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Columbia University Quotes

Ivy League memories, in their own words.

These quotes gather reflections from American journalists, economists, and students on their time at Columbia University, from football games to graduate seminars.

High on the list of things I've been meaning to do since I moved to New York in 2004 is going up to a Columbia University football game.

Quotes by Willie Geist

It was at the graduate school at Columbia University that I first met Wesley C. Mitchell, with whom I was associated for many years at the National Bureau of Economic Research and to whom I owe a great intellectual debt.

Quotes by Simon Kuznets

I was in the journalism program in college and had some internships in print journalism during the summers. The plan was to go to Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism to learn broadcasting after I graduated. I was enrolled and...

Quotes by Kat Timpf

I'm going to Columbia University but I'm trying to keep that low-profile because I don't want weird people following me there. I want the experience of normal college life.

Quotes by Julia Stiles

Age Quotes

I graduated college valedictorian, got an M.A. from Columbia University in Spanish literature at the age of twenty-two, and still couldn't answer the question 'What do you want to do with your life?'

Quotes by Jedediah Bila

After the United States entered the war, I joined the Naval Reserve and spent ninety days in a Columbia University dormitory learning to be a naval officer.

Quotes by James Tobin

After the war, I returned to Minnesota, from which I soon moved to Brown University, and a year later, to Columbia University where I remained from 1947 until 1958.

Quotes by George Stigler

I went to Columbia University because I knew I wanted to go to a school that was academically rigorous. I prided myself on getting good grades, but I also hated it.

Quotes by Ezra Koenig

I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and I played a Jewish kid who offered himself as a slave to two Columbia University students...

Quotes by David Steinberg

American Quotes

My father was among the first of his generation to look into writers who've become part of the American lit. canon. When he wrote his master's thesis on William Faulkner in the Forties, he couldn't find anybody on the faculty...

Quotes by Antonya Nelson

Today's kids have a mind of their own, and they know how to exercise it. Even if I wanted to tell Sara or my son Ibrahim how to lead their lives - which I don't - they would not listen...

Quotes by Amrita Singh

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Columbia University quotes typically cover?
Most reflect personal milestones, like moving to New York, applying to journalism school, or meeting influential professors, rather than academics alone, giving a personal window into student life.
Why search for quotes about a specific university like Columbia?
Prospective students, alumni, and journalists researching notable figures often want firsthand impressions of campus life that go beyond official brochures.
Do these quotes mention specific programs?
Yes, several reference the Graduate School of Journalism and economics research ties to the National Bureau of Economic Research, giving insight into Columbia's academic reputation.
What tone do these quotes generally take?
Mostly reflective and grateful, with a few candid moments about wanting a low profile or a normal college experience despite Columbia's prestige.
What other quote pages complement this one?
Visitors researching American higher education often also browse quotes tagged around college days for a broader look at university life.

Many recall the age they first arrived, while others reflect fondly on professors and classmates they attended lectures with - read their stories below.