<p>Hey, I just got rejected by my early decision school (UPenn) so I'm feeling pretty crappy about my whole application... :( I was hoping to get some advice about the rest of my application... obviously my common app can't be changed, but here's my supplement essays for Columbia. Please let me know what you think; any advice is greatly appreciated :) </p>
<p>Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (1500 crct.)</p>
<p>Columbia is a highly appealing university, and Im sure the admissions officers hear this from countless applicants every year. With a solid core curriculum, high academic rankings, and a beautiful campus on Morningside Heights, it is sure to attract many students. However, those are not the only reasons I would like to attend Columbia University. Its not just for the campus life that Im drawn to; its the academic standards, and the specific programs that are available.<br>
I have always been a dedicated student, and I have high standards for myself. With that in mind, I am set on receiving the best education there is. For someone with a strong interest in international affairs, Columbias School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) presents an enticing opportunity. After three semesters of studying at Columbia College, I would like to apply for the MIA degree in SIPA. The Masters of International Affairs degree would allow me to explore my interest in our world and what happens on the international stage. It would allow me develop my foreign language skills through a year of studying abroad, and equip me with knowledge about major global issues and public policies, giving me a chance to be actively involved on the world stage. In other words, Columbias International Affairs program is a perfect fit for me, and my interests. </p>
<p>Please tell us what you found meaningful about one of the above mentioned books, publications or cultural events.
As a girl who likes war novels, I fall into a minority group. But there is a reason for this weird affinity, an origin for this abnormal behaviour. That origin is Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse-five. Reading this book outside of class meant that I had no one to explain the hidden symbols and themes, and without an initial point from which I could start my interpretation of this book, my first impression of the book was: This is absurd. I have no idea what is going on. Between Billy Pilgrims accounts of his war experience, his life before war and his abduction by Tralfamadorians, there seemed to be no connection at all, and I shook my head as I continued reading without much interest. But soon, patterns began to emerge, and as I understood those patterns, I began to see why this was called the best wartime novel. Without having directly said so, Kurt Vonnegut successfully portrayed the affects of war on a soldiers mentality. The subtle hints and clues, difficult to notice at first, have all been carefully planned out. Seamlessly, they are inserted in the novel with precision, each one with a definite purpose. For the first time ever, I realized the power of language, and the importance of literature. I fell in love with this book, with war novels, and with Kurt Vonneguts work. </p>
<p>Please tell us what academic class has been your favorite and why.
At the end of grade 11, I hesitantly chose a philosophy course on my course selections. As a student more inclined towards the sciences, I like things with actual answers, theories that can be proven, and laws that will hold in all circumstances. Not surprisingly, the first class of the year posed a question that basically turned my life upside down.
How can one know anything?<br>
Indeed, how can I know anything with certainty? What is the basis for knowledge? I cannot; there is no basis for knowledge. Without knowledge I am left only with belief: belief about all things, material or abstract, belief about everything I choose to accept as valid, belief that what scientists tell me is the truth. The notion that everything I know, that all the laws of chemistry, physics and biology are just beliefs, blew my mind; everything that I had carefully constructed with what I had assumed was knowledge was torn down with this single blow. It was then that I realized several things. The first: there is no absolute certainty, so I must always ask questions in order to minimize the uncertain. The second: the mind is the most powerful thing. A few words can change entire perspectives, and a new concept can tear old ideas apart. The third: philosophy is my new favourite class.</p>
<p>For applicants to Columbia College, please tell us what attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Application Data section. If you are currently undecided, please write about any field or fields in which you may have interest at this time, but have not yet selected as a major interest.
A few weeks ago, I had no idea what I wanted to study in university. Like most of my peers, I had certain interests, but I could not imagine myself focusing on one of them for four years and having to compromise the others. Time was running out, and I was desperate for advice. One day, my counsellor sat down at our lunch table, and asked us: if you had to choose two of your interests that you know you want to continue being involved in, what would they be?
Without hesitation, I replied, Global Citizenship Club and Model United Nations.
He asked: Have you ever considered studying International Relations?
Right away, I was interested. I found out more about the major, researched job possibilities in the area, and read reviews by current undergraduate students in this field. I wanted to smack my own forehead; how could I have not thought of this sooner? Here was a major that combined the two areas I am most involved in, one with a humanitarian focus and the other with a political focus, and which would allow me to pursue my interest in both of these areas. By the end of the day, I had made my decision. This is what I wanted to study: how countries operate internationally, the nature of political relations, and how different countries have different policies regarding the same social issue. I want to understand why the world is as it is today, and how the world will confront the problems we have. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance! :)</p>
Thanks so much!</p>
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