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Student Written Work

About student written work.

Student writing may be submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirements of scheduled courses and seminars, and also under the category of Supervised Research. In addition, all J.D. students are required to complete both a Major Writing Project and a Minor Writing Project before graduating. All LL.M. students are required to complete an LL.M. Writing Project. The distinctions among these categories are as follows:

• Major Writing Credit.  The key feature of the Major Writing Credit is not additional length, but significant revision. Specifically, work submitted for Major Writing Credit must be a substantial and rigorous piece of legal writing, comparable to that required by a paper that serves as the primary basis of evaluation for a two-credit seminar. The student must submit a first draft to the faculty supervisor, receive comments on the draft, and then submit a revised version of the paper that is responsive to those comments.  
• Minor Writing Credit.  Work submitted for Minor Writing Credit may be an ordinary course paper, brief, or other written work, and does not require a revision in response to the faculty supervisor’s comments. The expected length and scope of the paper, however, should be otherwise comparable to that required by a paper that serves as the primary basis of evaluation for a two-credit seminar.  
• LL.M. Writing Credit.  The LL.M. writing requirement may differ from the Major and Minor Writing Credits required of J.D. students. LL.M. candidates must complete and submit a paper worth at least one point of Law School academic credit. The written work may be completed in a variety of ways, including in seminar courses or as supervised research registered as “Research for the LL.M. Degree.” More information on the LL.M. Writing Project Requirement can be found here under "LL.M. Writing Project Requirement".  
• Supervised Research.  Students wishing to earn academic point credit outside the confines of a regularly scheduled course offering should register for Supervised Research. Credit may be earned by writing a research paper or its substantial equivalent under the supervision of any faculty member, including visiting and adjunct faculty. The number of credits earned for supervised research should depend on the amount of work that the project entails. (For example, a paper that will require work comparable to that required by a two-credit seminar should be awarded two points of credit.   Students registered for Supervised Research are expected to communicate regularly with the supervising instructor over the course of the project. Instructors should consult in advance with students and with the Dean of Registration Services on the appropriate plan of supervision in any particular case. In the past, some students have asked faculty, often in connection with outside externships or internships, to supervise them in earning credit without writing a paper. This is no longer permissible. Please tell students seeking academic credit of this sort that they must register for Supervised Research and write a paper sufficient to earn credit under that category.

A comprehensive overview of the writing requirements for J.D. students can be found here .

Any course that automatically meets the J.D. Minor Writing Requirement should automatically meet the LL.M. Writing Project requirement.

It is entirely within the instructor’s discretion whether to accept applications for Supervised Research, Major Writing Credit, or LL.M. Writing Credit that go beyond the ordinary requirements for the instructor's course. If you feel you do not have time to supervise a student’s project, or otherwise lack interest in the proposal, please feel free to decline the student’s request. You may also wish to require the student to write up a formal proposal before deciding whether to serve as supervisor.

Additional Information

Writing credit registration.

If you agree to supervise a student for research or writing credit, you will be asked to approve the appropriate Research and Writing Registration Form before their registration can be completed.

Students are responsible for submitting the digital forms on LawNet  and nce the forms are submitted, you are able to approve their forms in LawNet .

Information on the digital registration forms can be found at https://www.law.columbia.edu/academics/registration-services/course-selection-registration/registration-forms.

Expected Scope of Work

The faculty has by formal resolution expressed its collective sense regarding the ordinary scope of a paper that serves as the primary basis of evaluation for a two-credit seminar. Such a paper should range approximately from 6500 to 8000 words, although shorter papers reporting extensive empirical, archival, or like work could also be appropriate. We are aware that some of you do require more extensive work than this from your students and we stress that you should feel free to continue to do so if you think it appropriate, though you should be aware that your requirements will be more rigorous than average.

Student Self-Certification of Written Work

• By resolution and vote of the faculty, students are required to affirm language of certification when submitting any examination or when submitting written work for credit. Individual faculty members are responsible for ensuring that appropriate certification is submitted in connection with all written work other than exams.  The  text of this certification and certification forms available for download , can be found on the Columbia Law School website under the general category of “ Academic Rules .”  Please note that all students were made aware of this policy and the implications of its violations at the beginning of their time at the Law School.
• If you encounter a situation of potential academic dishonesty in the course of your teaching at Columbia Law School, please contact Andrea Saavedra , Associate Dean of Student and Registration Services, who can advise you on possible courses of action.

Grading for Written Work

Written work submitted as part of the requirements for a course or seminar is graded on the same basis as the course or seminar.  In addition:

• For  Major and Minor Writing Credit,  grading is Credit/Fail only.  Instructors are asked to confirm that the student satisfied these degree requirements by entering the grade of CR
• For  Supervised Research,  grading can be either by regular letter grade or by Credit/Fail. This is decided in consultation with the instructor at the outset of the project, and should be indicated on the Research and Writing Registration form that the student and the instructor complete.
• For the  LL.M. Writing Project,  papers must be graded on the standard letter scale for Law courses, either as part of the requirements for a seminar or under the framework of Supervised Study. Credit/Fail or other non-evaluative grades are not permitted. For administrative purposes, however, students will additionally register in a zero-point offering entitled “LL.M. Writing Project,” for which the supervising instructor is asked to enter the grade of “CR” (credit) to confirm formally that the student satisfied this degree requirement.

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How to get into columbia law.

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 10/25/23

Columbia Law is one of the nation’s top law schools. Read on to learn how to get into Columbia Law and kickstart your law career. 

Columbia Law School is ranked as the nation's eighth-best law school , making it an attractive addition to any future lawyer’s list. If getting into Columbia Law is your dream, this guide will outline its programs, requirements, essay tips, and more to boost your chances of acceptance. 

Programs Offered 

Columbia Law offers a J.D. program and three other graduate law degree options, not including dual degrees. The J.D. program’s goal is to immerse students in current legal and social challenges and mobilize students to use their education to create impactful changes. 

The graduate law degree programs are a J.S.D program and two LL.M. programs: a standard LL.M. program and an Executive LL.M. in Global Business Law. 

J.D. students at Columbia can choose from eight dual degree programs and one joint degree program:

• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (J.D./Ph.D. in selected programs)
• Graduate School of Business (Three-Year J.D./MBA or Four-Year J.D./MBA)
• Graduate School of Journalism (J.D./M.S.)
• Mailman School of Public Health (J.D./M.P.H.)
• School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (J.D./M.S. in Urban Planning)
• School of International and Public Affairs (J.D./M.I.A., J.D./M.P.A., and special programs through the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and Harriman Institute)
• School of the Arts (J.D./M.F.A. in Theatre Management & Producing)
• School of Social Work (J.D./M.S.W.)
• Joint degree program: Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (J.D./M.P.A.) 

Columbia Law School Requirements 

Applying to law school can be chaotic and overwhelming at times, but don’t worry. Getting support from law admissions experts maximizes your chances of acceptance. To give you some Columbia Law School application guidance, we’ve put together a list of requirements that you’ll need to submit.

Columbia Law School requires applicants to submit applications through LSAC to apply to the J.D. program for Early or Regular Decision. These are the Columbia Law School requirements you must fulfill to complete your application: 

Columbia Law GPA: Requirements

While there is no GPA requirement, examining class profile data can help you compare your academic performance to admitted students: 

• 25th percentile GPA: 3.81
• Median GPA: 3.90 
• 75th percentile GPA: 3.97

Given this data, it’s difficult to determine the Columbia Law School average GPA. However, we can assume that the Columbia Law average GPA likely ranges from 3.8 to 4.0. 

Columbia Law School LSAT Score Requirement

There is no requirement for Columbia Law LSAT scores. However, this doesn’t mean that your Columbia Law School LSAT score isn’t crucial to your application’s success. Admitted students typically submit impressive LSAT scores: 

• 25th percentile score: 169
• Median LSAT score: 173 
• 75th percentile score: 175 

Based on this information, it's challenging to determine what the Columbia Law average LSAT score is. However, an LSAT score at or above 173 should put you in good standing. To achieve this score, you’ll have to study hard by taking advantage of practice tests and questions . 

Columbia Law School GRE 

If you’re waffling between taking the GRE versus the LSAT , you should be fine with either, as Columbia Law accepts GRE scores. However, class profile data doesn’t reflect GRE score data from admitted students. Based on Columbia Law students’ impressive LSAT scores, we can safely assume that achieving high GRE scores is imperative. 

Using the ETS online tool to predict LSAT scores based on GRE results, achieving 168 on each GRE section would equate to 174 on the LSAT. 

Columbia Law Interview

You may also be contacted for a video interview with an admissions committee member. This is a great opportunity for Columbia to ask some questions about your application to learn more about you, and you can even ask some questions of your own. However, you cannot request an interview with Columbia Law. 

Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into Columbia Law School .

The University of Columbia Law School Essays (Prompts, Tips, & Examples) 

Writing great essays is key to getting into Columbia Law. We'll outline Columbia Law's personal statement and optional statement prompts with tips. 

Columbia Law School Personal Statement 

There isn’t a prompt for Columbia Law’s personal statement. The only advice that Columbia provides is that your personal statement should be two pages long, double-spaced, and "a clear and concise example of your best writing. It should also be free from spelling and grammatical errors." 

So, what do you do with such an open-ended requirement? These tips will help you organize your thoughts to write a creative, compelling personal statement. 

Understand the Purpose of the Personal Statement 

Although you don't have much to go off of, understanding the Columbia personal statement can help direct your writing. In essence, you want to provide something more profound than your GPA and test scores: what can you write about to add another layer of depth and intrigue to your application? 

According to a handout provided by the Columbia School for Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), your law school personal statement should provide insight on: 

• What kind of person you are 
• How you think and organize your thinking 
• What type of student you’ll be if admitted 

SEAS emphasizes that no matter what topic(s) you choose to share, the ultimate goal of your personal statement is to capture your essence. 

Ask Yourself Useful Questions to Brainstorm

The Columbia School of General Studies suggests prospective law students should ask themselves deep, personal questions to begin brainstorming. Some questions you can ask yourself include: 

• How has your background shaped and influenced you? 
• What would make you a good fit for Columbia Law? 
• When did you first discover your passion for law, and what steps have you taken to explore your interest? What did these experiences teach you?
• What are you most passionate about? Why are you passionate about it? 
• What accomplishments are you most proud of? 
• What specific hardships have you faced? How did you overcome them, and how did the situation help you grow? 
• What qualities do you possess (i.e., compassion, integrity, a strong sense of justice) that make you believe you'd be a great lawyer? 

Your answers to these questions may point you toward the perfect personal statement topic: remember, Columbia’s non-prompt is just about as open-ended as it gets, so you have a lot of freedom. 

Tell Your Story Using Strong Imagery and Examples 

"Show, don't tell" is something you've probably heard a lot regarding writing advice, but it's excellent advice to follow. Any anecdotes you use to tell your story should be vibrant and compelling. While you don't have to pull out a thesaurus to write your statement, this is your opportunity to show off your effective communication and writing skills. 

When you share an anecdote, ensure you're reflective and demonstrate how it's shaped you or your personality. It's one thing to say, "I have a strong sense of justice," and it's another to describe how you advocated for local residents being wrongfully evicted in your community. 

Do Your Research 

Knowing how to get into Columbia Law starts with research. Most law school applicants tailor their personal statements to each law school they apply to. 

While the primary purpose of your statement is for the admissions committee to learn more about you as a person, it doesn't hurt to subtly show that you've done your research and have concrete reasons for choosing Columbia Law. Ensure you research the curriculum, opportunities, and other Columbia-specific offerings. 

Which of Columbia’s offerings excite you and why? 

Keep Your Tone Professional and Be Careful With Sensitive Issues 

While you don't want to take yourself way too seriously, your tone should be conversational yet professional. In keeping a professional tone, you should also navigate sensitive topics with grace. 

For example, you don't want to write about anything too graphic or events that paint you negatively. Also, keep any controversial content out of your statement: there's no guarantee the admissions committee members have the same opinions as you. 

Other Tips to Ace the Columbia Personal Statement 

Other short tips to ensure you produce the best statement possible include: 

• Don’t try to cover too much ground: you only have two pages! 
• Don’t rehash your resume. 
• Write clearly and concisely (writing in the active voice helps). 
• Don’t add quotes or cliches. 
• You can be creative but avoid thinking too far out of the box. 
• Proofread your work: you'll be doing much of that before getting to the final draft. 

Columbia Law School Supplemental Essays 

The prompt for the optional Columbia Law School supplemental essays is: 

“Applicants, if they wish, may submit brief supplemental statements that will provide useful information to the Admissions Committee in evaluating the application. The Committee especially welcomes addenda that allow it to understand the contribution your personal background would add to the Columbia Law School community.”

If you plan to write an additional essay, consider these tips. 

Determine If You Should Write A Supplemental Essay 

If you have gaps in your application, like a lower GPA, test scores, or anything else you think requires an explanation, it's in your best interest to add addenda. On the other hand, if you want to discuss your identity and experiences (that aren't otherwise stated in your application), you should consider writing about them. 

Keep Your Essay to the Point 

These essays don't need to be very long, so you should keep your writing concise. If you're writing about academic performance, don't linger on your mistakes but on how you overcame them and grew. 

If you're writing a diversity statement, show how your background will directly contribute to the Columbia class. 

Reflect on Your Experiences

Reflecting on your experiences and their impact helps direct your story and keeps your writing clear. Think about your most transformative moments and what you’ve learned from them, how they impacted you, and how they propelled you along the path to law. 

Columbia Law School Personal Statement Example

Examining Columbia Law School personal statement examples can help show you what you should aim for in your writing and even how you can improve: check out this personal statement example excerpt and our feedback on why it was good.

Columbia Law Personal Statement Example

“I’m the child of Afghani immigrants, and my parents have a great story to tell. It begins with a 7-year old girl who watches in confusion as a swarm of parents rush through the classroom grabbing their children. Soon she realizes that she and one other student are the only ones left. Suddenly a soldier bursts into the classroom and grabs the other student, the grandson of the former President of Afghanistan, Daoud Khan. The teacher fights a tug-of-war to keep the child, but eventually the soldier takes him away to the family’s palace, where his entire family is massacred.

The Russians are invading Afghanistan.

On the way home, the girl hears gun shots and bombs, and she starts to fear what this invasion will mean for her and her family. Before she knows it, her mother and father are selling their belongings to make enough money to escape the war. A month later, her family boards a plane to the U.S.

On the other side of town in Kabul, a young boy awakens to his family of 10 rushing to finish packing. The communists had placed a hit on his father, brother, and sister, who are all active anti-communists. The family drives from Kabul to Jalalabad, takes a bus, hops onto the back of a pickup truck, and travels by foot until they reach a military area with tents for individuals escaping the country.

Early the next morning, the family walks with their luggage the entire day until they catch a bus to Peshawar, Pakistan, leaving behind their beloved home of Afghanistan. After living in Pakistan for 18 months, the family makes its passage to the United States.

Ten years later, the girl and boy meet at a high school in Annandale, Virginia. Discovering how much they have in common, the two high school sweethearts fall in love and marry shortly after graduation. In their early 20s, they bring three children into this world, one of them being me.

Growing up in an Afghan household in the U.S. presented its own challenges. At a young age, the way I looked and dressed – and especially my faith – were different than those of my classmates. Ignorant comments and questions were not uncommon. “Is Osama Bin Laden your uncle?” “I know your family has oil money.” “Why are you so hairy?” “You’re Muslim? I’ll pray for you.” These comments made me incredibly sad, especially when classmates I considered my friends made them.

My own family did not make assimilating any easier. My parents would only let me play with other kids in our home because they feared I would lose my Afghan identity. Sleepovers were out of the question. As my mother would occasionally rant, “Just because you were born here doesn’t mean you’re American. You are not allowed to date, wear short shorts, or go to parties.”

Despite these strict expectations, I always celebrated my background, the way I was raised, and my religious beliefs. I performed the centuries-old Afghan dance, the attan, in traditional clothing at my high school’s heritage night; joined the Afghan Student Union at George Mason University; presented my unusually large family tree in an anthropology course (I have 22 first cousins!); and met with a mullah every weekend to learn how to the read the Quran in Arabic. I am proud to be different than my peers and have my own sense of uniqueness.

However, my pride has been tempered by the realities of being a first generation college student. When my parents moved to the U.S., my father became an electrician and my mother a hairstylist. While I received immense support and love from my family for continuing my education, I had to teach myself how to apply to college, and once there I had to learn on my own what my professors expected of me. I couldn’t call my parents when I was stuck on a difficult calculus problem or cry for help when I didn’t know how to conclude my 10-page Western Civilization paper. I was on my own.

These experiences have crafted me into who I am today. Given my appreciation for diversity, as an attorney I want to help minorities who face discrimination achieve equal opportunity and success in the workplace.”

Why This Personal Statement Worked 

The beginning of this statement opens with a vivid story full of action directly related to the student’s background. Then, it drives the narrative to the author's upbringing in American culture, their struggles to assimilate, and their relationship to their Afghani culture. 

The author does an excellent job of showing how their background could help them contribute to problems more than others who don’t share their experiences and culture (this doubles as a diversity statement). They take care to discuss how their experience with immigration would make them a passionate attorney with unique strengths. 

The only thing to be careful with when writing a personal statement that references another person is to ensure the focus stays on you. We think this writer managed to do that for the most part, but be careful not to remove yourself from the spotlight, particularly in introductions and conclusions. 

Columbia Law School Stats (Admissions Statistics)

A snapshot of the Columbia Law School class profile can tell you more about the school’s commitment to a diverse student body and your chances of acceptance. The recent entering class profile shows the following breakdown for ethnicity, gender, age, and of students: 

Most admitted students (31%) are from the mid-Atlantic region, followed by international students (19%) and students from the American West (18%). 

Columbia Law School Acceptance Rate

Although the Columbia Law acceptance rate reflects the school’s selectivity, it’s crucial not to get too hung up on statistics. In a recent admissions cycle, Columbia Law received 7,754 applications and admitted 948 students. 

The Columbia University Law School acceptance rate is 12.2%. 

For more admissions data about Columbia Law, here’s a table with the acceptance rates from the past few years: 

Source: Columbia Law School Standard 509 Reports

How Hard Is It to Get into Columbia Law School? 

Getting into Columbia Law School is relatively difficult: approximately 1 out of every 10 applicants is accepted. Columbia Law also made the U.S. News World and Report’s list of the top 10 hardest law schools to get into . 

Due to the school’s reputation, resources, and ranking, getting accepted at Columbia is no easy task. However, you can always boost your chances of admission with a well-polished application. 

Columbia Law School Deadlines & Application Process  

You’ll use the LSAC application to apply to Columbia Law, no matter when you decide to apply. Below are the important dates you should know to stay ahead of the Columbia Law School deadline. 

Columbia Law Regular Decision Dates 

Although exact dates haven’t been released yet for the current application cycle, most application dates tend not to change much every year. Here is a breakdown of Regular Decision dates you should know: 

Columbia Law Early Decision Dates 

These are the Columbia Law Early Decision dates you should know: 

How to Get Into Columbia Law School FAQs

If you still have questions about how to get into Columbia Law, check out these FAQs! 

1. What GPA Do You Need for Columbia Law School?

While no GPA will guarantee your admission, you should strive for a GPA above the median of 3.9 to be viewed as a more competitive applicant. 

2. What Are My Chances of Getting into Columbia Law School?

Based solely on the 12.2% Columbia Law acceptance rate, you have approximately a 1 in 10 chance of admission. However, you can boost your chances by putting enough time and effort into your application! 

3. What Are the Requirements to Get into Columbia Law School?

The basic requirements to get into Columbia Law are a completed LSAC application, transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, and a personal statement. 

4. Can I Get Into Columbia Law School With a 3.0 GPA?

Considering the 25th percentile GPA of admitted students is 3.81, it’s not likely that a 3.0 will be enough for Columbia Law. However, with a stellar application and explanation for your lower GPA, you may still stand a chance with a 3.0 GPA .

5. What LSAT Score Do You Need for Columbia Law? 

You should aim for an LSAT score of 173 or higher to be a more competitive Columbia Law applicant. 

6. What Is the Columbia Law Early Decision Acceptance Rate? 

Columbia doesn't release data on its Early Decision acceptance rate. However, there are advantages to applying through Early Decision: U.S. News states law schools may be more lenient with students with lower GPAs or test scores who apply through Early Decision (meaning you may have a higher chance of admission). 

7. What is the Cost of Tuition at Columbia Law School? 

Columbia Law School tuition and fees total $85,833 per year. However, including personal expenses, students can expect to pay roughly $118,357 each year. 

Luckily, Columbia Law offers a number of scholarships, fellowships, and financial aid options for students. 

Get Into Law School at Columbia Today

Columbia Law School is an excellent option for future lawyers. If Columbia is on your list, achieving a high GPA and test scores, spending extra time on your personal statement, and obtaining stellar recommendations can help you claim your seat. 

Getting into Columbia Law may be relatively difficult, but a well-constructed application can boost your chances of acceptance. Good luck!

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Columbia Law School Law School Application Essays

These Columbia Law School college application essays were written by students accepted at Columbia Law School. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by Columbia Law School

Diversity lessons laura stafford, columbia law school.

In the past, whenever I have been confronted with a question on an application asking about “contributions of your cultural or ethnic background”, I have always thought that such essay prompts were not written for me. Such topics, I facilely...

The Third Tunnel Yoon K Choi

Recently, I found myself seventy-two meters underground, in a North Korean invasion tunnel discovered not fifty kilometers from Seoul. The tunnel is wide enough for ten thousand armed soldiers to pass through in an hour, but not so high that...

Recent Questions about Columbia Law School

The Question and Answer section for Columbia Law School is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Identify and explain the figures of speech in the first to stanzas. What impression does each create? How is the mood established enforced by the rest of the poem ?

Most all of your questions have been labeled "The Battle" by Simpson but have related to other works. Are you sure of your title for this question?

What is the significance to Laura? Why is the unicorn single out? What are its symbolic implications?

Laura admits that the unicorn is her favorite glass animal. She singles the unicorn out because its horn makes it different. This is symbolic because she sees the unicorn as being similar in this way to herself. They are both different.

what is the difference between the lessons from nature learnt by duke senior and those learnt by jaques

http://www.gradesaver.com/as-you-like-it/q-and-a/give-the-difference-between-the-lessons-from-nature-learnt-by-duke-senior-and-those-learnt-by-jacques-64035/

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How to Write a Stand-Out "Why Columbia" Essay

College Essays

One of the essays you'll have to write when applying to Columbia University is the "Why Columbia" essay. In this essay, you'll need to convince the admissions committee that Columbia is your dream school and that you'd be a great fit on the campus.

The "Why Columbia" essay question can be intimidating for students. You might be wondering: what should I mention in it? What does the admissions committee want to hear from me?

In this article, we'll break down the "Why Columbia" essay, explaining what the prompt asks and what the committee wants to hear. We'll also show you a real, successful "Why Columbia" essay example and explain why it works. Finally, we'll suggest potential topics for your essay and offer tips on how to write your own college admissions essays.

The 411 on the "Why Columbia" Essay Prompt

Here's the current "Why Columbia" essay prompt for the 2023-2024 application cycle :

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)

As you can see, the "Why Columbia" essay prompt asks a specific question: why do you want to attend Columbia University over any other school?

The admissions committee wants to see that you are genuinely interested in attending Columbia specifically and that you value it more than all other colleges out there.

As an applicant, you might be thinking that everyone applies to Columbia for the same reason: it's an Ivy League school and one of the best universities in the world.

The admissions committee knows all these facts about Columbia and knows that all applicants will know these facts, too.

What the Columbia admissions committee wants to learn is why you specifically want to go to Columbia rather than another amazing university.

From their perspective, students who really want to go to Columbia are more likely to enroll when they're accepted. This increases the university's yield rate and ensures that the freshman class will be full. If you can show in your essay that you’ve carefully considered the unique things about Columbia that make it the perfect school for you, you’ve got a good shot at getting an acceptance letter!

What Is the Purpose of the "Why Columbia" Essay?

Why does Columbia require applicants to answer this essay question? And what is the admissions committee really looking for in your answer? Let's analyze the "Why Columbia" essay prompt.

No matter which schools you're applying to, "Why This College" essays are perhaps the most common essay prompts you'll find on college applications because colleges want to see that you really want to attend their school.

But why exactly do colleges care that you want to go to their school?

Students who are passionate about their college or university are more likely to feel that the school is a good fit for them. They'll be more likely to commit to their studies, participate in on-campus activities, and become an active alum after graduation.

Therefore, if you show in your essay that you really love Columbia, it will make admissions officers feel more confident that you're going to have a significant and positive impact on their school.

If your reasons for attending Columbia are vague or even plain wrong (for instance, say you claim you'd like to take a major that isn't actually offered at Columbia), the admissions committee will think that you don't care about the school and aren't really interested in it.

Basically, the purpose of the essay is to suss out whether your interest in Columbia is genuine and to see whether you're ready to take advantage of Columbia's many opportunities.

What Should You Write About in Your "Why Columbia" Essay?

There are a number of different topics you can pursue for your "Why Columbia" essay. Ideally, you'll want to explore specific topics that you can talk about in-depth.

Here are some suggested topics for your essay:

• Majors or classes you're interested in (look for class names in the online course catalog)
• Professors whose research you're interested in
• Extracurriculars that you'd be interested in joining (you can likely find these online, too)
• Current and past Columbia students you've met before and whom you admire
• Volunteer opportunities  you'd like to get involved in 
• Financial aid opportunities Columbia offers that make it possible for you to attend
• Professional development opportunities Columbia offers

When it comes down to it, make sure to choose something about Columbia that no other school offers.

For instance, Columbia is in New York City and therefore has relationships with lots of businesses and organizations in the area. You could use your essay to examine how these Columbia-specific opportunities in New York will positively affect your education.

What you don't want to do, however, is wax on about how you love city-living— you need to make sure to describe how Columbia's specific relationship with NYC will help you to further your goals.

Match opportunities at Columbia to specific goals you have. For example, you could talk about how a particular professor's course aligns with your career objectives.

You need to be very specific in your answer: every single thing you say should relate back to a certain feature of Columbia. The entire focus of your essay should be what Columbia offers and how you'll take advantage of the school's academics and activities to get the best college education possible.

4 Tips for a Great Response to the "Why Columbia" Essay

Regardless of how you decide to answer this prompt, there are four tips everyone should keep in mind to ensure that they are fully answering the question, giving the information Columbia wants to see, and standing apart from other applicants.

#1: Do Your Research

Before you begin writing your response to this essay prompt, you should know exactly why you want to attend Columbia University. There are multiple ways you can do this research:

• Visit the school website or browse the list of departments, programs, and courses
• Check out the school newspaper, schedule a campus visit (virtual or in-person!), or set up a meeting with an alum, current student, or professor to get a feel for the campus

Every college campus has its own vibe, and visiting is the best way to get a sense of how Columbia might work with your personality as a student.

#2: Be Specific

From your research, you should have come up with specific reasons why Columbia is a great school for you. The more specific you can be when answering this prompt, the better.

Don't say Columbia has great academics, caring professors, and an interesting student body. The vast majority of schools have that!

Instead, try to mention opportunities only Columbia can provide, such as specific professors, courses, extracurricular activities, or research opportunities.

The things you discuss should be things your other top schools don't offer—things that really make Columbia stand out.

#3: Show Your Passion

Columbia wants students who care a lot about their studies and their school, so be sure this comes across in your response.

A bland statement such as "I am impressed by Columbia's strong engineering program" doesn't tell the school anything about you or help you stand apart from other applicants. Show your passion by naming specific professors or features of the program.

You've done your research to mention certain qualities Columbia has that have enticed you, and now it's time to discuss specific qualities about yourself, too. Why does the engineering program make you so excited? What do you want to get out of it? Be detailed, specific, and honest.

#4: Proofread

Your Columbia essay should be the strongest possible example of your writing skills. Before you turn in your application, take time to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your "Why Columbia" essay, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend.

Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure that you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it can be.

Here's a little taste of what a good "Why Columbia" essay looks like.

"Why Columbia" Essay Example

If you're stuck on what to write for your own essay, looking at "Why Columbia" essays that actually worked can be helpful. Below, we examine one "Why Columbia" essay that got a student accepted to Columbia and talk about what specifically made this piece of writing so strong.

The following essay comes to us from an accepted Columbia 2020 student via AP Study Notes :

At a college visit this year, I met a Columbia alumnus named Ayushi, whose stories helped me develop a thorough understanding of Columbia. Ayushi told me that Columbia funded both her summer trip to Syria to interview refugees and her seed money for a start-up she launched. As an aspiring entrepreneur, I'm impressed by a university that encourages students to pursue their own independent creations instead of simply offering the option to work on faculty projects. Columbia's four entrepreneurship organizations, among them the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs, provide a dynamic start-up community for me to launch my own business.

In addition, when I explored Columbia online, the emphasis put on interdisciplinary studies particularly excited me. The Columbia Engineering website is rich with stories of engineering students who are also involved in Shakespeare troupes, service projects, and multicultural groups. In my opinion, diverse experiences are the foundation of creative thinking. At Columbia, I will continue to diversify my experience by not just joining the Parliamentary Debate Team, but also by making new friends on the intramural soccer field and starting a cultural club for Italian heritage students who wish to learn more about Italian history, language, food, and current events.

Columbia Engineering stands uniquely apart from other programs by incorporating several in-depth humanities and writing classes into the graduation requirements. I believe that looking at critical issues with an open mind and sophisticated grasp of the humanities is extremely important to being an engineer. For example, I could not imagine exploring the future of quantum cryptography without considering the political ripple effects of Edward Snowden, the moral ramifications of the quantum encryption revolution, and the relationship between technology and income inequality. I am confident that I will thrive in the Columbia culture of passionate engagement and vibrant, energetic conversation.

Why does this essay work?

It answers the prompt specifically.

This essay gives examples of personal experience with the school and proves that the applicant did their research: they present clear evidence as to how engineering students are involved on campus and talk about specific academic courses.

There are many impressive details in this essay, and the section that addresses extracurriculars is cleverly written to showcase the applicant's diverse interests. This student's mention of certain extracurriculars they want to do indicates that they looked at many facets of Columbia University, not just the engineering department.

It's clear from this essay just how the author views their fit at Columbia. They've talked about specific organizations they would like to be a part of, such as the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs, while also showing why they want to join that organization.

Additionally, the applicant mentions a Columbia University student they spoke with, which means they took getting to know the student body seriously and really wanted to find out what Columbia students were like to see whether they, too, would fit in.

The conversation with the Columbia alum also emphasizes the applicant's initiative: they're willing to go above and beyond to learn about the school.

Conclusion: Writing a Great "Why Columbia" Essay

The purpose of the "Why Columbia" essay is for you to prove to the admissions committee that Columbia is the best school for you

In your essay, you could write about multiple topics that are specific to Columbia, such as academics, the student body, extracurriculars, and research opportunities.

When writing your "Why Columbia" essay, make sure to research the school extensively and be specific about activities and opportunities that really make you want to attend.

If you're stuck on how to proceed, analyzing a successful "Why Columbia" essay example might help you get inspiration for what to write.

What's Next?

How tough is it to get into Columbia? For answers, read our expert guide on how to get into Columbia and the Ivy League , written by a Harvard alum!

Should you apply early or regular decision to college? Find out the pros and cons of early decision .

Want to see some more college essay examples? We have links to 100+ great college essays that includes our expert analysis on how you can write a stand-out essay of your own.

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Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Advice on "Why Columbia" essay

When is it appropriate to write an essay like this? Do you have to be waitlisted or can you do it before. I want to do something to increase my chances. Looking for some guidance.

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