<p>First of all, I know they ask for two recommendations, and I was only planning on sending two, but I hear that people send in a third? Would it be obnoxious of me to send in a third? If it's from a third teacher? If it's from my boss?</p>
<p>Also, Columbia asks a lot of "Interest" questions...like what books I have read, etc. About the films, exhibitions, entertainments question...I really don't go to exhibitions, etc...should I just throw down some movies? I'm most nervous about this section, the "Interests" section, because that's like a portal into my personality, and I don't want Columbia to hate me. What else, what else...oh, do blogs count as online publications?</p>
<p>And, for the "Why Columbia?" question, they ask what one thing attracts me to Columbia most, but I have a whole bunch of small reasons...what to do?</p>
<p>ummmm My child, the whole reccomendation thing
I don't think you want to defy them because they explicitly said two reccomendations and sending a third shows that you don't follow instructions</p>
<p>Sending only one wouldn't make you a strong candidate. How about just sending two!?IF you're cool with a teacher thats also a columbia alumni then thats a plus. Try getting it from the alumni rather than a regular teacher that you're cool with </p>
<p>DO NOT WRITE MOVIES! Why would an elite college be interested in what "movie" you saw unless its a movie like "Blood Diamonds" or "Passion of the Christ" that sorta had some impact on you that you could explain.</p>
<p>Why Columbia? Think deeply && Choose what Interest you most about Columbia. Don't go writing a list of things because they explicitly asked what interest you The "MOST". (meaning one thing you find appealing that stands out from the rest) Make sure its not some stupid reason like Oh! Its in NYC or its an Ivy league, therefore Open doors && High paying job; because thats a complete turn off solely because they've heard it before many times.</p>
<p>Try as much as possible to follow instructions and give only what they asks on the application because they're already inundated with other applications && you would probably not want to be bothered with additionals if you were an admissions officer</p>
<p>well, they would be GOOD movies (not like Harry Potter, Transformers, the usual) I was thinking along the lines of The Road to Guantanamo and City of God...they asked for films....films/movies, same thing!</p>
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I don't think you want to defy them because they explicitly said two reccomendations and sending a third shows that you don't follow instructions
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<p>Dead wrong. Lots of people on here who get in do 3 or more.</p>
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DO NOT WRITE MOVIES! Why would an elite college be interested in what "movie" you saw unless its a movie like "Blood Diamonds" or "Passion of the Christ" that sorta had some impact on you that you could explain.
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<p>Dead wrong again. Columbia is choosing a class of interesting people who also happen to be really smart, not robots. If your favorite movie is Boogie Nights, put that.</p>
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Why Columbia? Think deeply && Choose what Interest you most about Columbia. Don't go writing a list of things because they explicitly asked what interest you The "MOST". (meaning one thing you find appealing that stands out from the rest) Make sure its not some stupid reason like Oh! Its in NYC or its an Ivy league, therefore Open doors && High paying job; because thats a complete turn off solely because they've heard it before many times.
<p>I will most definitely put Harry Potter in the books section...if Columbia's gonna reject me for liking HP over like Shakespeare (which obvy they won't), then I don't WANT to go to Columbia</p>
<p>whats HP?
&& please remember that colleges do not reject you for only one part of your application! They look at your overall app
I just said so because you want to be on their good side at all times. Meaning when it comes down to two books that interest you say, To Killa Mocking Bird or Transformers the Book. Unless you're going for engineering I would rather put To Kill a Mockingbird. Comical but it makes sense to me, Get what I mean? That doesn't mean to put something that doesn't interest you. && they will never reject you just for something that minor. That is absurd</p>
<p>It seems to me that if a school you were applying to would reject you based on something with you truthfully revealed about yourself (as in listing movies like transformers, harry potter, and so on), then you are probably not a match for the school. It also seems to me that the idea that you would be rejected for liking the transformers (although I haven't seen it and cannot say this for sure) is absolutely ludicrous. </p>
<p>On my app (I got in) I listed the only movie I could remember going to recently, a reading, etc.</p>
<p>hahaha I love how the Transformers is being mentioned in every single post...it was just an example...</p>
<p>but, yeah, I definitely will be truthful...I'm totally with you troubador...if they don't like me for what I am, then I shouldn't be going to that school anyway</p>
<p>I'm 80% sure that they don't really give a flying fart in space about what's your favorite movies as long as they're not titles like ::White Chicks::, ::How I got High::, etc. </p>
<p>As long as you put one or two thoughtprovoking movies/books... it'sfine. And besides, how the hell would they know if you read it or not? Spend an afternoon in Borders looking for books that look nice and you're set.</p>
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Unless you're going for engineering I would rather put To Kill a Mockingbird.
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<p>ummm, what?</p>
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And besides, how the hell would they know if you read it or not? Spend an afternoon in Borders looking for books that look nice and you're set.
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<p>well don't go overboard with that since if you get an interview, the interviewer MIGHT just ask you about that book that u claimed you read....not to test you or anything but just as small-talk</p>
<p>Yes^
I've heard that it might happen && if you sit there not able to talk about the book you read then you'll look foolish. My best advice is too also pick a recent book that you read so its fresh in your head. There are some books that I read a year or two ago but I can't really recall what happened that much. I just remember the theme. So I would rather put my favorite book that I read three months ago than the ones read 2 years ago. Get what I mean?</p>
<p>Is the open ended essay supposed to be really creative? I have an essay idea of a kind of internal, cultural battle that might be atypical. I am using the same essay to apply to UChicago.</p>
<p>from what i've heard (since i only ever finished columbia's app, i wouldnt know, but i had heard from friends) UChicago's essay topics are very quirky and unique and if you use the same one for columbia they might assume u were just being lazy and recycling the essay which of course shows no interest in the college.</p>