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    Columbia University Reviews

    Updated May 22, 2018
    1,708 reviews

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    Full-timePart-time
    4.0
    StarStarStarStarStar
    Rating TrendsRating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    Columbia University President and Trustee Lee C. Bollinger
    Lee C. Bollinger
    607 Ratings

    1,708 Employee Reviews

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    Pros
    Cons

    • Living expenses are very high in New York city (in 35 reviews)

    • Columbia doesn't pay as well as nearby institutions where students face similar cost of living (in 27 reviews)

    More Pros and Cons

    1. "Course Assistant"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I worked at Columbia University part-time

      Pros

      Professors were nice and resourceful. Great working environment with friendly colleagues.

      Cons

      The work schedule changed from weeks to weeks.

    2. "Great Working Environment"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      Pros

      Great salary & colleagues

      Cons

      Hours can be long & they set standards high to the point of exhausting employees

      Advice to Management

      Provide better work/outside life balance

      3. Join the Columbia University team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "PhD Student"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I have been working at Columbia University full-time

      Pros

      Great environment, opportunities, qualified collegues

      Cons

      Nothing I can think of

    4. "Columbia University Review"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I have been working at Columbia University full-time

      Pros

      Columbia University is not only a central institution for Ivy League education, but located in NYC, also provides a diverse cultural community for both learning and working. Employment at Columbia allows for an experience that includes people, departments and schools which enhance skills on a variety of levels, and exposure to programs and courses to further one's career

      Cons

      As with many prominent institutions, Columbia University maintains a bureaucratic legacy.

    5. "Laboratory Assistant"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I have been working at Columbia University part-time

      Pros

      Provides a good work environment and friendly views of New York City

      Cons

      Menial work oftentimes repetitive in nature

    6. "post doctoral scientist"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee

      I have been working at Columbia University full-time

      Pros

      It is a good research environment

      Cons

      The consideration for postdoctoral researchers in not as high as it should

    7. "Great in academics, sub par in bureaucracy"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Scientist
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Scientist

      I have been working at Columbia University full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Wonderful place to do research. Friendly colleagues, frequency seminars, highly collaborative environment (especially between the SEAS and CUMC).

      Cons

      The operation of the university is bad if not worse. Have been in the university for more than 5 years (PhD + postdoc). The facility department is always under-staffed, trash bins are not emptied every day. The hazardous materials are not collected according to the schedule. The financial system takes forever to approve a purchase.

    8. "Postdoctoral Fellow"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at Columbia University part-time

      Pros

      NYC, rigorous, competitive, smart student body, strong IRB, great reputation, access to university resources

      Cons

      Some departments are too competitive, unsupportive, and exploit junior researchers. People act as if everyone should be lucky to be there

    9. "Research Scientist"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Doesn't Recommend
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at Columbia University part-time

      Pros

      Ivy league name carries benefits in terms of CV

      Cons

      Benefits for part time staff are only for administrative staff, not for researchers.

    10. "event manager"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee
      Doesn't Recommend
      Positive Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I worked at Columbia University full-time

      Pros

      Everyday was a different expereince

      Cons

      A bureaucracy with little accountability.

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