Columbia University is located in the Upperside Heights neighborhood on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, in New York City. Columbia University is an Ivy League school and consistently ranks among America’s top colleges.

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to stay for two weeks at Columbia, on campus, in the dorms. The program that allowed me to live on campus to study business and economics was the National Student Leadership Conference. They created a schedule personalized for me, and allowed 48 of other students across the country to study the same program with me. 

Let me begin by saying that the dorms are very nice – somewhat snug, but in a comfortable way – and the campus itself is stunning. It has grand architectural structures, including the Butler Library (which is visible from roughly three blocks away from the campus itself), and large statues of Greek and Roman figures. 

The program split us up into three distinct groups of 16, with a college advisor in charge of our small group activities. I created incredible memories with those people, especially my group of 16 and my roommate, who I still keep in touch with to this day.

I personally chose Columbia to attend for this summer program because I was attracted to the city. All of the grand buildings and many sights intrigued me, and that intrigue was matched with a campus teeming with life and ambitious students like me. I adored the campus, the buildings, the artwork, the library, and especially the cafeteria. Columbia’s food is truly exceptional, and healthy as well. There is also a Chipotle down the street, which I frequented with friends throughout the two weeks.

However, like any university, there are some downsides. The weather was one of them, although it was mainly due to my unfamiliarity with humidity. It was rather unfavorable considering I was wearing a suit most of the time. 

Another potential downside was the scale of the campus. For me, it felt a little small. I personally like a large campus where it can take me a few minutes to walk from building to building. However, some students prefer their campuses to be clustered and condensed, so as to not walk so often.

Overall, Columbia University is an incredible college to attend. I personally recommend it to anyone who aspires to attend an Ivy League in a city. Its beautiful campus, surrounded by a city with stunning views and close by amenities, creates a unique institute that, for me, can’t be replicated anywhere else. I would highly advise anyone to check out the campus if they can; and if you enjoy the culture, I believe it is an excellent college.