Columbia’s Application For First-Year Admission 2012–2013 Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Important Dates and Late March/Early April Locations Deadlines Admissions: Admissions and financial aid decisions released online to Regular Office Of Undergraduate Admissions November 1 Decision candidates and invitations 212 Hamilton Hall Admissions: Application deadline for mailed for on-campus and regional Early Decision candidates. programs for admitted students. Visitors Center 213 Low Library November 15 May 1 Financial Aid: Early Decision candidates Admissions: Deposit deadline for Regular Office of Financial Aid & Educational must submit the CSS Profile and Decision admitted students. Financing parents’ 2011 Federal Tax Returns and, if 618 Alfred Lerner Hall applicable, business/farm tax information May 15 and their Non-Custodial Profile. Admissions: Deadline for requesting While actual locations are different for deferral of admission. the Office of Undergraduate Mid-December Admissions and the Office of Financial Admissions: Admissions decisions June 14 Aid & Educational Financing, all released online to Early Decision Admissions: Final high school transcripts correspondence may be directed to: candidates. due for incoming students (or as soon as 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 degree is conferred). 1130 Amsterdam Avenue January 1 New York, NY 10027 Admissions: Application deadline for Late August Regular Decision candidates. New Student Orientation Program and academic year begin. Phone Numbers, E-mail January 15 and Websites Admissions: Deposit deadline for Early Please be advised that all deadlines listed Decision admitted students. above are postmark deadlines. Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212-854-2522 March 1 Fax: 212-854-3393 Financial Aid: All aid candidates must E-mail: [email protected] submit copies of their own and their www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ parents’ 2012 Federal Tax Returns, admissions/ all schedules and W-2 forms. All aid candidates who are U.S. citizens must Office of Financial Aid & Educational submit their FAFSA. All Regular Decision Financing aid candidates must submit the CSS 212-854-3711 Profile. If applicable, Regular Decision Fax: 212-854-5353 candidates must also submit their Non- E-mail: [email protected] Custodial Profile and/or business/farm www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/finaid/ tax information. To track the status of your application for admission, please visit: www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ admissions/

To access Columbia course bulletins and other publications, go to: www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ admissions/

1 Application Instructions

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

We greatly appreciate your interest in Columbia and look forward to getting to know you through your application. Please read our Application Instructions carefully before beginning your application.

Columbia participates in The Common After submitting an application, you Please note that Columbia reserves the Application and additionally requires the will receive an e-mail from Columbia right to evaluate an application and Columbia Supplement to The Common officially acknowledging receipt of your render a final decision even if all pieces of Application. We strongly encourage application and providing a unique the application have not been received. students to apply online. Please use applicant ID number. (Columbia ID the paper application only if you do not numbers begin with C00.) Please allow Columbia does not accept the Universal have access to the internet. up to 30 days after submitting your College Application. Visit www.studentaffairs.columbia. application to receive your Columbia ID. edu/admissions/ to access The Please keep this e-mail and ID number for Common Application and the Columbia your records; it will be used throughout Supplement. Applying electronically will the admissions process. expedite the processing and accuracy of your completed application. Using your Columbia applicant ID, you should track the status of your application and the receipt of all required documents by using our online tracking system: www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ admissions/ You are responsible for the accurate completion and submission of your application and should periodically check this site to ensure that all required materials have been received and processed.

2 Application Instructions Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

The Common Application Secondary School Report,

The Common Application provides your Midyear Report and Final autobiographical data in addition to lists Report and descriptions of your achievements, The Secondary School Report, activities, employment and summer Midyear Report and Final Report are activities and one personal statement. the documents your school will use to You must submit The Common report your academic achievements; Application no later than November 1 for they should be given to your guidance Early Decision and January 1 for Regular counselor, principal or other appropriate Decision. The application fee is $80. school official. The Secondary School This fee covers processing costs and Report must be returned to us by cannot be refunded or credited against November 1 for Early Decision and later charges. Waivers of the application January 1 for Regular Decision. The fee are granted only at the request of an Midyear Report, a summary of your appropriate school official testifying to academic performance in the first part of family financial hardship. this academic year, must be postmarked no later than February 1, or as soon as midyear grades are available. Your school Columbia Supplement to may fax this form with your grades to the Common Application 212-854-3393, though an official copy must also be mailed. (Note: If you have The Columbia Supplement to The already finished secondary school, then Common Application asks some required, your school may disregard the Midyear Columbia-specific questions and is your Report.) School officials may also submit chance to tell us more about yourself. these forms online. The Final Report In the Supplement, you must be sure should NOT be submitted until you to indicate to which school you are have actually received your diploma or applying: Columbia College or The Fu equivalent credential. Your guidance Foundation School of Engineering and counselor, principal or other appropriate Applied Science (Columbia Engineering). school official may also submit these You may not apply to both schools forms online. simultaneously. Your completed Supplement must be submitted by November 1 for Early Decision and January 1 for Regular Decision. Teacher Evaluations Teacher Evaluations give two teachers the opportunity to document your contributions in the classroom. Please select only teachers who instructed you in academic disciplines. If you are applying to Columbia Engineering, one evaluation must come from a mathematics or science teacher. Teacher Evaluations must be submitted by November 1 for Early Decision and January 1 for Regular Decision. Teachers may also submit these forms online.

3 Application Instructions Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Required Standardized Columbia’s Testing Policy Helpful Information Testing for Score Choice ● You must register with the appropriate testing agency well in advance of your Standardized tests are required for Applicants may select the Score Choice desired test date. admission according to the following option for the SAT or choose to submit ● You may register for the SAT and SAT guidelines; all test scores must be specific ACT composite scores. However, Subject Tests with the Educational submitted directly to Columbia by the it should be noted that the application Testing Service (ETS). For the ACT, testing agency. review process for Columbia College and register with the American College The Fu Foundation School of Engineering Testing Program. SAT and SAT Subject Tests and Applied Science is rooted in the ● You must request that your scores be The SAT consists of three sections, belief that students are dynamic, multi- reported directly to Columbia every each graded on an 800-point scale; faceted individuals who cannot be time you take a standardized test. if you take the test more than once, defined by any single factor to determine ● For the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, the you will be evaluated on the highest their suitability for admission. When ETS code for both Columbia College score you receive in any individual evaluating applicants, we consider only and The Fu Foundation School of section. In addition, you must also take the highest testing results reported from Engineering and Applied Science two SAT Subject Tests. For Columbia individual sections of the SAT and the two is 2116. College, you may take any two; for highest required SAT Subject Tests or the ● The ACT code for both Columbia Columbia Engineering, you must take highest composite on the ACT, always College and The Fu Foundation School any mathematics test and either biology, seeking to give students the greatest of Engineering and Applied Science physics or chemistry. opportunity to showcase their academic is 2717. talents and hoping to make the testing ● Please note that scores reported to ACT experience as stress-free as possible. Columbia’s School of General Studies, You may alternatively take the ACT We encourage applicants to take those Columbia’s School of Continuing Assessment, graded on a 36-point examinations no more than twice, but we Education or Barnard College will scale; if you take the test more than do not penalize applicants for exceeding not reach our office and will not be once, you will be evaluated on the that recommendation. evaluated. Columbia reserves the right highest composite score you receive. not to evaluate a candidate whose The writing component offered by Home-Schooled Students scores are not reported directly by the the ACT Assessment is mandatory for Testing requirements for home-schooled testing agency. candidates for Columbia. If you took both students are the same as those detailed ● Please do not utilize the “rush” service the ACT Assessment and SAT Subject above. to send your test scores to Columbia. Tests, we would welcome those Subject Doing so does not expedite the Tests scores, even though they are not processing of your test scores. required; if you have a specific area ● For more information about the Test of of academic interest, we recommend English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) submitting them in that area of interest, or the International English Language if available. Testing System exam (IELTS), see the Additional Information for Foreign and International Students section.

4 Application Instructions Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Early Decision Program According to National Association Interviews for College Admission Counseling If Columbia is your first choice and you guidelines, students may apply to other Interviews are not required for admission. are willing to make a binding commitment institutions, but may have only one Volunteer members of Columbia’s to attend if admitted, you may apply Early Decision application pending at Alumni Representative Committee (ARC) under the Early Decision program. All any time. While Columbia does not conduct interviews throughout the world your application documents must be encourage the filing of an Early Decision from October to February on behalf of postmarked by November 1, and you must (binding) application to Columbia and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. be certain that your scores are reported one or more Early Action (non-binding) However, because we have a finite directly to Columbia by the testing applications to other colleges, we do number of alumni volunteers to interview agency. Columbia typically receives not prohibit candidates from doing so. the many thousands of undergraduate testing from the November test date in However, candidates should be aware candidates, we are unable to grant time for Early Decision review. Students that Columbia’s Early Decision program is interviews to all of our applicants and can should indicate in their application that a binding agreement and a candidate will provide absolutely no guarantee that an they are taking November tests; see the be expected to enroll, regardless of any interview will be available in any given Required Standardized Testing section pending applications (early or otherwise). area. Please note that interviews will be above. In mid-December you will offered only in the area where your high be notified of the results of your Early If you are offered admission under the school is located; if you are in an abroad Decision application. Early Decision plan, we expect you to program, if you have finished high school maintain the curriculum which you were and moved, or you are otherwise not You must also submit The Common pursuing at the point of admission. You in residence near your high school, an Application’s Early Decision Agreement must request permission from the Office interview will not be available. with your application. If you are admitted of Undergraduate Admissions should you under the Early Decision program, you wish to make any non-elective course If the Alumni Representative Committee are obligated to accept Columbia’s offer changes. Your school must submit the is able to offer you an interview, you of admission. Only students who (after Midyear Report and eventually the Final will be contacted directly by an ARC consulting with the Office of Financial Aid Report with your final transcript. Your member. Candidates who are not offered & Educational Financing) cite financial academic performance will be monitored an interview are not at any disadvantage reasons for not attending will be released and evaluated through the end of your in the admissions process. As the Office from the Early Decision agreement. Once senior year. If you are deferred under of Undergraduate Admissions does not you accept Columbia’s offer of admission, the Early Decision plan, it means a final assign interviews, we respectfully ask that you may not apply to any other colleges decision on your candidacy will be made you do not call or write to inquire about and must withdraw any applications that during the evaluation of Regular Decision receiving an interview; interviews are not have already been submitted. applications, and you will be notified in conducted on campus. late March/early April. If you are denied under the Early Decision plan, you may Please note that both The Common not apply to Columbia again in that year. Application and the Columbia Supplement to The Common Application must be submitted before an applicant can be contacted about an interview.

5 Application Instructions Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Supplementary Credentials Creative and Performing Arts Visual Arts students who wish to submit and Materials If you are considering a major or artistic supplementary materials should concentration in Architecture, Creative follow our online instructions on the While we request that the submission Writing, Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Columbia Admissions website: of application supplements be kept to Film Studies, Jazz Studies, Music or Visual www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ a minimum, there may be occasions Arts, or if you wish to contribute to the admissions/. when additional materials provide creative and performing arts community information that the standard application at Columbia through extracurricular Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, does not. If you plan to submit involvement, we welcome supplementary Drama and Theatre Arts and Film supplementary credentials, please credentials and materials that reflect your Studies students are welcome to submit follow the instructions below instead artistic ability and commitment. professional résumés that list artistic of those in The Common Application Please follow the directions below to achievement. Please do not send DVDs Arts Supplement; applicants should submit the appropriate supplement for or hard copies of writing samples, as they not submit The Common Application the appropriate interest. will not be reviewed. However, if samples Arts Supplement. Please note that we of your work can be viewed online, specifically ask that you do not send Musical Performance Please please clearly indicate the relevant links collections of award certificates and the follow our online instructions on the in the Additional Information section of like and explicitly direct that you refrain Columbia Admissions website: The Common Application. from submitting application materials in www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ binders or folders. admissions/. Science and Engineering If you have been involved in scientific While we welcome music supplements, research and you are interested in live auditions are not part of the studying engineering or the sciences at admissions process. Auditions for private Columbia, you may provide a one- or two- lessons and selective ensembles are held page scientific abstract for our review. for enrolled students at the start of each academic year. Finally, please be advised that while we welcome the submission Candidates applying to the Columbia- of supplementary credentials and Juilliard Exchange should submit musical materials—providing they follow the materials to Columbia so that our directions online and outlined above—and faculty as well as Juilliard’s may evaluate we often request that our faculty evaluate your talent and potential. For more submitted supplements, we can provide information on this program, please no guarantee that all materials will be refer to the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange reviewed or evaluated, as they are not section below. required for the admissions process.

Please also note that any submitted supplementary materials become part of your file and cannot be returned to you.

6 Application Instructions Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Columbia-Juilliard Combined Plan Programs Opportunity Programs

Exchange Columbia offers a five-year plan in The Higher Education Opportunity The Columbia-Juilliard Exchange requires which you can attend Columbia College Program (HEOP) is sponsored and a separate application to The Juilliard for three years and The Fu Foundation supported by the New York State School and an audition. Please visit School of Engineering and Applied Education Department to assist eligible www.juilliard.edu for an application and Science for two years; you then earn students to obtain higher education at admissions requirements. Students should both the B.A. and B.S. degrees. If you private colleges and universities in the indicate on the Columbia Supplement that are interested in the “3-2 Program,” you State. Columbia College and Columbia they are applying to the Columbia-Juilliard should proceed with your application as a Engineering have participated in the Exchange; a concurrent application to candidate for Columbia College. program since 1970. In order to qualify Juilliard is also due by December 1. Only for HEOP, students must be residents Columbia College applicants are eligible Alternatively, the “4-1 Program” allows you of New York State, and their family for the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange. For to complete your four-year B.S. program resources must meet established low- more information on the Columbia-Juilliard in Columbia Engineering and then, with income guidelines. Students will be Exchange, please visit the Columbia an additional year of study in Columbia automatically considered for HEOP Admissions website: www.studentaffairs. College, to earn the B.A. degree as well. through normal application procedures; columbia.edu/admissions/. If you are interested in this five-year no additional application is necessary. For program, you should proceed with your more information on New York’s Higher application as a candidate for Columbia Education Opportunity Program, visit Engineering. Interested students apply for www.heop.org. these programs in their junior or senior year of college. For more information The National Opportunity Program on the Combined Plan Programs, please (NOP) follows similar academic and visit: www.studentaffairs.columbia. economic guidelines and provides edu/admissions/. the same support services as HEOP, described above. NOP, however, is open to students regardless of state of Transfer Students residence, provided they are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Both Columbia College and The Fu Students will be automatically considered Foundation School of Engineering and for NOP through normal application Applied Science welcome applications procedures, and no additional application from students who have attained a is necessary. For more information on minimum of 24 credits of coursework HEOP and NOP, please go to www. for transfer admission. To secure studentaffairs.columbia.edu/asp/ transfer information, please visit: programs/. www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ admissions/. Please check our website for transfer admissions deadlines, and note that admission is granted only for the fall term.

7 Additional Information for Foreign and International Students

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Please note the distinction between these IELTS (International English Language Financial Aid for Foreign two terms: You are a “foreign” student Testing System) Students if, regardless of your place of schooling, Please visit www.ielts.org as soon as you are neither a citizen nor a permanent possible for more information on this Columbia has funding for foreign resident (“green card” holder) of the United examination. A minimum score of 7.0 is students applying as first-years, but States and do not have refugee status; you necessary for admission to Columbia. Your candidates for this funding should be are an “international” student if, regardless score must be reported directly to the aware that financial need is taken into of citizenship, you attend or have completed Office of Undergraduate Admissions. account in our evaluations of these secondary school outside the United States. candidates for admission. You must If you have scored 650 or higher on either indicate your request for Columbia’s the Critical Reading or the Writing section need-based financial aid on The Common English Proficiency Testing of the SAT, you are exempt from taking an Application forms. Applicants who do English proficiency examination. not state at the time of application If you are applying from overseas, you must that they are applying for financial still complete the testing requirements aid will not be considered for need- outlined earlier in these instructions, Completing the Application based institutional financial aid after provided these tests are available in your admission unless they can demonstrate country. An English proficiency examination, Social Security Number extenuating circumstances which if required, is in addition to this mandatory Please make an entry in these boxes only resulted in a significant change in their testing, not a substitute for it. You must if you have a U.S. Social Security number; family’s situation. register with the testing agency at least two please do not use an identification months in advance of the test date, keeping number issued by any other government. If you are a foreign student admitted in mind that the SAT and SAT Subject Tests (Canadians, please do NOT use your SINs.) to Columbia with financial aid, you will cannot be taken on the same test date. Columbia will issue you an identification continue to receive aid for each year number at a later time. that you demonstrate need; if you are To be considered for admission to a foreign student admitted without aid, Columbia, you must be comfortable with Telephone then you are not eligible to receive need- rapid and idiomatic spoken English. If your Enter your complete telephone number, based financial aid for the duration of home language is not English and if your including the country and city codes your undergraduate studies at Columbia. primary language of instruction has not required to reach the number from the been English for at least five years, you United States. are required to take an English proficiency International Programs and examination. Both of the examinations listed School Records here are given all over the world several If you attend a secondary school using Services times a year; you must take the examination a non-U.S. educational system, your Visa services, social gatherings and no later than December of the school year school should also submit The Common many other offerings are provided by in which you are applying (November if you Application’s International Supplement to Columbia’s International Students and are applying Early Decision). the Secondary School Report. Scholars Office (ISSO). Columbia also has a variety of international student clubs, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign including the Columbia International Language) Housing Student Coalition. For more information Please visit www.toefl.org as soon as please visit www.columbia.edu/cu/ Campus housing is guaranteed for four possible for more information on this isso/. examination. A minimum score of 600 years to all entering students. As an (paper-based test) or 100 (Internet- international student, you should be aware based test) is necessary for admission to that campus housing will be available Columbia. Your score must be reported without interruption throughout the directly to Columbia by the testing service, academic year and that students may also using report code 2116. apply for summer on-campus housing. 8 University Policies

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Joint Statement for General Procedures Coaches from other Ivy League Candidates on Common All contacts with students by institutions are prohibited from having any representatives of Ivy institutions are recruiting contact with prospects who Ivy League Admission intended to provide assistance and have been accepted under this plan. Procedure information and should be free of any activity that applies undue pressure on A Single Choice Early Action Plan is offered The Ivy League is an association of the candidate. No information referring by Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. This eight institutions of higher education, to the admission or financial-aid status of plan does not require a commitment to established in 1954 primarily for the an applicant to any Ivy institution may be matriculate, and students may apply to purpose of fostering amateurism in considered official unless it is received other colleges under those colleges’ regular athletics. Relations between the member directly from that institution’s admission or admission programs (spring notification of institutions have grown over the years, financial aid office. final admission decision) but not to another and representatives of these institutions institution’s Early Action or Early Decision now meet regularly at a variety of levels Ivy institutions mail admission decision program. Students admitted under Early to discuss topics which range from the letters twice annually, in mid-December Action will be sent a financial aid offer when purely academic to the purely athletic and and late March/early April. Those who wish they receive their acceptance decision if from fundamental educational philosophy a decision in December must apply by they have completed all of the required to procedures in admissions. November 1. A student may not file more financial aid forms. than one early application within the Each member institution has its own Ivy League. Students are urged to consult the identity and character and protects admission literature available at each its right to pursue its own educational December Notification Ivy institution for details concerning its objectives. Thus, although the Ivy League Under December Notification, an particular December Notification Plan. institutions are similar in many respects, applicant may be notified that he or she each member institution will continue has been granted or denied admission Common Notification Date to make its own independent admission or that a final decision has been deferred On a common date, usually in late March decisions according to its own particular until the late March/early April notification or early April, applicants to the Ivy admissions policy. In recent years, date. Two plans are offered according to institutions will be notified of admission however, it has become clear that the individual institutional policy: decisions and financial aid awards, unless transition between secondary school they have been notified earlier under and institutions of higher education has The College Board-approved Early Early Decision Plan or Early Action Plan become increasingly complex and that Decision Plan, which is offered by Brown, procedures. (Letters are mailed beginning greater efforts should be made to simplify Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, and the in February for the Schools of Hotel the process through more uniform University of Pennsylvania, requires Administration, and Industrial and Labor admissions procedures. It is our hope a prior commitment to matriculate. Relations at Cornell, and beginning that by outlining carefully the procedures Financial aid awards for those qualifying in February for the School of Nursing under which we are operating and by for financial assistance will normally be at Penn.) clearly specifying the obligations of both announced in full detail at the same time the applicant and the institution, we as the admission decisions. An applicant can help students pursue their college receiving admission and an adequate interests free of unnecessary confusion financial award under the Early Decision and pressure. Plan will be required to accept that offer of admission and withdraw all applications to other colleges or universities. All Ivy institutions will honor any required commitment to matriculate that has been made to another college under this plan.

9 University Policies Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Common Reply Date Statement of Except for those applicants admitted Non-Discrimination under the College Board-approved Early Decision Plan, which requires a prior Columbia University is committed commitment to matriculate, no candidate to providing a learning environment admitted to any of the Ivy institutions free from unlawful discrimination and will be required to announce his or her harassment and to fostering a nurturing decision to accept or decline an offer of and vibrant community founded upon admission until the Common Reply Date of the fundamental dignity and worth of May 1. All such candidates may delay their all of its members. Columbia University commitment to attend until May 1 without does not discriminate against any person prejudice. By that date all admitted in the administration of its educational candidates must affirm in writing their policies, admissions policies, scholarship single choice. and loan programs, and athletic and other University administered programs The preceding paragraph does not or permit the harassment of any student preclude students from remaining on or applicant on the basis of race, color, active waiting lists and withdrawing sex, gender (including gender identity promptly from their original college and expression), pregnancy, religion, choice upon receiving subsequent waiting creed, marital status, partnership status, list acceptance to another institution. age, sexual orientation, national origin, However, the Ivy institutions reserve their disability, military status, or any other right to rescind acceptance decisions legally protected status. from candidates who make commitments to and who hold confirmed places at more than one institution concurrently. Students who choose to remain on an active waiting list after May 1 will receive a final response no later than July 1.

Participating Institutions Brown University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Harvard University Princeton University University of Pennsylvania Yale University

10 Instructions for Need-Based Aid

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

General Information Types of Financial Aid Key Definitions All financial aid is awarded only to Columbia is committed to meeting students who demonstrate financial Need-Blind the full demonstrated financial need need; in other words, we do not offer Columbia admits candidates solely on of all applicants admitted as first-year scholarships for academic merit, artistic the basis of academic and extracurricular undergraduate students. In our quest talent or athletic ability. Financial aid achievement and personal merit. to make Columbia accessible for all is awarded strictly on the basis of Financial need is not a factor in students, the University has implemented demonstrated financial need, and we admission. EXCEPTION: Please refer to the following financial aid enhancements: make every effort to help all admitted the Additional Information for Foreign There are no student loans included students and their families find the and International Students section as part of the financial aid package; all means to meet the cost of a Columbia for Columbia’s policy on financial aid for students eligible for financial aid from education. foreign students. Columbia are packaged with grants and possibly work; students from families Indicating Intention to Apply for Financial Need with incomes below $60,000 do not Columbia Financial Aid Information reported on the financial have a parent contribution; students from All financial aid applicants must check aid application forms is analyzed to families with incomes between $60,000 “Yes” to the question “Do you intend determine financial need. Forms include: and $100,000 have a reduction in their to apply for need-based financial ● CSS Profile parent contribution. For more information aid?” on The Common Application. ● FAFSA please visit: www.studentaffairs. Applicants who do not state at the time ● Complete 2012 Federal Income Tax columbia.edu/finaid/. of application that they are applying Returns (including all schedules and for financial aid will not be considered W-2s) for Student, Custodial, and Non- Financial aid is available for all four for need-based institutional financial Custodial Parents undergraduate years, providing the aid after admission unless they can student continues to demonstrate demonstrate extenuating circumstances Student/Parent Contribution financial need. Financial aid is awarded which resulted in a significant change in Columbia believes that the primary strictly on the basis of demonstrated their family’s situation. responsibility for meeting the cost of a financial need, and we make every effort college education lies with the student to help all admitted students and their Social Security Number and his or her family. Depending on a families find the means to meet the cost While it is optional to include your family’s resources, parents are expected of a Columbia education. Admission to Social Security Number on The to contribute to the extent that they are Columbia is need-blind for all candidates Common Application and the Columbia capable, and students are expected who are not defined as foreign students; Supplement, please note that the FAFSA to use a portion of their assets, such as foreign students are eligible to apply for requires United States citizens and bank accounts or trust funds, and to need-based financial aid but must be permanent residents to submit their work during each summer to help cover aware that their need will be considered Social Security Numbers. U.S. Citizens educational costs. when they are evaluated for admission. or Permanent Residents planning to apply for Columbia financial aid must provide their Social Security Numbers on all applications materials in order for Columbia to process their financial aid applications.

Online Forms All Columbia financial aid forms can be found at: www.studentaffairs.columbia. edu/finaid/

11 Instructions for Need-Based Aid Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Forms IDOC is a service provided by the College Instructions for Early Board which we use to collect and scan Decision Applicants CSS Profile documents. Applicants who fill out the College Scholarship Service. Apply online CSS Profile form are contacted by the By November 15 at www.collegeboard.com/profile using College Board with instructions on how 1. CSS Profile: Complete your CSS Profile a secure browser. You will need a credit to submit taxes and other relevant forms online at: www.collegeboard.com/profile. card. Questions: Call 1-305-829-9793 to IDOC. The 2012 tax returns should Ensure that the Social Security Number (TTY 1-800-915-9990) or e-mail help@ be submitted to IDOC as soon as they are you submit on the CSS Profile matches cssprofile.org. Columbia’s code number complete. If 2012 taxes cannot be the Social Security Number submitted on is 2116. completed before March 1, send copies The Common Application and the of 2011 taxes and 2012 W-2s to Columbia. Columbia Supplement. FAFSA If your parents will not file a 2012 Federal Free Application for Federal Student Tax Return, they must submit the Parent 2. Non-Custodial Profile & Taxes: If Aid. Complete the FAFSA online: Tax Non-Filer certification (available your natural parents are divorced or www.fafsa.ed.gov/ Questions: on our website). If you will not file a 2012 separated (or if they never married), Call 1-800-4FEDAID; from outside the Federal Tax Return, you must submit the non-custodial parent must submit a U.S., you must call 1-319-337-5665. the Student Tax Non-Filer certification Non-Custodial Profile online at: www. Columbia’s code number is 002707. (available on our website). collegeboard.com/profile. The non- custodial parent must also submit a copy Tax Returns & IDOC Helpful Information of his or her Federal Income Tax Return. If Signed copies of parent and student ● Be sure to meet all deadlines. you think there will be difficulty meeting 2012 Federal Income Tax Returns and Need-based institutional aid can be the deadlines listed below, you must W-2 forms are required for verification guaranteed only to students who meet contact the financial aid office to discuss of the information that you report on the deadlines for all forms. your extenuating circumstances. financial aid application forms. ● Keep copies of all submitted documents.

Related Links To download forms, track documents or contact us, please visit our website: www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ finaid/

Financial Aid Deadlines

Document Early Decision Regular Decision CSS Profile November 15, 2012 March 1, 2013 FAFSA March 1, 2013 March 1, 2013 Complete 2011 Tax Returns (to Columbia) November 15, 2012 N/A Complete 2012 Tax Returns (to IDOC) March 1, 2013 March 1, 2013 Non-Custodial Profile* November 15, 2012 March 1, 2013 Business/Farm Information* November 15, 2012 March 1, 2013 * If applicable.

12 Instructions for Need-Based Aid Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

3. Business/Farm Information: If you By March 1 6. 2012 Federal Income Tax Returns or your parents own all or part of one Early Decision applicants who are offered and W-2s: Signed copies of parent or more businesses, corporations, admission or who are deferred to the and student 2012 Federal Income Tax partnerships and/or farms, FAX Regular Decision process need to submit Returns and W-2s must be submitted to (preferred method: 212-854-5353) or additional documentation by March 1. verify the information that you report mail to Columbia a complete copy of on your financial aid application forms. the most recent business tax returns 5. FAFSA: Complete the FAFSA online Submit 2012 tax returns as soon as they (including all pages and all schedules). at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Ensure that the are completed, preferably no later than Sole proprietors must submit Schedule C Social Security Number you submit March 1, directly to the College Board and/or Schedule F (Farm). Corporations on the FAFSA matches the Social using their IDOC service: http://idoc. must submit K-1s as well as the complete Security Number submitted on The collegeboard.com. You will receive an Federal 1120/1120-S Income Tax Returns. Common Application and the Columbia e-mail with a cover sheet and detailed Partnerships must submit K-1s as well as Supplement. instructions from the College Board on the complete federal 1065 returns. how to submit these documents. Please To sign your FAFSA electronically, use the allow up to two weeks processing time 4. 2011 Tax Returns: Please FAX PIN numbers assigned to you and your on all documents submitted to IDOC. (preferred method: 212-854-5353) or parents. Alternatively, you may print and You must file a Financial Aid PROFILE to mail complete, signed copies of parent mail the FAFSA signature page when you receive an IDOC cover sheet. Columbia and student 2011 Federal Income Tax submit your form online. Please note that strongly encourages you and your Returns directly to Columbia. Include all applying online expedites the processing parents to complete your 2012 Federal schedules and W-2s. of your application. Income Taxes in February.

Admitted Early Decision candidates If you and/or your parents have not yet If your parents will not file a 2012 Federal will receive an estimated financial aid completed 2012 tax returns when you Tax Return, they must submit the package in December based on the complete the FAFSA, you should estimate Parent Tax Non-Filer Certification. If you CSS Profile and 2011 tax returns. The your 2012 income data to the best of will not file a 2012 Federal Tax Return, estimated financial aid package will be your ability. you must submit the Student Tax updated in April after 2012 tax returns Non-Filer Certification. Both forms are and the FAFSA have been submitted. available online at: Please note: Only 2012 taxes should be www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/ sent to the College Board IDOC service finaid/. (by March 1).

13 Instructions for Need-Based Aid Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Instructions for Regular 4. FAFSA: Complete the FAFSA online Columbia strongly encourages you and Decision Applicants at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Ensure that the your parents to complete your 2012 Social Security Number you submit Federal Income Taxes in February. By March 1 on the FAFSA matches the Social 1. CSS Profile: Complete your CSS Profile Security Number submitted on The If your parents will not file a 2012 Federal online at: www.collegeboard.com/ Common Application and the Columbia Tax Return, they must submit the Parent profile. Ensure that the Social Security Supplement. Tax Non-Filer Certification. If you will Number you submit on the CSS Profile not file a 2012 Federal Tax Return, you matches the Social Security Number To sign your FAFSA electronically, use the must submit the Student Tax Non-Filer submitted on The Common Application PIN numbers assigned to you and your Certification. Both forms are available and the Columbia Supplement. parents. Alternatively, you may print and online at: www.studentaffairs.columbia. mail the FAFSA signature page when you edu/finaid/. 2. Non-Custodial Profile & Taxes: If submit your form online. Please note that your natural parents are divorced or applying online expedites the processing Columbia University financial aid award separated (or if they never married), of your application. letters mailed with offers of admission the non-custodial parent must submit are not final until Columbia receives a Non-Custodial Profile online at: www. If you and/or your parents have not yet your FAFSA and has verified it using the collegeboard.com/profile. The non- completed 2012 tax returns when you appropriate Federal Income Tax Returns. custodial parent must also submit a complete the FAFSA, you should estimate copy of his or her Federal Income Tax your 2012 income data to the best of Return. If you think there will be difficulty your ability. meeting this deadline, you must contact the financial aid office to discuss your 5. 2012 Federal Income Tax Returns extenuating circumstances. and W-2s: Signed copies of parent and student 2012 Federal Income Tax 3. Business/Farm Information: If you returns and W-2s must be submitted to or your parents own all or part of one verify the information that you report or more businesses, corporations, on your financial aid application forms. partnerships and/or farms, FAX Submit 2012 tax returns as soon as they (preferred method: 212-854-5353) or are completed, preferably no later than mail to Columbia a complete copy of March 1, directly to the College Board the most recent business tax returns using their IDOC service: http://idoc. (including all pages and all schedules). collegeboard.com. You will receive an Sole proprietors must submit Schedule C e-mail with a cover sheet and detailed and/or Schedule F (Farm). Corporations instructions from the College Board on must submit K-1s as well as the complete how to submit these documents. Please Federal 1120/1120-S Income Tax Returns. allow up to two weeks processing time Partnerships must submit K-1s as well as on all documents submitted to IDOC. the complete federal 1065 returns. You must file a Financial Aid PROFILE to receive an IDOC cover sheet. If 2012 tax returns cannot be submitted to IDOC before March 1, send copies of 2011 taxes and 2012 W-2s via FAX (preferred method: 212-854-5353) or mail directly to Columbia. You will be required to submit the 2012 tax returns to IDOC when they are available.

14 Instructions for Need-Based Aid Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Instructions for Foreign and By March 1 International Students (Regular Decision Applicants) 1. CSS Profile: Foreign students should Please see the Additional Information complete the CSS Profile online at: for Foreign and International Students www.collegeboard.com/profile. on page 8. Admission to Columbia is (Columbia’s CSS Profile Code is 2116.) not need-blind for foreign students. Financial need is taken into consideration 2. Income Tax Returns: Copies of your at the time of admission. family’s most recent, completed Income Tax Returns (all pages and attachments) Application Deadlines should be FAXed (preferred method: 212-854-5353) or mailed to Columbia. If By November 15 tax returns are not filed in your country, (Early Decision Applicants) please submit current statements of 1. CSS Profile: Foreign students should earnings from your parents’ employers complete the CSS Profile online at: showing their yearly earnings. All tax/ www.collegeboard.com/profile. income documents (if not already in (Columbia’s CSS Profile Code is 2116.) English) should be officially translated into English. Clearly print your name and 2. Income Tax Returns: Copies of your Columbia ID Number at the top of all family’s most recent, completed Income documents to ensure proper filing. Tax Returns (all pages and attachments) should be faxed (preferred method: 212-854-5353) or mailed to Columbia. If tax returns are not filed in your country, please submit current statements of earnings from your parents’ employers showing their yearly earnings. All tax/ income documents (if not already in English) should be officially translated into English. Clearly print your name and Columbia ID Number at the top of all documents to ensure proper filing.

15 Application Codes

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

You will be required to select three possible areas of interest on the Columbia Supplement to The Common Application. Please use the codes below. Columbia College applicants must select only from the Columbia College list; Columbia Engineering applicants must select only from The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science list.

Columbia College Codes

African-American Studies Drama and Theatre Arts German Literature & Cultural Physics CCPHYS CCAFAS CCTHDR History CCGLCH Political Science CCPOLS African Studies CCAFRS Earth Science CCERTS Hispanic Studies CCHISP Political Science-Statistics American Studies CCAMST East Asian Studies CCEAST History CCHIST CCPOST Ancient Studies CCANST Ecology and Evolution History and Theory of Portuguese CNPORT Anthropology CCANTH CKECEV Architecture CCHIAR Psychology CCPSYC Applied Mathematics Economics CCECON Human Rights CNHRTS Regional Studies-East/Central CCAPMA Economics-Mathematics Information Science CCINFS Europe CCREST Archaeology CCARCY CCECMA Italian Cultural Studies Religion CCRELI Architecture CCARCH Economics-Philosophy CCITCU Russian Language and Culture Art History CCAHIS CCECPH Italian Literature CCITAL CCRLAC Art History and Visual Arts Economics-Political Science Jazz Studies CNJAZZ Russian Literature and Culture CCAHVA CCECPO Jewish Studies CNJWST CCRLIC Astronomy CCASTR Economics-Statistics CCECST Latin American and Caribbean Russian Literature CNRLIT Astrophysics CCASPH Education Studies CNEDST Studies CCLACS Slavic Language and Culture Biochemistry CCBICH English CCENGL Linguistics CNLIN CNSLAL Biology CCBIOL Environmental Biology Mathematics CCMATH Slavic Studies CCSLST Biophysics CCBIOP CCEBIO Mathematics-Statistics Sociology CCSOCI Business Management Environmental Chemistry CCMAST Statistics CCSTAT CNBUMG CCENCH Medicine, Literature, and Sustainable Development Chemical Physics CCCHPH Environmental Science Society CKMDLS CCSUDV Chemistry CCCHEM CCENVS Medieval and Renaissance Urban Studies CCURBS Classical Studies CKCLST Ethnicity and Race Studies Studies CNMERS Urban Teaching CKURBT Classics CCCLAS CCETRS Middle East, South Asian, and Visual Arts CCVIAR Comparative Literature & Evolutionary Biology of the African Studies CCMELC Women’s and Gender Studies Society CCCOLI Human Species CCEBHS Modern Greek Studies CCWMST Computer Science CCCOMS Film Studies CCFMST CNGRKM Yiddish Studies CKYIDD Computer Science- Financial Economics CCFNEC Music CCMUSI Undecided CCUNDC Mathematics CCCOMA French CCFREN Neuroscience and Behavior Creative Writing CCCREA French & Francophone Studies CCNEUR Dance CCDANC CCFRFR Philosophy CCPHIL 16 Application Codes Continued Office of Undergraduate Admissions 212 Hamilton Hall, MC 2807 1130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027

Columbia Engineering Codes

Applied Mathematics ENAPMA Computer Engineering Engineering and Management Materials Science and Applied Physics ENAPPH ENCOEN Systems ENENMS Engineering ENMSAE Biomedical Engineering Computer Science ENCOMS Engineering Mechanics Mechanical Engineering ENBIOE Earth and Environmental ENENME ENMECE Chemical Engineering Engineering ENEAEE Financial Engineering ENFINE Operations Research ENOPRE ENCHEN Electrical Engineering ENELEN Industrial Engineering ENINEN Undecided ENUND Civil Engineering ENCIEN

You will be required to list up to three extracurricular activities which you wish to pursue in college on the Columbia Supplement. Please use the codes below.

Extracurricular Activity Codes

78 Academic/Quiz Bowl 82 Entrepreneurship 37 Mock Trial 83 Science and Engineering 86 Academic Journals 20 Environmental Activism 38 Model Congress 50 Skiing/Snowboarding 03 Archery 21 Fencing 39 Model United Nations 51 Soccer 04 Art 22 Field Hockey 36 Multiculturalism 52 Softball 79 Badminton 23 Film/Filmmaking 97 Music Composition 53 Squash 05 Band 24 Football 40 Newspaper 54 Student Government 06 Baseball 32 Foreign Language 81 Orchestra/Chamber 55 Swimming/Diving 07 Basketball 25 Frisbee Music 56 Table Tennis/Ping Pong 08 Bowling 27 Golf 41 Peer Counseling 57 Tennis 10 Cheerleading 28 Gymnastics 42 Photography 58 Theatre/Improv 11 Chess 77 Hiking/Outdoor Adventure 43 Piano 65 Tour Guide/Campus 80 Chorus/A Capella 30 Ice Hockey 44 Political Activism Ambassador 13 Community Service 68 Jazz 45 Racquetball 59 Track/Cross Country 15 Crew 31 Lacrosse 46 Radio/TV/Video 61 Volleyball 16 Cricket 26 LGBT Activism 47 Religious 62 Water Polo 17 Cycling 33 Literary Magazine 85 Robotics/FIRST Robotics 63 Wrestling 18 Dance 34 Martial Arts 48 Rugby 64 Yearbook 19 Debate/Forensics 84 Math 49 Sailing

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