<p>For Columbia's "Why Engineering?" essay, would it be a good idea to mesh the reasons for my interests in engineering with why I want to go to Columbia or should I keep the two essays separate? </p>
<p>How does one go about writing a compelling essay for engineering without sounding cliche? Would it be good to talk about one particular experience, or focus on one particular reason or do something else entirely?</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
<p>Each person has individual reasons for choosing engineering. I would only mesh Columbia and engineering if the Columbia experience (NYC, study with CC students) will further your pursuit of that discipline.</p>
<p>Go look at the SEAS website and see what the engineering school values. I think I wrote my why engineering essay about changing the world, that pure research is too theoretical and that the humanities don’t add enough value. Engineering was the perfect fit and the world’s problems - environmental, financial, and medical - would be solved by engineers applying cutting-edge principles to real world problems.</p>
<p>I think this tickled the belly and fed the ego of some admissions counselor.</p>