Miscellaneous

FAQs

1. Is there a requirement for the number of advanced degrees (PhD/MD/JD) members in the team? What about undergraduate students or experienced professionals.  We encourage all non-MBA advanced degree students to apply. Please see the Eligibility section of the website for additional information.
    
2. How many teams are expected to participate in the competition this year? Last year twenty teams were invited to participate. We had four groups of judges. This year we plan to have five groups of judges.
    
3. Could you provide a sample case please? What are your judging criteria? Please check the sample case on our website. The judging criteria are tentative and subject to change.

Directions

• Columbia's Morningside Heights campus is located at Broadway and 116th Street in Manhattan. Drivers should note that in New York City, right turns at red lights are illegal unless traffic signs state otherwise.

By Car

• From the North: Take the New York Thruway (I-87) or the New England Thruway (I-95) south to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) in the direction of the George Washington Bridge. Take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south (last exit before the bridge). Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.Alternatively, take the Saw Mill River Parkway south to the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Cross the Henry Hudson Bridge ($3.00 cash toll) into Manhattan. Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

   

• From the South or West: Take the New Jersey Turnpike north or I-80 east to the George Washington Bridge ($8 cash toll heading into New York; westbound to New Jersey is always free). After crossing the bridge, take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Exit the Parkway at 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 114th Street. Make U-turn and continue to 116th Street. University main gate is on right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic. Alternatively, drivers can enter New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel. Take I-280 north to I-95 north. From I-95, take Exit 16E toward the Lincoln Tunnel/NJ-3 ($8 cash toll heading into New York; westbound to New Jersey is always free). Keep left at the fork and merge onto NJ-495 east. Leaving the tunnel, take the exit toward 42 St./I-495 E/New York 9A; bear to the left and continue under the underpass onto Dyer Avenue. Turn left onto West 41st Street. Turn right onto 12th Avenue, the Henry Hudson Parkway. From the Parkway, take the West 96th Street exit. Merge onto 96th Street and turn left onto Broadway. Continue to West 116th Street. University main gate is on right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

   

• From Long Island: Take the Long Island Expressway or the Grand Central Parkway west to the Triborough/RFK Bridge ($5.50 cash toll), to Manhattan. Follow 125th Street westward 12 blocks to Broadway, which is under an elevated subway structure. Turn left onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

   

• From the New York Area Airports
   
  • LaGuardia: Take the Grand Central Parkway west to the Triborough/RFK Bridge ($5.50 cash toll), to Manhattan. Follow 125th Street westward 12 blocks to Broadway. Turn left onto Broadway, which is under an elevated subway structure and continues south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

     

  • From John F. Kennedy: Take the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) northeast to the Grand Central Parkway (Exit 10) toward La Guardia Airport and the Triborough/RFK Bridge. Cross the bridge ($5.50 cash toll) into Manhattan. Follow 125th Street westward 12 blocks to Broadway, which is under an elevated subway structure. Turn left onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

     

  • From Newark: Follow directions under By Car From the South or West (above).

     

By Train or Bus

• Train: Trains to New York arrive at Grand Central Station or Pennsylvania Station; buses stop at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Visitors arriving at these stations can take either public transportation or a taxi north to the campus.

   

• New York City Public Transportation: Five bus lines (M4, M5, M11, M60, M104) and one subway line (the No. 1 local) serve the Columbia neighborhood. The Columbia stop for the buses and the subway is 116th Street. The M60 bus is a direct link between campus and LaGuardia Airport. Do not use the Nos. 2 and 3 express subway trains, which follow a different route and do not stop at Columbia University. If you take the No. 2 or 3, transfer at 96th Street to the No. 1 local train.

_{Maps of bus and subway routes are available on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority website}

By Air

• For visitors coming into La Guardia, John F. Kennedy or Newark airports, taxi service is available to the campus (about $25 from LaGuardia; from Kennedy a flat rate of $45 plus tolls), and there is bus service to Grand Central Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Bus service directly from LaGuardia airport to Columbia, the M60 city bus, is also available.

By Inter-Campus Shuttle Bus

• A free shuttle bus connects the Morningside Heights campus with its Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia University Medical Center campuses and affiliate Harlem Hospital. Shuttle service schedules and news can be found on the Transportation Services website.

Parking

• Street parking and local parking garages may be available

   

• The Central Parking System garage is on West 114th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

   

• Riverside Church Parking Garage is on West 120th Street between Claremont Avenue and Riverside Drive

   

• GGMC Parking is at 512-520 West 112th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

Accommodation around Columbia

Preferred New York City Hotels:  

• Columbia University has negotiated rates with 11 preferred hotels in New York City. The preferred hotels are located throughout Manhattan and offer guests a variety of amenities. For additional information on the Columbia Preferred Hotels, including contact information, rates, blackout dates, a booking tool, and our collegiate reciprocity program can be found by going to the Columbia University Travel Portal and clicking on the link for Hotels. Affiliation with Columbia University should be mentioned upon making the reservations.

   

• More information about hotels can be found here. Please see tips below for reservation at this portal.