<p>There seem not to be an option in the online application. </p>
<p>Also 250-500 words for the essay seem like not many words...</p>
<p>Anyone have a clue?</p>
<p>I would advise against them. Make your 500 word essay the most spectacular 500 words you have ever written. Columbia values conciseness, and the ability to vividly describe who you are with limited space.</p>
<p>However, if your essay exceeds 500 words you will NOT be penalized. I know plenty of people who got accepted and wrote over 500 words, some even writing 800-900 words. Try to keep it under 650 though, I would say.</p>
<p>Ah ok. Thanks for your input. </p>
<p>I found the part on additional recs on Columbia’s website.</p>
<p>“May I submit supplementary recommendations?
The Committee discourages the submission of additional recommendations, as admissions decisions will be based primarily on the required recommendations from your high school teachers and secondary school/guidance counselor. In general, we recommend the submission of a supplementary recommendation only if the writer has worked with you in a research or college course capacity.”</p>
<p>I submitted one additional recommendation. In my personal statement, I discussed at length how a certain volunteer opportunity (that later turned into a job) had impacted me. My boss wanted to write a recommendation for me, echoing and contextualizing that, and so I attached it to the online application. But that was it; I didn’t want to submit too much. As NWdivisionCHAMPS says, Columbia values concision (that’s why their essays have ludicrously low character limits) so DO NOT under any circumstances submit additional essays. And try to keep your personal statement on one page, which is 500 words with 1" margins and 600 words if you make the margins 0.5" ;)</p>
<p>i dont think it would be necessary</p>
<p>I’d stick with what the website says; if you’ve done scientific research, and a research mentor has volunteered to write you a rec, go for it. That’s what I did :)</p>