Please take a look at my draft and criticize the heck out of it. Much appreciated!
Prompt: Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (1500 char limit)
In the words of Hannah Montana, Columbia is the best of both worlds. It is a self-contained college campus, yet part of an economic and cultural hub; it offers the quiet, separated setting of a "traditional" university, yet provides the vibrant atmosphere of New York City. And as a part of a global metropolis, Columbia, too, is a global campus. But above all of that - above the sense of local community, the friendships (with peers and professors alike), and the international opportunities - Columbia offers what others cannot: the Core Curriculum.
Some may argue that these required, common courses limit the undergrad's freedom and college experience; some may say that it is pointless and a diversion from one's major. Whatever they argue, I counter. Like my magnet program, the Core introduces students to a broader and more encompassing view on the world and serves as the focal point of the College. A foundation in the humanities relieves us from the narrow-mindedness of just burrowing down one tunnel. It opens up the world - we can relate to other ethnicities, embrace another culture, see the opportunities that would have passed us by. Furthermore, the commonality of the Core provides a unique bonding between peers, between generations, and between cultures. As I study classic gems like Homer's "Iliad" and contemporary jazz with my peers, I am given the knowledge and the perspectives to become an international citizen.
Prompt: Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why. (1500 char limit)
In the words of Hannah Montana, Columbia is the best of both worlds. It is a self-contained college campus, yet part of an economic and cultural hub; it offers the quiet, separated setting of a "traditional" university, yet provides the vibrant atmosphere of New York City. And as a part of a global metropolis, Columbia, too, is a global campus. But above all of that - above the sense of local community, the friendships (with peers and professors alike), and the international opportunities - Columbia offers what others cannot: the Core Curriculum.
Some may argue that these required, common courses limit the undergrad's freedom and college experience; some may say that it is pointless and a diversion from one's major. Whatever they argue, I counter. Like my magnet program, the Core introduces students to a broader and more encompassing view on the world and serves as the focal point of the College. A foundation in the humanities relieves us from the narrow-mindedness of just burrowing down one tunnel. It opens up the world - we can relate to other ethnicities, embrace another culture, see the opportunities that would have passed us by. Furthermore, the commonality of the Core provides a unique bonding between peers, between generations, and between cultures. As I study classic gems like Homer's "Iliad" and contemporary jazz with my peers, I am given the knowledge and the perspectives to become an international citizen.