INTERVIEW | Benjamin - Columbia: double major in Economics and Political Science

We want to know everything about you!

What is your name?

Benjamin

How old are you?

Where do you come from?

Paris

What highschool did you go to?

Ecole Jeannine Manuel (bilingual in Paris)

Choose 3 words that best describe you

Fun, curious, adventurous.

What was your number one dream university while in high school?

Columbia!

What about your life there

What university do you go to now?

I went to Columbia undergrad (graduated in 2014)

Why did you choose this university?

I wanted to be in NY and really enjoyed Columbia’s large core curriculum.

For how long have you been going to this university?

I graduated in 2014!

Was it your first choice university?

Yes

What is your favorite thing about it?

Diversity of classes and majors, with a strong core curriculum that encompasses many subjects, ranging from literature to philosophy to history of music and art. Being in NY obviously makes Columbia very special !

What courses did you take, what was your major?

Economics and political science – I took very interesting classes on the politics of the Middle East and some interesting political economy seminars.

Is it academically competitive, do you find it stressful, are the classes intense?

Pretty competitive, lots of work during finals but other periods during the semester were much calmer.

Do people help each other?

Yes absolutely

For how many hours do you study on a daily basis?

It varies but between 2-6h depending on the time in the semester.

What's your advice to nail academic and social life?

Plan ahead, know when the crunch time is coming (mid terms and finals) – and be prepared to study (tired) on Sundays.

Was it easy to meet new people?

Yes very easy.

How often do you leave campus?

Some time on weekends to travel and visit friends at other colleges in the US – however most times they visited me in NY :)

Is it international? What language is most spoken?

Yes very international.

Do you often go to your university's library, at what time does it close, are they social or silent?

Yes very often – Columbia has lots of libraries on campus ranging in size and feel. They probably opened new study spaces since I graduated.

What's your favorite place to study on campus?

Butler Library, 3rd floor (quiet but social at the same time).

On a scale from 1 to 10 what would you rate your campus?

8/10

Are you living in your school’s dorm?

I lived in dorms all four years

Are you in a sorority?

I was in a fraternity

On a scale from 1 to 10 what would you rate your school’s parties?

10/10!

How often do people go to parties at your school?

Very often

Are you a member of a club in your school? If yes which ones?

I was president of the economics society, at the time the largest pre-professional organisation on campus. I also mentored underrepresented students to help them get acquainted to life in the US and in college. I also organized a TedX event at Columbia my senior year.

Do people in your school tend to have a job at the same time?

Some did but not everyone. I worked for a non-profit consulting firm during my junior year, helping small businesses in the Harlem area get access to funding and business support.

How athletic is your school from one to ten?

7/10

Is it popular for a particular sport?

Tennis, golf, swimming

What’s the nearest city to your school?

NYC

What is the average temperature in this area?

NY weather is very varied, depending on the time of the year – lows of -20 degrees Celsius in the winter (only happened once) and highs of ~30 in the summer.

Any fun facts you would like to share (ex: famous alumni, crazy stories, lectures by famous people whatever you want)

Barack Obama, Warren Buffet, Timothe Chalamet.

Choose 3 words that best describe your school.

Academic, global, fun

Is your life in the university what you expected? Did you have good or bad surprises?

Being in NY is really great but can be overwhelming at times as there are so many different fun things to do. The lack of true campus life was sometimes felt as everyone is spread out throughout the city.

Why the student watching should apply to your university?

Unique opportunity to be part of a global community in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

What would be something you would’ve like an old student to tell you when you arrived?

Immerse yourself in the Columbia life from day 1 – go see all the awesome research / talks / conferences being done in so many different parts of the university. The possibilities are really endless in this place !