How to Write the Columbia University Supplemental Essays 2024-25

How to Write Each Supplemental Essay Prompt for Columbia University?

How to Write the Columbia Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

Prompt #1

For the list question that follows, there is a 100-word maximum. Please refer to the below guidance when answering this question:

• Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons.
• Items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order.
• It is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications.
• No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.

List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy. (100 words or fewer)

These short question prompts are here to learn about your personal, genuine interests, intellectual development, thinking, and how you’ve challenged yourself in media or literature. So start jotting down the media. It may be movies, books, music, or anything given in the list and beyond the list. Highlight what those specific media have added to your life, especially intellectually, and then segregate those media in appropriate headings in general. This list should align with the Columbia campus’s values, and be honest about the works you quote.

It can range from traditional media, books, and novels to present social media content and podcasts. Anything that has positively impacted your development, every type of act or a representation that vividly influenced you, do not undermine its legitimacy; be honest and curate them with suitable examples or events and add the values that have imbibed in you.

Here are the tips to curate these lists:

1. Synergetic list- Jot the items that add on each other.

You have to be synergetic while combining different materials and drawing a similar and unique conclusion. Romeo and Juliet + West Side Story

• Synergy- You’re enticed to eternal concepts of love and conflict and how they have played out in different eras and cultures.
• Shakespeare’s classic tragedy uncovers a dynamic contemporary performance in West Side Story in 1950s New York. This pair of shows reflects your preference for unremitting narratives and memories and their bearing across cultures.

2. Show multidimensionality-

Think out of the box and try to include a variety of themes in your list, ranging from sci-fi movies for techie persons, novels, autobiographies or journalists, diplomats or the students interested in International relations, psychological thrillers and forensic psychology for students interested in criminal justice or law backgrounds, depending on your interests.

3. Include some hyped ones or popular ones in the list.

So that the reviewer can see some commonality or shared preferences in your area of interest only. Don’t stress or overstress various elements. Make a balanced list.  

 4. Have a commonality with other essays regarding goals or professions you want in your life and the list you are working on.

How to Write the Columbia Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community. (150 words or fewer)

This is a diversity essay theme, and the university is looking for students who can creatively weave different ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, backgrounds, interests, and so on into their personal journeys and choices. The essay makes students brainstorm what sets them apart from many applicants, and admissions committees will be impressed with the variety of views and opinions they bring to the campus to facilitate diversity, too. 

Whatever stream you are getting into no, whether sciences, humanities, or law, the subject of self-reflection underlines all the disciplines, and even though you are a STEM aspirant or a medical prodigy, you need a profound understanding of your identity and development and how come these shaped world view, choices in your life.

As you pen, ensure you don’t fall into these Normal Traps of what the university seeks.

• Mistake #1: Chronological events of your life- Sketching a longitudinal journey of your life in terms of events, like the school you attended and the size of the school, location or your rankings, is different from what the university seeks.  
• Mistake #2: Emotional Language- Do not try to make it more emotional or pleasing; balance the emotions with your purpose of writing the supplemental essay.
• Mistake #3: Parroting the University websites- Reechoing the words of what the university has given out in terms of brochures or website language. Be Creative!
• Mistake #4: Boosting about the university- about the campus, the opportunities it offers, or the career prospects, you should mention those but do not fill your essay with the University facilities; instead, focus on the qualities that will set you apart.
• Mistake #5: Why Us? Thinking of the question Why us and? It should not run in every line of your narrative.

The essay is about YOU; hence, focus on what you are and put it persuasively. Add questions in between that intrigued you in your journey. Focus on some specific events; however, don’t go into much detail about where or the location; focus on the thoughts that made you think about your identity as a man or a woman or a queer person or a person belonging to a specific ethnicity, lingua franca and then highlight how these traits in you help bring diversity to the Columbia’s table. 

How to Write the Columbia Supplemental Essay Prompt #3

In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant’s ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words or fewer)

Choosing a topic: While picking up a topic, you will be stuck with some flashback memories or trauma or others who haven’t experienced a huge challenge yet. Still, you need to figure out a non-cliche topic and convey it to the admission committee profoundly.

You can try to think along these lines while choosing a topic

In which situations did you initially struggle, but that struggle helped you build confidence? It can also be an ongoing challenge and how you cope with it. Some examples of overcoming challenges theme

1. As a representative, convince your professors to consider offering more courses or workshops the students are requesting.
2. Take care of the household and your studies for a student from a marginalised class.
3. Getting a seat for yourself in big competitions, whether plays, sports or quiz competitions.

Figuring out the challenges, learning aptly, and articulating confidently are the best ways to put an essay forward.

Common Mistakes to avoid:

• Focusing too much on the story and not enough on the lessons you learned.
• Being too negative in the essay.
• Writing about a cliche topic.
• Thinking about the challenges in very narrow terms like it should be filled with struggle. No, it is not necessary; it can be straightforward, like the things you are not familiar with, like a new language or a new culture, and how you coped with it with a positive attitude.

How to Write the Columbia Supplemental Essay Prompt #4

Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words or fewer)

“Why This College?” This question may seem straightforward in focusing on the campus diversity, professional opportunities, and academics. But you must go beyond these qualities and draw a profound sketch of Columbia and how Columbia aligns with your values and goals.

1. Spend some time researching why Columbia might be a great fit for you.
2. You need to reaffirm the uniqueness and compellingness of Columbia specifically, as it is clearly mentioned in the prompt.
3. Talk to professors and alumni to get more insights into the campus.
4. Create an outline for your essays.
5. Write a first draft!

Here is a small draft

Columbia is a place of history and a place from where profound people have been created. From an academic perspective, As a person passionate about literature and historical studies, I am eager to engage with courses like “Literature Humanities” and “Contemporary Civilization.” Reading works that span centuries—from Homer to Morrison—while discussing their timeless relevance with peers from diverse backgrounds promises an unparalleled intellectual experience. I’m particularly drawn to Columbia’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library, home to treasures like medieval manuscripts and original papers of authors like Langston Hughes. This access to history in its raw, unfiltered form will allow me to deepen my understanding of how literature has been shaped by the sociopolitical forces of its time. I am inspired by the works of Columbia alumni like Zora Neale Hurston and Barack Obama, whose contributions to literature and global politics illustrate the transformative power of a Columbia education. The diversity of Columbia’s community is another aspect I deeply value. Collaborating with peers and faculty worldwide will expose me to perspectives that challenge and enrich my own.

While writing the essay, bear in mind that the connections you need to draw are like providing a tangible connection to Columbia in terms of academics, library, professors, courses, and various materials Columbia offers. Describe your intangible connection regarding an ideational journey and diversity on campus.

How to Write the Columbia Supplemental Essay Prompt #5

Columbia College – What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College? (150 words or fewer)

This essay is what we call a “Why Major” essay. 

Depending on the course that you are choosing, maybe history, philosophy, engineering or political science, you need to combine the question of the authenticity of Columbia and Why that particular major you are choosing from Columbia only and why Columbia over other schools.

1. List down the reasons why you are interested in this particular major.
2. What are some specializations that you are keen on in this field?
3. How does this field or subject align with your career goals?
4. What are the core values in this subject, whether historical events, ideational histories, or dynamism, attract you to this subject?
5. How has this field impacted you or changed your perspective?

Based on these questions, you need to consider some anecdotes to justify these points. If you haven’t decided on your major yet, at least try to figure out the one that fascinates you and that too within 150 words. Hence, you should not be worrying much.

Be sure to avoid writing the following things: Empty flattering about a subject, and focus on the substantive aspects and the subject matter in your essay. Give a touch of your personal attachment to the subject.

FAQs on how to write the Columbia supplemental essays 2024-25

1. How many essays do you have to write for Columbia University?

Columbia University asks the students to submit several supplemental essays along with the Common Application personal statement. The number and topics can vary by application cycle, but applicants have been expected to complete 1 personal essay and 5 short answer essays for 2024-25. 

2. What is the acceptance rate for Columbia University?

As one of the Ivy League, Columbia University is one of the most selective universities and competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 3.9% to 5% in recent years for undergraduate applicants. However, this can vary depending on the application cycle, course and early or regular decision. 

3. How many supplements does Columbia have?

Columbia University requires three supplemental essays. The essay prompts range from your intellectual interests to a personal journey and your personality and how you will bring a different perspective to Columbia’s table.

4. Does Columbia accept a 3.7 GPA?

A 3.7 GPA is strong for Columbia’s acceptance, and the average GPA of students accepted into Columbia is usually from 3.9 to 4.0. GPA is not only the sole criterion; it is a holistic review process, and you need to focus on other applications like supplemental essays, LOR and extracurriculars. 

5. What is the paper format for Columbia University?

The application didn’t provide any required paper format for your essays. However, keep these points in mind while writing the essays:

• Use a clear, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman or Arial, size 12).
• Double-space your essays unless specified otherwise.
• Stick to the word limit.
• Keep the lines aligned in justified manner. 

6. What is the word limit for Columbia’s essay?

Depending on the guidelines provided, the general word limit is 650 words for the Common Application essay, and it differs from 150 to 300 words for Columbia-specific supplemental essays with additional short-answer questions requiring concise responses (often 150 words or less).