Columbia is one of the hardest schools to get into, and popular majors can be even more competitive. Columbia Engineering, also known as The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, is a prestigious Ivy League engineering school located in New York City. While Columbia doesn’t release the specific acceptance rate for the Engineering School, the overall acceptance rate for the university last year was around This is extremely competitive, and if you are serious about getting into their engineering program, you need to be a standout candidate. It can be challenging to know exactly how to become a top candidate, but fortunately, we have some tips for hopeful Columbia Engineering students.

Get the Grades

You need excellent grades. Full stop. Asking for perfection feels a bit unfair, but it is kind of a necessity here. If you don’t have a 4.0 or are incredibly close to it, Columbia Engineering might not be the right place for you. They are looking for students at the top of their class who can handle a demanding course load. We are talking about taking honors, IB, or AP courses and doing exceptionally well in them. For engineering applicants, you should also specifically be challenging yourself and doing well in STEM classes.

You also need to get excellent standardized test scores. While Columbia is currently test-optional, strong scores will help your competitive edge, especially for STEM-based majors. Last year, only 61% of applicants submitted test scores, but that isn’t an excuse to get lazy around scores. Last year, for those submitting scores, the 50th percentile was 1540 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT. You should be gunning for similar or even better scores. For engineering majors, you should also pay specific attention to the math sections (the 50th percentile for just the math sections was 790 or 35).

Build a Niche

The Fu School offers 22 undergraduate programs; you need to know which one you are applying to, and your resume needs to back that decision up. Just saying you want to do “engineering” isn’t enough. There is a big difference between computer engineering and biomedical engineering. You want to establish an academic niche. It should be clear just by looking at your application that you are a hopeful chemical engineer and not a mechanical engineer. But how do you do this? There are a couple of steps you will need to take to build a successful niche.

Courses and Reading

Your school classes aren’t enough! To establish an academic niche, you need to explore your academic interests as much as you can. One great way to learn more about your academic interest is simply by reading books. We know it sounds simple, but many students don’t read outside of class. Reading books will give you so much more knowledge about your intended field and strengthen your writing skills (and trust us, you will need to be able to write about your academic interests during the application process.) Outside of books, you can also check out scientific journals, tech news sites and even podcasts. The more you can read, the better set up you will be.

Another great way to explore your academic interests outside of school is to take an online class. Many universities offer online courses through resources like Coursera. You can also look for classes at community college or through high school summer programs at universities (which often offer online and in-person options). No matter how you choose to take courses, they can help establish a history of academic curiosity and solidify your niche.

In-School Extracurriculars

Check out which clubs your school has to offer and pay special attention to the clubs that connect to your academic niche. Engineers should look for science Olympiads, solar car teams, robotics teams, and computer science clubs, among others. If your school doesn’t offer any engineering-related clubs, ask the administration about starting one.

Once you have settled on a club or two, you need to take on responsibilities in those orgs. Just signing up for a club isn’t going to impress Columbia. You need to demonstrate leadership and commitment in your extracurricular activities. This doesn’t just mean being the president, but also dedicating time and effort to your clubs.

Out of School Extracurriculars

In-school clubs are not enough for Columbia. You need some spectacular out-of-school activities as well. While you can do these activities during the school year, summer should be a big part of your plan. You want to optimize your summer plans to help your extracurricular resume. A successful summer can take many forms, but doing an academic program at a university, an internship, and research are always great choices.

The biggest tip is to ensure that your out-of-school extracurricular activities align with your academic interests. Ideally, you shouldn’t just take any internship. For example, interning at an accounting firm is okay, but we would rather see you at an engineering/science company, an NGO that does something with STEM, a science museum or even a STEM camp for children. If you are all about volunteering, choosing a repair cafe or tutoring STEM topics are great choices. You want your resume to clearly showcase your academic interests, and the more closely related your extracurricular activities are to your educational goals, the better.

Build Something Cool

Engineering requires skills. You can show Columbia that you have some of the required skills by building something. We have worked with engineering students who have made their own  computers, drones, solar panels, and so much more. A building project can show your passion for engineering and that you have learned valuable skills. You may even need to teach yourself some new skills. For the record, that is a good thing!

Apply Early

Remember when we said that Columbia’s acceptance rate was 4.3% last year? Well, that is only part of the whole picture. The overall acceptance rate is 4.3%; however, the early decision acceptance rate is higher. Last year it was 13.4%. This is still a competitive rate, but for qualified candidates, applying early is the best chance at acceptance.

We highly recommend applying early if you are a competitive candidate and Columbia is your top choice of school. If you are applying this year, it is essential to create a plan for your application as soon as possible, if you haven’t already done so. It is never too early to start strategizing college admissions.

Getting into Columbia is hard, but there are steps you can take to set yourself up for success. If you don’t know where to start, we can help! Whether you are a rising senior or a rising freshman, we do it all. Let us give you the competitive edge that Columbia Engineering is looking for.

Contact us today!