Hey so maybe you guys have seen this already, but I’m a rising junior starting to explore some colleges who was just watching this 2015 interview with a Columbia admissions officer. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4PRM1CCZChk It might sound like old news to some of you, but I think a lot of people misunderstand what colleges like Columbia really are looking for, and this helps to clear it up. I liked what he said about focusing on each college’s institutional questions as it speaks to their values, and also about writing a “celebratory” essay instead of a “drama trauma” essay. I think a lot of what’s out there about college admissions on YoUTube is rather toxic and stressful, and to me this video was a breath of fresh air. I’m excited to apply to Columbia in two years!