Finding Support Before Withdrawing
Student's seeking to leave school, whether temporarily or permanently, often do so as a result of challenges that make continuing their studies feel overwhelming. Before making the difficult choice to cease attendance or otherwise satisfy requirements for withdrawal or leave of absence, we strongly encourage you to review and act on the information provided on this site.
While the decision to leave school is one derived from our unique circumstances, the university offers several support services to aid our students during times of need.
The resources below may be helpful to you as you consider your options.
Contact Your School
The Student Affairs Office or other similarly functioning advising personnel at your school can offer guidance and assistance, including:
- School and University requirements, policies and procedures related to ceasing attendance
- Financial, academic and readmission implications resulting from ceasing attendance
- General academic questions, concerns, or difficulties
- Progress toward and completion of requirements for the degree
- Referrals to other resources on campus
- Future life plans
Academic Advising Offices By School
- School
- Columbia College and Undergraduate Engineering
- Offices
- Brick Center for Student Advising
- School
- Graduate School of Engineering
- Offices
- Engineering Student Affairs and Student Life
- School
- School of General Studies
- Offices
- Academic Advising
- School
- Columbia School of Business
- Offices
- Office of Student Affairs, Academic Advising & Student Success
- School
- Columbia Climate School
- Offices
- Academic Affairs
- School
- College of Dental Medicine
- Offices
- Office of Admission and Student Affairs, Advising and Academic Support
- School
- Columbia Journalism School
- Offices
- Student Life, Policies and Forms
- School
- Columbia Law School
- Offices
- Office of Student Services
- School
- Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
- Offices
- Student Affairs
- School
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Offices
- Student Affairs
- School
- Mailman School of Public Health
- Offices
- Student Affairs, Student Support Services
- School
- Columbia University School of the Arts
- Offices
- Student and Alumni Affairs
- School
- Columbia School of Social Work
- Offices
- Student Affairs
- School
- Columbia School of International and Public Affairs
- Offices
- Office of Student Affairs
- School
- Columbia School of Professional Studies
- Offices
- Academic Affairs
- School
- Columbia School of Nursing
- Offices
- Academic Support and Resources
- School
- Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Offices
- Academic Advising
Support Resources & Services
University Life: focuses on enhancing the student experience across Columbia’s 17 schools and colleges and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives.
Center for Student Success and Intervention: provides multiple on-campus and off-campus resources to assist students with meeting basic needs and serves as a space to access and obtain necessary support and services to help as a part of your journey here at Columbia.
- School
- Columbia College and Undergraduate Engineering
- Office
- Live Well Learn Well
- School
- Graduate Engineering
- Office
- Well-being Resources and General Resources
- School
- School of General Studies
- Office
- Well-Being Resources
- School
- Columbia School of Business
- Office
- Student Support Resources
- School
- Columbia Climate School
- Office
- Academic Affairs
- School
- College of Dental Medicine
- Office
- Student Resources
- School
- Columbia Journalism School
- Office
- Student Life
- School
- Columbia Law School
- Office
- Office of Student Services, Wellness and Support, Financial Wellness
- School
- Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
- Office
- Student Resources
- School
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Office
- Student Life and Well-being, Resources for Parents
- School
- Mailman School of Public Health
- Office
- Student Resources
- School
- Columbia University School of the Arts
- Office
- Student Resources, Artists' Resource Center
Students called to active duty have several responsibilities to fulfill before leaving Columbia to ensure their enrollment, financial support, and academic performance are not impacted. For more information, please visit the Military Resources section of Student Financial Services website.
Each school at Columbia University oversees its own financial aid offerings. To learn more about the full extent of financial aid options available from a given school, visit the website of your preferred school below and contact a financial aid representative for more information. To find your school's financial aid office, review the list on the Student Financial Services website.