Columbia College Today

The Parade of Flags adds to the color of Convocation.

Photo: Eileen Barroso

In late August, College students returned to campus, ready for a new year. Included in this group of more than 4,000 students were the newest members of the Columbia community, the Class of 2011. First-year students and their families participated in Family Orientation on August 27, which coincides with the first day of New Student Orientation. This day-long event includes workshops, a campus resource fair and Convocation, the official ceremony that welcomes the new class and their families into the Columbia community. President Lee C. Bollinger, Dean of the College Austin Quigley and SEAS Interim Dean Gerald Navratil presided over the joyous campus ceremony, now in its fourth year.

The College and SEAS first-years are among the best and brightest in the world. Of 18,081 College applicants — the highest number the College ever has received — 1,647 were admitted (with 29 wait-listed), an admit rate of 8.9 percent, the lowest ever for the College. Early decision admits, of which there were 454, accounted for 44 percent of the first-year class, with 33 percent of early decision applicants deferred to regular decision. The number of students in the Class of 2011 is 1,017.

SEAS admitted 608 students (with 16 wait-listed) out of 3,262 applicants, an admit rate of 18.1 percent. Forty-four percent of the SEAS Class of 2011 was admitted through early decision, and 27 percent of early decision applicants were deferred to regular decision. The number of students in the SEAS Class of 2011 is 315.

First-years and their families enjoy lunch on Hamilton lawn before last year’s Convocation.

Photo: Eileen Barroso

Historically, the five-year average for the number of College students who were admitted from the wait list was 40. The five-year average number for the number of SEAS students who were admitted from the wait list was 30.

Of schools that provided a class rank, approximately 92 percent of accepted students were in the top 10 percent of their graduating class and 98 percent were in the top 20 percent of their class. Sixty-two percent of admitted students attended high schools that do not rank. The middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between a 1380 and a 1530 on the math and critical reading sections of the SAT (out of a maximum of 1600).

Columbia ’s commitment to diversity ensures students will make friends and learn with peers from all over the world as well as their home state. Top states represented in the Class of 2011 are New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida and Maryland. Top non-U.S. countries represented are Canada, South Korea, Mexico, China, Singapore, Turkey, India and the United Kingdom, with 41 countries represented overall. The number of foreign/international students and students schooled outside the United States is 19 percent.

The Class of 2011 is 51 percent male and 49 percent female, with 50 percent of students receiving financial aid from the University.

AROUND THE QUADS

Class of 2011 Joins the Columbia Family