This week at GAAC, our admissions season is in full swing—we’ve already received nearly ten Early Decision offers, along with generous scholarships from top universities!
Among the physical offer letters we've received, one stood out—a handwritten note from the admissions officer at Columbia University, one of the most prestigious Ivy League schools. The heartfelt admiration and appreciation expressed in the message made all of us at GAAC, especially our dedicated professional mentors, incredibly proud.
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About Columbia University
Columbia University is located in the heart of New York City and is one of the eight Ivy League schools, known globally as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning. As a comprehensive research university, Columbia boasts unparalleled academic rigor, interdisciplinary resources, international influence, and the unique advantage of its New York location.
Columbia leads not only in the humanities, social sciences, and arts but also holds a strong reputation in engineering, business, and international affairs. Its undergraduate Core Curriculum is considered one of the most rigorous in the U.S., requiring students to engage deeply with classical literature, philosophy, art, and history—fostering interdisciplinary critical thinking.
Moreover, as the only Ivy League university in NYC, Columbia students enjoy direct access to world-class art institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and The Whitney Museum—offering limitless opportunities for hands-on learning and artistic exploration.
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Portfolio Preparation Guide
Columbia is fiercely competitive, with undergraduate acceptance rates ranging between 3.9% and 5.8%, making it one of the hardest universities to get into in the U.S. For students applying in the arts and humanities, the bar is even higher—the school expects outstanding academic performance, intellectual depth, creative thinking, and strong analytical abilities.
For those applying to majors like Art History and Visual Arts, Columbia emphasizes not only academic excellence (GPA, SAT/ACT) but also highly values the personal statement, letters of recommendation, and—most importantly—the portfolio, which must reflect:
A strong foundation in art history (beyond appreciation, with critical analytical depth)
A distinctive personal artistic voice (not just technical skills, but concept-driven work)
An interdisciplinary background (integrating fields like literature, philosophy, sociology, or technology)
Proactive engagement (involvement in curatorial work, art projects, research outside of class)
Columbia also looks for candidates with a global perspective. Applicants who have interned at renowned international institutions, participated in cross-cultural art projects, or demonstrated an understanding of global art history in their academic work will gain a strong edge in the admissions process.