How to Get Into Columbia: What Actually Works

Acceptance Rate: 4.9%

Columbia University admitted 2,946 students out of 59,616 applicants for the Class of 2029, resulting in an acceptance rate of 4.9%. This marks Columbia as one of the most selective institutions in the entire world, second only to a handful of universities like Harvard and MIT. With fewer than 5 out of every 100 applicants receiving admission offers, Columbia's competitiveness is extraordinary. This acceptance rate means that having a perfect GPA and top-tier test scores is simply a baseline requirement, not a differentiator. The admissions committee rejects far more students with flawless academic records than it admits, so you must demonstrate exceptional qualities that extend well beyond your transcript to even have a realistic chance at acceptance.

Average SAT: 1540

Average ACT: 35

Admitted students at Columbia score in the 99th percentile nationally. The middle 50 percent of admitted students fall between 1490 and 1570 on the SAT, with an average math score of 780 and an average evidence-based reading and writing score of 760. For the ACT, the middle 50 percent score between 34 and 35, with most admitted students at the higher end of that range. Although Columbia is test-optional, the reality is that most successful applicants do submit scores, and those scores tend to be exceptional. If you score below the middle 50 percent range, you will face significantly steeper odds unless other parts of your application are truly outstanding. Approximately 40 percent of admitted students submitted SAT scores, 23 percent submitted ACT scores, and 37 percent chose not to submit standardized tests at all.

Average Unweighted GPA: 3.9

Approximately 94 percent of admitted students rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Most admitted students maintain nearly straight A's throughout high school, particularly in the most rigorous courses available, including AP, IB, and honors classes. The middle 50 percent range of admitted students' GPAs falls between 3.9 and 4.2. Columbia expects that you have challenged yourself with the most difficult coursework your school offers and excelled in those courses consistently across all four years. Admissions officers evaluate your GPA within your own school's context; they understand that a small rural school may not offer the same number of AP courses as a large suburban high school. What matters is that you have maximized the academic opportunities available to you and earned top marks in those classes, not that you have the single highest GPA possible.

Perfect grades and outstanding test scores are the price of entry at Columbia, but they do not guarantee admission. What truly separates admitted students is their demonstrated intellectual depth and genuine passion for learning that goes far beyond what happens in the classroom. Successful applicants show through their essays and activities that they engage with ideas at a sophisticated level, that they ask meaningful questions, and that they pursue knowledge independently. Rather than simply stating you're interested in economics or engineering, you should show how you've explored these fields on your own initiative. This might mean reading advanced texts outside of class, conducting your own research projects, engaging in intellectual debates with peers, or applying theoretical concepts to real-world problems in your community. Your intellectual curiosity must be specific, authentic, and demonstrated through concrete examples, not vague statements about your love of learning.

Columbia looks for students who have made meaningful impact through a small number of deeply committed activities rather than a long list of superficial involvements. The admissions committee specifically wants evidence that you didn't merely participate, but that you took initiative, led projects, started something new, or achieved real recognition in your chosen areas. This might mean founding a community service program that has grown significantly, leading a research team that produced measurable results, taking charge of your school's debate team and competing at a high level, or becoming a skilled performer or artist whose work is regularly showcased. Admissions officers pay close attention to whether you held leadership positions and whether your involvement directly benefited others in tangible ways. They value passion specialists who have gone deep in a few areas over generalists who have tried everything.

Perhaps most importantly, Columbia seeks students who demonstrate strong character and personal values that align with the university's commitment to intellectual community and civic engagement. The admissions committee wants to understand who you are as a person: what drives you, what you care deeply about, how you engage with different perspectives, and how you contribute to your community. This includes evidence of integrity, resilience when facing adversity, genuine curiosity about ideas that challenge you, and a commitment to helping others or making positive change. Your teacher recommendations and essays should reveal these personal qualities alongside your academic accomplishments. Columbia is looking for future leaders and thinkers who will contribute meaningfully to society, not just students who are academically accomplished.

Columbia's supplemental essays are rated as "very important" in the admissions process, alongside GPA, course rigor, character, recommendations, and extracurricular activities. Your essays are where you have the greatest control and the greatest opportunity to distinguish your application from thousands of other qualified candidates. Many students with perfect GPAs and top test scores are rejected each year because their essays fail to reveal anything compelling about who they are or how they think. Conversely, some students with slightly lower academic credentials gain admission because their essays demonstrate exceptional intellectual curiosity, personal growth, self-awareness, and genuine passion for learning. The essays are your chance to let admissions officers hear your authentic voice and understand your perspective in a way that numbers on a transcript simply cannot convey.

You should check out the how to write the Columbia supplemental essays article to see details on how to write the Columbia essays.

Your Columbia supplemental essays should demonstrate genuine intellectual curiosity and depth of thought rather than what you think admissions officers want to hear. When responding to the essays about your intellectual interests, avoid listing subjects you find interesting; instead, tell the story of how your curiosity developed and what questions fascinate you. Show that you think in sophisticated ways by connecting ideas across disciplines, applying concepts from one field to another, and explaining how your various interests complement each other and inform your worldview. Be specific about which courses, professors, research centers, and student organizations at Columbia align with your goals, explaining concretely what you hope to gain and what you will contribute. Your reading list essay should showcase genuine intellectual development outside the classroom, not books you think sound impressive. Choose texts, podcasts, articles, and other resources that you have actually engaged with and that genuinely excite you, because admissions officers can tell when you're being authentic.

Focus your extracurricular energy on a small number of pursuits where you can genuinely create meaningful impact and develop real expertise. Choose activities you truly care about because they align with your values and interests, not because they sound impressive on an application. Once you've selected your activities, pursue them with sustained commitment over multiple years, and seek out leadership roles whenever possible. In your application, describe not just the hours you've logged, but the specific challenges you faced, the initiatives you took, and the concrete outcomes you achieved. Did you increase participation in a club? Secure funding for a program? Help younger members develop skills? Launch a new initiative? These specific examples of impact matter far more than the raw number of clubs you joined or hours you volunteered. If you engage in arts, music, or performance, highlight this prominently, as Columbia particularly values students who have pursued creative and artistic endeavors.

Every component of your application should work together to tell a coherent story about who you are, how you think, and why you're an exceptional fit for Columbia. Choose your courses strategically to show breadth across core subjects while also demonstrating your depth in areas that genuinely interest you. Select teachers for recommendations who know you well, have taught you in rigorous classes, and can speak to both your intellectual abilities and your character. Treat the interview (if offered) as a genuine conversation where you can demonstrate your enthusiasm for Columbia and your ability to engage in thoughtful dialogue. Finally, understand that Columbia is looking for students who will enrich its community in meaningful ways. Show throughout your application that you understand Columbia's values, that you're genuinely interested in being part of a residential community built on intellectual exchange and honor principles, and that you have thoughtful ideas about how you'll engage with your peers and take advantage of Columbia's unique resources and opportunities.