FAQs

Apply

This program is open to all rising High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors who can commute daily to and from the Columbia Morningside campus. Students must demonstrate interest in STEM.

Applications will be available on Monday, January 9, 2017. Please visit our apply page for more information on the application process and deadlines.

No, all applications must be completed by the student.

Pay close attention to what the question asks. Limit your responses to 300 words maximum per question. Do NOT answer all three questions. Only two essay responses will be evaluated when reviewing your application. Have a teacher or counselor proofread your essay for errors.

For the letter, ask either your science or math teacher at least three weeks in advance. Provide teachers with a resume and grades, too.

Yes, there will be a wait-list. If a spots opens, we will offer it waitlisted students first. We will notify applicants of their status (admitted, wait-listed, etc.) in the decision letter in mid-March.

The application fee is $50. You can pay it online here <link to online payment site>

Yes, students who qualify for need-based financial aid can request to have their application fee waived. To request an application fee waiver, please complete <this form>.

All applicants must submit all material by 11:59pm EST on Friday, March 17, 2017. We will not accept any late applications.

We will announce priority admission decisions on Friday, March, 10, 2017. Regular admission decisions will be announced on Friday, March 31, 2017 via email.

Tuition

You will pay deposit and tuition online. All information on payments will be provided in the admissions letter.

Yes, we offer need-based scholarships that cover the total cost of the program. For more information on how to apply, please visit our tuition and fees page.

No, students must provide their own transportation to and from Columbia.

The deposit will act as the first payment. The remaining balance will be due at a later date indicated in the admissions letter.

Courses and Programs

Sessions are three weeks long. Courses are content-driven engineering classes taught by faculty. Electives are skill-building seminars taught by post-doctoral researchers and professional staff. Labs are times and spaces dedicated to student projects. There are two sessions: Session 1 is July 3-21 and Session 2 is July 24-August 11. During each session, students will choose:

  1. One course (options: robotics or CS)
  2. One elective (options: research skills or entrepreneurship)
  3. One lab (options: MakerSpace or Mech-Tech Lab)

Yes, students may apply for one (3-weeks) or both (both 3-week) sessions and can only take each course once. Students must indicate their preference on the application and pay for both sessions if choose to take both courses.

Yes, students may choose either elective, Research Skills or Entrepreneurship, regardless of which course they are taking. Students will be enrolled in this elective for the full three weeks. We encourage robotics and CS students to interact and collaborate on projects during electives time.

We admit up to 60 students per 3-week session (120 students total).

This year we are offering a Robotics course and a Computer Science course. The program will offer other engineering courses in the future. Students can reapply next year for additional course offerings. Optional weekly field trips will introduce students to different engineering fields.

No, all students are expected to commute to the Columbia campus daily.

The meal plan covers lunch every day.

Yes, Columbia students will be assisting with the entire program. They will serve as TAs, take students on field trips, give campus tours and tips, and supervise student lab projects.

Summer involvement always looks great on applications, especially in pre-college academic programs. Still, participation in the program does not impact undergraduate admissions at Columbia Engineering or Columbia College. Of course, we do hope SHAPE participants will apply to Columbia!