Question on Columbia app

<p>To my understanding, Columbia app has a spot for only one 500-word essay. I was thinking about attaching another 500-word essay or a letter. Is this a good idea? It seems like Columbia discourages additional information but I find it fairly difficult to convey who I am in one coherent essay.</p>

<p>Also, I was thinking about the prospect of submitting my poetry collections(booklets consisting of my poemes and photos). They are not masterpieces or anything fancy, but given the fact that I am an international student, and my interest in poetry is something I would like to emphasize, will it be helpful if I submitted my work? Or should I just ask my English teacher to explain the nature of it in his recommendation?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>I wouldn't attach a second essay. Just write one.</p>

<p>That's just me. I can't even write the first one properly, so there's no way I'm putting in two.</p>

<p>Columbia HATES, and I really do mean HATES, additional materials. There's only 2 circumstances where you should even CONSIDER attaching extra materials</p>

<p>a) Science Abstract (they ask for this specifically)
b) Employer/Mentor Reccomendation</p>

<p>As for the essay... that is a 100% no-no. If they wanted to read 2 essays they wud've asked for another one. Gl.</p>

<p>truazn,</p>

<p>would you mind sharing with us what your background or position is that you can say that with such authority? You phrase that as if you know what you're talking about, so if you're an inside source for such an opinion, please do let us know.</p>