Columbia College - Chicago
“I have several problems with Columbia.Quite BrightMusic - Performance
I have several problems with Columbia. I was very excited to go and really tried to like it. But, the main problem is that the application process is not rigorous enough, thus the talent/skill level of the student body is very low. When working with other students (Esp in music depmt) I found that most of them just really shouldn't even being pursuing their major. Some people have it, some don't when it comes to music, and having an audition process would weed out the lower level talent.
Another issue I have it that nobody takes any part of the college seriously. The professors I've worked with don't really care about you as an individual and don't take their work seriously, but still expect their students too. So when your final comes around, and you've done what you thought you were supposed to, turns out you should have done more, but the professor just didn't mention that because they're not interested in their Gen Ed classes. The math and science departments are a joke. The teachers are just as well aware as the students that no one is their for math or science. That is no excuse when you're paying $2000 dollars a credit. And the fact of the matter is you have to take Gen Eds, so you want to pass them, but it's difficult because no one speaks good english (Sorry..) and they simply don't care.
My final issue with the school is its reputation. Nationally, it's rep is decent, but locally it's a nightmare. The first question I'm always asked about the school is "Are you transferring?" The rep reflects the school. They glorify all the intern opportunities, those happen rarely. Most of the grads end up working at the school. If you want to be taken seriously and want to get a good education in music, contemporary or classical, I highly suggest straying away from Columbia. Until they get their programs and application process in order, it's gonna remain average. I definitely don't feel that i'm getting quality education esp at $40,000 a year.
view full review→Dec 09 2013
1st Year Female -- Class 2017
Surrounding City: A+, Education Quality: D
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“If you are serious about your career goSuper BrilliantFine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc
If you are serious about your career go to Columbia.
I went to a community college for 2 years to take my general classes and then transferred to Columbia with the presidential scholarship. In one year I have meet wonderful people, professionals that work in the field, and also had the chance to be in 2 magazines.I'm a photo major and this school rocks, spend your time wisely, do a lot of networking and build up your resume. You have the chance to take advance of almost endless resources, especially if you are in photography.
I went to a community college for 2 years to take my general classes and then transferred to Columbia with the presidential scholarship. In one year I have meet wonderful people, professionals that work in the field, and also had the chance to be in 2 magazines.I'm a photo major and this school rocks, spend your time wisely, do a lot of networking and build up your resume. You have the chance to take advance of almost endless resources, especially if you are in photography.
view full review→Mar 28 2013
1st Year Male -- Class 2014
Education Quality: A+,
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“Columbia is all about how hard you areAveragePerfomance Arts
Columbia is all about how hard you are willing to work and what you put in to it. To enjoy the school and get your moneys worth you must always be looking at the bulletin boards around the campus for events, performances, auditions ect. OTHERWISE you're going to be bored out of your mind. Yeah youre living in downtown chicago but if you arent 21 there is absolutely nothing to do. I recommend living at the university center if you want to make friends. I lived at the Dwight and made no friends at all and then i moved to the UC and made so many friends met my boyfriend and best friend there. Reason being, the university center has roosevelt, depaul and robert morris students there as well. It's a nice break to be away from columbia kids all day. I just feel like they all try so hard and I got so so so so tired of the hipsters and the countless number of people in my classes that had absolutely no talent. it started to make me feel like shit about myself that there were all these students who had no talent and were dumb as hell. Yes anyone can get in to columbia. ANYONE. The professors at columbia are amazing and all successful in the field they are teaching and nice. I have never really had an awful teacher. The gen ed classes are a joke. I got A's in all my gen eds without even studying. They relate all the gen ed classes back to your major and at the end of the semester you do a big project on it. For instance, I am a dance major so I danced about the biology of aids. I got an A for all my gen ed classes because I just did a dance that related to the subject. Super easy. All in all my experience at columbia was a little less than mediocre. It did not challenge me at all, a couple classes were fascinating (psychology of women with mya TAKE IT) there werent enough performance opportunities, fellow students are not talented only a select few (some you will be so embarrassed that they go to the same school as you) everyone's trying to be hipster or already is (most of them trying) Columbia isnt going to look amazing on a resume you really have to network and work hard to get your moneys worth and not end up working at starbucks like all the other graduates from columbia.
view full review→Oct 27 2012
2nd Year Female -- Class 2013
Innovation: A+, Extracurricular Activities: D-
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