Hi all,
I know this may sound weird or even stupid but I actually had a dream of going to Columbia many years ago. I was around 10, and I think it’s quite interesting that I dreamed of going to Columbia, not more famous schools like Harvard.
Somewhere around 6 years from then, I got a letter from Columbia university admissions office to consider applying to their school, which made me remember my dream.
On Common App, there is a question “How have you learned about Columbia university?”. Should it be ok to tell the truth and tell them that I had this dream?
I would say no. And if you do anyway do NOT say “I dreamed of going to Columbia, not more famous schools like Harvard.”
Funny thing: colleges care far less about pre hs ideas, notions, dreams, than hs kids do. They want to see your savvy now.
At ten, you were very much a child. These aren’t quite trick questions, but will test your savvy, perspective, maturity- plus your understanding of what does matter to them. All very important to a tippy top.
They don’t ask these sorts of questions out of idle curiosity.
And hint: don’t tell them it’s because they’re a tippy top.
I suggest you be honest with them. At ten, you were a rare child who dreamt about your future, but you can’t recall what sparked the idea of Columbia. Only in the past couple of years, as you have done your research, etc. about blah blah blah, size of school, location, programs/major, etc. have you realized how Columbia is potentially deserving of your consideration.
If you tell them you had a dream at age ten, don’t make that the focus of your essay. Because, if you understand dreams at all, something that you may no longer remember prompted the idea to enter your mind. They are asking “how you learned about Columbia” so you should simply answer “Thoroughly, sincerely, and quite nicely”