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Frequently Asked Questions

What is cost of the program?

Tuition, room and board is $7,436. We house our students in single rooms (no roommates) in Furnald Hall, a Columbia dorm directly next to the Journalism School. The board plans covers three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on weekdays only, as well as special events like the final banquet. The board plan is mandatory while living on-campus is optional. Students living off-campus will be charged $886 for the board plan in addition to $4,700 for tuition.

Should letters of recommendation be mailed directly from professors/employers, or can I include them with my application? What about transcripts?

Your letters of recommendation (two are required) can be mailed to our offices by your letter writers or you can include them in the same envelope as your application. However, both the letters of recommendation and the transcript should arrive in sealed envelopes with the letter writer’s or registrar’s signature across the seal. A school’s seal is also acceptable in place of a signature for the transcript. Letters of recommendation are kept confidential.

Where should I mail my transcript, letters of recommendation, and application fee?

These materials can be mailed to the Columbia Publishing Course at 2950 Broadway MC 3801, New York, New York 10027.

Are there any additional application requirements for international students?

No, the application requirements are the same of domestic and international students. However, if your transcripts or letters of recommendation are written in a language other than English, we ask that you send the original as well as translations.

What kind of visas do international students need?

Because the course is only six weeks long, most international students can attend the program as tourists. We recommend that you get in touch with your local consulate to discuss the specifics of your situation.

Do you require GRE scores?

No, we do not look at standardized test scores when making admissions decisions.

How many applications do you receive? How many students do you accept?

On average we receive 400 applications. We accept roughly 100 students each summer.

Do you have rolling admissions?

No, we only evaluate applications once the due date has passed. Preference is not given to early applications.

What undergraduate institutions do your students attend?

The variety of college and universities that our students come from are too numerous to name in full. A sampling of the class of 2009 includes graduates of Williams College, Boston College, Trinity College Dublin, Wesleyan University, Harvard University, Kenyon College, Georgetown University, University of Virginia, College of William & Mary, University of New Mexico, Agnes Scott College, New York University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of California Berkeley, and Colby College among others.

I am a rising college junior. Can I take the Columbia Publishing Course?

Only in extremely rare circumstances do we admit students who have yet to finish their undergraduate degrees. Because the course does so much in job market preparation and career placement, students not ready to immediately enter the workforce would not be able to take full advantage of the many networking opportunities offered. Please contact our office if you’d like to discuss your circumstances.