Supplemental Writing Questions and Resume

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

I have two quick questions regarding Columbia’s writing questions and application:

For the questions that ask you to list which books/readings/electronic publications you have read, do you simply list them or should you say anything else? What if you don’t really read any/many electronic publications, should you lie?

Is it worth sending your resume if it has a few extra activities or honors that you couldn’t fit on the Common App (non-art related major)? I read somewhere that if you don’t have anything really important that you are omitting, it’s not worth expending additional paper.

Thanks in advance!

2

Do not lie.

If they ask for a list, give them a list. If they wanted more, they would make it a prompt.
Probably not worth sending a resume if the added facts weren’t important enough for you to make space for them on the common app.

3

@AboutTheSame Does it not look bad if you have very few sources to list for one of the questions? For example, I have read a lot of books this year for fun but I typically refrain from online sources bar the occasional NYTimes or Spiegel. I feel like it would be a misrepresentation if I left one of the lists blank… Suggestions?

4

I don’t think it looks bad at all to be a person who still likes actual books. But, I’m prejudiced. If I could post a picture here of the wall of books in our living room/library, I would. :slight_smile: If you’re really worried about that, find a couple of sites and start visiting them. I like Slate and Jezebel for random news of interest. Most of the other sites I visit are legal, so I doubt they’re of interest. Maybe others here have ideas. Maybe I’ll learn of some new ones.

5

You are worrying too much. Just answer truthfully and keep it simple.