<p>Would you say that Columbia University is more liberal or conservative politically. I heard that the administration is more conservative while students/facutly lean left. I'm worried that my essay shows my political leanings and will hurt me during the admissions process. What have you heard??</p>
<p>Columbia (students, faculty, admin) is solidly liberal; most universities are. I don't know where you you would hear that the administration is Conservative. The administration is just faculty members who have risen up. The president is very liberal -- a staunch defender of affirmative action and was a free speech advocate in his legal scholarship (**free speech isn't really left vs. right, but you get the idea). The provost is a left-leaning historian.</p>
<p>I've met most of the admissions people and they seem like reasonable people. They are there to fill a class of different types of kids, not to be political hacks. If your essay is meaningful and tells something about yourself, it will be appreciated no matter what you say. If it is just a political rant against [fill in the blank], it will be bad.</p>
<p>thanks alot. How did you meet the admissions people?</p>
<p>Columbia has the largest College Republican group of any of the Ivy League colleges. There is actually a pretty large conservative voice on campus and they are making themselves more known and outspoken (to my dismay).</p>
<p>Funny, the Columbia Spectator was the only Ivy to endorse Bush in 2004. I would say there is a growing conservative presence but its overwhelmingly liberal.</p>
<p>Slipper, do you have an article to back that up? The Spec did endorse Bush in 2004 --- as an April Fools Day joke!</p>
<p>Jaug1, I would expect a Columbia kiddie to demonstrate a little bit more maturity than you have done. Why are you dismayed that some of your classmates might disagree with you, voice their opinions, challenge the establishment, engage in debate, etc.? That is contrary to the spirit of Columbia.</p>
<p>Columbiarocks, I know the admissions people thru my being an interviewer.</p>
<p>Jaug1, I would expect a Columbia kiddie to demonstrate a little bit more maturity than you have done. Why are you dismayed that some of your classmates might disagree with you, voice their opinions, challenge the establishment, engage in debate, etc.? That is contrary to the spirit of Columbia.</p>
<p>I actually have to disagree with you Columbia2002. I don't think I am being immature at all. I do disagree with them on their opinions and I do debate them on campus. What I am referring to is how I personally do not like their stance on some issues. I accept their opinions openly and I respect them for having different views, but I can disagree with them as much as I feel like and be dismayed that they hold those views. There is nothing wrong or immature about that.</p>
<p>There are many articles in Spec and a large College Republican presence on campus that makes debates and political discussions far more interesting than they were previously. I am just dismayed by their opinions, not by the fact that they are growing. </p>
<p>And I also think that is exactly within the spirit of Columbia to be dismayed with another person's opinions and viewpoints. We are here to learn and discuss and debate different issues. It is one thing to be shut off from other opinions and to not accept them as remotely valid. I do understand why they have those opinions and I respect them. However, I do not sit down idly and let someone else dictate their opinion to me. I can be dismayed at their opinion and I can learn from it at the same time. I think that a give-and-take such as that is actually very healthy, beneficial and directly in line with Columbia.</p>
<p>What is the spirit of Columbia?
Is here any special thing just like U Penn?</p>
<p>Unless the essay topic directly prompts you to take a stance on a political issue and vigorously defend that stance through reasoning and argumentation, I would avoid discussing any political issues in the college applications essay. You really have no idea whether the admissions officer that reviews your essay will be liberal or conservative and you risk alienating yourself from the applications reader and/or admissions officer if you use the essay topic as a venue for advancing your political agenda. I would like to think that the applications essays at the Ivies would rise above mere political banter and actually engage the applicant's intellect by probing their academic and extracurricular passions. I really think the application essay should be an opportunity to let the applicant's academic zeal shine through to the admissions committee. If the essay prompt asks you to discuss a defining experience in your life or how an activity has molded your character, I don't think it's a good idea to have the essay devolve into an advocacy of affirmative action or a firm denunciation of abortion.</p>
<p>I completely agree with PrivateJoker. However, showing your politics may be inevitable if they're a part of your extracurriculars. If someone's been active in some [liberal/conservative/communist/whatever] cause and devoted significant time to it, then it may be the best thing to write about. The point that PrivateJoker's making is that you're not writing an op-ed, but a PERSONAL statement.</p>