<p>I was looking throught paper application today and saw that Columbia requested that you write a personal statement but no other essays. I wanted to ask to just make sure.</p>
<p>The WHY COLUMBIA ESSAY is an essay. It's almost as important as the personal statement.</p>
<p>But the Why Columbia essay only fits like, 100 words on the on-line app. :/</p>
<p>then indicate that you are attaching a more complete explanation, and give it in a one-page supplementary word doc.</p>
<p>Is that okay? I know Columbia highly discourages sending additional unsolicited stuff. How would you attach an extra doc.?</p>
<p>i would recommend not adding another document for answering the why columbia essay, its not worth ****ing them off....it wont add anything to ur app...you'll just end up saying a bunch of stuff they've heard before in a more verbose manner.</p>
<p>I talked with the NJ Admissions officer (associate dean of admissions- aka most senior member). She said DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES attach extra stuff for the EC/Why Columbia sections. ANd I quote her, "We are very serious about people following directions"... so I don't think giving them a 1 page why columbia is a good idea... at all. Just stick with what they give you.</p>
<p>You basically have to make every word of the "Why Columbia" essay count. Every one of those 100 words has to be thought out, considered, reconsidered, and then looked over many more times. Every word must be perfect.</p>
<p>Well, I just said what I did back when I applied. I filled out a paper application though, so each page requesting an essay or extended response got met with a (brief) attachment. I also had a 1-page list of accomplishments attachment. Clearly, it didn't kill me.</p>
<p>Sometimes knowing which rules are bendable can be an advantage.</p>
<p>Don't go over for the Why Columbia. You'll annoy them.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well, I just said what I did back when I applied. I filled out a paper application though, so each page requesting an essay or extended response got met with a (brief) attachment. I also had a 1-page list of accomplishments attachment. Clearly, it didn't kill me.</p>
<p>Sometimes knowing which rules are bendable can be an advantage.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You may very well have annoyed them. It's possible that you got IN SPITE OF breaking the rules.</p>
<p>That's unlikely, for reasons I won't go into.</p>
<p>Nobody who has risen to the top in this world has gotten there by following all the rules, all the time. A slightly longer essay expressing genuine interest and demonstrating careful consideration and knowledge of Columbia will, at worst, reflect neutrally on you - and may reflect quite well. Don't feel compelled to do so, but if you feel the need, attaching a page isn't quite the mortal sin that truazn seems to think it is. Anything REALLY long is obviously disrespectful and somewhat careless towards the officer's time, but few people can say much of anything in 100 words.</p>