A Couple of Questions About Columbia Admissions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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  1. I recently received the Columbia jr. book award from my hs. While I do realize that the award itself doesn't play a significant role in admissions, would reading and using the book to answer the "Why Columbia" essay be a good idea?
  2. Columbia recommends to only take the SAT twice, but will not penalize you for more attempts. I have taken the SAT three times, and my scores are the following (in chronological order): 2160, 2170, and 2300. My superscore is 2330. Is this okay?

Thanks!

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Having taken the SAT three times should be fine. If you can use the book to answer the why columbia essay, by all means you should do so, but it should still reflect on why you want to attend Columbia. If you just bs some stuff to use the book, admissions will see right through it. Also, it probably won’t give you an edge, so I think you should just write the essay on how you truly feel, and it you can incorporate the book somehow, do so. But don’t base the essay around the book.

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Okay, thanks!

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The book award is completely coincidental. If the book truly speaks to you, go ahead. But the fact that some local alumnus checked off the box next to that book as opposed to the others he/she was able to award – means nothing to Columbia admissions.

You’ve not read the book yet. Why or why not? If it doesn’t grab you now, what other book or experience does? Why not use those instead? The book itself is a non-factor like kingslayer says.