Columbia considers expanding undergraduate enrollment by up to 20 percent

[Anonymous]

Columbia is test optional, bucking the Ivy trend.

What is the acceptance rate of, say, a 1580 SAT scorer versus a test optional applicant?

I would guess the 1580 SAT scorer has a much better chance of admission, but since Columbia is test optional they get thousands of applications from applicants with bad SAT scores. I bet these applicants have little chance of getting in.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/11/21/columbia-considers-expanding-undergraduate-enrollment-by-up-to-20-percent/
The University plans to finalize a decision by the time it releases early admissions results mid-December.

Make sure your DC applies to Columbia this year.

Make sure DC does not apply. This is a sinking ship.

There are only two schools: an ivy school, or a non-ivy school.

You probably still need stats to get in even after 20% expansion.

If that makes you feel better. Columbia GS has a 40% acceptance rate

Columbia General Studies is designed for older, non-traditional students. It has non-degree programs too, that are revenue makers-Columbia College undergrad acceptance rate for the class of 2029 was 4%, same as Princeton, and slightly lower than the acceptance rate for Yale.

For the class of 2029, Columbia undergrad was the fourth most selective program in the USA (behind only Harvard, Stanford and Cal Tech) and tied with Princeton. Even if you increase enrollment substantially, it will still be highly likely that your kid isn't getting in.

+1 The undergrad class at Columbia was much smaller 30 years ago, and yet somehow each year Columbia accepts a smaller share of applicants.

[Anonymous]

Columbia had a lot of apps last year bc it's one of few ivy test optional. And people assumed would be easier admit given the recent chaos. The school has been distracted with leadership challenges, managing the optics and pr around protests and the federal funding crises. They should take time to fix ongoing internal issues of housing, course selection, increasing use of non professors, etc before expanding class size. But $ is their corporate goals. They may position it as increased access but it's about $$$.

[Anonymous]

If Columbia was not in nyc, it would be behind Cornell in rankings

It’s exceptionally overrated and carried by the location

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Columbia was not in nyc, it would be behind Cornell in rankings

It’s exceptionally overrated and carried by the location

What a dumb comment. All universities are defined by their locations. Perhaps you can write a post on how Harvard wouldn’t be as popular if it were located in Tuscaloosa.

[Anonymous]

I’m on the fence about whether this is truly a strong STEM school (specifically Columbia SEAS). I felt comfortable with the school until I heard about a friend’s child getting admitted with a 1300-level SAT score and a questionable FGLI status

[Anonymous]

Plus, the high number of international students makes it feel more like a school geared toward wealthy families seeking a prestigious brand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the fence about whether this is truly a strong STEM school (specifically Columbia SEAS). I felt comfortable with the school until I heard about a friend’s child getting admitted with a 1300-level SAT score and a questionable FGLI status

Columbia loves that kind of kid, more than other ivies though all pull that crap. The number of ivy students we know with 1300s is ridiculous. All hooked. And they brag about getting in with low scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the fence about whether this is truly a strong STEM school (specifically Columbia SEAS). I felt comfortable with the school until I heard about a friend’s child getting admitted with a 1300-level SAT score and a questionable FGLI status

Columbia loves that kind of kid, more than other ivies though all pull that crap. The number of ivy students we know with 1300s is ridiculous. All hooked. And they brag about getting in with low scores.

I know, because based on what I’ve seen from my friend’s child, I genuinely don’t know how they’ll manage in a STEM program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m on the fence about whether this is truly a strong STEM school (specifically Columbia SEAS). I felt comfortable with the school until I heard about a friend’s child getting admitted with a 1300-level SAT score and a questionable FGLI status

Perhaps a STEM student could explain to you that your anecdote is no replacement for actual data which indicates that a student accepted with those stats would be very much an outlier as a Columbia undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Columbia was not in nyc, it would be behind Cornell in rankings

It’s exceptionally overrated and carried by the location

It is ranked behind Cornell as is. Both schools wouldn't be T25 if they weren't ivys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is that going to work in terms of access to housing, access to classes, etc.? To me that just makes it sound like campus housing is tougher to find and it’s harder to get into classes that will now have more students.

No, thanks.

And what about recruiting? Top employers won’t take 20% more Columbia graduates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Columbia was not in nyc, it would be behind Cornell in rankings

It’s exceptionally overrated and carried by the location

What a dumb comment. All universities are defined by their locations. Perhaps you can write a post on how Harvard wouldn’t be as popular if it were located in Tuscaloosa.

Dartmouth is very popular and well, have you seen where it is? Go visit. It's awesome, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbia is test optional, bucking the Ivy trend.

What is the acceptance rate of, say, a 1580 SAT scorer versus a test optional applicant?

I would guess the 1580 SAT scorer has a much better chance of admission, but since Columbia is test optional they get thousands of applications from applicants with bad SAT scores. I bet these applicants have little chance of getting in.

It's back to test, isn't it? UPenn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Columbia was not in nyc, it would be behind Cornell in rankings

It’s exceptionally overrated and carried by the location

What a dumb comment. All universities are defined by their locations. Perhaps you can write a post on how Harvard wouldn’t be as popular if it were located in Tuscaloosa.

Ha ha! This is true.