<p>EDers, what did you talk about in your why columbia essay?</p>
<p>I started mine off quoting something the professor at the class at Columbia that I took said, along the lines of 'Columbia is not only about learning a subject but about becoming an educated individual'</p>
<p>I then talk about why this resonated with me, talking about my opinion of the Core Curriculum. I describe Columbia's curriculum a balance between generality and focus, a type of balance which had been mentioned in relation to my own life in my Personal Statement (which itself was related to overcoming the disadvantages of my severe ADD.) </p>
<p>I also talk about diversity on campus (something which i actually care about, being the president of my school's Cultural Exchange Club). I again discuss an observation I made while at Columbia: So many languages can be heard on campus "like music to my ears". I think this sentence was really powerful because it again related to other major parts of my app, mostly my polyglottery (I speak 5 languages) with a little nod to my interest in music (half my ec's are music related)</p>
<p>Overall, while my topic sentences were EXTREMELY generic, I think I did a good job relating it to myself, demonstrating why these aspects of the school are ACTUALLY meaningful to me, and not just me telling them what they want to hear.</p>
<p>And I'm being 100% honest, those are really the most appealing aspects of Columbia to me. </p>
<p>I talked about how I loved the idea that it was built in colonial times. I mentioned and talked about a few organizations, teams. That’s about it…more or less anyways.</p>
<p>I mainly focused on the diversity of the campus with a couple of references to NYC and such. In hindsight, I really didn’t mention much about the campus itself as far as core curriculum goes… Yup, that was one big mistake I think I did. I’m afraid that they’ll perceive me as someone applying to a school they really don’t know anything about. ;( D’aaaw oh well. What’s done is done! Aha!</p>
<p>@Silence
But there were many institutions founded during colonial times. What makes Columbia uniquely attractive to you? If it’s just the history and pedigree, wouldn’t you prefer Harvard or Yale?</p>
<p>hmm, i made it really personal. i talked about how columbia felt like a second home to me, the wandering mind looking for a place take root. how when i first stepped foot on the campus an immediate rush filled me. and how the second time i visited, what i didn’t think was possible happened, i loved the school even more. it was really from the heart. i know it sounds corny but, it’s what i felt.</p>
<p>Holy cow. Well there goes my chance (again). WHY DO ALL THE REST OF YOU HAVE TO BE SO GOOD. I don’t even remember writing it haha. Probably was just a quick thing I ripped out in the last minute. I didn’t take it like an “essay” so didn’t spend enough time on it. Good luck to the rest of you lol</p>
<p>I loved mine. I started with a quirky story that related Columbia to me, then discussed its architecture and how inviting it is to an engineering student with strong roots in the fine arts. Obvious core praise, but overall very unique!</p>
<p>^ stereostaticxx i talked about how columbia’s architecture makes a very inviting environment as well! i hope that works out for the both of us, lol</p>
<p>LOL mine seems so immature in comparison! I wrote about…umm…how when I was little I dreamed of going to Columbia BECAUSE of nyc/pursuing modeling, but then I showed my growth and maturity & how now I want to go to nyc because of columbia and to pursue a career in law or journalism. I also discussed what columbia on paper provides for me, but also how I felt when I first visited (atmosphere wise). It was all very young and dreamy sounding. In retrospect, probably not very impressive.</p>
<p>It might be because I always lived here(?), but I feel that it doesn’t have a sense of community. That’s simply because it’s too big. I imagine that in a subrub or rural area, everyone knows each other etc.</p>
<p>It doesn’t have the aspects of a rural or suburb area…that’s for sure.</p>
<p>I think the media gloss-ifies NYC maybe just a little?</p>
In retrospect, probably not very impressive.</p>
?</p>