Days on Campus, April 2017. Photo credit: Teresa Brown.
A professor recently asked me if, when I was applying to Columbia as a prospective math major, the Core scared me. His assumption, a common one, was that as someone who prefers math and science, the idea of committing a significant amount of my undergraduate experience to courses in the humanities was not something I would be inclined to want.
Truth be told, I don’t quite remember what I thought of the Core before I arrived at Columbia. It’s one of those things that is hard to fully grasp until you’re immersed in it. Looking back at my application to Columbia College, I seem to have been most interested in the discussion based aspect of several of the required Core classes. Even if mathematics lectures were where I envisioned myself, I was intrigued by discussion based learning. Beyond broad characterizations of the Core, however, I don’t seem to have known much about which specific classes were required or what exactly I would learn. But, clearly, the idea of a required Core did not deter me from applying to or committing to Columbia.
Now, of course, my perspective on the Core is influenced by the fact that I have completed most of its classes. In terms of actual content, I learned much more from the Core classes than I expected. But, I think my initial assessment of their value being largely in their discussion based format was correct. While I thought I would prefer my lecture classes, on the whole I have enjoyed my discussion based classes far more. The Core forced me to participate in discussion based classes from day 1, and as someone who tends to be shy about participating in class, that has been incredibly valuable.
As a senior who has completed all but one core class, I can confidently say that, while the Core can be a defining reason to apply to or attend Columbia College, it shouldn’t be a reason to hesitate about Columbia, even if humanities aren’t your forte. Everyone at Columbia comes from a unique background and has unique interests. Everyone gets something different out of the Core. But, learning to read critically, write analytically and engage in discussion with your peers are skills useful to everyone. Dare I say, they are skills that are especially valuable for those of us who don’t envision a career in the humanities.