Placement

FOR NEW AND CONTINUING COLUMBIA COLLEGE STUDENTS

A Photo I.D. and proof of your OASIS Student I.D. number are required.

What is New Student Placement at Columbia College Chicago?

New Student Placement provides Compass placements in mathematics, reading, and writing.

All placements are tailored to Columbia's curriculum. Placements are given in a comfortable, friendly environment. Placement tests determine the appropriate course levels in which students must register. For example, the writing placement reveals whether a student should enroll in a preparatory English course, Writing and Rhetoric I, or an advanced writing section.

Is there any place I can go to see some sample tests so I can get an idea of what is on them?

This site contains sample questions from ACT, the company that owns Compass. The questions should help you get a better idea of what you will see on the Compass placement.

What do I need to do in order to take Placement?

To be eligible for placement, you must have completed the application process and received an acceptance offer from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students who are attending the Bridge Program are eligible to take placements during regularly scheduled times.

Who takes New Student Placement?

COMPASS
Placement is required for all first time Freshmen and Transfer students with no credit accepted by Columbia in college level English Composition and college level mathematics, unless you have submitted your ACT scores to Columbia. ACT scores can be used in place of New Student Placement Exams. Students are required to confirm receipt of their ACT scores with Columbia's Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

admissions@colum.edu | (312) 369-7130

Continuing Students that need placement in math, reading, and writing,  are welcome to take them Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:00 a.m., year-round, except holidays. Continuing students do NOT need an appointment. However, continuing students are encouraged to take placements during the term rather than Orientation, when many new and out-of-state students will take their placements first.

If you have submitted ACT scores but would still like to take a placement test to try to place in a higher level course, you can do so by calling New Student Placement at 312.369.7635.

F.I.T.
Effective May 12, 2009, graduating seniors and new students for Fall 2009 do NOT need to take the F.I.T placement.

When should I take my New Student Placement?
Placements for distance students (75 miles or more from Columbia) must be completed at least one business day (Monday through Friday) prior to your Orientation Date.  If you are a distance student and your Orientation Date is on a Monday, some Saturday placement sessions are available. 

We strongly encourage local students to take placement before Monday, January 4. 

Reserve your placement date online at www.colum.edu/newstudents.

Please arrive a few minutes early on the first floor of 618 S. Michigan Avenue, and sign in for placement at the front desk. 

Please visit the Office of New Student Programs at www.colum.edu/newstudents, for more information about Orientation.

How long does the New Student Placement take?
New students taking all three placements should allow three hours. Transfer students should allow two hours.

What do new students need to bring to New Student Placement?
New students are required to:

New students may also bring their own calculator or may use those provided by New Student Placement. We also provide pencils to all new students taking math placements.


If I am a Transfer Student, do I need to take Placements?
Students with no credit accepted by Columbia in college level English Composition or college level mathematics, place in Writing only and/or Math Only.

If you have college credit accepted by Columbia in BOTH English Composition and college level Mathematics, you do not need to take any placements.  If you have submitted your college transcripts from another institution, you should have received your Transcript Evaluation Report (Green Sheet). If you have not received this, and you want to find out which college credits have been accepted at Columbia , please e-mail your Transcript Evaluator below:

Students with last names A through G, contact Corin Gagliardi, cgagliardi@colum.edu
Students with last names H through N, contact Michael Kilinski, mkilinski@colum.edu
Students with last names O through Z, contact Cory Byrd, cbyrd@colum.edu

What if I am a special needs student?
Documentation of your special needs will be required. Please call New Student Placement at 312.369.7635. Also, you will receive a referral to Services for Students with Disabilities http://www.colum.edu/ssd and www.colum.edu/interpretingservices