Please contact Undergraduate Global Engagement to learn about your options for study abroad.

During the Change-of-Program period (also known as Add/Drop): You can use normal web registration procedures.

After the Change-of-Program period and before the drop deadline (also known as the Post-Change of Program Add/Drop Period): Students may request to add and drop certain courses*, subject to approval by their school and/or the instructor, through Vergil.  For more information, please review the Post-Change of Program Period Student Quick Guide.  

*Please note: The deadline to drop Columbia College Core Curriculum courses is the second week of the semester.

Find your school's academic deadlines here.

If you are struggling in a course, you should always first contact your professor or teaching assistant to discuss expectations, go over previous exams and papers, and clarify concepts and the material. It's also a good idea to contact your advising dean, who can help you review your study habits and create a plan. 

For more assistance, you can look for a tutor or visit a help room. Help rooms are sponsored by the academic departments and are staffed by graduate students. They are open at various times for students to drop by and ask questions about homework and material.  There are also a variety of tutors available, including a free tutoring service for introductory courses sponsored by the CSA. 

Find more information about tutoring, help rooms, and other academic support resources here.

To withdraw from a class ("get a W"), submit a completed Acknowledgment of Course Withdrawal form to your advising dean.

The withdrawal option is available to CC students who cannot drop a class (e.g., because the drop deadline has passed, or because dropping would take them below 12 points). If you withdraw from a course, the course will stay on your transcript with a "grade" of W. You will not earn credit for the course. 

More information about course withdrawal can be found in the Exams and Grades section of the CC Bulletin.

The course withdrawal deadline is listed in the CC Academic Calendar.

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students declare their majors online during the major declaration period in their sophomore year. Engineering students declare in October; CC students declare in March. You will receive an email with a link to access the declaration portal at the start of the declaration period.

For Columbia College students who wish to declare a program of study that requires an application, such as the major in Comparative Literature & Society or the special concentration in Business Management, the program will be added to your record upon acceptance.

You can find information about the 3-2 Program in this brochure.  Take a look and contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.

Read the CSA fact sheet regarding the SIPA 5-Year MIA/MPA Program. Contact your CSA adviser if you have further questions.

A sample schedule for your first semester may include Principles of Economics and Calculus I or Calculus III.

Take a variety of classes that interest you! Your first year is a great time to explore classes and to figure out what you are really passionate about. Peruse the Directory of Classes and the CC Bulletin, or search for classes that work with your schedule in Vergil. You may also take classes that fulfill your core requirements, such as a foreign language, a Global Core class, or a class that fulfills the science requirement. Make sure to have back-up options in case your first-choice classes fill up.

If you would like to switch your Literature Humanities class or your Frontiers of Science discussion section due to a scheduling conflict, you can attempt to switch into a section with an opening using the change section function in Vergil during your first registration appointment or any subsequent registration appointment. 

If you are unable to switch sections on your own, you may submit a change request petition to the Core office at the start of the semester. More information about Core registration policies and petitions is available here.

Please consult the CC Bulletin or SEAS Bulletin.

• Don’t panic! During NSOP and once classes begin, it is likely that more spots will open up as all students finalize their schedules. The first two weeks of classes are known as the Change of Program period. You'll be able to add courses to your schedule during that time. 
• You should check to see whether or not the course has a waitlist; if so, add yourself to the list.
• If you still want to get into a class that is full, it is essential to attend the first class.
• In case a seat does not open up, you should plan to attend the first class meetings of the next best options on your list. Twelve credits is the minimum required for all students. If you drop below 12 points, you risk being withdrawn from the term (except in your last term, when you are permitted to go below 12 points).

Some placement exams are available online and others will be given during the New Student Orientation Program (NSOP). Please monitor the CSA's list of placement exams, which will be updated continually over the summer as information becomes available. You will find additional information about placement and possible exemption based on AP, IB, A-level and SAT II test scores in the Academic Planning Guide for your entering year.

Typically, AP/IB and other outside credit is added a student’s record the summer after they complete their first year at Columbia. Your advising dean will enter the appropriate credits for you based on any score reports you submitted to the University. Please consult the Academic Planning Guide to see if AP credit may place you into a higher level class or give exemption to a requirement.