--- title: How to Get into Columbia University description: To get into Columbia University, good grades alone aren't enough. You also need a compelling application narrative that shows your alignment with Columbia. image: https://admitreport.com/hubfs/Columbia%20How%20To.jpg --- [Think you can get into a top-10 school? Take our chance-me calculator... if you dare. 🔥](https://uq2z800a22f.typeform.com/to/GSbIvdW0) [![](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/admit-report-logo-black.svg)](https://admitreport.com/) [College Essays](https://admitreport.com/college-essays) Personal Statement Supplemental Essays Writing Advice Example Essays Other Application Writing Sections Personal Statement Foundations [How to Write a Personal Statement](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-for-colleges) [Brainstorming a Personal Statement](https://admitreport.com/blog/college-essay-brainstorming-questions) [Personal Statement Mistakes](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-end-a-college-essay) [How to Revise a Personal Statement](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#how-to-edit-a-common-app-essay) Personal Statement Strategy [Writing About Strengths](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-for-colleges) [Finding a Topic](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#how-to-choose-a-college-essay-topic) [Tone & Theme](https://admitreport.com/blog/college-essay-requirements#college-essay-conventions) Common Application [Common Application Prompts](https://admitreport.com/blog/common-app-essay-examples#the-2022-2023-common-application-essay-prompts) [Common Application Requirements](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/owlhkp/my_giant_guide_to_to_the_common_app_what_is_it/) [How to Write a Common App Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-for-colleges) [Common App Essay Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples) Personal Statement Examples ["Great" Essay Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#the-best-personal-statement-examples) ["Good" Essay Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#good-personal-statement-examples) ["Bad" Essay Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#bad-personal-statement-examples) Types of Supplemental Essays [Why Us](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-college-essay) [Diversity Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/diversity-essay) [Community Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/community-essay-examples) [Academic Interest Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/academic-interest-essay) [Why This Major Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-major-essay-examples) [Challenge Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-challenge-essay-examples) [Extracurricular Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-activities-essay) Supplemental Strategy [Writing About Strengths](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#goal-1-write-persuasively-about-your-strengths) Our College Essay Philosophy [Creating a Cohesive Application Narrative](https://admitreport.com/blog/cohesive-application) [Writing Vulnerably](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-for-colleges) [Strengths-Based Writing](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#goal-1-write-persuasively-about-your-strengths) Writing Techniques [Brainstorming a College Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/college-essay-brainstorming-questions) [Drafting a College Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#how-to-draft-a-common-app-essay) [Revising a College Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#how-to-edit-a-common-app-essay) Personal Statement ["Great" Example Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#the-best-personal-statement-examples) ["Good" Example Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#good-personal-statement-examples) ["Bad" Example Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#bad-personal-statement-examples) Supplemental Essays [Why Us Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-college-essay) [Diversity Supplemental Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/diversity-essay) [Extracurricular Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-activities-essay) [Academic Interest Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/academic-interest-essay) [Community Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/community-essay-examples) [Why this Major Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-major-essay-examples) [Challenge Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-challenge-essay-examples) School-Specific Supplementals [Harvard Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/harvard-supplemental-essays) [Yale Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/yale-supplemental-essays) [Stanford Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/stanford-supplemental-essays) [USC Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/usc-supplemental-essays) [Dartmouth Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/dartmouth-supplemental-essays) [All Supplemental Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/supplementals) Activities Descriptions [Writing Activities Descriptions that Stand Out](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-activities-essay) Admissions Office Communications [Finding Your Admissions Officers](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-an-email-to-a-college-admissions-office-sample#contacting-your-admissions-counselor-vs-the-admissions-office) [Emailing an Admissions Office](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-an-email-to-a-college-admissions-office-sample) [Preparing to Apply](https://admitreport.com/how-to-apply-to-college) Preparation Pathways Extracurricular Activities Academic Basics Testing Admissions 101 Grade-Based Timelines [First-Year Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/first-year-timeline) [Sophomore Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/sophomore-timeline) [Junior Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/junior-timeline) [Senior Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/senior-timeline) International Students [How to Apply as an International Student](https://admitreport.com/blog/applying-to-college-as-an-international-student) Extracurriculars in Admissions [How Admissions Officers Evaluate Extracurriculars](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurriculars-and-college-admissions) [How to Find Authentic Extracurriculars](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-organically-find-your-extracurricular-interests) [Basic Extracurricular Pathways](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-pathways) [Extracurricular Magnitude and Impact](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-magnitude-and-impact) [Leveling Up Your ECs](https://admitreport.com/blog/leveling-up-your-extracurriculars) [Crafting ECs by Combining Interests](https://admitreport.com/blog/craft-amazing-extracurriculars) [Passion Projects](https://admitreport.com/blog/passion-project-ideas) GPA [How Admissions Officers Evaluate Extracurriculars](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurriculars-and-college-admissions) [Unweighted vs. Weighted GPA](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/15ehsq5/aos_dont_want_you_to_know_this_one_weird_fact/) [Assessing Your GPA & Admissions Chances](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications) [Class Rank](https://admitreport.com/blog/academics-gpa) Course Work [Course Rigor](https://admitreport.com/blog/do-colleges-care-about-ap-scores) SAT & ACT [How Admissions Officers Evaluate Standardized Test Scores](https://admitreport.com/blog/what-does-test-optional-mean#how-do-admissions-officers-evaluate-my-test-scores) [Test-Optional Admissions](https://admitreport.com/blog/what-does-test-optional-mean) AP & IB Tests [Do AP & IB Tests Matter in Admissions?](https://admitreport.com/blog/do-colleges-care-about-ap-scores) [When to Send Your Scores](https://admitreport.com/blog/senior-timeline) Types of Institutions [Liberal Arts College](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#liberal-arts-colleges) [Private University](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#highly-selective-private-institutions) [State University](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#large-state-schools) [Community Colleges](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#community-colleges) How Applications are Reviewed [How Applications are Reviewed](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications) [The Job of the Admissions Officer](https://admitreport.com/blog/reading-5k-essays-in-a-top-15-admissions-office) [What is the Committee?](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications#the-third-trial-committee-recommendations) [Your Application Strategy](https://admitreport.com/application-strategy) Navigating the application College Application Strategy College Research Building Your College List Application Materials Common Application Guide [How to Use the Common Application](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/owlhkp/my_giant_guide_to_to_the_common_app_what_is_it/) [Common Application Essay Prompts](https://admitreport.com/blog/common-app-essay-examples#the-2022-2023-common-application-essay-prompts) Applying to International Schools [A Guide to Applying as an International Student](https://admitreport.com/blog/applying-to-college-as-an-international-student) Our Strategy Philosophy [Creating a Cohesive Narrative](https://admitreport.com/blog/cohesive-application) [How Admissions Offices Process Applications](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications) College-Specific Application Guides [Harvard](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-harvard) [Stanford](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-stanford) [Yale](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-yale) [MIT](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-mit) [USC](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-usc) [See the full list](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/application-strategy) Tools & Resources [Demonstrated Interest](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-show-demonstrated-interest) [How to Use the Common Data Set](https://admitreport.com/blog/common-data-set) Visiting Colleges [When to Visit Colleges](https://admitreport.com/blog/touring-colleges#ways-to-visit-college-campuses) Resources [Common Data Set](https://admitreport.com/common-data-set) [Colleges That Change Lives](https://ctcl.org/) School List Basics [How to Build the Perfect School List](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list) [Safety Schools](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#what-is-a-safety-school) [Target Schools](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#what-is-a-target-school) [Reach Schools](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#what-is-a-reach-school) Early Decision Strategy [Early Action vs Early Decision](https://admitreport.com/blog/early-action-vs-early-decision) [How to Pick Your ED](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-strategize-your-early-decision-application) [Early Decision II](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-strategize-your-early-decision-application#what-s-the-strategy-for-ed-ii-schools) Letters of Recommendation [Teacher Letters](https://admitreport.com/blog/letters-of-recommendation-for-college) [Counselor Letters](https://admitreport.com/blog/letters-of-recommendation-for-college) [How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation](https://admitreport.com/blog/letters-of-recommendation-for-college#how-to-get-the-best-letters-of-recommendation-possible) School Report [What Is a School Report?](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/vz09mf/the_document_in_every_application_most_students/) [All Resources](https://admitreport.com/blog) [College Consulting](https://sierraadmissions.com/) [About Us](https://admitreport.com/about-us) [![](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/admit-report-logo-black.svg)](https://admitreport.com/) [College Essays](https://admitreport.com/college-essays) [Preparing to Apply](https://admitreport.com/how-to-apply-to-college) [Your Application Strategy](https://admitreport.com/application-strategy) [All Resources](https://admitreport.com/blog) [College Consulting](https://sierraadmissions.com/) [About Us](https://admitreport.com/about-us) ###### Contents Last updated March 22, 2024 Every piece we write is researched and vetted by a former admissions officer. Read about [our mission](https://admitreport.com/standards) to pull back the admissions curtain. [Blog](https://admitreport.com/blog) > [Application Strategy](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/application-strategy), [Ivy League](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/ivy-league), [Private University](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/private-university) > How to Get into Columbia University # How to Get into Columbia University Admissions officer reviewed by [Ben Bousquet, M.Ed](https://admitreport.com/about-us) Former Vanderbilt University Written by [Alex McNeil, MA](https://admitreport.com/about-us) Admissions Consultant ###### Key Takeaway When Columbia admissions officers read your application, they're not just looking at your grades, test scores, and course load. They're also looking for intellectual curiosity, engagement, and voice. Those are the factors that help you stand out. Just in case you haven’t heard: Columbia’s acceptance rate is 3.89%. That’s the lowest admit rate of the entire Ivy League. It’s even lower than MIT and Stanford. Surprising? Yes. Impossible? Well, no. But for 96.11% of applicants, it may as well be nil. In this post, I guide you through developing an application strategy that will get you closer to that 3.89%. Let’s dive in. ## **How to Apply to Columbia** You can find Columbia on Common App, Coalition, and QuestBridge. You don’t have to pick a specific program to apply to, but you will need to choose between Columbia College and Columbia Engineering. In your application, Columbia will request that you submit all kinds of information: - Background and demographic information - Extracurricular activities section - Personal statement - Columbia supplement - High school transcript - School Report - Counselor recommendation - Two teacher recommendations - Standardized test scores You can also submit supplemental materials like a portfolio or research abstract, and you may have the opportunity to do an interview if one is available. ### **Columbia Application Options** You’ve got two choices when it comes to applying to Columbia. You can either apply Early Decision—a binding agreement that obligates you to attend Columbia if you are admitted—or Regular Decision, which has no binding commitment. Sadly, you can’t apply early unless you’re willing to ED, so you’ll probably be applying Regular Decision. ### **Columbia Application Deadlines** Early Decision: November 1 Regular Decision: January 1 ## **How hard is it to get into Columbia?** When it comes to getting into college, Columbia is about as hard as it gets. With a 3.89% acceptance rate, it doesn’t get much more difficult. When acceptance rates dip below 10%, and again below 5%, you really have no way of knowing whether what you have will stand out. You can prepare and prepare, but your application is subject to the whims of the highly-selective admissions process. So you have to control what you can—your grades, essays, activities, and overall application narrative. And to do all that, you need a sound application strategy. To start forming that strategy, we’ll need to dive a little deeper into what Columbia looks for in applicants. ## **What does Columbia look for in applicants?** Our Columbia Common Data Set post already breaks down Columbia’s application evaluation criteria in detail. But when we’re talking about things like “personal character” and “talent and ability,” what we actually mean can get a bit obscure. One person’s character or talent can look drastically different from another’s. Or what you think makes you special may not exactly map on to what a university is looking for. Let’s dive a little deeper into what Columbia looks for in applicants. [Columbia maps student values across a few key areas](https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/process): academic preparation, curiosity, engagement, voice, and knowledge of Columbia. Let’s start with academics. Of course, if you’re applying to Columbia, you’d better be academically prepared. Strong extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations just can’t compensate for an inadequate academic background. That’s the harsh reality of life at 3.89%. But successful Columbia students aren’t simply the best students at their schools—you also have to have a certain “it” factor that draws admissions officers into your personal story. And what’s one of the main ways you can do that? Yep, intellectual curiosity. Taking notes in a lecture, doing rote memorization, filling out a scantron—all of these actions are marks of a good student, but Columbia is looking for thought leaders. They want students who ask questions *and* answer them, students who are willing to solve hard problems and find ways to help the world around them. If you’re that student, you need to show them. That’s where engagement and voice come in. Sitting in a classroom is one thing, but actively seeking opportunities to connect is another. Columbia, like all top-tier schools, wants students who will contribute to the community around them. So if you want to get into Columbia, you have to show 1) that you have your own voice and perspective, and 2) you already have a history of using your voice to engage with the voices of those around you. Finally, Columbia wants students who want to be there. And the only way to show that you want to be there is to know everything you can about what Columbia has to offer. More than that, you also have to make clear connections between those offerings and what you bring to the table—that’s a little thing we like to call “school fit.” ## **Columbia GPA requirement** Because of Columbia’s holistic and contextual approach to application review, you don’t need to worry about GPA cutoffs. Your application won’t be automatically rejected because you don’t have a perfect GPA. That said, you should be realistic about your chances of being admitted if your GPA leaves something to be desired. As we showed in our Columbia Common Data Set post, 95.7% of enrolled first-year students were in the top tenth of their high school graduating class, and 100% were in the top half. If that doesn’t sound like you, then you should adjust your expectations accordingly. (Sorry—I know that’s harsh, but that’s the reality of highly rejective admissions!) ## **Columbia SAT Scores** Like GPA, there aren’t any formal SAT or ACT requirements or cutoffs at Columbia. But there is a measure that will help you gauge where your standardized test scores should be if you want to be a competitive applicant. It’s called the “middle 50%,” which is the score range in which the middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored. So, Columbia’s middle 50% look like this: SAT Composite: 1490-1560 ACT Composte: 34-35 If you scored a 1490 on your SAT, you’d be right at the bottom of the middle 50%. If you scored a 1400, then you’d be below the middle 50%. See how that works? As of right now, Columbia has extended its test-optional policy. When it comes to deciding whether to submit your scores, the middle 50% is crucial. We have a whole post on [test-optional strategy](https://admitreport.com/blog/what-does-test-optional-mean), but here’s the gist: if your score is within the middle 50%—especially if you’re on the higher end of it—then you should be okay to submit your score. ### **Does Columbia superscore?** Columbia superscores. “Superscore” means that they’ll take your highest scores in each section, regardless of which test date you earned them on. So if you get your best reading score in May and your best math score in October, all that matters will be the higher scores. Superscoring can be a life-saver when it comes to standing out with your standardized tests because you’re not facing as much pressure to get it perfect every time. Thank you, Columbia! ## **What high school course work do I need to get into Columbia?** Columbia pretty clearly lays out what [coursework](https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/firstyear) you’ll be expected to have taken in high school. But the specific courses depend on whether you’re applying to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. In both cases, you aren’t required to have taken these courses. But if you want to be a competitive applicant, you should try to get as close as possible. Let’s take a look at Columbia College first: - English: 4 years - Math: 4 years - History/social studies: 3-4 years - Lab science: 3-4 years - Foreign language: 3-4 years And now for Columbia Engineering: - Math: 4 years, through calculus - Lab science: 4 years (including one year each of chemistry and physics) - English: 4 years - History/social studies: 3-4 years - Foreign language: 2-3 years Remember that Columbia admissions officers will evaluate your transcript in the context of your school, so don’t sweat it if you can’t match these guidelines perfectly. Aim to align with the ones that are most important to you. ## **What extracurriculars do I need to get into Columbia?** If you’ve ever watched a “How I got into Columbia” vlog or browsed r/ApplyingToCollege, you might feel like you need to have made an uber-successful app or raised thousands of dollars for a non-profit if you want to get into college. I’m here to ease some of that stress, so worry not. Those kinds of achievements can help your application, but they’re not the only way for you to get into a school like Columbia. Sure, you’re definitely going to need some impressive extracurriculars to brave the 3.89%. But you don’t need to cure a disease or make a fake company. You need to choose activities that resonate with you and your values, and you need to demonstrate how you’ve shaped the world around you through your activities. The best way to ensure that your extracurriculars stand out is to write about them in a way that tells a compelling story. Columbia admissions officers want to know the “why” behind how you spend your time, so write about them in a way that highlights Columbia’s values, too—those values of academics, curiosity, engagement, voice, and connection to Columbia. ## **Final Takeaways + Columbia Supplemental Essay** And with that, prospective Columbian, you’re off to the races. Read through this guide as many times as you need until you have a sound application strategy in place for your Columbia application. Next, it’s time to begin your Columbia supplemental essays. We have a whole other guide for that, too. Hop on over to the [Columbia Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/columbia-supplemental-essays) guide to get started.     ###### Liked that? Try this next. ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/Power%20of%20a%20Cohesive%20College%20Application.jpg) The Incredible Power of a Cohesive College Application](https://admitreport.com/blog/cohesive-application) ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/siora-photography-hgFY1mZY-Y0-unsplash.jpg) How A Selective Admissions Office Reads 50k Applications In A Season](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications) ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/How%20to%20Write%20a%20Personal%20Statement.jpg) How to Write a Personal Statement for Colleges](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-for-colleges) ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/12%20Common%20App%20Examples.jpg) 12 Common App Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)](https://admitreport.com/blog/common-app-essay-examples) ### Upgrade your college journey ###### Content [Admissions Guides](https://admitreport.com/admissions-guides) [Categories](https://admitreport.com) ###### Legal [Privacy Policy](https://admitreport.com/privacy) [Terms of Use](https://admitreport.com/terms) K&S Canon, PLLC 1200 5TH Ave Ste 1950, Seattle, WA, 98101-1183, United States Copyright © 2026 McNeil Admissions ### "The only actually useful chance calculator I’ve seen—plus a crash course on the application review process." 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