Okay, so I attended the Columbia University HSP program this summer (2016) for Session 1 and I wanted to write a honest, in-depth summary of my experience due to the extremely negative reviews I read before I attended. The only testimonials available are mostly negative and I wanted to share an updated, truthful opinion.
Before I divulge into the details, I want to say that this program gave me the best 3 weeks of my life. I not only met amazing people, but I grew as a writer, found a sense of independence, and had a ton of fun. In my opinion, it was well worth the money, and I learned a lot in and out of the classroom. No cliches intended.
The program is expensive. All together it comes out to be 10-11k for 3 weeks. This is absurd for many, but if you can afford it, it is definitely worth it. If it is a possibly but might strain your parents or be a cause for other issues, perhaps invest in something local or cheaper, because there are a lot of programs with similar features to this one. Keep in mind a lot of money is spent on trips, shopping, and food around the city.
The educational getback from the program relies fully on 2 things: the class you take and the efforts you make. I was in the Advanced Creative Writing class and it wasn't easy. There were 10 students in the class and it was extremely personalized, we were workshopped and we had seminars where we learned nifty craft tricks. Every student was gifted in writing and the instructors (Columbia MFA Grad students) were very knowledgeable in their fields. We had homework every night but they were long assignments like: write 2 free verse poems, write a 4-10 page screenplay, or write a 10 page long prose.
I had friends in other classes, ranging from Law to Architecture to Globalization and most of them complained that they had homework to do (Biomedical Sciences had 200 page readings). Some classes, like Globalization or Urban Studies were a little more lax and I wouldn't recommend taking them if you want a rigorous experience. Overall, if you immersed yourself in the class you could get a lot out of it – I did so and I'm writing better than ever before.
City life. This was one of my favorite aspects of the program. There are so many opportunities for students to go out and explore NYC, many of which only require your Metrocard. If you budget the trip properly you can experience a lot for cheap. For example, the RAs (who plan and run all the trips) had trips to Central Park, the MoMA (free with your Columbia ID card –most museums are like this), the Strand, the Highline, Brooklyn Bridge Park...these are all free. In addition, there are SO many sweet trips to restaurants, shows, games, and other odd places that often aren't cheap, but most of the people at this could afford spending $30 to watch the Yankees. If there isn't a trip to a place you really wanna go, you bring it up to an RA and they can make it happen for you. Also, you can just grab some friends or dormmates and go yourselves. In the first week and a half most people do the trips so to meet new people, but in the 2nd and 3rd week everyone was going out on their own (not to say there still weren't popular trips that people attended).
RAs and other on-campus activities. These are undergrad or grad students, who help with the recreational and residential aspects of the program, although some help out in the classroom as well (under a qualified instructor). I read a lot about crappy "counselors" (they're reffered to as interns or RAs) but in all honesty every intern I met was outgoing, helpful, and RELATABLE. Most weren't the least bit patronizing and they were all really cool and at the end of the program a lot of my friends were RAs.
The on-campus activites were great also – there were games, volunteer opportunities, dances, talent shows, etc. There is always something to do. Every day on the way to lunch I would stop at a table where an academic or enriching activity was going on. There could be a table where you make a stress relief jar or a soccer juggling contest. The pastimes offered were unique and at times very enlightening. Most importantly, there were academic opportunities ALL THE TIME – from Barnard and Columbia tours, admissions seminars, tutoring, college fairs, lectures by guest professors, college essay writing seminars...there was always something to do, whether it be for fun or enrichment.
Rules are really enforced and curfew is really strict. 2 of my dormmates couldn't get a taxi after a fireworks show (traffic was crazy) and were 10 minutes late to curfew...this resulted in them having to stay in the next 3 nights. Curfew is 11pm on weekdays and 12 on the weekends. It kinda sucks, but if you have a suite dorm you can hang out in your common room until whenever.
The hookup and drinking scene was present, but not dominant. A few students got kicked out from the program for drinking alcohol within the first week. You can get parent permission to go away from campus over the weekend, and many kids did this so they could party and crash at a hotel/apartment so as to not get caught. Other than that, not much drinking/drugs, especially not on campus.
People hooked up regularly as well, but it was mostly making out in campus nooks (no one is allowed on a floor that isn't theirs). Really, this lifestyle isn't bothersome if you don't participate in it...it's not presiding, as I said before. And if you want to, everyone is sexually frustrated so literally ask any guy/girl and they'll hook up with you.
The dorms are standard. I stayed in Hartley, the only all girls dorm. Hartley has a suite setup so you basically share an apartment with 12 girls in which you have your own seperate room but share a living room, bathrooms, and kitchen. It's actually really nice and makes for great bonding along with personal space. Furnald and Carman were the other dorms. They were for both guys and girls (obviously seperated by floor) and they were a little newer/nicer, however they consisted of single/double rooms in a long hallway. These dorms also had a lounge, which before curfew anyone can visit. Carman lounge was always poppin– it was a popular hangout spot (foosball, music, TV) and I met a lot of people just hanging out there.
The cafeteria food was actually decent. Every day there was a different hot meal and it was legit food also, not just hot dogs or something thrown together. This helped because I didn't spend 3 weeks eating the same thing. There was also always pizza and pasta, dessert, fruit, and kosher/vegetarian/vegan options. All in all, the food court was good and I actually met a lot of new people there because seating was limited so sometimes you are forced to sit with other students that you might not know.
The students. I want to finish off with this because I met some amazing people at this program. The international aspect is mainly the reason for this. For example, my friend group at the HSP consisted of: 2 girls from Long Island, 2 Peruvians, 1 Venezuelan, a Morrocan, a Lebenase person, and a guy from Hong Kong. I had so many deep, cultural conversations with these people – one night we spent 2 hours discussing religion, and it is one of my fondest memories from the program. There is definetly a fair share of rich, white American spoiled kids who think they're the best at everything, but if you try to avoid them (and make friends with people of other nationalities, lol) they won't bug you too much.
If you have any questions, please ask! I think highly of this program, but I also agree that there are some faults to it, so I will try to give my unbiased, credited response. If you are considering attending the program, and it is within a comfortable range of payment, DO IT!
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