Here’s what I have so far. I’d appreciate any help or advice anyone could give me! I’m applying as a transfer student from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh)
Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (300 words or less)
The one aspect of Columbia University that left the greatest impact on me was the Core Curriculum requirement. The requirement that all Columbia College students explore the same philosophical questions regardless of their intended major creates a sense of unity among Columbia students that I feel is simply absent at most other universities. The presence of a Core requirement focused on the fundamental questions of the human experiences makes me feel that, at Columbia University, I’m more than just learning a trade that I’ll use to make money, but that I’m becoming a better, more educated citizen in a world that I’m well equipped to improve upon.
First, I would never post an essay here; you never know who will “borrow” it.
Second, and most important, I doubt that there is any variation of Columbia + Core in an essay that AO’s have not seen. I’d suggest a different answer.
When I toured at Columbia, the admissions officer told us that the most common responses to the prompt are 1. “I like the Core” and 2. “I like NYC.” She said that there is nothing wrong with this as long as you make it personal. Why does the Core appeal to you so much? How will you use it to further your academic goals? What aspect of your personality draws you to the Core? If the Core is your reason for loving Columbia, there’s no need to pick another reason because writing about the Core is cliche. What makes it cliche is writing an essay that sounds more like it belongs on a pamphlet advertising Columbia. There’s nothing about your essay that strikes me as particularly personal. For Columbia, you need to write an essay that will stick in the reader’s head over thousands of other essays. This isn’t that essay. Add more of your personality to it and it will be.
I agree with the above. You’re writing is good, but the essay itself doesn’t sound particularly original or riveting. What classes, extracurriculars, and internship opportunities do you want to take advantage of at Columbia University? Are there any professors that you like? Be more specific and creative. Right now, it sounds like a pamphlet.
Thanks for your comments. Instead of talking about the Core, I’ve decided to talk about how I want to study financial engineering because it combines both physics and business, and Columbia is one of the only schools that offers that major, but I’m not sure how to go about it without sounding like a pamphlet? Do you have any suggestions?
Make it personal. Describe the moment you decided that you wanted to pursue that major. Tell a story about an event in your childhood that influenced your decision to pursue that major. Whatever is personal to you, tell that story. Also, I would avoid any wording about how you’re applying to Columbia because it’s one of the “only schools” that has that program. That makes it sound like you’re only applying there by default because it’s one of the only schools with that major. It’d be better to talk about why that program specifically is attractive, with discussion of professors, classes, etc.
@wharton2081996 Umm Financial Engineering at Columbia doesnt combine physics with business. The only physics course required is the general education physics. The financial engineering program is a little bit of econ, a lot of industrial engineering, and computer science. Plus you will be talking about a major that you have to apply to get into sophmore year but if your a transfer I am not sure if you are eligible for it. In addition, Columbia college doesn’t have financial engineering, The engineering school does and you would have to transfer to get into that school if you went to Columbia college. Just wanted to make sure you write about the right info.