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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:

  1. Starbucks. No way I'm waking up before 8:00AM and getting on the L without a caffeine injection.
      
  2. My journal/sketchbook. You never know when inspiration is going to hit.
      
  3. A U-Pass. This lovely card will get you anywhere you need to go in Chicago and the surrounding areas. Cherish it.
      
  4. Netflix. Chicago gets pretty cold, and it rains a lot. Best have something to preserve your sanity for those cozy indoor days.
      
  5. 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