As you begin your Columbia/Barnard journey, we  have a lot of ways for you to connect with other new students, upperclassmen, and Hillel professionals! See below for information about three opportunities just for first years to start finding their people!

Find your People with First-Year Fam

Led by an upperclassman student leader, your First Year Fam is a small group of 5-6 students who will connect virtually for ice breakers, conversation, and relationship building. Your First Year Fam will officially meet four times throughout September, but we hope your fam will continue to connect throughout your time at Columbia/Barnard! Sign up here!

Big/Little

Starting in a new place can be overwhelming – let us help you out! Sign up to be a part of our Big/Little mentorship pairing program, and we will pair you with an upperclassman to connect with one-on-one. Sign up here!

Judaism & College Life

YOU MADE IT! You’re in college!! Now what?! Being in college provides us with the opportunity to decide who we want to be and how we want to interact with the world around us. This conversational seminar is for anyone looking to deepen their connection to Judaism on their own terms and build community while meeting other first year students. We will try to explore the often complex questions with which we are faced upon our arrival at college in a way that enables us to find our own answers. Sign up here!

To start getting in touch with your classmates, join the class of 2024 Facebook group!

Please note that ALL the opportunities listed above are virtual gatherings! If you plan to be local (in or near Morningside Heights) this fall, let us know here. If you’re local and interested in a physically distanced, socially connected Shabbat dinner, click here.

Questions? Email [email protected]!