Columbia College--Chicago
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- I have the largest film program in the country. It was recently recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the best.
- My creative writing program is pretty fantastic and nationally ranked. I have a widely acclaimed, student-run literary magazine called Hair Trigger.
- I also have great theater, photography, and journalism programs.
- Even though I might not be known for my athleticism, I do boast a fairly successful baseball team that travels and plays against some of the bigger schools in the Midwest and hey, sometimes I win.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Starbucks. No way I'm waking up before 8:00AM and getting on the L without a caffeine injection.
- My journal/sketchbook. You never know when inspiration is going to hit.
- A U-Pass. This lovely card will get you anywhere you need to go in Chicago and the surrounding areas. Cherish it.
- Netflix. Chicago gets pretty cold, and it rains a lot. Best have something to preserve your sanity for those cozy indoor days.
- Hair dye and tattoos. This is art school, after all. Express yourself. I mean, just check out this killer Reptar tattoo.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- In case you haven't realized it yet, I'm kind of a big deal. Around the liberal arts circles, they call me the big cheese.
- I'm most known for my film and cinema arts program, which is, in fact, the largest in the country (did I mention that?).
- My journalism students won an Emmy a few years back for their piece, "Youth Programs Aim to Combat Chicago Violence."
- Animation Career Review named me the "Top Animation and Game Design School of the Midwest."
- You might have also heard of me if you've ever taken a stroll around the South Loop of Chicago. Whenever you may see hipsters, clowns on stilts, flash mobs, spontaneous singing…more often than not, it's my doing.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
You can often find me hopping from dorm room to dorm room, chilling (pun intended—Chicago gets cold) with a few close friends. More often, you can find me on the L, exploring the city. There are a million bars, clubs, stores, and restaurants, all available to explore. Chicago is my playground.
Favorite Hangouts:
- The Loft. An all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of excitement complete with video games, popcorn, movies, and Twister.
- The Haus. A stage that showcases an abundance of Columbia talent between stand-up comedy, sketch improv groups, musicians, fiction readings, and anything else you can imagine.
- Cafecito. This is one of the best cafés around. They serve Cuban sandwiches, delicious milkshakes, and most importantly, great coffee.
- Thai Spoon and Sushi. Outsiders don't seem to love this place too much, but my students swear by it. Where else can you get pad-see-ew alongside your nigiri?
Quirks:
- At Columbia, the average class size is fewer than twenty, meaning that each student gets face time with the professors.
- It's rare to hear the words, "Excuse me, Professor." Most teachers prefer to be called by their first names.
- My graduation ceremony is more like a concert than merely a listing of names. We have bands performing throughout (all Columbia students), poetry readings, gospel choirs—the whole shebang.
Famous Alumni:
- Scott Adsit, actor who played Pete on 30 Rock
- Len Amato, president of HBO Films
- Janusz Kaminski, two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List)
- Bob Odenkirk, writer for Saturday Night Live and Saul from Breaking Bad
- Andy Richter, actor and Conan's sidekick
- Pat Sajak, host of Wheel of Fortune