I think Columbia has an excellent reputation. The school is wonderful at helping students find internships and even jobs after graduation. They also have some very successful alumni. I feel that by going to Columbia, I have a great chance of finding a stable career in photography.
Course Curriculum :
I enjoy the course curriculum. I love how students are able to take classes related to their major freshman year and be engaged in the program. I would disagree with some of the requirements for classes because general education courses usually have nothing to do with photography, however, it is a liberal arts school so I understand it is a requirement.
Exams :
I took the ACT in high school and scored a 28. I also took multiple AP exams for AP Language, AP Government, AP Economics, and AP statistics.
Internship :
Yes, however, I do not have an internship yet. I get emails promoting internships and there are already some available to me as a freshman, but I would rather wait to get an internship so I am able to save money.
Fees :
There are different payment plans depending on what is affordable and what kind of loans you have. I pay monthly for my tuition. There are a lot of other expenses like books, and also supplies for classes. For example, I took a foundation art class where I had to buy new material almost every week, which was very expensive. I also have to buy photo paper to print my photo assignments every week.
Examination Structure :
We have midterms in the middle of the semester and finals at the end like most other colleges. For some classes, we have final projects instead of a written test. For my photography class, I had to turn in a collection of photos.
Faculty :
Overall I love the faculty. Everyone is friendly and I feel I receive a good education from them. It is also great how most of the faculty have experience in the field so they are very knowledgeable.
Hostel :
I live at home and commute. This helps me save money. It is also less stressful for me personally because I am at home in a familiar environment where I am comfortable. Living on campus is too expensive and my job is also close to home.
