How to Get Into Columbia University: Requirements, Acceptance Rate, and Tips

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university founded in New York in 1754. It is one of the oldest higher institutions in America. Columbia is a high-ranking school for many reasons, including its academic quality and groundbreaking research. Many ambitious students are interested in learning how to get into Columbia University. 

Getting accepted into this prestigious school is not an easy task. Thousands of students apply to the school annually. To compete with the Columbia University acceptance rate, you will need to meet a lot of Columbia requirements, including a high GPA. For more information on the school and to learn how to get accepted into Columbia, read on. 

All About Columbia University Admissions

Admission into Columbia University is an easy process. It starts with applying through the Common, Coalition, or QuestBridge Application platforms, where you complete all the necessary application materials. Getting accepted into the school, on the other hand, is the tricky part. You have to stand out among the wide variety of students who will be applying. 

Columbia University Acceptance Rate

Columbia University’s acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 3.9 percent. A total of 60,551 students applied to the school, and 2,358 were admitted. 95 percent of those accepted were in the top 10 percent of their class. Columbia’s acceptance rate differs every year based on various factors and cannot be fully predicted. 

Columbia University GPA

Columbia does not have a cutoff GPA or test score for first-year applicants. This means that there is no GPA requirement to be accepted into the school. However, due to the high number of applicants, only the top-ranking students are accepted. In most cases, you have to be among the top ten percent of your high school class to get accepted at this prestigious school. 

Columbia University Total Enrollment 

As of mid-October 2020, Columbia University has a total enrollment of 31,455, including undergraduate, graduate, full-time, part-time, and non-degree students. There are 8,842 undergraduate students, 18,272 students in the Morningside graduate and professional schools, and 4,341 students in the medical center graduate schools. 

Columbia University Requirements

• Coalition, Common, or QuestBridge Application. You can apply to Columbia through the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge Application platforms. The application should include your autobiographical information, achievements, employment, extracurriculars, and personal statement.
• Official High School Transcript. You are required to send an official transcript from all the high schools that you have attended. This is to be sent by an official from the school.
• Counselor Recommendation. You are also required to send a recommendation from a school counselor. This will be sent by your high school counselor and will include information that highlights your personal and intellectual qualities, achievements, and goals throughout high school.
• High School Profile. Your high school profile contains all the information about your high school studies, including demographic information, curriculum, GPA, class rank calculation, and extracurricular activities.
• Mid-Year Report. A mid-year report is a document sent by your high school that indicates your academic performance in the first half of your senior year. It includes your grades, courses, and any changes made in your profile.
• Standardized Test Score. Columbia requires a standardized test in the form of SAT or ACT. However, for the Fall of 2022, 2023, and 2024, Columbia is test-optional for students. Typically, students have to submit their own standardized test scores. An English proficiency test is generally required for international students as well.  
• Teacher Recommendations. Students have to send recommendations from two teachers who taught them in academic disciplines in high school. The letter of recommendation will include information on their academic and personal performance in each teacher’s class. Engineering students have to send letters from their math or science teachers.
• Essay. Admission into Columbia requires a supplemental personal essay that tells the school about your personality, academic career, experience, interest, achievements, challenges, and motivations. 
• Application Fee. Applying to Columbia requires an $85 application fee that is nonrefundable. Students who cannot afford the fee can request a fee waiver. 
• Interview. Columbia invites a few applicants for an interview session, but this isn’t extended to all applicants. Some may not get an interview request but this does not affect admissions prospects. The interview is typically carried out by select student interviewers or volunteers from the school’s Alumni Representative Committee.
• Supplementary Materials. Supplementary materials are not compulsory. However, those who have significant achievements can choose to add them to the application at their own discretion. 

Is It Hard to Get Into Columbia University?

Yes, it is hard to get into Columbia University. Columbia is an Ivy League school with a really low acceptance rate that gets thousands of applicants yearly. Being singled out among many qualified applicants requires a lot of commitment, effort, and academic excellence. While there is no minimum GPA to get into Columbia, you still need to be among the top-ranking students.

In the class of 2025, 95 percent of accepted students were among the top ten students in their high school classes. This achievement requires a lot of work. Beyond academic excellence, this college also wants students with personal qualities that fit their school’s culture. These can be gauged through letters of recommendation, counselor recommendations, and personal essays.

How to Prepare for a Columbia University Interview

To prepare for the Columbia University interview, you need to practice general and Columbia-specific questions consistently during the days leading up to the interview. While not every applicant will get an interview, it is important to prepare in case you are selected so that you can feel confident as you answer questions posed by the admissions officials. 

The types of questions asked are designed to get to know you beyond your documents and see if your personality fits the school culture. They will be about your academic background, challenges, aspirations, and goals. 

Columbia University Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to go to Columbia?
• Why do you want to major in this program?
• What achievements are you most proud of?
• What is your most challenging experience? How did you overcome it?

10 Tips for Getting Into Columbia University

Below are some tips that can help you ace your Columbia application and increase your chances of acceptance at this dream school. They involve steps you can take during your high school years and during the application period.

1. Start the Process Early

Starting your admissions process early is one of the best decisions you can make as a Columbia applicant. Admission into an Ivy League school is not easy and the competition is really high. It requires a lot of effort, dedication, and time, which is why it pays to start early. It helps you prepare for the process and gives you enough time to perfect your application.

2. Take Advantage of Early Decision

Early decision is a college application process that allows students to apply ahead of the regular application deadline. It typically starts in November, while the regular decision begins in December or January. While applying through early decision doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the school, it will increase your chances of admission.

3. Earn Outstanding High School Grades

Your high school grades are of high importance in your application to Columbia. There are thousands of exceptional students who apply to the school yearly, many of whom have excellent grades. To meet the competition, you have to ensure that your grade point average is great and you are among the top-ranking students in your class. 

4. Get Excellent Letters of Recommendation

A strong recommendation letter shows what kind of person and student you are and increases your chances of admission. Columbia requires you to get two letters of recommendation from teachers that can speak highly of you, thus providing an academic recommendation. The additional letter from your guidance counselor speaks to your personal strengths. 

5. Participate in Summer Programs

Summer programs look good on a college application. They show that you are dedicated, determined, and willing to put in the required effort. These programs give you a glimpse of college life and show the school what kind of college student you will be. Taking relevant summer classes will increase your acceptance chances and impress the admissions committee. 

6. Participate in Extracurricular Activities

Participating in extracurricular activities is a good way of impressing the admissions officers, especially when they are relevant to your field of study. Engagements like leadership activities, internships for high school students, athletic programs, community service, political activism, and arts activities are some good examples.

7. Take Advanced Placement Programs

Advanced Placement (AP) programs offer students advanced courses and examinations. These programs prepare you for a college curriculum and show the admissions officers that you are ready for college-level work. When you do well in the exams, it shows your academic rigor and college readiness, which is what Columbia is looking for in students.

8. Write a Captivating Essay

Your essay should show your academic, intellectual, and extracurricular interests, personal qualities, achievements, aspirations, values, and motivations. The school uses the essay to learn what kind of person you are and what kind of student you will be. Your essay is the fastest way for them to know if you’ll fit in with the school culture and can determine whether you are accepted.

9. Practice to Ace Your Interview

In case you are selected for an interview, you should prepare ahead to ensure that you ace the session. You can do this by going through sample questions and practicing with a friend or on your own. While you may get different questions, practice will build your interview confidence and help you speak about your intentions for college succinctly. 

10. Talk to Alumni

If you are in touch with an alumnus of Columbia University, you should talk to them about your interest in applying to the school. You should get all the information and advice you can about their application process. You can practice interview questions with them to gain their experience and insight, as the interview is mostly conducted by current students. 

What Does It Take to Get Into Columbia University?

It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get into Columbia University. Columbia looks for students with academic excellence, a stellar personality, and impressive extracurricular activities. It favors students with intellectual curiosity who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo and get creative with life-changing ideas.

How to Get Into Columbia University FAQ