also a liberal arts 

college, but it enrolls both part-time and 

full-time students and is largely nonresidential. 

Students who have had an 

interruption in their education of more 

than one academic year (for any reason 

except mandatory military service) are 

strongly encouraged to apply to the 

School of General Studies instead of 

the College. 

School of Continuing Education 

The School of Continuing Education 

offers courses for advancement and 

graduate school preparation, summer 

courses, high school programs and the 

American Language Program for learning 

English as a second language. 

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 

212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 

1130 Amsterdam Avenue 

New York, NY 10027 

Candidates interested in the School 

of General Studies or the School 

of Continuing Education should 

contact those divisions directly for 

further application information. 

This application is not valid for such 

candidates. 

Transfer admission is highly selective. 

Columbia College and Columbia 

Engineering candidates are expected 

to have a minimum college GPA of 

3.5 overall. 

Please also understand that due to 

the timing of the transfer process, 

we are generally unable to consider 

grades earned in the second semester 

of the year of application. Thus, high 

school grades, rigor of program 

and standardized test scores are all 

important in the evaluation of transfer 

credentials, especially for students 

applying for sophomore standing. 

For more detailed information on 

the transfer process and admission 

requirements, please go to 

www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ 

admissions/. 

1

General Information 

Who is eligible to apply for transfer to 

Columbia College or The Fu Foundation 

School of Engineering and Applied 

Science? 

● Candidates must have completed, 

or be in the process of completing, 

one full academic year (at least 24 

credits) at another institution in the 

United States or Canada or at a 

U.S.-style college/university abroad 

(see definition on page 11). If you will 

have fewer than 24 credits at the end 

of the current academic year, you 

must apply as a first-year student using 

the first-year application and by the 

appropriate deadline. 

● Candidates with more than four 

semesters of college coursework 

elsewhere are not encouraged 

to apply. 

● Candidates interested in Columbia 

College who have had an interruption 

in their education of more than 

one academic year are strongly 

encouraged to apply instead to 

Columbia’s School of General 

Studies (see the paragraph on page 

1 describing the School of General 

Studies). If you have any questions 

about your status, please contact the 


at 212-854-2522 or the Office of 

General Studies Admissions at 212- 

854-2772. If you are interested in The 

Fu Foundation School of Engineering 

and Applied Science, then you 

should proceed with this application 

regardless of any interruptions in your 

education. 

● Candidates who left high school 

without receiving a diploma in order 

to attend an early college program 

must apply as first-year students 

using the first-year application and 

by the appropriate Early Decision or 

Regular Decision deadline. You will 

not be eligible to receive credit for 

such accelerated programs except for 

credit earned through standardized 

examinations (e.g., AP and IB exams); 

such credit will be limited to 16 points, 

the equivalent of one full semester 

at Columbia. 





Columbia College Visiting 

Student Program 

Columbia College offers a Visiting 

Student Program, but there is no 

similar option available within Columbia 

Engineering. Undergraduates at other 

four-year institutions may study for one 

or two consecutive semesters before 

returning to their “home” institution. 

Columbia College Visiting Students 

are not eligible to apply for transfer 

admission. If you are interested in 

applying as a Visiting Student, please 

visit www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ 

admissions/ for information and to 

access the application. You may not 

apply simultaneously as a transfer and 

as a visitor. 

Columbia Engineering Combined 

Plan Program 

Columbia offers a five-year plan in 

which you can attend an affiliate school 

for three or fours years and The Fu 

Foundation School of Engineering 

and Applied Science for two years; 

you then earn both the B.A. and B.S. 

degrees. For more information on the 

Combined Plan Programs, please visit: 


admissions/. 

2

Important Dates and 

Postmark Deadlines 

March 1 

Admissions: Application deadline for 

transfer candidates. 

March 1 

All aid candidates who are U.S. citizens 

or permanent residents must submit 

the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal 

Student Aid) online. Transfer candidates 

must submit their PROFILE form online to 

the College Scholarship Service (CSS). 

If applicable, transfer candidates must 

submit their Non-Custodial Parent Form 

and/or business/farm tax information. 

All aid candidates must submit signed 

copies of their own and their parents’ 

2012 tax returns, all schedules and all W-2 

forms to the College Board IDOC service. 

Mid-May 

Admissions: Admissions and financial aid 

decisions released online. 

Late May/Early June 

Admissions: Deposit deadline for 

admitted transfer students. 

Late June 

Admissions: Final college transcript due 

for incoming students. 

Late August 

Required New Student Orientation 

Program and academic year begin. 

Please be advised that all deadlines listed 

above are postmark deadlines. 

Locations 

Office Of Undergraduate Admissions 

212 Hamilton Hall 

Visitors Center 

213 Low Library 

Office of Financial Aid & Educational 

Financing 

618 Alfred Lerner Hall 

While actual locations are different for the 

Office of Undergraduate Admissions and 

the Office of Financial Aid & Educational 

Financing, all correspondence may be 

directed to: 




Phone Numbers, E-mail 

and Websites 


212-854-2522 

Fax: 212-854-3393 

E-mail: ugrad-transfer@columbia.edu 


admissions/ 

Office of Financial Aid & Educational 

Financing 

212-854-3711 

Fax: 212-854-5353 

E-mail: cc-seas-aid@columbia.edu 

www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/finaid/ 

To track the status of your application for 

admission, please visit: 

www.studentaffairs/columbia/ 

admissions/ 

To access Columbia course bulletins and 

other publications, go to: 


admissions/ 





Statement of 

Non-Discrimination 

Columbia University is committed 

to providing a learning environment 

free from unlawful discrimination and 

harassment and to fostering a nurturing 

and vibrant community founded upon 

the fundamental dignity and worth of 

all of its members. Columbia University 

does not discriminate against any person 

in the administration of its educational 

policies, admissions policies, scholarship 

and loan programs, and athletic and 

other Universityadministered programs 

or permit the harassment of any student 

or applicant on the basis of race, color, 

sex, gender (including gender identity 

and expression), pregnancy, religion, 

creed, marital status, partnership status, 

age, sexual orientation, national origin, 

disability, military status, or any other 

legally protected status. 

3

Transfer Application Instructions 

We greatly appreciate your interest in 

Columbia and look forward to getting 

to know you through your application. 

Please read the “Statement to All Transfer 

Candidates” on page 1 and all application 

instructions carefully before beginning 

your application. 

Columbia utilizes The Common 

Application and requires the Columbia 

Supplement to The Common Application. 

We strongly encourage students to 

apply online. Please use the paper 

application only if you do not have 

access to the Internet. Visit www. 

studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/ 

to access The Common Application 

and the Columbia Supplement. 

Applying electronically will expedite 

the processing and accuracy of your 

completed application. 

You should keep copies of all documents 

you submit as part of your application. 

Transfer students may apply to Columbia 

after one or two years of college 

coursework. To obtain a degree, students 

must spend a minimum of two full years 

at Columbia regardless of the amount 

of transfer credit granted. A minimum 

of 24 credits is necessary to apply 

for transfer admission. A maximum of 

64 credits may be awarded. Transfer 

students must complete their degree in 

eight semesters including previous 

college work. Students are advised, if 

at all possible, to seek transfer for their 

sophomore year. 

After submitting an application, you will 

receive an e-mail from Columbia after 

February 1st officially acknowledging 

receipt of your application and providing 

a unique applicant ID number. (Columbia 

ID numbers begin with C00.) Please 

allow up to 45 days after submitting your 

application to receive your Columbia ID. 

Please keep this e-mail and ID number for 

your records; it will be used throughout 

the admissions process. Using your 

Columbia applicant ID, you may track 

the status of your application and 

the receipt of all required documents by 

using our online tracking system: 


admissions/. 

You are responsible for the accurate 

completion and submission of your 

application and should periodically 

check this site to ensure that all required 

materials have been received and 

processed. 

Please note that Columbia reserves 

the right to evaluate an application 

and render a final decision even if all 

pieces of the application have not 

been received. 

Columbia does not accept the Universal 

College Application. 





Forms 

The Common Application 

The Common Application provides your 

simple autobiographical data and should 

be submitted no later than March 1. The 

application fee is $80. This fee covers 

processing costs and cannot be refunded 

or credited against later charges. Waivers 

of the application fee are granted only 

at the request of an appropriate school 

official testifying to family financial 

hardship. 

Columbia Supplement To The 

Common Application 

The Columbia Supplement to The 

Common Application asks some required, 

Columbia-specific questions and is your 

chance to tell us more about yourself. 

In the Supplement, you must be sure to 

indicate to which school you are applying: 

Columbia College or The Fu Foundation 

School of Engineering and Applied 

Science (Columbia Engineering). You may 

not apply to both schools simultaneously. 

Your completed Supplement must be 

submitted by March 1. 

College Official’s Report 

Download the College Report and give 

it to the Dean of Students or to another 

appropriate official at your current school 

who has access to your academic record 

and your disciplinary record. The College 

Report must be submitted by mail and 

postmarked by March 1. 

4


Continued 

College Instructor Evaluation 

Two evaluations are required. The forms 

should be given to instructors who have 

taught you in full-credit college classes, 

who know your work well and can speak 

to your ability to meet the rigorous 

academic demands at Columbia. The 

evaluations must be from faculty who 

taught you in an academic discipline 

and assigned you grades. Engineering 

candidates, please note: one Instructor 

Evaluation must come from a science 

or mathematics instructor. The College 

Instructor Evaluations must be submitted 

by mail and postmarked by March 1. 

Official College Transcript 

Request from the registrar or other 

appropriate official at your current school 

(and at any other colleges or universities at 

which you have also been enrolled since 

completing secondary school) an official 

transcript showing all courses completed 

(and grades received) and have it 

mailed to the Office of Undergraduate 

Admissions. The transcript must be 


Secondary School Final Report 

Arrange for your secondary school to send 

the report and an official final transcript 

directly to the Office of Undergraduate 

Admissions. The Secondary School Final 

Report must be submitted by mail and 


Mid-Term Report 

Give this form to instructors whose 

courses you are enrolled in at the time you 

file your application; ask them to provide 

a general indication of your performance, 

including your current grade and 

(if they wish) additional comments, and 

to sign and date the form. They should 

also provide the course title, number 

and credits. You should submit only one 

form for all of your classes. The Mid-Term 

report should be submitted by mail and 

postmarked by April 1. 

Required Standardized 

Testing 

Standardized tests are required for 

transfer admission according to the 

following guidelines; all test scores must 

be submitted directly to Columbia by 

the testing agency. 

SAT and SAT Subject Tests 

You must take the SAT exam consisting 

of three sections, each graded on an 

800-point scale; if you take the test 

more than once, you will be evaluated 

on the highest score you receive in any 

individual section. 

In addition, if you have previously taken 

any SAT Subject Tests, then these scores 

must also be reported to Columbia. SAT 

Subject Tests are not required if you have 

not already taken them. 

ACT 

You may alternatively take the ACT 

Assessment, graded on a 36-point scale; 

if you take the test more than once, 

you will be evaluated on the highest 

composite score you receive. 





Helpful Information 

● You must register with the appropriate 

testing agency well in advance of your 

desired test date. 

● You may register for the SAT and SAT 

Subject Tests with the Educational 

Testing Service (ETS). For the ACT, 

register with the American College 

Testing Program. 

● You must request that your scores be 

reported directly to Columbia every 

time you take a standardized test. 

● For the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, the 

ETS code for both Columbia College 

and The Fu Foundation School of 

Engineering and Applied Science 

is 2116. 

● The ACT code for both Columbia 

College and The Fu Foundation School 

of Engineering and Applied Science 

is 2717. 

● Please note that scores reported to 

Columbia’s School of General Studies, 

Columbia’s School of Continuing 

Education or Barnard College will 

not reach our office and will not be 

evaluated. 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 

to send your test scores to Columbia. 

Doing so does not expedite the 

processing of your test scores. 

● For more information about the Test 

of English as a Foreign Language 

(TOEFL) or the International English 

Language Testing System exam 

(IELTS), see the Additional Information 

for Foreign and International Students 

section on page 10. 

5


Continued 

Columbia’s Testing Policy 

for Score Choice 

Applicants may select the Score Choice 

option for the SAT or choose to submit 

specific ACT composite scores. However, 

it should be noted that the application 

review process for Columbia College and 

The Fu Foundation School of Engineering 

and Applied Science is rooted in the 

belief that students are dynamic, 

multifaceted individuals who cannot be 

defined by any single factor to determine 

their suitability for admission. When 

evaluating applicants, we consider only 

the highest testing results reported from 

individual sections of the SAT and the two 

highest required SAT Subject Tests or the 

highest Composite on the ACT, always 

seeking to give students the greatest 

opportunity to showcase their academic 

talents and hoping to make the testing 

experience as stress-free as possible. 

We encourage applicants to take those 

examinations no more than twice, but we 

do not penalize applicants for exceeding 

that recommendation. 

Notification 

You will be notified of the Admissions 

Committee’s decision by mid-May. 

Admission to Columbia is contingent 

upon the receipt of a satisfactory final 

official transcript from your previous 

college or university. 

Housing 

You are guaranteed campus housing 

when you enter as a transfer student. 

Campus housing will be available without 

interruption throughout the academic 

year, and students can also apply for 

summer on-campus housing. 

Double Deposits 

We view the practice of holding a place 

at more than one college (doubledepositing) 

as improper and unethical. 

If you are found to have done so, you may 

be in danger of being withdrawn from 

the class. 

Deferral Policy 

The University does not permit students 

entering as transfers to defer their offer of 

admission. 

Interviews 

Interviews are not offered to transfer 

applicants. 





Supplementary Credentials 

and Materials 

While we request that the submission 

of application supplements be kept to 

a minimum, there may be occasions 

when additional materials provide 

information that the standard application 

does not. If you plan to submit 

supplementary credentials, please 

follow the instructions below instead 

of those in The Common Application 

Arts Supplement. Applicants should 

not submit The Common Application 

Arts Supplement. Please note that we 

specifically ask that you do not send 

collections of award certificates and the 

like and explicitly direct that you refrain 

from submitting your application in 

binders or folders. 

Creative and Performing Arts 

If you are considering a major or 

concentration in Architecture, Creative 

Writing, Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, 

Film Studies, Jazz Studies, Music or Visual 

Arts, or if you wish to contribute to the 

creative and performing arts community 

at Columbia through extracurricular 

involvement, we welcome supplementary 

credentials and materials that reflect 

your artistic ability and commitment. 

Please follow the directions below to 

submit the appropriate supplement for 

the appropriate interest. 

6


Continued 

Musical Performance Please 

follow our online instructions on the 

Columbia Admissions website: 


admissions/. 

While we welcome music supplements, 

live auditions are not part of the 

admissions process. Auditions for private 

lessons and selective ensembles are held 

for enrolled students at the start of each 

academic year. 

Visual Arts students who wish to submit 

artistic supplementary materials should 

follow our online instructions on the 

Columbia Admissions website: 


admissions/. 

Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, 

Drama and Theatre Arts and Film 

Studies students are welcome to submit 

professional résumés that list artistic 

achievement. Please do not send DVDs 

or hard copies of writing samples, as they 

will not be reviewed. However, if samples 

of your work can be viewed online, please 

clearly indicate the relevant links in the 

Additional Information section of The 

Common Application. 

Science and Engineering 

If you have been involved in scientific 

research and you are interested in 

studying engineering or the sciences at 

Columbia, you may provide a one-or twopage 

scientific abstract for our review. 

Finally, please be advised that 

while we welcome the submission 

of supplementary credentials and 

materials—providing they follow the 

directions online and outlined above—and 

we often request that our faculty evaluate 

submitted supplements, we can provide 

no guarantee that all materials will be 

reviewed or evaluated, as they are not 

required for the admissions process. 

Please also note that any submitted 

supplementary materials become part of 

your file and cannot be returned to you. 





Opportunity Programs 

The Higher Education Opportunity 

Program (HEOP) is sponsored and 

supported by the New York State 

Education Department to assist eligible 

students to obtain higher education at 

private colleges and universities in the 

State. Columbia College and Columbia 

Engineering have participated in the 

program since 1970. In order to qualify 

for HEOP, students must be residents 

of New York State, and their family 

resources must meet established lowincome 

guidelines. Students will be 

automatically considered for HEOP 

through normal application procedures; 

no additional application is necessary. For 

more information on New York’s Higher 

Education Opportunity Program, visit 

www.heop.org. 

The National Opportunity Program 

(NOP) follows similar academic and 

economic guidelines and provides 

the same support services as HEOP, 

described above. NOP, however, is 

open to students regardless of state of 

residence, provided they are citizens or 

permanent residents of the United States. 

Students will be automatically considered 

for NOP through normal application 

procedures, and no additional application 

is necessary. For more information on 

HEOP and NOP, please go to www. 

studentaffairs.columbia.edu/asp/ 

programs/. 

7


Continued 

Transfer Credit 

To enter either Columbia College or The 

Fu Foundation School of Engineering and 

Applied Science as a transfer, you must 

bring the equivalent of a minimum of 

24 Columbia credits from your previous 

institution(s). If you will not have attained 

24 credits upon entering Columbia, you 

are not eligible to apply as a transfer; you 

must apply as a first-year, using the firstyear 

application instead. 

At least 124 points are required for 

graduation from Columbia College; at least 

128 are required for graduation from The 

Fu Foundation School of Engineering and 

Applied Science. Since Columbia requires 

that a minimum of 60 points toward 

the degree be earned at Columbia, you 

may not enter with more than 64 points 

in Columbia College or with more than 

68 points in The Fu Foundation School 

of Engineering and Applied Science. 

Credit granted on the basis of Advanced 

Placement, International Baccalaureate or 

other standardized examinations will count 

towards the 64/68-point maximum. Note 

that Columbia University does not grant 

credit for any college courses that you 

took before graduating from high school. 

A credit review of your college courses 

is provided if you are offered admission. 

The Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) 

will indicate the number of credits 

accepted. Definitive credit determination 

will be made when you have begun 

classes and a final official transcript 

has been received at Columbia. Further 

conversations with your academic 

advisor and major department may be 

necessary as well. 

The minimum grade necessary for 

credit is C- for Columbia College and 

B for Columbia Engineering. Credits 

earned on the quarter system will be 

multiplied by 2/3. No credit is granted 

for courses voluntarily taken on a Pass/ 

Fail or Credit/No Credit basis. In general, 

no credit is granted for courses in 

business, education, communications, 

journalism or other subjects taught only 

in professional schools at Columbia. 

If a candidate for Columbia College, 

you should also be aware that if you 

enter with more than 45 points, you are 

not eligible to receive any further credit 

for work done when not registered at 

Columbia. 






Requirements 

The following is a breakdown of Columbia 

College requirements: 

The Core Curriculum There are four 

central courses in the Core Curriculum: 

Literature Humanities, Contemporary 

Civilization, Art Humanities and Music 

Humanities. It is unlikely that a petition 

for exemption from any of these four 

classes will be approved. A student 

choosing to petition for exemption from 

these courses must supply course syllabi. 

Even if you have completed a course 

similar in content, Columbia believes 

these courses form a cornerstone of your 

education. You may have read a number 

of the works under consideration, but 

you may not have had the opportunity 

to discuss them in a small seminar 

setting among so diverse a population of 

students. These courses characterize the 

Columbia education, as they have done 

for almost a century. 

Global Core This two-semester 

requirement is meant to build on your 

studies in the Core by going beyond 

the primarily Western focus of the Core 

courses. Topics for these classes include 

art, music, history, political science, 

anthropology, etc. In order to gain 

exemption from this requirement, you 

may submit courses for review. There 

is a good chance that your petition will 

be approved if you have taken courses 

similar in focus and content. 

8


Continued 

University Writing This is a one-semester 

requirement in English composition. 

Students may petition for exemption from 

this requirement by submitting a portfolio 

of three writing samples from previous 

college courses for review. 

Foreign Language Students must be 

proficient in a foreign language to the 

level of four college semesters. Some 

bilingual entering students may be 

exempted from this requirement if they 

completed high school at a non-English 

speaking school. Others will have 

completed four terms in a language at 

their previous institution. (Note: it must 

be four terms in the same language.) Still 

others may receive exemption from AP 

or SAT Subject Test scores as required 

by the specific department. All students 

will have the opportunity to sit for a 

placement exam upon arrival. 

Science Students must complete three 

terms of science. Students may receive 

some exemption for previous science 

work, but at least one of the three 

required courses must be completed 


Physical Education Two units of physical 

education are required. Participation on 

a Columbia varsity athletic team for two 

or more terms will exempt students from 

this requirement. Students may petition 

for partial exemption (one course) on the 

basis of transferred PE credit. 

All students are also required to pass 

a swimming test or take beginning 

swimming for one term to fulfill the 

swimming requirement. 

Academic Major/Concentration 

You must select either a major or a 

concentration (representing fewer 

courses than a major) in one academic 

discipline by the end of the sophomore 

year. Upon declaring a major or 

concentration, you will be assigned 

to a member of that department who 

will act as your academic advisor. The 

Columbia College bulletin sets forth 

the requirements for each major and 

concentration in great detail. Students 

are encouraged to review this section 

and to gather all syllabi from their 

previous institutions that may grant them 

exemption from requirements within the 

department or in related departments; 

e.g., a sociology course as a related 

course for the political science major 

must be reviewed and approved by 

both departments. You can calculate 

how many credits (points) will transfer; 

however, you will most likely NOT know 

which courses within a discipline you will 

receive exemptions for until you arrive 

on campus and consult the department. 

Please note that if you wish to get 

exemption from any requirements for 

courses already taken, you must submit 

course syllabi upon admission. 





Columbia Engineering 

Requirements 

The following is a breakdown of The Fu 

Foundation School of Engineering and 

Applied Science requirements. 

The first and second years of the fouryear 

undergraduate degree program are 

planned for students entering as first-year 

students. Transfer students will need to 

fulfill all of these requirements either 

once they arrive or through transferred 

credit. 

Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry 

There are a number of courses in 

mathematics, physics and chemistry 

which are required as part of the program 

for a student’s first two years. To gain 

exemption from these requirements, you 

must submit course syllabi for review. 

Computer Science There is a one 

semester requirement in a computer 

programming language for most 

engineering majors; the language varies 

depending on your intended major. To 

gain exemption from this requirement, 

you must submit course syllabi for review. 

Non-technical Electives 27 credits in 

non-technical disciplines are required. 

Some non-technical electives are 

prescribed as follows; others are elective. 

You may be exempt from some of the 

elective non-technical courses provided 

the courses you have taken are similar in 

focus and content to courses offered 


9


Continued 

The Core Curriculum Engineering 

students are required to take 1) either 

Literature Humanities, Contemporary 

Civilization or a two-course Global Core 

sequence AND 2) either Art Humanities 

or Music Humanities. It is unlikely that 

a petition for exemption from these 

courses will be approved. A student 

choosing to petition for exemption from 

these courses must supply course syllabi. 

Even if you have completed a course 

similar in content, Columbia believes 

these courses form a cornerstone of your 

education. You may have encountered 

a number of the works under 

consideration, but you may not have 

had the opportunity to discuss them in a 

small seminar setting among so diverse 

a population of students. These courses 

characterize the Columbia education, as 

they have done for almost a century. 

Economics Principles of Economics is 

a required course for all engineering 

students. You will be exempt from this 

requirement if you have completed a 

course similar in content. 

University Writing This is a one-semester 

requirement in English composition. 

Students may petition for exemption from 

this requirement by submitting a portfolio 

of three writing samples from previous 

college courses for review. 

Physical Education Two units of physical 

education are required. Participation on 

a Columbia varsity athletic team for two 

or more terms will exempt students from 

this requirement. Students may petition 

for partial exemption (one course) on the 

basis of transferred PE credit. 

Academic Major You must select a 

major in one academic discipline during 

the first semester of the sophomore year. 

Upon declaring your major, you will be 

assigned to a member of that department 

who will act as your academic advisor. 

The Fu Foundation School of Engineering 

and Applied Science bulletin sets forth 

the requirements for each major in 

great detail. Students are encouraged 

to review this section and to gather all 

syllabi from their previous institutions 

that may grant them exemption from 

requirements within the department or in 

related departments. You can calculate 

how many credits (points) will transfer; 

however, you will most likely NOT know 

which courses within a discipline you will 

receive exemptions for until you arrive on 

campus and consult the departments. 





10

Additional Information 

for Foreign and International 

Transfer Students Office of Undergraduate Admissions 




Please note the distinction between these 

two terms: You are a “foreign” student 

if, regardless of your place of schooling, 

you are neither a citizen nor a permanent 

resident (“green card” holder) of the 

United States and do not have refugee 

status; you are an “international” student 

if, regardless of citizenship, you attend 

or have completed secondary school 

outside the United States. 

English Proficiency Testing 

If you are applying from overseas, 

you must still complete the testing 

requirements outlined earlier in these 

instructions, provided these tests are 

available in your country. An English 

proficiency examination, if required, is in 

addition to this mandatory testing, not a 

substitute for it. You must register with 

the testing agency at least two months in 

advance of the test date. 

To be considered for admission to 

Columbia, you must be comfortable with 

rapid and idiomatic spoken English. If 

your home language is not English and 

if your primary language of instruction 

has not been English for at least five 

years, you are required to take an English 

proficiency examination. Both of the 

examinations listed here are given all 

over the world several times a year; you 

must take the examination no later than 

March of the school year in which you are 

applying: 

I. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign 

Language) Please visit www.toefl.org as 

soon as possible for more information 

on this examination. A minimum score of 

600 (paper-based test) or 100 (Internetbased 

test) is necessary for admission to 

Columbia. Your score must be reported 

directly to Columbia by the testing 

service, using report code 2116. 

II. IELTS (International English 

Language Testing System) Please visit 

www.ielts.org as soon as possible for 

more information on this examination. 

A minimum score of 7.0 is necessary 

for admission to Columbia. Your score 

must be reported directly to the Office of 

Undergraduate Admissions. 

III. If you have scored 650 on either the 

Critical Reading or the Writing section of 

the SAT, you are exempt from taking an 

English proficiency examination. 

Candidates from Colleges 

and Universities Outside 

North America 

Because of the great differences between 

the higher education system in North 

America and those in the rest of the 

world, we must set specific policies for 

those students considering transfer from 

an overseas college/university. 

1. You must be enrolled at a U.S.style 

college or university to apply as 

a transfer. “U.S.-style” means your 

university: 

● offers courses term by term (quarters, 

semesters, etc.); 

● gives you a number or letter grade for 

each course; 

● can provide an official transcript in 

English that shows both of the above. 

2. If your college or university is not U.S.style 

as defined above, you may apply 

to Columbia as a first-year candidate 

instead of as a transfer but only if you 

will have completed no more than one 

year of university study. You must use the 

first-year application (available online) 

instead of the transfer application, 

and your completed application must 

be submitted or postmarked by the 

appropriate Early Decision (November 1) 

or Regular Decision (January 1) deadline. 

11

Additional Information 

for Foreign and International 

Transfer Students 

Continued 

a) When applying as a first-year 

candidate, please note the following: 

where the first-year application asks 

for two teacher recommendations, you 

should give at least one to a college/ 

university faculty member. Where the 

first-year application asks for a short 

paragraph delineating your reasons 

for wishing to attend Columbia, you 

should instead append a statement 

of up to a full page explaining why 

your current college/university is not 

meeting your needs and why you 

consider Columbia to be a better place 

for your studies. 

b) Should you be admitted to Columbia 

as a first-year student and accept our 

offer, then your post-secondary work 

can be considered for credit only after 

you enroll at Columbia; in making 

the decision to attend Columbia, you 

acknowledge that you may not receive 

credit for all the coursework you 

have done at your previous college/ 

university and that you may receive no 

credit at all. 

c) You must take either the SAT and 

two SAT Subject Tests or the ACT 

Assessment as part of your application 

to Columbia if these exams are 

available in the country where you 

are attending college/university. The 

writing component offered by the 

ACT Assessment is mandatory for 

candidates for Columbia. We welcome 

SAT Subject Test scores for students 

submitting the ACT should you choose 

to take them. If you have specific areas 

of academic interest, we recommend 

submitting them in those subjects of 

interest, if available. 

Filling Out the Application 

Social Security Number 

Please make an entry in these boxes only 

if you have a U.S. Social Security number; 

please do not use an identification 

number issued by any other government. 

(Canadians, please do NOT use your 

SINs.) Columbia will issue you an 

identification number at a later time. 

Telephone 

Enter your complete telephone number, 

including the country and city codes 

required to reach the number from the 

United States. 

School records 

Your secondary school(s) and 

university(ies) must provide a record of 

what courses you have taken in each 

year of study and what marks or grades 

you have received in those courses; in 

the U.S. such a document is called a 

“transcript.” If your school cannot provide 

a year by-year record of courses taken 

and grades received, then a school 

official must at least provide us with a 

listing of the disciplines you have studied 

(i.e., English, biology, history, etc.) and a 

summary of your achievement in each. 

Your secondary school records should 

also include a copy of any examination 

results particular to your national 

educational system (e.g., British GCSEs). 

If you have studied A-level courses in a 

British-model school, your A-level results 

are required. 





Housing 

You are guaranteed campus housing 

when you enter as a transfer student. 

Campus housing will be available without 

interruption throughout the academic 

year, and students can also apply for 

summer on-campus housing. 

Financial Aid for Foreign 

Students 

Foreign students applying for aid must 

understand that such aid is awarded on 

an extremely limited basis. 

International Programs and 

Services 

Visa services, social gatherings and 

many other offerings are provided by 

Columbia’s International Students and 

Scholars Office (ISSO). Columbia also has 

a variety of international student clubs, 

including the Columbia International 

Student Coalition. For more information 

please visit www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/. 

12

Instructions for 

Need-Based Financial Aid 

General Information 

Columbia admits candidates solely on 

the basis of academic and extracurricular 

achievement and personal merit and 

without regard to need if they are 

not foreign students. While transfer 

admission is need-blind, only limited 

institutional grant aid is available 

for transfer students. Columbia may 

therefore be unable to meet the full 

need of all admitted transfer students. 

Please understand that as grant aid is 

limited, a failure to submit the 

required financial aid forms by the 

stated deadlines will result in a 

greatly decreased chance of receiving 

grant aid. 

Types of Financial Aid 

All financial aid is awarded only to 

students who demonstrate financial 

need; in other words, we do not offer 

scholarships for academic merit, artistic 

talent or athletic ability. Financial aid 

is awarded strictly on the basis of 

demonstrated financial need, and we 

make every effort to help all admitted 

students and their families find the 

means to meet the cost of a Columbia 

education. 

Indicating Intention to Apply for 

Columbia Financial Aid 

All financial aid applicants must check 

“Yes” to the question “Do you intend 

to apply for need-based financial 

aid?” on The Common Application. 

Applicants who do not state at the 

time of application that they are 

applying for financial aid will not be 

considered for need-based institutional 

financial aid after admission. 

Online Applications 

All Columbia financial aid forms can be 

found at: www.studentaffairs.columbia. 

edu/finaid/. 

Social Security Number 

While it is optional to include your 

Social Security Number on The 

Common Application and the Columbia 

Supplement, please note that the FAFSA 

requires United States citizens and 

permanent residents to submit their 

Social Security Numbers. U.S. Citizens 

or Permanent Residents planning to 

apply for Columbia financial aid must 

provide their Social Security Numbers 

on all applications materials in order for 

Columbia to process their financial aid 

applications. 





Key Definitions 

Need Blind 

Columbia admits candidates solely on 

the basis of academic and extracurricular 

achievement and personal merit and 

without regard to need if they are not 

foreign students. 

Student/Parent Contribution 

Columbia believes that the primary 

responsibility for meeting the cost of a 

college education lies with the student 

and his or her family. Depending on a 

family’s resources, parents are expected 

to contribute to the extent that they are 

capable, and students are expected to 

use a portion of their assets, such as 

bank accounts or trust funds, and to 

work during each summer to help cover 

educational costs. 

Financial Need 

Information reported on the financial 

aid application forms is analyzed to 

determine financial need. Forms include: 

● CSS PROFILE 

● FAFSA 

● Complete 2012 Federal Income Tax 

Returns (including all schedules and 

W-2s) for Student, Custodial, and Non- 

Custodial Parents 

13



Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 




Helpful Hints 

● Be sure to meet all deadlines. Needbased 

institutional aid can be awarded 

only to students who meet deadlines 

for all forms. 

● Print the student’s name and Columbia 

ID number on all documents submitted 

to the Office of Financial Aid & 

Educational Financing. 

● Keep copies of all submitted 

documents. 

Forms 

CSS PROFILE 

College Scholarship Service. Apply online 

at www.collegeboard.com/profile using 

a secure browser. You will need a credit 

card. Questions: Call 1-305-829-9793 

(TTY 1-800-915-9990) or e-mail help@ 

cssprofile org. Columbia’s code number 

is 2116. 

FAFSA 

Free Application for Federal Student 

Aid. To get a copy of the FAFSA, call 

1-800-4FEDAID; from outside the U.S., 

you must call 1-319-337-5665. Complete 

the FAFSA online: www.fafsa.ed.gov/. 

Columbia’s code number is 002707. 

TAX RETURNS and iDOC 

Signed copies of parent and student 

2012 Federal Income Tax Returns and 

W-2 forms are required for verification 

of the information that you report on the 

financial aid application forms. 

IDOC is a service provided by the College 

Board which we use to collect and scan 

documents. Applicants who fill out 

the CSS Profile form are contacted by 

the College Board with instructions on 

how to submit taxes and other relevant 

forms to IDOC. The 2012 tax returns 

should be submitted to IDOC as soon as 

they are complete. If 2012 taxes cannot 

be completed before March 1, 2013, 

send copies of 2011 taxes and 2012 

W-2s to Columbia. If your parents will 

not file a 2012 Federal Tax Return, they 

must submit the Parent Tax Non-Filer 

certification (available on our website). 

If you will not file a 2012 Federal Tax 

Return, you must submit the Student 

Tax Non-Filer certification (available on 

our website). 

Instructions for Transfer 

Applicants 

1. CSS PROFILE: See definition on 

previous page. Visit CSS online at 

www.collegeboard.com/profile and 

complete the form by March 1, 2013. 

2. NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT 

STATEMENT: If applicable, this must be 

submitted via the CSS Profile website by 

March 1, 2013. 

3. BUSINESS/FARM INFORMATION: 

If applicable, the appropriate 2011 

business tax documents relating to 

parent- or student-owned business, 

corporation, partnership and/or farm 

must be submitted to Columbia no later 

than March 1, 2013. 

4. FAFSA: See definition on previous 

page. Visit FAFSA online at www.fafsa. 

ed.gov and complete the form by 

March 1, 2013. Applying online expedites 

the processing of your application. Please 

electronically sign with PIN numbers or 

print and mail the FAFSA signature page 

at the same time you submit your data 

online. If you and/or your parents have 

not yet completed 2012 tax returns when 

you complete the FAFSA, you should 

estimate 2012 income data to the best of 

your ability. 

14



Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 




5. TAX RETURNS: 2012 federal income tax 

returns and W-2s are due March 1, 2013. 

Signed copies of parent and student 

2012 federal income tax returns and W-2 

forms are required for verification of 

the information which you report on the 

financial aid application forms. 

Submit 2012 tax returns as soon as 

they are completed, preferably no later 

than March 1, directly to the College 

Board using their IDOC service: 

http://idoc.collegeboard.com. You will 

receive an e-mail with a cover sheet 

and detailed instructions from the 

College Board on how to submit these 

documents. Please allow up to two 

weeks processing time on all documents 

submitted to IDOC. You must file a 

Financial Aid PROFILE to receive an IDOC 

cover sheet. If 2012 tax returns cannot be 

submitted to IDOC before March 1, 

send copies of 2011 taxes and 2012 W-2s 

via fax (preferred method: 212-854-5353) 

or mail directly to Columbia. 

You will be required to submit the 2012 

Tax Returns to IDOC when they are 

available. If your parents will not file a 

2012 federal tax return, they must file a 

Parent Tax Non-Filer Certification Form 

(available from our website). If you will 

not file a 2012 federal tax return, you 

must submit a Student Tax Non-Filer 

Certification Form (available from our 

website). Copies of tax returns sub-mitted 

to the financial aid office must be signed 

and must include all schedules and 

W-2 forms. 

Instructions for Foreign and 

International Students 

Foreign students are those who do not 

fall into any of the following categories: 

citizens and permanent residents of the 

United States, persons granted refugee 

visas by the U.S. 

Admission to Columbia is not needblind 

for foreign students. 

Instructions for Foreign Students 

1. CSS Profile: Foreign students should 

complete the CSS Profile online at 

www.collegeboard.com/profile. 

Columbia’s CSS Profile Code is 2116. 

2. Income Tax Returns: Copies of your 

family’s most recent, completed Income 

Tax Returns (all pages and attachments) 

should be faxed (preferred method: 

212-854-5353) or mailed to Columbia. If 

tax returns are not filed in your country, 

please submit current statements of 

earnings from your parents’ employers 

showing their yearly earnings. All tax/ 

income documents (if not already in 

English) should be officially translated 

into English. Clearly print your name and 

Columbia ID Number at the top of all 

documents to ensure proper filing. 

15

Application Codes 

You will be required to select three possible areas 

of interest on the Columbia Supplement to 

The Common Application. Please use the codes 

below. Columbia College applicants must select 

only from the Columbia College list; Columbia 

Engineering applicants must select only 

from The Fu Foundation School of Engineering 

and Applied Science list. 

Columbia College Codes 

African-American Studies 

CCAFAS 

African Studies CCAFRS 

American Studies CCAMST 

Ancient Studies CCANST 

Anthropology CCANTH 

Applied Mathematics 

CCAPMA 

Archaeology CCARCY 

Architecture CCARCH 

Art History CCAHIS 

Art History and Visual Arts 

CCAHVA 

Astronomy CCASTR 

Astrophysics CCASPH 

Biochemistry CCBICH 

Biology CCBIOL 

Biophysics CCBIOP 

Business Management 

CNBUMG 

Chemical Physics CCCHPH 

Chemistry CCCHEM 

Classical Studies CKCLST 

Classics CCCLAS 

Comparative Literature & 

Society CCCOLI 

Computer Science CCCOMS 

Computer Science- 

Mathematics CCCOMA 

Creative Writing CCCREA 

Dance CCDANC 

Drama and Theatre Arts 

CCTHDR 

Earth Science CCERTS 

East Asian Studies CCEAST 

Ecology and Evolution 

CKECEV 

Economics CCECON 

Economics-Mathematics 

CCECMA 

Economics-Philosophy 

CCECPH 

Economics-Political Science 

CCECPO 

Economics-Statistics CCECST 

Education Studies CNEDST 

English CCENGL 

Environmental Biology 

CCEBIO 

Environmental Chemistry 

CCENCH 

Environmental Science 

CCENVS 

Ethnicity and Race Studies 

CCETRS 

Evolutionary Biology of the 

Human Species CCEBHS 

Film Studies CCFMST 

Financial Economics CCFNEC 

French CCFREN 

French & Francophone Studies 

CCFRFR 

German Literature & Cultural 

History CCGLCH 

Hispanic Studies CCHISP 

History CCHIST 

History and Theory of 

Architecture CCHIAR 

Human Rights CNHRTS 

Information Science CCINFS 

Italian Cultural Studies 

CCITCU 

Italian Literature CCITAL 

Jazz Studies CNJAZZ 

Jewish Studies CNJWST 

Latin American and Caribbean 

Studies CCLACS 

Linguistics CNLIN 

Mathematics CCMATH 

Mathematics-Statistics 

CCMAST 

Medicine, Literature, and 

Society CKMDLS 

Medieval and Renaissance 

Studies CNMERS 

Middle East, South Asian, and 

African Studies CCMELC 

Modern Greek Studies 

CNGRKM 

Music CCMUSI 

Neuroscience and Behavior 

CCNEUR 

Philosophy CCPHIL 





Physics CCPHYS 

Political Science CCPOLS 

Political Science-Statistics 

CCPOST 

Portuguese CNPORT 

Psychology CCPSYC 

Regional Studies-East/Central 

Europe CCREST 

Religion CCRELI 

Russian Language and Culture 

CCRLAC 

Russian Literature and Culture 

CCRLIC 

Russian Literature CNRLIT 

Slavic Language and Culture 

CNSLAL 

Slavic Studies CCSLST 

Sociology CCSOCI 

Statistics CCSTAT 

Sustainable Development 

CCSUDV 

Urban Studies CCURBS 

Urban Teaching CKURBT 

Visual Arts CCVIAR 

Women’s and Gender Studies 

CCWMST 

Yiddish Studies CKYIDD 

Undecided CCUNDC 

16

Application Codes 

Continued 

Columbia Engineering Codes 

Applied Mathematics ENAPMA 

Applied Physics ENAPPH 

Biomedical Engineering 

ENBIOE 

Chemical Engineering 

ENCHEN 

Civil Engineering ENCIEN 

Pre–Professional Study 

You will be required to list up to three 

extracurricular activities which you wish to 

pursue in college on the Columbia Supplement. 

Please use the codes below. 

Extracurricular Activity Codes 

78 Academic/Quiz Bowl 

86 Academic Journals 

03 Archery 

04 Art 

79 Badminton 

05 Band 

06 Baseball 

07 Basketball 

08 Bowling 

10 Cheerleading 

11 Chess 

80 Chorus/A Capella 

13 Community Service 

15 Crew 

16 Cricket 

17 Cycling 

18 Dance 

19 Debate/Forensics 

Computer Engineering 

ENCOEN 

Computer Science ENCOMS 

Earth and Environmental 

Engineering ENEAEE 

Electrical Engineering ENELEN 

82 Entrepreneurship 

20 Environmental Activism 

21 Fencing 

22 Field Hockey 

23 Film/Filmmaking 

24 Football 

32 Foreign Language 

25 Frisbee 

27 Golf 

28 Gymnastics 

77 Hiking/Outdoor Adventure 

30 Ice Hockey 

68 Jazz 

31 Lacrosse 

26 LGBT Activism 

33 Literary Magazine 

34 Martial Arts 

84 Math 

Engineering and Management 

Systems ENENMS 

Engineering Mechanics 

ENENME 

Financial Engineering ENFINE 

Industrial Engineering ENINEN 

For students in either Columbia College or The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and 

Applied Science, preparation and advising for professional school (law, medicine and other 

health professions) is available through the Office of Pre-Professional Advising. 

37 Mock Trial 

38 Model Congress 

39 Model United Nations 

36 Multiculturalism 

97 Music Composition 

40 Newspaper 

81 Orchestra/Chamber 

Music 

41 Peer Counseling 

42 Photography 

43 Piano 

44 Political Activism 

45 Racquetball 

46 Radio/TV/Video 

47 Religious 

85 Robotics/FIRST Robotics 

48 Rugby 

49 Sailing 





Materials Science and 

Engineering ENMSAE 

Mechanical Engineering 

ENMECE 

Operations Research ENOPRE 

Undecided ENUND 

83 Science and Engineering 

50 Skiing/Snowboarding 

51 Soccer 

52 Softball 

53 Squash 

54 Student Government 

55 Swimming/Diving 

56 Table Tennis/Ping Pong 

57 Tennis 

58 Theatre/Improv 

65 Tour Guide/Campus 

Ambassador 

59 Track/Cross Country 

61 Volleyball 

62 Water Polo 

63 Wrestling 

64 Yearbook 

17

Legal Name 

© 2012 The Common Application, Inc. 

2012–13 Transfer Application 

For Spring 2013 or Fall 2013 Enrollment 

Applicant 

Last/Family/Sur (Enter name exactly as it appears on official documents.) First/Given Middle (complete) Jr., etc. 

Preferred name, if not first name (only one) Former last name(s) 

Birth Date p Female p Male US Social Security Number, if any 

mm/dd/yyyy Required for US Citizens and Permanent Residents applying for financial aid via FAFSA 

Preferred Telephone p Home p Cell Home ( ) Cell ( ) 

Area/Country/City Code Area/Country/City Code 

E-mail Address IM Address 

Permanent home address 

Number & Street Apartment # 

City/Town County or Parish State/Province Country ZIP/Postal Code 

If different from above, please give your current mailing address for all admission correspondence. (from to ) 

Current mailing address 

Number & Street Apartment # 

(mm/dd/yyyy) (mm/dd/yyyy) 

City/Town County or Parish State/Province Country ZIP/Postal Code 

If your current mailing address is a college or university, include name of school here: 

Future Plans 

Your answers to these questions will vary for different colleges. If the online system did not ask you to answer some of the questions you see in this section, this 

college chose not to ask that question of its applicants. 

College Deadline 

Entry Term: p Fall (Jul-Dec) p Spring (Jan-Jun) 

Decision Plan 

Academic Interests 

Career Interest 

Citizenship Status 

Non-US Citizenship(s) 

Birthplace 

City/Town State/Province Country 

Years lived in the US? Years lived outside the US? 

Language Proficiency (Check all that apply.) 

S(Speak) R(Read) W(Write) F(First Language) H(Spoken at Home) S R W F H 

p p p p p 

p p p p p 

p p p p p 

OPtIOnAl The items with a gray background are optional. No information you 

provide will be used in a discriminatory manner. 

Religious Preference 

US Armed Services veteran status 

Demographics 

mm/dd/yyyy 

Do you intend to apply for need-based financial aid? p Yes p No 

Do you intend to apply for merit-based scholarships? p Yes p No 

Do you intend to be a full-time student? p Yes p No 

Do you intend to enroll in a degree program your first year? 

Do you intend to live in college housing? 

What is the highest degree you intend to earn? 

p Yes p No 

1. Are you Hispanic/Latino? 

p Yes, Hispanic or Latino (including Spain) p No 

If yes, please describe your background. 

2. Regardless of your answer to the prior question, please indicate how you 

identify yourself. (Check one or more and describe your background.) 

p American Indian or Alaska Native (including all Original Peoples of the Americas) 

Are you Enrolled? p Yes p No If yes, please enter Tribal Enrollment Number 

p Asian (including Indian subcontinent and Philippines) 

p Black or African American (including Africa and Caribbean) 

p Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (Original Peoples) 

p White (including Middle Eastern) 

AP-1/2012-13


Family 

Please list both parents below, even if one or more is deceased or no longer has legal responsibilities toward you. Many colleges collect this information for demographic 

purposes even if you are an adult or an emancipated minor. If you are a minor with a legal guardian (an individual or government entity), then please list that information 

below as well. If you wish, you may list step-parents and/or other adults with whom you reside, or who otherwise care for you, in the Additional Information section. 

HOuSEHOlD 

Parents’ marital status (relative to each other): p Never Married p Married p Civil Union/Domestic Partners p Widowed p Separated p Divorced (date ) 

With whom do you make your permanent home? p Parent 1 p Parent 2 p Both p Legal Guardian p Ward of the Court/State p Other 

If you have children, how many? 

PArEnt 1 

p Mother p Father p Unknown 

Is Parent 1 living? p Yes p No (Date Deceased ) 

mm/yyyy 

Last/Family/Sur First/Given Middle 

Former last name(s) 

Country of birth 

Home address if different from yours 

Preferred Telephone: p Home p Cell p Work ( ) 

E-mail 

Occupation 

Employer 

lEgAl guArDIAn (if other than a parent) 

Relationship to you 





E-mail 

Occupation 

Employer 

Area/Country/City Code 

College (if any) CEEB 

Degree Year 

Graduate School (if any) CEEB 

Degree Year 



Degree Year 


Degree Year 

PArEnt 2 

p Mother p Father p Unknown 

SIblIngS 

mm/yyyy 

Is Parent 2 living? p Yes p No (Date Deceased ) 


Former last name(s) 




E-mail 

Occupation 

Employer 

mm/yyyy 



Degree Year 


Degree Year 

Please give names and ages of your brothers or sisters. If they are enrolled 

in grades K-12 (or international equivalent), list their grade levels. If they have 

attended or are currently attending college, give the names of the undergraduate 

institution, degree earned, and approximate dates of attendance. If more than 

three siblings, please list them in the Additional Information section. 

Name Age & Grade Relationship 

College Attended CEEB 

Degree earned Dates 

or expected mm/yyyy – mm/yyyy 









AP-2/2012-13


Education 

COllEgES & unIvErSItIES Are you currently enrolled in college? p Yes p No 

Current or most recent college or university attended 

Entry Date Exit Date School Type: p Public p Independent This is a: p 2–year p 4–year institution 

mm/yyyy mm/dd/yyyy 

Address CEEB/ACT Code 

Number & Street 

City/Town State/Province Country ZIP/Postal Code 

Advisor’s Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.) Advisor’s Title 

E-mail Telephone ( ) Fax ( ) 

Area/Country/City Code Number Ext. Area/Country/City Code Number 

Report all college attendance beginning with your first year of college and mark all that apply: taught on college campus (CO); taught on high school campus, excluding 

AP/IB (HS); taught online (ON); college credit awarded (CR); transcript available (TR); degree candidate (DC). Please have official transcripts sent as soon as possible. 

College/university name & CEEb/ACt Code location (City, State/Province, ZIP/Postal Code, Country) CO HS On Cr tr DC Dates Attended Degree Earned 

mm/yyyy – mm/yyyy 

p p p p p p 

p p p p p p 

p p p p p p 

Do you expect to earn a degree prior to enrolling at the college to which you are applying? p Yes p No If so, what type of degree? 

Are you a member of Phi Theta Kappa? p Yes p No 

SECOnDAry SCHOOlS 

List all secondary schools you have attended and have the school you graduated from/attended most recently send a Final Report, official transcript, and school profile. 

name of School & CEEb/ACt Code location (City, State/Province, ZIP/Postal Code, Country) Dates Attended (mm/yyyy) 

Secondary School Graduate Date 

mm/dd/yyyy 

Please list any community program/organization that has provided free assistance with your application process: 

If your education was interrupted, please indicate so here and provide details in the Additional Information section: 

Academics 

The self-reported information in this section is not intended to take the place of your official records. Please note the requirements of each institution to which you 

are applying and arrange for official transcripts and score reports to be sent from your secondary school and the appropriate testing agencies. Where “Best Scores” are 

requested, please report the highest individual scores you have earned so far, even if those scores are from different test dates. 

SECOnDAry 

SCHOOl 

grADES 

Class Rank 

(if available) 

Class Size Weighted? p Yes p No GPA 

(if available) 

Scale Weighted? p Yes p No 

ACt Exam Dates: Best Scores: 

(past & future) mm/yyyy mm/yyyy mm/yyyy (so far) COMP mm/yyyy English mm/yyyy Math mm/yyyy 

Reading mm/yyyy Science mm/yyyy Writing mm/yyyy 

SAt Exam Dates: Best Scores: 

(past & future) mm/yyyy mm/yyyy mm/yyyy (so far) Critical Reading mm/yyyy Math mm/yyyy Writing mm/yyyy 

tOEFl/ 

IEltS 

Exam Dates: Best Scores: 

(past & future) mm/yyyy mm/yyyy mm/yyyy (so far) Test Score mm/yyyy 

AP/Ib/SAt 

SubjECtS 

Best Scores: 

(per subject, mm/yyyy Type & Subject Score mm/yyyy Type & Subject Score 

so far) 

mm/yyyy Type & Subject Score mm/yyyy Type & Subject Score 



CurrEnt COurSES Please indicate title, level (100–level, 200–level, etc.) and credit value of all courses you are taking this year. Indicate quarter classes taken in the 

same semester on the appropriate semester line. If you are not currently enrolled in college, please list the courses you took most recently. 

Full year/First Semester/First trimester Second Semester/ Second trimester third trimester 

or additional first/second term courses if more space is needed 

AP-3/2012-13

HOnOrS Briefly list any academic distinctions or honors you have received since the 9th grade or international equivalent (e.g., National Merit, Cum Laude Society). 

S(School) S/R(State or Regional) N(National) I(International) 

grade level Honor Highest level of 

recognition 

11 12 Fy SO jr S S/r n I 

p p p p p p p p p 






Extracurricular Activities & Work Experience 

ExtrACurrICulAr Please list your principal extracurricular, volunteer, and work activities in their order of importance to you. Feel free to group your activities and 

paid work experience separately if you prefer. Use the space available to provide details of your activities and accomplishments (specific events, varsity letter, musical 

instrument, employer, etc.). to allow us to focus on the highlights of your activities, please complete this section even if you plan to attach a résumé. 

grade level Approximate 

time spent 

11 12 Fy SO jr 

Hours 

per week 

When did you participate 

in the activity? 

Weeks 

per year School year 

Summer/ 

School break 

Positions held, honors won, letters earned, or employer If applicable, 

do you plan 

to participate 

in college? 

p p p p p p p p 

Activity 


Activity 


Activity 


Activity 


Activity 


Activity Activity Activity 






Activity Activity 



AP-4/2012-13

Common Application member institution admission offices do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, marital 

status, parental status, physical disability, learning disability, political affiliation, veteran status, or sexual orientation. 


Writing 

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below. 

PErSOnAl ESSAy This personal essay helps us become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. 

It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. 

Please provide a statement of 250 – 500 words that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve, and attach it to your 

application before submission. NOTE: Your Common Application essay should be the same for all colleges. Do not customize it in any way for individual colleges. Colleges 

that want customized essay responses will ask for them on a supplement form. 

ADDItIOnAl InFOrmAtIOn Please attach a separate sheet if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application. 

DISCIPlInAry HIStOry 

a Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent) 

forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? These actions could include, but are not limited to: 

probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution. p Yes p No 

b Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? p Yes p No 

[Note that you are not required to answer “yes” to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed, 

annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential.] 

If you answered “yes” to either or both questions, please attach a separate sheet of paper that gives the approximate date of each incident, explains the circumstances, 

and reflects on what you learned from the experience. 

Note: Applicants are expected to immediately notify the institutions to which they are applying should there be any changes to the information requested in this 

application, including disciplinary history. 

Signature 

APPlICAtIOn FEE PAymEnt If this college requires an application fee, how will you be paying it? 

p Online Payment p Will Mail Payment p Online Fee Waiver Request p Will Mail Fee Waiver Request 

rEquIrED SIgnAturE 

w I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials— 

is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented, and that these documents will become the property of the institutions to which I am applying and will not be 

returned to me. I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, 

grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. 

w I acknowledge that I have reviewed the application instructions for each college receiving this application. I understand that all offers of admission are conditional, 

pending receipt of final transcripts showing work comparable in quality to that upon which the offer was based, as well as honorable dismissal from the school. 

w I affirm that I will send an enrollment deposit (or equivalent) to only one institution; sending multiple deposits (or equivalent) may result in the withdrawal of my 

admission offers from all institutions. [Note: Students may send an enrollment deposit (or equivalent) to a second institution where they have been admitted from the 

waitlist, provided that they inform the first institution that they will no longer be enrolling.] 

Signature Date 

mm/dd/yyyy 

AP-5/2012-13


212 Hamilton Hall, Mail Code 2807 


212-854-2522 

212-854-3393 (Fax) 

www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions 

Columbia University Supplement 

to The Common Application 

Please read the Application Instructions before completing. 

Legal name 

Date of birth 

Personal Data 

Last/Family/Surname (Exactly as it appears on official documents) First/Given Middle (complete) Suffix 

Month/Day/Year 

U.S. Social Security Number (Optional) Gender (Optional) 

Do not use hyphens. 

Address 

Line 1 

Line 2 

City 

You must check one of the 

boxes below: 


Columbia Engineering 

State Zip/Postal Code (Adapt to your country as necessary) Country 

Duration in current country of residence 

Applicants should maintain a valid e-mail address during the entire application process, as most of our information is communicated electronically. Please ensure that 

your e-mail account preferences and security settings permit Columbia University-sent e-mail to be delivered without filtering or junk mail routing. If your address 

changes, you must notify us in writing at ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu. 

E-mail 

Home telephone 

Begin with area or country code 

Application Data 

Please list, in order of preference, the code letters for up to three academic areas of interest that you would consider at Columbia. The codes can be found in the 

Application Instructions. Columbia College applicants must select only from the Columbia College list; Columbia Engineering applicants must select only from The Fu 

Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science list. 

Please list, in order of preference, the code numbers for up to three activities which you wish to pursue in college, making your selections from the extracurricular 

activity list (see Application Instructions). These may be activities that you have already pursued in secondary school or activities that you wish to begin in college. 

Are you applying to the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange? Yes No 

(If yes, you must also apply to Juilliard by December 1, 2012. Please note that only Columbia College applicants are eligible for the Exchange.) 

(Continued) 

1

Columbia Data 

Have you previously applied to a degree program at Columbia? Yes No If yes, for what year? 

Is a parent/guardian, sibling or grandparent a graduate of or currently attending Columbia University? Yes No 

If yes, please complete the section below. Use an additional sheet if necessary. 

Name Relationship Division Attended Degree/Year Received 




If you have other relatives who have graduated from or are attending Columbia University, please list them below. Use an additional sheet if necessary. 





Is either parent/guardian a current or former full-time employee of Columbia or a Columbia-affiliated organization? Yes No 

Years of Employment 

Name of Parent(s)/Guardian(s) 

Title(s) and Department(s) 

Have you conferred with any Columbia representative about the admissions process (e.g., admissions officer, coach, alumnus, faculty member)? If so, with whom? 

Have you visited the Columbia campus? Yes No 

How has your interest in Columbia developed? Please check all that apply: 

1. On-campus information session 

2. Tour of campus 

3. On-campus Open House/Invitational/ 

Symposium 

4. Overnight stay on campus 

5. Conference or summer program on campus 

6. On-campus lunch visit 

7. Columbia visit to your school 

8. Columbia event in your area 

9. Regional presentation with other colleges 

10. College Fair 

11. Conversation with alumni or current students 

12. Website 

13. Viewbook or other publications 

14. Other: 

(Continued) 

2

Interests 

List the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year: 

List the books read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year: 

List the publications you read regularly, including print and electronic sources: 

List the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year: 

Short Answer Questions 

Please tell us what you found meaningful about one of the above mentioned books, publications or cultural events. 

Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. 

(Continued) 

3

Short Answer Questions (Continued) 

For applicants to Columbia College, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field 

or fields of study that you noted in the Application Data section. If you are currently undecided, please write about any field or fields in which you may have an interest 

at this time. 

For applicants to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) 

what attracts you specifically to the study of engineering. 

Supplementary Materials 

Are you planning to submit any supplementary materials? (Please review our Policy on Supplementary Materials in the Application Instructions, and note that 

submission is not required. Only Supplementary Materials submitted as directed will be reviewed.) 

Yes No If yes, select: Art Music Science Other 

4

After completing all the relevant questions below, give this form to an instructor who has taught you a full–credit college class. if applying via mail, please also give 

that instructor stamped envelopes addressed to each institution that requires a College Instructor Evaluation. 

p Female 

Legal Name 

p Male 


Birth Date CAID (Common App ID) 

Address 

mm/dd/yyyy 

Number & Street Apartment # City/Town State/Province Country ZIP/Postal Code 

College or university you now attend CEEB/ACT Code 

imPortant PrivacY note: By signing this form, I authorize all schools that I have attended to release all requested records covered under the Federal 

Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) so that my application may be reviewed by The Common Application member institution(s) to which I am applying. I 

further authorize the admission officers reviewing my application, including seasonal staff employed for the sole purpose of evaluating applications, to contact 

officials at my current and former schools should they have questions about the school forms submitted on my behalf. 

I understand that under the terms of the FERPA, after I matriculate I will have access to this form and all other recommendations and supporting documents 

submitted by me and on my behalf, unless at least one of the following is true: 

1. The institution does not save recommendations post-matriculation (see list at www.commonapp.org/FERPA). 

2. I waive my right to access below, regardless of the institution to which it is sent: 

p Yes, I do waive my right to access, and I understand I will never see this form or any other recommendations submitted by me or on my behalf. 

p No, I do not waive my right to access, and I may someday choose to see this form or any other recommendations or supporting documents submitted by me 

or on my behalf to the institution at which I’m enrolling, if that institution saves them after I matriculate. 

to the instructor 

The Common Application membership finds candid evaluations helpful in choosing from among highly qualified candidates. You are encouraged to keep this form in 

your private files for use should the student need additional recommendations. Please submit your references promptly, and remember to sign below before mailing 

directly to the college/university admission office. Do not mail this form to The Common Application offices. 

Instructor’s Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.) Subject Taught 

Please print or type 


College or University 

instructor evaluation 1 

mm/dd/yyyy 

School Address 

Number & Street City/Town State/Province Country ZIP/Postal Code 

Instructor’s Telephone ( ) Instructor’s E-mail 

Area/Country/City Code Number Ext. 

Background information 

How long have you known this student and in what context? 

What are the first words that come to your mind to describe this student? 

2012–13 College Instructor Evaluation 

for spring 2013 or fall 2013 enrollment 

required signature Date 

List the courses you have taught this student, noting for each the student’s year in school (first-year, sophomore,etc.) and the level of course difficulty (100-level, 

200-level; etc.). 


to the applicant 

IE 

IE-1/2012-13

atings Compared to other students to whom you have taught this class, how do you rate this student in terms of: 

no basis 

Academic achievement 

Intellectual promise 

Quality of writing 

Creative, original thought 

Productive class discussion 

Respect accorded by faculty 

Disciplined work habits 

Maturity 

Motivation 

Leadership 

Integrity 

Reaction to setbacks 

Concern for others 

Self-confidence 

Initiative, independence 

OvERALL 

Below 

average average 

good (above 

average) 

very good 

(well above 

average) 

excellent 

(top 10%) 

outstanding 

(top 5%) 

one of the top few 

i’ve encountered 

(top 1%) 

evaluation Please write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic and personal characteristics, as demonstrated in 

your classroom. We welcome information that will help us to differentiate this student from others. (Feel free to attach an additional sheet or another reference you 

may have prepared on behalf of this student.) 



IE-2/2012-13

After completing all the relevant questions below, give this form to an instructor who has taught you a full–credit college class. if applying via mail, please also give 

that instructor stamped envelopes addressed to each institution that requires a College Instructor Evaluation. 

p Female 

Legal Name 

p Male 



Address 

mm/dd/yyyy 


College or university you now attend CEEB/ACT Code 


Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) so that my application may be reviewed by The Common Application member institution(s) to which I am applying. I 

further authorize the admission officers reviewing my application, including seasonal staff employed for the sole purpose of evaluating applications, to contact 









to the instructor 

The Common Application membership finds candid evaluations helpful in choosing from among highly qualified candidates. You are encouraged to keep this form in 

your private files for use should the student need additional recommendations. Please submit your references promptly, and remember to sign below before mailing 

directly to the college/university admission office. Do not mail this form to The Common Application offices. 

Instructor’s Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.) Subject Taught 



College or University 


mm/dd/yyyy 



Instructor’s Telephone ( ) Instructor’s E-mail 

Area/Country/City Code Number Ext. 


How long have you known this student and in what context? 

What are the first words that come to your mind to describe this student? 

2012–13 College Instructor Evaluation 



List the courses you have taught this student, noting for each the student’s year in school (first-year, sophomore,etc.) and the level of course difficulty (100-level, 

200-level; etc.). 



IE 

IE-1/2012-13

atings Compared to other students to whom you have taught this class, how do you rate this student in terms of: 

no basis 


Intellectual promise 

Quality of writing 

Creative, original thought 

Productive class discussion 

Respect accorded by faculty 

Disciplined work habits 

Maturity 

Motivation 

Leadership 

Integrity 

Reaction to setbacks 

Concern for others 

Self-confidence 

Initiative, independence 

OvERALL 

Below 


good (above 

average) 

very good 

(well above 

average) 

excellent 

(top 10%) 

outstanding 

(top 5%) 



(top 1%) 

evaluation Please write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic and personal characteristics, as demonstrated in 

your classroom. We welcome information that will help us to differentiate this student from others. (Feel free to attach an additional sheet or another reference you 

may have prepared on behalf of this student.) 



IE-2/2012-13


this form must accompany an official copy of your transcript and must be completed by a college official(s) who has access to your academic record and your 

disciplinary record. Please follow these steps to ensure the form is completed accurately and in its entirety. step 1 Complete all relevant questions below, including 

the signature statement. step 2 Give this form to a dean or college official who has access to your academic record and ask that official to complete the academic 

portion of this form. step 3 If the official completing the academic portion does not also have access to your disciplinary record, please ask the individual to securely 

forward the form to a second official who can answer those questions before duplicating this form and mailing it to your colleges along with copies of your official 

transcript(s). 

Legal Name 



mm/dd/yyyy 

Address 


College/university you now attend CEEB/ACT Code 

current year courses—please indicate title, level, and credit value of all courses you are taking this year. indicate quarter classes taken in the same semester on 

the appropriate semester line. 

first semester/Quarter grade second semester/Quarter grade third Quarter grade 

How many college credits have you earned prior to this academic year? How many college credits will you earn this academic year? 


Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) so that my application may be reviewed by The Common Application member institution(s) to which I am applying. 

I further authorize the admission officers reviewing my application, including seasonal staff employed for the sole purpose of evaluating applications, to contact 










to the college official 

If you have access to the applicant’s academic record and disciplinary record, please complete this form in its entirety. Attach the applicant’s official transcript (check 

copies for readability). Use both pages to complete your evaluation for this student, and be sure to sign below. If you have access to the applicant’s academic record 

only, please complete the relevant portion of this form, then forward to the appropriate official for completion of the disciplinary questions, asking that official to mail 

the form to the applicant’s colleges after doing so. Do not mail this form to The Common Application offices. 

College Official’s Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.) 



Title College or University 

mm/dd/yyyy 

College or University Address 


College Official’s Telephone ( ) College Official’s Fax ( ) 


College or University CEEB/ACT Code College Official’s E-mail 


2012–13 College Report 


CR 

p Female 

p Male 

CR-1/2012-13


Cumulative GPA: on a scale, covering a period from to 

(mm/yyyy) (mm/yyyy) 

This GPA is p weighted p unweighted. The school’s passing mark is . 

Highest GPA in class Graduation Date 

If you know this student, please indicate for how long and in what context 

If you know this student, what are the first words that come to your mind to describe this student? 

ratings Compared to other students in his or her class year, how do you rate this student in terms of: 

no basis 


Extracurricular accomplishments 

Personal qualities and character 

OvERALL 

Below 


(mm/dd/yyyy) 

good (above 

average) 

very good 

(well above 

average) 

evaluation Please provide comments that will help us differentiate this student from others. Feel free to attach an additional sheet or another reference you have 

prepared for this student. We especially welcome a broad-based assessment and encourage you to consider describing or addressing: 

� The applicant’s academic, extracurricular, and personal characteristics. 

� Relevant context for the applicant’s performance and involvement, such as particularities of family situation or responsibilities, after-school work obligations, or other 

circumstances, either positive or negative. 

� Observed problematic behaviors, perhaps separable from academic performance, that an admission committee should explore further. 

i recommend this student: p No basis p With reservation p Fairly strongly p Strongly p Enthusiastically 


excellent 

(top 10%) 

If you are completing only the questions pertaining to the applicant’s disciplinary record, please provide the following information: 

College Official’s Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.) 



Title Collge Official’s E-mail 

School Seal 

outstanding 

(top 5%) 

mm/dd/yyyy 



(top 1%) 

Collge Official’s Telephone ( ) Collge Official’s Fax ( ) 


a Is this applicant in good academic standing?. p Yes p No 

b Is this applicant eligible to return to your school? p Yes p No 

If you answered no to either or both questions, please attach a separate sheet of paper or use your written recommendation to provide details. 

a Has the applicant ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at your school, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that 

resulted in a disciplinary action? These actions could include, but are not limited to: probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from your institution. 

p Yes p No 

b To your knowledge, has the applicant ever been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? p Yes p No 

If you answered “yes” to either or both questions, please attach a separate sheet of paper or use your written recommendation to give the approximate date of each 

incident and explain the circumstances. 

p check here if you would prefer to discuss this applicant over the phone with each admission office. 

CR-2/2012-13

Have there been any changes to the senior year courses listed on the original School Report? p Yes p No 

Have there been any changes in the applicant’s disciplinary status at your school since you submitted the original School Report? 

p Yes p No p School policy prevents me from responding 

To your knowledge, have there been any changes to the applicant’s criminal history since you submitted the original School Report? 

p Yes p No p School policy prevents me from responding 

Do you wish to update your original evaluation of this applicant? p Yes p No 

to the Applicant 

After completing the information in this section, give this form to your school counselor or another school official who knows you better. If applying via mail, please 

also give that school official stamped envelopes addressed to each institution to which you have applied. 

p Female 

Legal Name 

p Male 



mm/dd/yyyy 

Address 


School you now attend CEEB/ACT Code 

ImPOrtAnt PrIvAcy nOtE: In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the original School Report submitted on your behalf 

reflects your choice to waive or not waive your right of access to all recommendations and supporting documents. That response applies to all subsequent 

reports, including this one. You chose the following: 




to the School counselor 

Please submit this form when final grades are available (end of second semester or third trimester). Attach applicant’s official transcript and transcript legend. 

(Please check transcript copies for readability.) be sure to sign below before mailing directly to the college/university admission office. Do not mail this form to 

The Common Application offices. 

Counselor’s Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.) 



Title School 

If you responded yes to any of the preceding questions, please attach an explanation. 

p check here if you would prefer to discuss this applicant over the phone with each admission office. 

mm/dd/yyyy 


Number & Street 

School Website Address 

City/Town State/Province Country ZIP/Postal Code 

Counselor’s Telephone ( ) Counselor’s Fax ( ) 


School CEEB/ACT Code Counselor’s E-mail 

bAckgrOunD InFOrmAtIOn If any of the information below has changed for this student since the Midyear Report was submitted, please enter the new 

information in the appropriate section below. (Counselors of transfer applicants need not answer the questions below the shaded box.) 

Class Rank Class Size Covering a period from to . 


The rank is p weighted p unweighted. 

How many additional students share this rank? 

p We do not rank. Instead, please indicate 

quartile quintile decile 


2012–13 Final Report 

For Spring 2013 or Fall 2013 Enrollment 

Cumulative GPA: on a scale, covering a period from to . 


This GPA is p weighted p unweighted. The school’s passing mark is . 

Highest GPA in class Graduation Date 

(mm/dd/yyyy) 

FR 

FR-1/2012-13

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