Columbia College Today

Dean Austin Quigley addresses new students and their families at last year’s Convocation.

In late August, College students returned to campus, ready to take on a new academic year and its challenges. Included in this group of more than 4,000 students were the newest members of the Columbia community, the Class of 2010. Students and their families were busy on August 28 participating in Family Orientation, 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 newest undergraduates and their families into the Columbia family. President Lee C. Bollinger, Dean of the College Austin Quigley and SEAS Dean Zvi Galil preside over the uplifting campus ceremony, now in its third year.

The College and SEAS first-years are among the best and brightest the world has to offer. Of 17,151 College applicants, 1,661 were admitted (with six waitlisted), an admit rate of 9.7 percent. Nearly 45 percent of the class was admitted through early decision, with a bit more than 26 percent of early decision applicants deferred to regular decision. The number of students who chose to attend the College is 1,017.

SEAS welcomed 635 students (20 waitlisted) out of 2,700 applicants, an admit rate of 23.5 percent. Almost 41 percent of the SEAS Class of 2010 was admitted through early decision, and almost 16 percent of early decision applicants were deferred to regular decision. The number of students who chose to attend SEAS is 315.

For a bit of history, consider that the five-year average number for the number of College students who were admitted from the wait list was 35. The five-year average number for the number of SEAS students who were admitted from the wait list was 27.

George Baison ’10, an International Kluge Scholar from Zimbabwe, chats with U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell ’78.

PHOTO: Rebecca Zeigler Mano, U.S. Embassy — Public Affairs Section, Harare, Zimbabwe

The incoming students are not just academically gifted. Among the many new students who have accomplished considerable things while still in high school, the members of the incoming class include a winner of a national essay contest (50,000 entries) sponsored by a major talk show host; two professional actors from current major motion pictures and a third who has a recurring role on a sitcom; the founder of a nonprofit dedicated to environmental and humanitarian concerns who was honored by the government of an African country; an engineering major whose paper on biotechnology won a national award in India; a Katrina evacuee who took her experiences and leadership to a new school where she founded clubs that brought her school and community together; a speaker of six languages who is involved in social causes, has national ranking in discus and javelin and is her country’s top female pole vaulter; and a world-ranked Irish dancer.

Columbia’s commitment to diversity ensures students will make friends and learn with peers from the other side of the world or their home state. Top states represented are New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Florida. Top non-U.S. countries represented are South Korea, Canada, India, Singapore, China, Thailand, Turkey and Australia, with 40 countries represented overall and 48 percent of students self-identifying as students of color. The number of foreign/international students and students schooled outside the United States is 14 percent. The classes break down into 52 percent male and 48 percent female.

AROUND THE QUADS

Welcome, Class of 2010!