A Columbia Welcome: 20 Photos From a Spectacular Start to the Fall Semester
Something magical happens every year when new and returning Columbians flood back to campus at the end of August. This year was no exception.
Magic. Chaos. (Maybe a little bit of both.) There’s nothing quite like the moment Columbia’s campuses come back to full energy as our newest students roll in for our traditional late August move-in and orientation celebrations.
The energy! The buzz! The dream, finally arriving.
Those vibes continue building through the New Student Orientation Program, Convocation, Welcome Week activities, and the first week of classes, when old friends reunite with one another, new ones are made, and students find their footing alongside faculty and staff across all campuses.
Here are 20+ photos that capture the alchemy of the first few weeks of the 2026-2027 academic year from Morningside Heights to Manhattanville to the Medical Center.
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Slide 1: Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons welcomed 140 future physicians at their annual White Coat Ceremony in August. Photo by Michael DiVito for Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons.
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Slide 2: On Aug. 6, friends, family, faculty, and staff gathered for the Mary Moran Pinning Celebration to welcome 155 Master's Direct Entry students into the nursing profession. Photo courtesy Columbia Nursing.
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Slide 3: On Aug. 3, Columbia’s College of Dental Medicine welcomed its 92-member DDS Class of 2030 at its annual White Coat Ceremony. Photo courtesy College of Dental Medicine.
