FIRST-YEAR FAQs & RESOURCES 🗽🌃💙

Welcome class of 2025!

Welcome, Columbia University and Barnard College Classes of 2025! 

Transitioning to college can be difficult and we are here to help you along that journey! Continue reading to learn about resources on campus, the best places to study, how to find internships in the city, and so much more from the Columbia Women’s Business Society Executive Board. Happy reading!

*You can listen to the full version of this interview on CWBS: The Scope podcast. 

What is it like applying and joining clubs at Columbia? 

Definitely start by going to the club fair, which happens the first or second weekend back on the lawns right in front of Butler. At the club fair, you'll be able to explore a wide variety of types of clubs – I visited and spoke to a wide range of cultural, academic, and pre-professional clubs. I met CWBS (Columbia Women’s Business Society) at the fair, which was really exciting. There's a really wide variety of clubs you can join! In terms of applying to clubs, all types of clubs have different processes. A lot of clubs like CWBS do require an application and maybe an interview to apply. That being said, I'd say the best thing about Columbia’s clubs is that we have so much variety – you'll always be able to find a place that really makes you feel at home. 

– Vice President: Sophia Naqvi, CC, Class of 2023

I would also add that you should try not to be daunted by the applications and apply to whatever you're interested in. You may not get in— I know I definitely didn’t get into every club I applied to— but I think applying and putting yourself out there is a super important thing to get used to and definitely a great learning experience. 

– Membership Engagement: Alyse Rovner, BC, Class of 2023

How difficult is it to adjust to life in the city and at Columbia? 

I would say being in such a big city like New York can be a little bit daunting, but you have this beautiful campus up in Morningside Heights that genuinely feels like home. It may not feel like home the moment you step onto it, but eventually, you start to get acclimated and get to meet some incredible people. As you get more comfortable with the campus, you get really comfortable exploring the subway system, exploring all the different neighborhoods of New York City, and just getting to experience all different types of food, museums, and experiences in general.

Sometimes, it can be very difficult to be far from home— I'm all the way from San Francisco, California. Going across the country was a big shift, but it's been super worthwhile. Columbia has a ton of different resources that you should take advantage of; joining clubs can be a great way to find a community. You’ll also get to meet people in your classes and you’ll have some incredible professors. Columbia has different resources, such as psychological services for mental health which are free to all students. It’s an incredible resource that I've taken advantage of and lots of my peers have as well. Barnard also has Furman for mental health resources. It's very worthwhile to just ask questions to different people because they can point you in the right direction. Columbia has a very welcoming community and they want everyone to have the best experience possible.

– Internal Initiatives: Hannah Lederman, CC, Class of 2023

How important is it to get an internship during your first year at Columbia? Are they hard to get? Is it hard to manage with a full course load? 

I do want to first say that it's not crucial at all to get an internship in your freshman year, especially when you're trying to balance school and just adjusting to Columbia. I personally didn't have an internship during the school year, I had one in the summer. I would say that— even as a rising senior now— I was still able to get a great experience doing that. I would say that internships during the school year are great for just exploring different topics and starting early allows you to explore as many different things as possible. But you can also do that just as easily by speaking to upperclassmen, joining clubs, and just browsing around. 

In terms of where to find internships, Columbia and Barnard have a service called Handshake, where employers will post job postings tailored to Columbia students. I did go on Handshake a lot just to put on my resume, details about myself, and was able to start interviewing for a couple of firms. These types of companies range from investment management firms to startups to honestly anything that you could be thinking about. In terms of other resources, I definitely think that it's important to look at the different events that clubs are putting on, like the ones hosted by the Columbia Women's Business Society. We do have companies coming to talk about their programs and to try and meet students. There's also a career fair that happens every semester. I think that the Career Center is also a pretty good resource, especially when you're starting out with your resume and cover letter. 

The last thing I want to say is that we're in New York and there are a lot of companies here. So even just as a student, when you have some free time, feel free to send somebody a message or a cold email, especially Columbia and Barnard alums. They're all willing to chat and you can literally go to their office to meet them, which is one of the most unique things about the Columbia experience.

– President: Sabina Jia, CC, Class of 2022

I want to second that you should take advantage of the Columbia Career Center and Beyond Barnard. Beyond Barnard was so helpful during my first year, whether you want someone to look over your resume or just advice for applying to internships. When I first went to Columbia, my resume was non-existent. The people at Beyond Barnard worked with me to make one and it was something that really put me on the path of applying to internships and putting myself out there professionally.

– Membership Engagement: Alyse Rovner, BC, Class of 2023

What classes have you taken and would recommend to incoming students? 

So this is going to be kind of a funny answer because if you go to Columbia College, this class is required. But Contemporary Civilizations (CC) really pushes you to engage with truly transformative texts, and it can be such a life-changing class. Taking it in the 2020 to 2021 academic year, when there were seismic shifts in politics, global affairs, and public health, was especially interesting. It's a class that really informs who you are, what you value, and you perceive the world across the board. There is everything from reading Hebrew scriptures to modern Black philosophy and everything in between. 

A second set of classes I think are really great are the global core classes. Make sure to take classes on regions that are not Western or not Eurocentric, because it really opens up your perspective of the world. I took History of the Modern Middle East last fall with Professor Khalidi. It's a huge lecture and it was just a really incredible class because he has so much expertise.

– Vice President: Sophia Naqvi, CC, Class of 2023

Not to be a super fanatic about the core, but I do think that my favorite class at Columbia was Literature Humanities, so that's definitely something to look forward to during your freshman year. I took it with Edward Mendelson, who was a phenomenal professor.​​ Reading these texts and discussing them with other college students was amazing. It was my first time in a seminar-style class. It was my first time learning how to defend my points and think on the fly about new things to add to the discussion. And the nature of the class itself, I think not to be too cheesy, does teach you a lot about how to be a good person and how to really think about the world, which I think was just so valuable to see as an 18-year-old fresh out of high school entering the big world for the first time. 

Just so that this doesn't become too Core-centered. I also think that a lot of the Econ classes, especially electives, are really interesting. I personally took Economics of New York City, which gave a really great look into exactly how the city operates and what sorts of different people live in the city. It allows you to understand the place that you're living in a lot better, so I definitely recommend that class to any Econ majors out there. 

– President: Sabina Jia, CC, Class of 2022

I'm going to take a little bit of a different direction. I love my Core classes, and I have had some incredible professors that have made my experience. But when I got to college, I was one of the kids who really had no idea what I wanted to major in. And I think that was such a blessing in disguise because I've probably gone through about eight different majors. It will take me way too long to list off every single intro class that I've taken. I’ve taken classes in everything from political science to economics to statistics to history to Jewish studies and literally everything in between.  Even though I decided not to major in any of those subjects, I got an idea of what those ground skills are. Even with my sociology major, I'm able to use information that I learned in Principles of Economics. 

I would say that the most worthwhile class to take as a first-year, and obviously I'm biased, is The Social World. It's the intro class for sociology, but it also counts as a class for sustainable development. I took it my spring semester after so many of my friends took it in the fall of my first year and raved about it. I had an incredible experience. It's a very chill class and not a huge responsibility. You get to learn so much about just the world and how people interact. You learn everything from prison systems to gender to the self. 

– Internal Initiatives: Hannah Lederman, CC, Class of 2023

My favorite class that I've taken at Columbia/Barnard is Women and Health with Professor Jordan-Young. Women and Health was the class that transformed my Barnard experience, so I would recommend taking that during your first year. It’s about racism and sexism in healthcare and science. You get to read a lot of scientific studies and learn how they should have been done and what’s missing. And on top of that, I was able to meet all of my best friends in that class!  

– Membership Engagement: Alyse Rovner, BC, Class of 2023

Where do you recommend studying on campus? 

I think I have four main places. The first is the most cliche, but I love Butler and I love the third-floor big room in particular. It's the one with the huge ceilings. It's very quiet and very pretty. The second one is NoCo. It’s really peaceful and there’s a Joe coffee close by. The third one is Hungarian Pastry Shop. It’s a pastry and coffee shop right near campus. It doesn't have Wi-Fi, but it is a really great place to just read and write papers and talk to friends. The last place I would say— it’s more relevant for the fall and springtime— is studying on the lawns outside of Butler. 

– President: Sabina Jia, CC, Class of 2022

I also love sitting on the lawns and Low Steps when it's nice out, and studying is all relative because I'm probably the least productive there because I just end up talking with my friends. I lived in Carman (a first-year dorm) during my first year and I spent a lot of time studying in the lounge with my friends. I also made it a mission to go to every single library and to find every single lounge and start ranking them by lighting, best chairs, etc. So I've probably been in every single building, which is not normal. I am a big fan of NoCo because it gets a lot of light and the chairs are comfortable. Butler, in my opinion, has uncomfortable chairs, but there is a nook on the sixth floor that I really like and I like the stacks. I am also a really big fan of the International Affairs Building, which is a graduate school building, but it's right next to East Campus ( a senior dorm). Every now and then, I like to hide out in Mudd with all the engineers, with my sociology major, because it is just very funny to me.

– Internal Initiatives: Hannah Lederman, CC, Class of 2023

For on-campus studying, I would say go to Avery. There are a lot of grad students brooding and doing their thing, so you really get to experience a uniquely academic and humanities-oriented energy when you go there.

It can also be really rewarding to find places that are far away from campus, like a coffee shop downtown, and study there. I feel like when I am a little bit further from everything, I am able to focus better. I love Blue Bottle (coffee shop) and we have one near campus, but I'll go study at a Blue Bottle in the West Village or near Washington Square Park. When you're at Columbia, the whole city is your campus.

– Vice President: Sophia Naqvi, CC, Class of 2023

I also will add that the Teacher’s College has amazing treadmill desks that l really recommend— you can get your steps in while you are writing an essay! I find myself focusing a little bit better because it makes procrastinating by going on TikTok (which I’m super good at) harder to do because I'm already multitasking. 

– Membership Engagement: Alyse Rovner, BC, Class of 2023

Do you have any advice for first-year students on how to make the most out of their Columbia experience and anything you’d wish you had known? 

There are so many resources from when you first step on campus and you meet your orientation leader to your student advisor to professors. People will be there to help you and you learn to take advantage of that. Some advice would be to speak up and ask questions. When you don't know something, odds are that someone else will know or odds are someone else won't know and will also want the answer. 

I also highly recommend a blanket for the lawns. It's really great to have a blanket and not just be sitting on the grass. Also, the omelets at Ferris are better than the ones at John Jay and JJs. The other advice I have is to take everything with a grain of salt. You're going to explore things and you're going to meet great people. Everything will eventually be okay. It's scary at first, but it will be okay. And if it's not, reach out to people and they can point you in the right direction.

– Internal Initiatives: Hannah Lederman, CC, Class of 2023

My advice would be to reach out to upperclassmen in particular. I know it's very important to just talk to other freshmen, but when I was a freshman, I limited myself to that. I was scared of talking to older people which is just so ridiculous to think about now that I'm becoming a senior. I think a lot of people have asked me questions throughout the years, ranging from jobs to clubs to school to everything and I've never thought one question was stupid. And I think I can say the same for pretty much every senior or every junior/sophomore at Columbia. So definitely use your classmates and the upperclassmen as resources.

– President: Sabina Jia, CC, Class of 2022

I'll start with the most practical advice – get comfortable with the subway. You might be a little scared at first, but you'll be fine, and it can be fun (you’ll definitely have stories to tell after a few trips). I say that because one of the most incredible things about Columbia is – of course – being in New York City! Getting comfortable with the subway allows you to quickly immerse yourself in the fast-paced, eclectic life of a New Yorker. During my Freshman fall, I witnessed prime ministers shape global policy at the U.N. General Assembly, listened to legendary designer Diane von Furstenberg discuss women's entrepreneurship at her flagship boutique, and savored cuisines ranging from Peruvian to Parisian between classes. In New York, you can be a million different people in the span of a day – be open, try everything, and relish in the stunning diversity of your biggest classroom: New York City.

– Vice President: Sophia Naqvi, CC, Class of 2023

I also agree with Sophia that going out and exploring the city is so important so that you're not on campus all the time during your first year and that you give yourself breaks. I definitely did not leave campus too much during my first year and then quarantine hit. I really regret not taking advantage of everything that's in New York, not that you have to do everything, but I really wish that I explored the city more. 

– Membership Engagement: Alyse Rovner, BC, Class of 2023

When you are not on campus, where can we find you in the city?

I always tell people that you’ll never catch me in Morningside Heights unless it’s for classes or CWBS – I'm always somewhere else. This may be a bit cliche, but I really do love the Upper East Side for its museums. Going to the Met is such an incredible experience, even if you aren't the biggest art fan per se. It’s a beautiful landmark, and there’s something there for everyone. I love Tribeca, the Meatpacking District, and Chelsea. It's really fun to weave through smaller, cobbled streets and pop into indie boutiques and bookstores. I’ve recently realized how much I like the Financial District – the skyscrapers and smaller streets remind me so much of Hong Kong!

– Vice President: Sophia Naqvi, CC, Class of 2023

I would really recommend going to Central Park, or honestly any park. Central Park is a lot closer than you think. You can walk there from Columbia and Barnard's campus and just chill there, read, or have picnics. I would also say to get out of Manhattan. Try to go to the other boroughs. Look at the different neighborhoods and really explore New York City beyond just the Manhattan bubble. I think I definitely want to do more of that now that we're coming back to campus. And I think a lot of the most amazing things I've seen and the most amazing restaurants are in other boroughs, so I definitely recommend venturing out of the island.

– President: Sabina Jia, CC, Class of 2022

I would second that you can definitely find me in a different borough. I really like watching baseball games so you'll easily find me in the Bronx or in Queens. I love Brooklyn. I like Williamsburg, Dumbo, and Bushwick. You can find me at Coney Island, the Rockaways, and even New Jersey. Honestly, the world is your oyster. Go as far or as close as you want. You don't need to do this all in your first month. I have been here for multiple years and it's taken me time to get to all these different places. 

– Internal Initiatives: Hannah Lederman, CC, Class of 2023

I've been more of a homebody, especially during this past year or so because of the pandemic. If you want to stay by campus, I think Zabars is a really great walk and they have great food. On the top floor of the store is Zabars’s merch so if you are looking for a sweater or a baseball cap, I definitely recommend checking it out. 

– Membership Engagement: Alyse Rovner, BC, Class of 2023

Why did you choose to get involved with CWBS and what are you most excited to do with CWBS this year? 

I joined CWBS when I was a freshman. I came from a high school that focuses on engineering. In my grade, there were 70 kids, but only about 10 to 20 girls. I knew pretty early on that a lot of careers out there were very male-dominated and I had a pretty hard time finding any female mentors and even just female colleagues— it was pretty limited in that sense. When I came to college, I was just exploring a ton of different areas and I knew that I wanted to find a group of women who were very supportive and were doing incredible, inspiring things. I was lucky enough to stumble into a CWBS info session and realize that I found it. And so I started off as a digital marketing committee member— when you join, you start as a committee member. I remember talking to as many people as possible in CWBS and realized that with this amazing networking and community, that there are so many resources and so many opportunities that really open up for you.

And I'd say what I'm most excited about doing with CWBS, and this is cheesy, is welcoming the new committee members and welcoming the new community. I think we've been virtual for so long that it will be great to just be in the same room together, do our bonding sessions in person, and be able to actually talk to the CWBS members especially now that I'm leading the organization. I really want to just get everybody's feedback and thoughts as to what we can do to continue being better and to continue serving undergraduate women at Columbia & Barnard.

– President: Sabina Jia, CC, Class of 2022

I chose to get involved with CWBS for a similar reason as Sabina. At my High School, I didn't see many women in leadership roles, and I didn’t feel completely supported as a woman leader on campus. I knew I wanted to find an empowered group of women, and CWBS was exactly that.

My favorite part of CWBS is hands-down the people. In my opinion, it’s the most incredible group of individuals that you can find on campus. It’s not just people that are majoring in what you think of when you think of business – there are members of our executive board majoring in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality studies, Sociology, Astronomy, and everything in between, which is incredibly unique for a pre-professional organization. I’ve made so many friends through CWBS and I honestly think that's the most amazing thing – CWBS recognizes that professional development, eager collaboration, and genuine friendship work hand-in-hand.

– Vice President: Sophia Naqvi, CC, Class of 2023

I joined CWBS when I was a first-year, and I was part of the Corporate Engagement Committee. Last year I was Director of Communications, and now I'm Internal Initiatives Chair. As you can tell, I've been with CWBS through and through. I joined because I saw something randomly on Facebook that there was a meet and greet on the lawns. I showed up a little bit late and had to leave early to get to class. I just really liked all these women, what they were talking about. And I spoke to someone who I met at another open house, and I just really liked what the people had to say and wanted to be part of the organization. I remember sitting in the Carman basement with some of my friends filling out the application. I really didn’t know what committee to apply for, but I just wanted to be a part of this organization. It’s been a really great experience. When I was in high school, I was also in a very science and stem background but knew I wanted to just learn more about business. I didn't really know what finance and consulting were and I knew a little bit about marketing. Through my experience, I understood what business is and also how big the word expands. And through my role, I've tried to diversify the meaning of business. We now have initiatives called Columbia Womxn in Venture and Columbia Womxn in Tech and we're hosting all sorts of events in the fall for that. And I just want more people to know that business isn't just one thing, but it applies to all different industries and all different interests. 

– Internal Initiatives: Hannah Lederman, CC, Class of 2023

I joined CWBS during my sophomore year. I actually didn't know about CWBS my freshman year, but I definitely would have joined if I knew about it. All my friends had told me about the annual conference CWBS hosts so that inspired me to look into it for my sophomore year. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made during my time at Columbia. I've really found a community of people who share common interests in business and people who are also career-oriented. I didn't really know how to start my journey pursuing a career in any type of business, so I felt like CWBS was the space for me to explore this. You get to be a part of this amazing community and you have the space to pursue your passions. Through CWBS, I was able to realize that I was passionate about the newsletter we run called The Scope (which you are all reading right now!). I was so grateful to find CWBS and hope that you all consider joining! 

– Membership Engagement: Alyse Rovner, BC, Class of 2023