essays science po

Berkeley and Sciences Po Dual Degree Program

Admission to the program is highly competitive.  Students must be approved for admission by both UC Berkeley and Sciences Po to be considered for the Dual Degree Program. Students are evaluated according to the following criteria: academic achievement, perceived intellectual readiness, and the applicant's own representation of their experience, ideas, and aspirations.

Students are admitted to the program as Freshmen (first-year students). To apply to the Dual Degree, students must complete the standard University of California application for UC Berkeley , AND the Sciences Po–UC Berkeley Supplemental Application . Complete information on applying to UC Berkeley can be found through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .

Candidates must meet UC Berkeley and Sciences Po admissions requirements, including English proficiency requirements. Applicants deemed eligible will be invited to an interview before a panel of representatives from Sciences Po and UC Berkeley.

Note: By applying to the program, you have also applied to UC Berkeley as a 4-year degree-seeking student. It is possible to gain admission to UC Berkeley and be denied admission to the Dual Degree Program.

Applications

Applications for 2024 admission are now closed. Fall 2025 admission applications will open in September 2024.

University of California Application

Sciences po supplemental application*.

*You will be prompted to create an account through UC Berkeley before you can access the Sciences Po Supplemental Application. This account is not linked to the account you will create for the University of California application.

UC Berkeley Application

Students apply directly to the University of California and select Berkeley as a campus . Students must meet all of the guidelines to apply based on their residency, whether California resident, out of state, or international student. Please see the Freshman Admission Page for more information.

For information on the Personal Insight Questions, see this Guide for Freshman Applicants .

Please note that SAT/ACT test scores are not used for any part of the Dual Degree admission process, including evaluation/holistic review, selection, or scholarship processes. For more information, please visit this University of California admissions page .

Sciences Po Supplemental Application

Supplemental application essay.

In 750 to 1,000 words, describe your motivations for applying to the Dual Degree program between Sciences Po and Berkeley and why you chose the specific Sciences Po campus and/or program of study (Le Havre, Menton, or Reims).

Explain how and why the multidisciplinary education environments at Sciences Po and within Berkeley’s College of Letters & Science will help you to achieve your personal goals, both academic and professional. Please include specific examples that address the Sciences Po campus’s region of focus. Be sure to explain how you foresee your involvement in campus life outside of the classroom at both institutions.

The essay should be written in English.

Students must include a resume or CV as part of their application. This should include activities, organizations, skills, internships, and anything else done while in high school, outside of coursework.

Recommendation Letters (Optional)

Students can submit up to two (2) letters of recommendation for the Sciences Po supplemental application. Letters can be written in English or in French.

Recommendation letters can come from the following (we highly suggest at least one letter come from an academic source):

• Anyone else you deem appropriate

*If asked to submit letters of recommendation by UC Berkeley following application submission, please note that the letters submitted to the Dual Degree program are not forwarded to the UC Berkeley Admissions Office and must be submitted separately.

If invited, online interviews will take place between late January and early February.

Interviews include Dual Degree Program Coordinators and Sciences Po Campus Directors, Deans, and/or officials. Be prepared to answer questions about the campus, region, current events, and personal reasons for interest in the program.

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Sciences po motivation letter

Why do governments function the way they do? Obey the law or bypass it? Go to war or create peace? These are few of the questions I seek to explore and understand at Sciences Po. This interest of the world surrounding us is in my DNA and reflects my inquisitive nature. I always seek to deepen my understanding of how countries or groups interact with one another and the reasons they act the way they do.

Growing up, I have lived in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Switzerland, England, and Lebanon. These settings made me truly multicultural and international. I became versatile and adaptable to change. These qualities will give me an edge in transitioning smoothly into university life.

My interest in global affairs developed during my participation in Model United Nations. It was during these conferences that my enthusiasm for debate was born. Between rapid fire negotiations and propositions, I was able to put forth solid arguments and compromise to obtain the most effective solutions. I discussed current issues in the mindset of the world’s leaders and so was able to look at all aspects of a problem with a solution in mind. Nowadays, problems in our world are interlinked across many fields. Sciences Po’s multidisciplinary program will enable me to master several subjects in order to contribute to finding proper solutions.

Writing and editing for my school newspaper enabled me to exercise my passion for writing and gave me a feel of what being a journalist might entail later on. In this position, I was trained to work efficiently and meet deadlines, a vital skill for any workplace. However, I was truly rewarded in that I was able to control a large part of what went into the paper and how it would be written. I would almost directly channel what our viewers would read. Bringing the students together in this way and revealing overlooked issues gave me the most satisfaction and showed me how exciting the possibilities in the real world could be.

What really impresses me about Sciences Po is its focus on maintaining an international environment. Because I aspire to work in a multinational newspaper with people from all kinds of backgrounds, it has become a crucial objective of mine to seek this in my university life.

In addition, Sciences Po’s small classroom sizes appeal to me as they make for more interactive lessons involving debates and discussions. I also like the critical thinking approach Sciences Po has towards the courses. I believe training our minds to think independently and creatively will allow us to deal with issues in our jobs and life more effectively.

With the high quality of education offered to me at Sciences Po, I will have exceptional opportunities to study journalism at the world’s most respected universities Sciences Po partners with. I will be able to experience a completely different side of my topic in another country during my third year and then during my master’s degree.

I am excited by the vibrant student life at your university and plan to continue my active lifestyle. I hope to write for your school paper, The Sundial, join your debate team, and take yoga classes, as I am an avid student, practicing four times a week.

Throughout my travels, I discovered that language was the only way to effectively communicate with people. It is through Arabic, for instance, that I was able to connect with Lebanese people and embrace the culture in a way that I couldn’t have done through English. I made it a point to learn as many languages as I could. I completed the CNED French course independently and became fluent in the language, and took several Spanish courses.

Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and interest that I look forward to study in France, where I can further master my French. France is unique in its own culture; after all it isn’t the world’s top tourist destination without reason. Not only is its central position in Europe appealing, but its history, art, museums and food all call for discovery.

My first choice is the Reims campus. At Reims, I will be studying two of the largest political influences on the world. It will be interesting to see how these regions work together to solve world issues. Now that problems are increasingly widespread and cross borders, Europe and North America must work hand in hand. Furthermore, the Reims campus makes it possible for me to study in France in the first place, as its program is in English.

I am also interested in the Dijon campus. As there are considerable amounts of conflict in Eastern Europe, there is a lot of potential to work on in the region. It contains emerging economies and numerous resources, indicating it will play an important role in the future.

I want to create my network at your university made of ambitious thinkers who, like me, want to make an impact. I want to share ideas with them and explore how we could formulate the future. At Sciences Po, I hope to acquire an experience that will shape me into the driven, successful journalist I later want to become and to help me achieve my goals for change, all while bringing something different to the table.

Just a warning: You should not post your essays on the forums where everyone can see them, as (sadly) some people may plagiarize and whatnot. You should instead PM people who agree to read your essay and provide feedback.

@sarahjk Hey there! Nice to see someone else applying to Sci-Po too. Im applying for Le Havre campus. u got ur interview yet?

I have made a number of editorial changes/suggestions. I think the last metaphor or bringing something to the table falls flat, but, in general, great job!! (and don’t post essays online!!)

Why do governments function the way they do? Obey laws or bypass them? Make war or create peace? These are few of the questions I seek to explore at Sciences Po. Having an interest of the world around us is in my DNA and is heightened by my inquisitive nature. I always seek to deepen my understanding of how countries or groups interact with one another and the reasons they act the way they do.

Growing up, I lived in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Switzerland, England, and Lebanon. Having these experiences have made me truly multicultural and international. At the same time, I became versatile and adaptable to change. I believe that hese qualities will give me an edge in transitioning smoothly into university life.

My interest in global affairs developed as a result of being an active participant in my schools’ Model United Nations. It was during these conferences that my enthusiasm for debate was born. Between rapid fire negotiations and propositions, I was able to put forth solid arguments and seek compromises to obtain the most effective solutions. I discussed current issues in the mindset of the world’s leaders and so was able to look at all aspects of a problem with a solution in mind. In today’s world, our problems – and their solutions - require an interdisciplinary focus. Sciences Po’s multidisciplinary program will enable me to master several subjects in seeking to find proper solutions to problems we face.

My work as a writer and editor for my school newspaper has enabled me to exercise my passion for writing and gave me a feel of what being a journalist might entail. In this position, have to work efficiently to meet deadlines, a vital skill for any workplace. Moreover, I was truly rewarded in that I was able to control a large part of what went into the paper and how it would be written. Bringing the students together and revealing overlooked issues gave me a great deal of satisfaction and showed me how exciting the possibilities in the real world could be.

What really impresses me about Sciences Po is its focus on maintaining an international environment. Because I aspire to work in a multinational newspaper with people from many different backgrounds, this is something that I seek to accomplish in my university life.

In addition, Sciences Po’s small classroom sizes appeal to me as they make for more interactive lessons involving debates and discussions, and I believe in the approach involving critical thought that Sciences Po has in its courses. I believe training our minds to think independently and creatively will allow us to deal with issues in our jobs and life more effectively.

With the high quality of education offered to me at Sciences Po, I will have exceptional opportunities to study journalism at the world’s most respected universities which which Sciences Po has partnerships. I will be able to experience a completely different viewpoint with respect to my topic through studying in another country during my third year and again when working towards my master’s degree.

I am excited by the vibrant student life at your university and plan to continue my active lifestyle. I hope to write for your school paper, The Sundial, join your debate team, and continue to take yoga classes, which I currently do several times a week.

Throughout my travels, I discovered that language was the only way to effectively communicate with people. It is through Arabic, for instance, that I was able to connect with Lebanese people and embrace the culture in a way that I couldn’t have done if I only spoke English. I made it a point to learn as many languages as I could. I completed the CNED French course independently and became fluent in the language, and I have taken several Spanish courses as well.

Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and interest that I look forward to study in France, where I can continue my mastery of French. France has a unique, well-defined and well-respected culture; after all it isn’t the world’s top tourist destination without reason. Not only is its central position in Europe of great interest to me, but its history, art, museums and food are all things that I am anxious to explore

My first choice is the Reims campus. At Reims, I will be studying two of the largest political influences on the world (WHICH ONES?). It will be interesting to see how these regions work together to solve world issues. Now that problems are increasingly widespread and cross borders, Europe and North America must work hand in hand in solving problems. Furthermore, the Reims campus makes it possible for me to study in France in the first place, as its program is in English.

I want to create my network at your university made of ambitious thinkers who, like me, want to make an impact. I want to share ideas with them and explore how we could formulate the future. At Sciences Po, I hope to acquire an experience that will shape me into the driven, successful journalist I want to become and to help me achieve my goals for change, all while bringing something different to the table.

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SOSciencesPo – Aide & Conseils

Le site des sciencespistes pour les futur.e.s sciencespistes !

Seventeen things to know before Sciences Po

Dernière mise à jour :  ?

The original version of this article – by Cassandra Betts – has been published in The Sundial (Sciences Po’s campus of Reims).

Starting school at Sciences Po is scary. For many of us it is the first time living away from our parents and being in a foreign country. You not only have to worry about making the perfect first impression on your fellow students and creating the ideal schedule during IPs (which will always be terrifying, regardless of how many times you do it), but you also need to deal with dozens of other trivialities, like cooking for yourself, buying housing insurance and setting up a phone plan.

Despite all these struggles, I guarantee you, everything will get sorted out. Next year you’ll come back to Reims, happy to see those big red doors at the front of Sciences Po. I have to admit, they’ll always be a little intimidating, but they won’t be scary anymore. You’ll have done dozens of oral presentations, figured out how to survive midterms week, and be ready to take on a new year. You’ll always be learning new things, but here’s a list of things that, if I’d known them last year, maybe would have made my life a little easier.

1. Have high expectations, because this is an incredible place with incredible people and courses, but make sure they’re not too high. Once I realized that just because Sciences Po has a library that looks like it came straight out of Harry Potter doesn’t mean it’s perfect, I was able to appreciate its strengths and not tear it apart because of its weaknesses. Yes, it’s true that the administration is disorganized and frustrating, and that you may end up with a few teachers that you don’t like, but in the end, all the amazing teachers, friends and experiences that you have will make up for it.

2. Practically nothing is open on Sundays. If you’re from North America this can be quite shocking, so make sure you get all your toilet paper and chocolate bars on Saturday night.

3. You may not have met your best friends during orientation week, and that’s okay. I remember going to every bar night, brunch, club night and day in the park on edge because I was trying to figure out which classmates I would be spending my Friday nights with for the next two years. As it turns out, I didn’t meet the people who are now my closest friends until a few months into the semester.

4. Ask questions! Ask your TAs questions, ask the administration questions (although they may not answer you), ask the 2As questions, and ask your fellow 1As questions. Ultimately, we’re all going through the same thing, and anyone will be happy to answer your queries on Facebook or in person. Whether you want someone to look over your paper, give you advice on teachers, or tell you where the best kebab place is, never be afraid to ask.

5. Find a place to study that works for your personal learning style, and start creating good study habits from the get-go. The first few weeks at Science Po can be deceiving. The reading lists don’t yet seem bottomless and the deadlines for essays and oral presentations are still specks on the horizon. Use the free time to read ahead in classes, and to figure out if you learn better in the bustle of Oma’s coffee shop, the calm of the old library, or the privacy of your own room. When you have a deadline looming, it’s comforting to know that you already have a spot where you can focus and do your best work.

6. Carrefour will be your new happy place. It’s one of the few places that is actually open on Sundays (for a few hours at least) and the one on Rue Gambetta has everything a starving student needs to live comfortably. You can buy cutlery, plates, ice cream, sheets, pillows, blankets and any other necessities that are surprisingly difficult to track down in Reims. Also, on Thursdays the items in the baked goods section are ten percent off. What you choose to do with that little tidbit of information is up to you (I recommend buying a pie, but that’s just me).

7. Don’t feel obligated to go to every event that is being hosted on campus. Our BDE, BDA, and AS are awesome at planning events, and the number of conferences on campus is simply astounding. It is, however, physically impossible to go to every event, and you’ll just burn yourself out if you try to.

8. That being said, make sure you do attend events. All of the student groups do a fantastic job organizing conferences, and many compelling people come to speak to us. Try to attend a few events that are out of your comfort zone and you may find a new passion, or at least learn something interesting.

9. Schedule time to travel. Last year I spent all my time studying, or saying that I was going to study when I really spent the entire day lying on my bed eating ramen. As a Canadian, part of the big draw of Sciences Po was the opportunity to study in France. You need to balance the school part of your experience with the exploring part.

10. Visit your TAs and lecturers during their office hours. It can seem counterproductive to waste time visiting your TAs, especially if you don’t specifically need their help and have a million other things that need to be get done, but in the long run the relationships you build with them will be worth a lot.

11. Participate in extracurriculars. You have to join a club in order to get credits for your group project at the end of the year, but don’t just do it for the credits. If you like sports, join a sports team. If you love writing, join the Sundial. Some clubs can seem quite intimidating, as they have an application process in order to join. Don’t be scared to apply. If you don’t get the position you were hoping for that’s okay. You’ll find something equally exciting, and there are dozens of clubs that you don’t need to apply to. If you’re really passionate about a particular group that you weren’t admitted to, talk to the person in charge. You may be able to participate even if it’s not for credits.

12. Get to know your godparent. Sometimes they won’t be very good at planning a time to meet, so take the initiative. They’ll be a great resource, and it will be nice to know someone who’s not in your year. They can give you their old notes, tell you which TAs to pick, and they’ll be someone who you can bombard with questions without feeling too shy.

13. Make an effort to talk to people who are not from your country or your program. It’s comforting to spend time with people who speak your language and share your culture, but it’s also important to take advantage of the diversity on campus and get out of your comfort zone.

14. The Sciences Po method is not going to make or break your oral presentation. Orientation week may have stressed the two parts-two sub-parts format, but make sure you don’t get so caught up in structure that you forget about content. Some teachers don’t even require the Sciences Po method. Email your teacher your outline and work through how to best structure your presentation based on what you’re trying to say. It may take a few times to figure it out, but you’ll learn from the process and see a huge improvement by the end of the year

15. A few bad grades are not the end of the world. Last year I was crushed after bombing my first few assignments. I felt like I didn’t belong here and that I had made a terrible decision to come to Sciences Po, where everyone else had it together and knew so much more than me. Of course, in hindsight, it’s obvious that everyone was struggling as well, and that the quizzes and oral presentations that I had done poorly on were not representative of the entire semester. After talking with my teachers, I figured out what they were expecting and what I had to work on in order to meet their expectations.

16. Explore Reims. Reims may seem kind of sleepy, but if you take the time to read up on its past, it’s actually a really cool place, and you come to realize that almost everything around you has some historical significance. If the brown and grey of the city is kind of depressing you, head up to Parc de Champagne or cross to the other side of the canal. There’s some really nice trees, the water doesn’t look quite as murky, and I find it very uplifting just to see some greenery.

17. Have fun! This is definitely one of the most cliché pieces of advice ever given, but it’s so important just to take a break from everything and enjoy yourself. Whether it’s travelling to Paris for the day, staying in for a movie and pizza night on Friday, going to the bar, or playing a game of pick-up basketball, do things for yourself. School is important, and it will be gratifying to see all your hard work pays off, but balance is essential. Make sure you’re happy, because your two years will go by way too quickly!

Related links Learn more about the international admission procedure at Sciences Po Visit Sciences Po’s website

What are your chances of acceptance?

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How to Write the Columbia University Essays 2023-2024

Located in the heart of New York City, Columbia University is one of the world’s leading institutions for research and commitment towards education. With its 265 years of history and ideal location, Columbia has had a major influence in history and continues to be at the forefront of innovation to this day. Offering both a rigorous curriculum as well as ample opportunities to explore one of the largest cities in the world, Columbia attracts thousands of top-performing students from all over the world.

Columbia University requires all applicants to answer one short question about the books and media that have piqued their interest. All applicants have to answer three short essay prompts as well. If you’re applying to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering, you’ll have an additional prompt. And finally, Dual BA, School of General Studies, and Postbac Premed Program applicants have to submit an essay for their respective program.

Columbia receives tens of thousands of applications from strong students each year. To stand out among the crowd and showcase your individuality, you’ll want to develop authentic supplemental essays. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can write a stellar supplemental essay for the various prompts below.

Check out these Columbia essay examples from real students  to inspire your writing!

Columbia University Application Essay Prompts

Short answer list prompt for all applicants.

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 Prompt: List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (100 words)

Essay Prompts for All Applicants

Prompt 1: 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)

Prompt 2: 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)

Prompt 3: 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)

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering Applicants

What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at columbia college/columbia engineering (150 words), trinity college dublin and sciences po dual ba applicants only, describe how your experiences, both personal and academic, have shaped your decision to pursue the dual ba program. why is an international academic experience important to you as you consider the ways in which it may influence your future, successful essays should not only identify and describe specific elements of the dual ba program that meet your needs as a student, but should also explain why the academic courses you have chosen for your time at trinity college dublin and columbia university are compatible with your aspirations, academic or otherwise. (750-1000 words), school of general studies applicants, tell us about your educational history, work experience, present situation, and plans for the future. please make sure to reflect on why you consider yourself a nontraditional student and have chosen to pursue your education at the school of general studies of columbia university. successful essays should identify and describe specific elements of the program, academic or otherwise, that meet your needs as a nontraditional student. the admissions committee is particularly interested in situations in your life from which you have learned and grown. this may include past academic experiences, professional accomplishments, or turning points and transformative events: new beginnings and personal achievements, but also events that may have affected your education, such as health and family challenges, personal obstacles or even issues with the justice system. our expectation is that your reflection on your experiences will demonstrate your potential to add a unique perspective to the columbia classroom. (1500-2000 words), postbac premed program applicants, please submit an essay of approximately 500 words discussing your decision to pursue a career in medicine or an allied health profession. a successful essay will not only describe the factors that contributed to your decision, but will give us a sense of you as an individual by discussing why you want to pursue this career and how you feel you will contribute to the profession. (500 words), list prompt, 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).

Don’t worry! There’s no preset list of right and wrong answers. Columbia isn’t going to automatically reject you if you don’t include The Grapes of Wrath (or any other specific work for that matter) in your list. Instead, they’re curious about your interests, your intellectual development, the way you think, and the ways in which you’ve challenged yourself in your media consumption. So be honest about the stuff you’ve read and watched while selecting your examples judiciously.

Here’s a helpful hint: think of the list as a “capsule wardrobe.” In a capsule wardrobe, each piece of clothing is distinct and cool on its own: you can have a graphic tee, a leather jacket, a white tank, and a few pairs of jeans. And while each has its own character, each also contributes to the cohesive whole – your style. Putting two items together into an outfit can bring out interesting elements and commonalities in both.

The same goes for the books or movies in a list. Each should be interesting on its own, but should also contribute to the overall picture of your intellectual style. A great list includes items that illuminate each other and communicate with each other – like matching a hat with your socks. Some more style tips:

1. List items that build on each other. Key word: synergy . In the same way that wearing two matching items together can say a lot about your fashion taste, including two similar items in your list can communicate a sustained interest in a topic. For example, if I include both Macbeth and Throne of Blood in my list of films, I’m showing my readers: “Hey! I’m interested in exploring how the same story has been adapted by different cultures and artists!” Neither Macbeth nor Throne of Blood could demonstrate this on its own – but together, they become greater than the sum of their parts. Synergy!

2. Show multidimensionality. Beware! You can potentially demonstrate a sustained interest in a topic without indicating growth. For example, a litany of true-crime podcasts will feel a bit one-dimensional and start to lose its impact if they’re all too similar. Instead, pick works that indicate how you’re interested in the multiple facets and intellectual levels of a subject. If you combine the true-crime podcast Serial and Criminal Perspective with the journal Psychological Review and a blog on forensic psychology, you can paint yourself as someone with layered interests who wants to learn more about the world and a particular field.

3. Don’t overdress. It’s tempting to include the most impressive, arduous books you’ve read in an attempt to show you are a Serious Person. But too many straight-laced tomes can make you look like you’re overdoing it – kind of like showing up to a coffee shop in a suit. Instead, balance your hefty items with some more easygoing ones. Euclid’s Elements of Geometry and Russell’s Principles of Mathematics are going to look a lot more palatable if you sprinkle some Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in there. You want to balance your intellectual pursuits with your distinctive personality.

4. Don’t underdress. A pinch of fluff can add a little flavor and dimension to your lists. Nobody’s going to fault you, for instance, if you include It’s Always Sunny or The Da Vinci Code on your lists of favorite things. However, you should make a point not to include items that are too juvenile, and not to overload on items of questionable intellectual merit.

5. Recognizable brands can be effective. Hitting on a few respected “pop culture” items makes it more likely that you and the person reading your application will have something in common. And, psychologically speaking , similarities on paper can often go a long way in non-personal interactions. Just make sure to pick an item that has both critical and popular merit , like Pink Floyd’s The Wall or Avatar: The Last Airbender – something about which you and your potential interviewer could have an intellectual debate.

6. Dress for the job you want. Certain shoes can be impressive, but bad for dancing. Similarly, you should be careful not to confuse an “impressive” piece of media with a “relevant” one. War and Peace, Don Quixote, A Brief History of Time , and Ulysses are definitely impressive books, and you may have loved them, but if you’re interested in studying marine biology, they might not be all that relevant to your application. Include enough to show you’re diverse in your interests, but conserve the most space for items that speak to your personal academic and career interests.

7. Moderation. You’ve probably figured this out by now, but creating your lists is going to be a delicate game. You have to find the happy medium between intellectual and casual, specialized and well-rounded, fiction and nonfiction, differing types of media, and so on. Don’t throw together these lists last-minute simply because they’re not full-blown essays. It’s a different format, but you should be as careful with these as you are with essays. The lists can be just as revealing of you as a person and just as important to the admissions process as a full essay is.

8. Also… be honest! If you get an interview, you’ll probably be asked about some items on your lists. You don’t want to be caught off guard by something that you yourself wrote . There are few things more detrimental to an interview than not knowing anything about something you purported to have read/seen.

All Applicants, Prompt 1

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).

This is a good example of a “Diversity” essay . Columbia wants not only students who will contribute to campus diversity because of their unique backgrounds, but also students who will be inclusive and benefit from a community of diverse people and perspectives. Your essay needs to convey how you will contribute to diversity and benefit from it. There are four questions implied by this prompt, and answering each of them in turn will create a strong and thorough answer.

1. What makes you diverse?

The first step is to figure out what makes you a diverse applicant. You might talk about more classic examples of background like your race/ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, or country of origin. However, diversity comes in all shapes and sizes, so you can also demonstrate a unique background in things like your hometown, socioeconomic status, an illness/disability, or even an interest or hobby.

For example, a student who has a lot of food allergies might joke that he won’t be able to enjoy the dining halls like his peers, but because of his allergies he has learned to cook for himself and to find unique food substitutions other people would never think about.

2. How has your background impacted your development?

In order to establish the emotional connection that will strengthen your essay, you need to show admissions officers how you have been impacted by the community or background that makes you diverse. Including how you have been impacted will demonstrate how you previously benefited from being part of a community, how your new perspective will allow you to contribute to Columbia’s community, and how you evolved as a result of your background.

For example, maybe you were really shy until you started participating in a community theater where you came out of your shell and let your voice be heard. At Columbia, you will not only encourage others to join theater so they can gain confidence, but you will also use your newfound confidence in public speaking to call fellow students to action regarding issues you are passionate about, like raising the minimum wage.

3. How will you contribute to diversity on campus?

Here, you need to explain how the background or community that has shaped your identity will make you an addition to diversity on campus. This is where you convince admissions officers that they want you to enrich their university.

For example, you might talk about how you wish to start your own on-campus Spanish-language publication, so students like you can read the news in their native language. Or maybe as a first-gen student, your family and culture instilled in you the value of a college education, so you will form study groups to help enrich your classmates’ educational experience. Providing concrete examples of how you will contribute to campus will really show admissions officers how you’ll fit within the campus community.

4. How will being surrounded by diversity on campus help you?

The last thing you should address is what you will personally gain from being part of a diverse community. If you’ve already discussed what you gained from your previous engagement with diversity, you should choose a different trait or skill you hope to acquire at Columbia. For example, a student who’s never left the state he was born in might describe how he wants to meet people from other countries to learn about cultural differences and gain a better understanding of other nationalities without the stereotypes found in movies and TV.

Keep in mind that this essay should exemplify your positive traits and qualities you’ve either developed, hope to develop, or hope to share with others. With that in mind, there are a few things you should avoid in your writing:

• Don’t just list all the facets of your identity/background. If you make a laundry list of things that contribute to your identity without elaborating on any of them, you risk running out of space before saying anything substantive.
• Avoid writing solely about negative experiences. Your background may have led to some adversity in your life, which is normal, but college essay prompts generally aim to identify experiences that had positive outcomes or lessons. Not everything has a “happy ending,” but keep in mind that writing a negative essay is harder to execute well.
• Avoid cliché topics. There’s nothing wrong with having moved across the United States or having emigrated from another country; however, the problem is that these are very common topics, which makes it harder for you to write a unique standout essay. If you write about a more common experience because it was integral to your growth, make sure to share your specific emotions and stories to help your essay stand out, rather than discussing the general challenges you (and others) have faced.

A truly focused essay that addresses the four aforementioned questions while steering clear of the things we recommend avoiding will allow you to go into more depth and elicit a far stronger reaction to your writing!

All Applicants, Prompt 2

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).

This is the classic Overcoming Challenges essay , which is common for a reason—colleges want to admit students who can push through adversity, just as Columbia explains in the prompt.

Picking your topic:

This is probably the hardest part of this essay, as students sometimes think they need to write about a tragedy, and many will not have experienced tragedy.

You want the barrier or obstacle you write about to be significant (i.e. more than getting a bad grade), but it doesn’t need to be completely life-altering (though, of course, it can be).

To help you brainstorm a topic, consider these questions:

• What experiences have changed your perspective or your day-to-day life?
• In which situations did you initially struggle, but that struggle helped you build confidence? (Keep in mind though that your topic doesn’t ultimately need to have been “successful”. You can write about an ongoing challenge or a failure if you have learned something from it).

Some example of good Overcoming Challenges topics that we’ve seen in the past include:

• Persuading the school board to dedicate the high school track to a coach
• Taking care of a sick parent
• Getting your position switched last-minute in Model UN

Tips for writing your essay:

This topic lends itself well to creative storytelling. To start your essay, bring us into the moment(s) you were experiencing the barrier/obstacle. Show us your emotions and thoughts.

In the next part of the essay, make sure to explain why the challenge was important to you, and then outline the steps you took to manage the situation. Were you ultimately successful? Why or why not?

Finally, the last third of the essay should focus on how the barrier/obstacle allowed you to grow and mature.

Your essay doesn’t need to follow this exact format or space allotment, but it should include these basic elements.

Mistakes to avoid:

This is a tricky essay because it’s easy to make mistakes in topic selection and writing. Here’s what you should look out for:

• Focusing too much on the story and not enough on the lessons you learned. Because you’re writing about a significant challenge, it can be easy to focus the whole essay on what happened and not cover how you responded and how it helped you grow. Those last two points are the most key, and you should make sure to allot enough space for them.
• Being too negative in the essay. You do not have to have ultimately succeeded in face of the barrier/obstacle, but you should ultimately have gained something positive from the situation (a new value, perspective, skill, etc.). If you find a positive impact to talk about, then you may want to choose a new topic.
• Writing about a cliche topic . Admissions officers have seen too many essays about sports injuries, and they’ve also seen a lot of essays about tragedies like death and divorce. You can still write good essays on these topics, but it’s easier to stand out if the essay has a different angle (i.e. a sports injury helping you discover a new passion vs. the typical storyline of working hard to overcoming the injury and getting back on the field).

All Applicants, Prompt 3

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).

This is a question that a lot of schools ask; in fact, it’s so common that we’ve put together a whole guide on how to answer it. Check out CollegeVine’s guide to writing the “Why This College?” essay for some in-depth tips and examples! As you sit down to write this essay, you should definitely have Columbia’s website and any other materials you might possess open.

Specificity is crucial here. Vague platitudes about Columbia’s virtues – such as “Ivy League academics,” “shared classes with Barnard,” and “location in the heart of New York City” – aren’t going to cut it here. Instead, such superficial phrases signify that you did inadequate research. To set yourself apart from everyone else, you need to clearly delineate your academic interests and values, as well as the exact resources and programs at Columbia that will help you thrive. Proper nouns, concrete goals, precise examples. Specificity.

1. Provide a tangible connection to Columbia.

A “tangible connection” comprises specific elements of the university that appeal to you, and you should set aside ample time to research this. Look on Columbia’s different websites, and carefully explore the links that pertain to particular majors ( Columbia College (CC) ; Columbia Engineering (CE) , research centers , courses, and professors ( CC ; CE ). Hint: it may be worth your while to read Columbia’s magazine , which contains updates on its educators’ most recent work. Many departments also put out their own e-newsletters, so be sure to sign up to those that pique your interest.

Don’t do a small or moderate amount of research and decide it’s “good enough.” For example, it’s tempting to list a few things you like about a program based on the first couple of blurbs you read on its webpage. A student might concoct a passage like this:

“As someone interested in studying Mideast politics as well as literature, Columbia’s Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies program sounds like a great place to blend my interests and study from renowned professors like [insert name].”

This example looks fine at first glance, but it’s pretty superficial and definitely not the best response. Instead of just name-dropping professors and programs, you should articulate your future with them like you’re fantasizing about your wedding, down to the last beautiful detail. A much more specific passage about Columbia’s MESAAS would sound like:

“When reading about the last Adab Colloquium, I was intrigued by how Columbia’s Middle East Institute recruits authorities from other universities, like [Name], to better immerse Columbia students in the diverse voices of Middle Eastern literary studies. The frequency of colloquia provided by the MEI shows that Columbia is dedicated to expanding Middle Eastern studies in the U.S., and that I would find ample guidance as an MESAAS student there.”

It’s immediately evident that crafting the second statement required much more probing, revision, and familiarity than the first.

2. Describe your intangible connection as well.

How is Columbia a place that aligns with your values, dreams, and goals? How do you vibe with it? For example, if our hypothetical student continued to write about MESAAS and MEI, he would state explicitly how it draws him in, and how it aligns with his philosophical and societal intentions:

“Additionally, I’m impressed by how the MEI provides students with the opportunity to volunteer with talks and activities at local high schools. As someone who grew up in a small town in Illinois, my grade school education about culture in the Middle East was misinformed and sometimes dangerous. I would love to study and volunteer in a department dedicated to combating misinformation and offering resources to underprivileged teachers.”

A clearly outlined path and a strong personal philosophy will indicate to admissions officers that you’re likely to succeed at Columbia.

3. Engage with faculty and students, if possible.

Your response to this “Why This College?” prompt is the perfect place to talk about specific interactions, like sitting in on an awe-inspiring seminar during a campus visit, hearing a professor speak, or seeing how Columbia has prepared a friend for his career.

However, always be sure to tie these experiences into your own goals and interests! Don’t just name-drop a certain Professor Smith. Instead, take the opportunity to find a personal connection to Prof. Smith’s research and to mention how great Columbia is for supporting people like her. Your format should be:

Program/Individual/Major -> Columbia’s Values -> My values

If you want to learn more about a specific professor or their subject/research/work, don’t be afraid to politely email them or contact their department. Many professors love to talk about their work and their interests, or would at least be happy to put you in touch with current students you could talk to. You might also want to look for online colloquia or talks, which are (Fortunately? Unfortunately?) more widely available due to the pandemic. Doing this will better inform you about the school and give you a great edge for this prompt. And more importantly, you’ll probably get great advice for your higher education journey in general.

Note: the earlier you prepare for this prompt, the more time you will have to do deep research – and the more research you do, the better your essay will be!

Columbia College and Engineering Applicants

This is an example of the common “Why This Major?” essay that you may have already seen during the application process. Columbia wants to know about your interest in the majors you will have listed earlier in the application. They also want to see how your previous experiences contribute to this interest and how you may use your major in the future. This type of prompt isn’t the hardest to answer as long as you hit on some important points.

Before writing, there are a few things you should think about:

1. What genuinely draws you to this field of study? Don’t be disingenuous here. Writing answers you think the admissions committee wants to see will not benefit you in the long run.

2. What are things you enjoy specifically about the field you want to study? Saying that you love reading is a superficial statement. Instead, aim for specificity: “I enjoy reading novels that explore themes of power and corruption.”

3. How do you think this field of study/major will help you fulfill your life and career goals?

4. What did you enjoy most about this subject both in school and in your own free time?

5. Is there any emotional state or mindset that you experience every time you explore this field? If so, what draws you to this state of mind?

Think particularly hard about questions 4 and 5, as these two questions will remind you of anecdotes that can elevate your explanation of your connection to the major.

It’s fine if you haven’t totally decided on a major yet. Columbia gives you space on its application to provide three majors you might be interested in; you can pick some things you’re really fascinated by so you’ll have plenty to write about.

You only have 150 words to work with, so you shouldn’t be too flowery or elaborate in your writing right at the start. You don’t want to spend 100 words writing a beautifully crafted introduction to the major just to be left with 50 words to answer the actual prompt.

There’s no need to set up an elaborate preface like: “I was in eighth grade, and it was a cloudy day in mid-March. I wasn’t very confident or skilled in computers.” Instead, try starting in medias res , diving right into the middle of an emotional moment: “The screen glared blue. My program crashed. I buried my face in my arms and sobbed.” This structure is better for immediately grabbing your reader – a necessity in short essays like these. CollegeVine’s guidelines for college essay writing include a great primer (or refresher!) on in medias res storytelling.

Load up on your knowledge and expertise. Just because you’re weaving an engaging narrative doesn’t mean you should neglect the “area of study” part of this prompt. It’s crucial to demonstrate to Columbia that you’re not just passionate about your interest – you’re a seasoned expert. This means being specific about a certain subtopic, technique, operation, phenomenon, or term that you find fascinating. Don’t just say “programming encourages me to think in creative ways.” A better proof of this assertion would be a time you used a specific programming technique to creatively solve a specific quandary:

“Frustrated and desperate, I looked at all the data I still had to sort. Hadn’t Archimedes said that he could lift the whole world with a finger, if he just had the right lever? THINK, I told myself. And then I realized I had a lever – a processing array.”

Try to incorporate something about Columbia’s specific take on the major. For example, maybe you love psychology and you’re more interested in cognitive behavioral perspectives than psychoanalytic ones. Columbia College’s psychology major has a greater focus on cognition and behavior than on psychoanalysis, so this is something you’d definitely want to mention.

Be sure to avoid writing the following things in your writing:

• Empty flattery about a subject – Anyone can call a field “cool” without saying anything substantive about it.
• Disagreeable reasons for picking a major – Admissions don’t want to hear that you only want to study a major for money, prestige, or due to parental pressures. They want people who are dedicated to their respective fields, who want to realize their potential, and who want to contribute to the betterment of the world.
• Starting the essay with an irrelevant anecdote – Don’t try to write an enticing introduction that doesn’t cleanly transition into the “Why This Major?” part of the essay. Stories are engaging and effective, but only when relevant.

Finally, note Columbia’s timeframe: “past,” “current,” and an implicit “future.” Although they explicitly ask about your past and current experiences, you should definitely conclude with a trajectory towards future pursuits. Present yourself as someone with a firm philosophy of developed beliefs and mature interests you want to explore in college and beyond. Anticipate future problems you’re eager to tackle – state them explicitly. You don’t need to mention Columbia explicitly in this “future” portion of your essay – you’ve already discussed it enough – but Columbia should be your unspoken future setting. The admissions committee should see this essay as foreshadowing what you will accomplish at Columbia.

Dual BA Applicants

This prompt is asked of students who are applying for Columbia’s prestigious dual degree programs , either with Trinity College in Dublin or Sciences Po (Paris Institute of Political Sciences) in various regions of France. The prompts for both programs are the same, with only the name of the partner university differing, so they can be approached in a similar way (scroll down for distinct tips for each). 

Note: this prompt is similar to the previous prompt discussed, which inquires after applicants’ interest in areas of study, so feel free to read through that previous section for additional insight and tips. 

It’s a marathon essay, not a sprint. Note that the length – 750 to 1000 words – allows you a lot of space. It’s better to fall on the longer end of this range than the shorter end, because Columbia wants you to delve into as much detail as you can, and feel less pressure to be pithy. The onus is a little less on vivid storytelling, and much more on thoughtful analysis and complex intellectual engagement. Demonstrate your proficiency by being thorough, considering multiple angles, and utilizing specific terms. You can be a bit more technical, logical, and sophisticated, especially since these programs have a broad, international focus. 

The same rules apply here as the rest of your Columbia essays: be specific, be active, and conduct a high degree of research. Studying abroad appeals to a lot of people – 10-16% of all undergraduates do it. Consequently, stating simply a “desire to explore other perspectives” or “passion for international cooperation in research” isn’t going to set you apart from the pack. You should concentrate your efforts in identifying key elements of your specific program and how they fit with your concrete goals and higher moral callings. You should hit on both the “tangible” and “intangible” items we mentioned earlier in the “Why Columbia?” prompt.

Brainstorm with a T-chart. Well, you don’t have to, but we recommend it. It will be a great way to sharpen your thoughts before writing, so that you can plunge into your essay with a much clearer idea of what you want to include. It could look something like this: 

It’s a lot of work, but break it down and tackle it bit-by-bit. 

Tips for Dublin Applicants:

• Attend one of the several online information sessions about this program in the fall . Check back to see if any more are added. These sessions would be a prime opportunity to have your questions answered. You can also use them to get in touch with current students and alumni. If you can procure an insight that benefits your essay, even better. Mentioning something you learned via an information session will also demonstrate your committed interest in the program. 
• Research your major at both Trinity and Columbia. The Dublin program allows for a wide variety of majors, so you should look at the webpages and publications of your target departments. Cite research projects or department mission statements that appeal to you. A super strong essay will identify a common thread between departments on both sides of the Atlantic. 
• Is there a cultural factor? For example, do both New York and Dublin have strong local theatre communities that would allow you to explore your love of Shakespeare outside your academic setting? This is the kind of goal-oriented specificity readers are looking for. It’s so much easier for them to admit a student who already has a strong blueprint going forward. If they can envision you already as a member of the program, then half your battle is already won. 

Tips for Sciences Po Applicants: 

• Attend one of the several online information sessions about this program in the fall. Check back to see if any more are added. These sessions would be a prime opportunity to have your questions answered. You can also use them to get in touch with current students and alumni. If you can procure an insight that benefits your essay, even better. Mentioning something you learned via an information session will also demonstrate your committed interest in the program.
• Pick a French campus program . Based on the geographic region of your political interests, you’ll have to select a certain Sciences Po campus . Be specific in your application: you could be studying Indonesian policy at the Havre campus in Normandy, or North African societies at the Riviera campus. Look at the sample programs on the Columbia webpage above. It’s also worth it to delve into the websites for each campus, and subscribe to e-news from each. That will give you the most recent updates about exciting research going on there. 
• Mention any language goals , such as taking classes in Arabic and French in addition to English. The Sciences Po program places a firm emphasis on international cooperation through learned languages. 
• Have a global focus. The Sciences Po program is aimed at forming the next generation of international leaders, so you should really lean into a goal or issue with a broad provenance. “Tax law” is broad, but not necessarily global or targeted. “Americans need to work with Mideast countries to streamline cross-border taxations, which will ease tensions and encourage economic development in struggling border communities” is better.
• Don’t forget your personal connections. Just because the Sciences Po program is so vast doesn’t mean you should neglect your own story in favor of large-scale discussions. Tie them both together by talking about what experiences led you to your path of study. If I was the student interested in tax law above, I might describe family struggles with complicated tax codes, or volunteer work with a local business. 

The School of General Studies exists to afford nontraditional students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree with flexibility. The typical GS student falls into one of three categories:

• People who have interrupted their education with a gap of a year or more.
• People who have never attended college and are older than typical beginning undergraduate students.
• People who, for personal or professional reasons, can only attend college part-time.

If one of these (or another nontraditional path) describes you, this essay is your chance to tell your story.

Before you begin writing, we strongly recommend that you organize your thoughts and outline your essay. Unlike typical college essays, this prompt is essentially asking you for a condensed autobiography. It has a very large word count for a college essay, but this is because you need a lot of space to hit every point the prompt mentions.

You’re asked about your educational history, work experience, present situation, and future plans – this order isn’t accidental. Typically, even for nontraditional college students, early education precedes work experience, both of which lead to the present situation, which then leads into the future. The prompt lends itself very well to a collection format in which multiple chronologically ordered anecdotes will tell your story.

You can’t talk about everything meaningful that has happened during your entire life, so you’re going to have to choose anecdotes judiciously. A good idea is to choose anecdotes that are related or that naturally transition into each other to establish a theme. This theme will vary greatly between applicants depending on the trajectory of their individual lives.

For example, one student may have had an unconventional education due to travel for high-level athletic competitions. This student may write an essay with a positive tone, filled with anecdotes about her competitions and accomplishments. Another student may have had an unconventional education due to recurring hospitalizations for an illness. This student may write an essay with a serious tone that emphasizes how he has grown to overcome adversity.

Even though your essay will have an overarching mood, you should aim to keep a balance between accomplishments and adversity. Writing an essay with too many positive achievements may come off as a bit arrogant whereas writing an essay with too many negative events may seem like it’s trying to elicit pity. Besides, the prompt specifically asks you for both personal achievements and educational challenges. Your essay should reflect how your highs and lows both had a profound impact on your values, beliefs, lifestyle, and/or worldview.

To begin, unless it was truly unconventional, don’t spend too much time talking about your early education (kindergarten to middle school). These are formative years that generally follow the same kind of trajectory for most people. Of course, if you were homeschooled, changed schools multiple times, or something of that nontraditional nature, feel free to mention how these circumstances changed who you have become.

With respect to educational history, what you should focus on is your high school years and any experience with college you may have already had. Write about factors that make you an nontraditional student. Maybe your grades weren’t ideal because you had to work a job while attending high school to support an ailing family member. Admissions committees understand that everyone comes from a different walk of life with different circumstances. Don’t be afraid to be sincere about complications you may have faced, but be careful not to make hollow excuses. You have to take responsibility for things that are within your control.

The same idea applies to work experience. Any experiences that have contributed to your growth while simultaneously altering what would have otherwise been a traditional experience are fair game. Perhaps you already finished college and began working in a field related to your major, but decided that it isn’t what you want to do. Explain why you’ve switched gears and elaborate on your plans for the future.

Once you’ve gone over the events that have informed who you are today, it’s time to write about what you’re doing and where you want to go. The prompt asks you to delineate how “specific elements of the program, academic or otherwise, […] meet your needs as a nontraditional student.” This is where a huge amount of research will be helpful. Look into Columbia’s webpage for your desired major to see how you can work specificity into your essay. Also consult the course search tool to find program features that appeal to you (you can pick a department to see all the courses it offers).

For example, an applicant who has already worked for two years as a pharmacy assistant might want to pivot to a different scientific field. An excerpt from her essay might look like this:

I had always loved chemistry, so I jumped at the chance to work a chemistry-related job right out of high school. I became a pharmacy assistant, which mostly involved filling prescriptions but not actually doing any of the chemistry itself. I didn’t mind it, especially because I needed to provide for my young son, but one recent experience opened my eyes to a whole new world of chemistry. One night, someone tried to break into the pharmacy, but couldn’t get in because of our specialized glass. I was fascinated by this glass’s ability to withstand a lot of force, which inspired me to pursue chemistry and physics more rigorously.

Materials science quickly became my new favorite thing. I would love to secure a job in this field so I can fulfill my passion while creating a more stable future for my son. The Chemical Physics major at Columbia’s School of General Studies will allow me to pursue employment in materials science. Courses like Quantum Chemistry and Materials Chemistry IIA are essential to learning how to craft high-density glass. Additionally, the flexibility of scheduling at the school lets me continue working at the pharmacy, so I can keep paying my expenses…

Be sure to provide as much detail as possible about your current situation and about how you got there. Columbia wants to know who you are, where you wish to go, and how your life experience will add to the GS community.

This is a slightly more specific version of the academic interest or “Why This Major?” prompt. The admissions committee wants to understand your interest in the medicine and allied health fields, how your background supports that interest, and what you intend to do on this career path.

Before you begin writing, ask yourself a few questions to guide your response:

1. What are your authentic reasons for wanting to pursue a career in medicine or allied health?

If you’re applying to this program, you should have a genuine interest in medicine to some degree. If your reasons are primarily money, prestige, and/or pressure from your parents, this is already a bad sign, and you should really consider if this decision is right for you.

2. What are specific examples of things you enjoy about medicine or allied health?

Instead of thinking “orthodontics” or “audiology” generically, think “treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders” or “diagnosis of presbycusis.” Specificity is key to a successful essay.

3. How might a career in medicine or allied health help you achieve your life and/or career goals?

Figuring this part out will give Columbia a clearer picture of what motivates you and will show the admissions committee that you have a career plan (or at least an idea of where you’re going). Again, avoid writing about things like money or status. Universities want students with deep academic interests, people who wish to realize their potential and to improve the world or their community in some way. Saying that you want to make a lot of money is too one-dimensional and self-serving, especially for an aspiring medical professional.

4. What has been the best part of your experience in a health field, both within and outside the classroom?

You don’t want to just tell Columbia that you want to pursue a career in healthcare. You also want to show them that your experiences thus far have prepared you to thrive in a field that’s known for being intense, emotionally as well as intellectually.

5. Do you experience a particular emotional state or frame of mind every time you explore this field of study? What about this state of mind appeals to you?

Your answers to questions 4 and 5 should help you recall relevant anecdotes, which will be your greatest asset in writing this essay. Bear in mind that medicine and allied health are very broad fields, so your personal motivations and your essay can take shape in vastly different ways.

Consider the following hypothetical applicants:

• Lucy spent a lot of her childhood sitting in her mother’s medical office. For years she would see kids come and go, each treated by her mother. After graduating college and working for a few years in the field she got a degree in, Lucy realized that she truly wants to be a pediatrician like her mother.
• James was a civil engineer for a year and a half before he had an accident on the job. His jaw and teeth were damaged, but an oral surgeon was able to restore them so well that the damage was nearly unnoticeable. Grateful for modern surgery and now deeply interested in the field, James now wants to become an oral surgeon to pay it forward.
• Michael got a bachelor’s degree in data science and ended up working in a medical office. His job mainly consisted of creating predictive models to identify people at greater risk for adverse health outcomes, but having worked with so many medical professionals gave him a change of heart. Michael admires how the doctors he worked with improve patients’ lives in a very direct way, so he now wants to become a doctor himself.

Treat this prompt as an opportunity to tell your story. Show the admissions committee where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you want to go. You may have heard the old writing trope “Show, don’t tell.” Rather than saying that you like the medical field, use anecdotes to showcase your specific passions and motivations.

Where to Get Your Columbia University Essays Edited

Want feedback on your Columbia essays to improve your chances at admission? After rereading your essays over and over again, it can be difficult to find where your writing can be improved. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also sharpen your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• Concours Écoles Agro Véto
• Concours Écoles d'ingénieurs
• Concours Écoles de commerce
• Concours Écoles de journalisme
• Concours Enseignement
• Concours Fonction publique : Administration
• Concours Fonction publique : Culture, Patrimoine
• Concours Fonction publique : Défense, Police, Justice
• Concours Fonction publique : Economie, Finances, Douanes, Travail
• Concours Fonction publique : Education, Animation, Sport, Social
• Concours Fonction publique : Technique, Sciences
• Concours IEP /Sciences Po
• Concours Santé Paramédical Social
• Diplômes comptables
• Ecoles d'Art / Architecture
• Réussir à l'université / IAE
• Réussir le Brevet des collèges (DNB)
• Réussir les tests de langues
• Réussir son BTS
• Réussir son BUT

Sciences Po Paris : les 5 sujets des essais proposés pour le concours 2024 !

L’épreuve écrite de Sciences Po Paris comprend deux volets : un exercice rédactionnel sur la motivation et le projet pour Sciences Po et un essai sur l’un des cinq sujets proposés. Si vous souhaitez intégrer Sciences Po Paris à la rentrée 2024, il est donc nécessaire de prendre de l’avance pour se préparer au mieux au concours. Pour ce faire, vous pouvez vous entraîner dès à présent sur les sujets proposés pour le Concours 2024.

Par la rédaction

Les cinq sujets des essais proposés 

Un sujet au choix sera traité par les candidat(e)s  souhaitant intégrer Sciences Po dans un essai de 3000 à 4000 caractères. Prenez le temps de bien choisir votre sujet en réfléchissant aux arguments que vous pourrez défendre avant de passer à la rédaction.

• La direction de votre lycée examine l'utilisation de l'intelligence artificielle dans le cadre pédagogique. Vous êtes représentant des élèves et devez présenter leur position sur ce sujet : rédigez votre prise de parole.
• Lorsque vous réfléchissez aux enjeux climatiques d’aujourd’hui, qu’est-ce qui vous donne de l’espoir et pourquoi ?
• Un de vos camarades défend la liberté d’un artiste de tout exprimer à travers son art. Vous engagez la discussion avec lui sous la forme d’un dialogue en illustrant vos propos avec des exemples concrets. Veillez à indiquer le nom des interlocuteurs en lettres capitales au début de chaque réplique. 
• Vous avez été tiré au sort pour prononcer un discours lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture des Jeux olympiques ou paralympiques de Paris en 2024 . Rédigez ce discours.
• Une fondation organise un concours dont le prix vous permet de choisir un espace naturel à sauver ou préserver. Présentez votre projet détaillé, en indiquant le lieu choisi ainsi que les actions à mettre en œuvre et leurs coûts.

Des lives à ne pas manquer !

Studyrama vous propose un événement d'orientation digital inédit autour des formations et métiers en Droit et Sciences politiques ! pour échanger avec des spécialistes de cette thématique et assister à de nombreuses conférences live. Vous pourrez ainsi trouver toutes les réponses à vos questions de chez vous !

Écologiste, sportif , artiste… il y en a pour tous les goûts. Alors, prêts à faire votre choix ? A vos stylos !

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Essay on Science for Students and Children

500+ words essay on science.

Essay on science:  As we look back in our ancient times we see so much development in the world. The world is full of gadgets and machinery . Machinery does everything in our surroundings. How did it get possible? How did we become so modern? It was all possible with the help of science. Science has played a major role in the development of our society. Furthermore, Science has made our lives easier and carefree.

Science in our Daily Lives

As I have mentioned earlier Science has got many changes in our lives. First of all, transportation is easier now. With the help of Science it now easier to travel long distances . Moreover, the time of traveling is also reduced. Various high-speed vehicles are available these days. These vehicles have totally changed. The phase of our society. Science upgraded steam engines to electric engines. In earlier times people were traveling with cycles. But now everybody travels on motorcycles and cars. This saves time and effort. And this is all possible with the help of Science.

Secondly, Science made us reach to the moon. But we never stopped there. It also gave us a glance at Mars. This is one of the greatest achievements. This was only possible with Science. These days Scientists make many satellites . Because of which we are using high-speed Internet. These satellites revolve around the earth every day and night. Even without making us aware of it. Science is the backbone of our society. Science gave us so much in our present time. Due to this, the teacher in our schools teaches Science from an early age.

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Science as a Subject

In class 1 only a student has Science as a subject. This only tells us about the importance of Science. Science taught us about Our Solar System. The Solar System consists of 9 planets and the Sun. Most Noteworthy was that it also tells us about the origin of our planet. Above all, we cannot deny that Science helps us in shaping our future. But not only it tells us about our future, but it also tells us about our past.

When the student reaches class 6, Science gets divided into three more subcategories. These subcategories were Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. First of all, Physics taught us about the machines. Physics is an interesting subject. It is a logical subject.

Furthermore, the second subject was Chemistry . Chemistry is a subject that deals with an element found inside the earth. Even more, it helps in making various products. Products like medicine and cosmetics etc. result in human benefits.

Last but not least, the subject of Biology . Biology is a subject that teaches us about our Human body. It tells us about its various parts. Furthermore, it even teaches the students about cells. Cells are present in human blood. Science is so advanced that it did let us know even that.

Leading Scientists in the field of Science

Finally, many scientists like Thomas Edison , Sir Isaac Newton were born in this world. They have done great Inventions. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. If he did not invent that we would stay in dark. Because of this Thomas Edison’s name marks in history.

Another famous Scientist was Sir Isaac Newton . Sir Isaac Newton told us about Gravity. With the help of this, we were able to discover many other theories.

In India Scientists A..P.J Abdul was there. He contributed much towards our space research and defense forces. He made many advanced missiles. These Scientists did great work and we will always remember them.

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Guest Essay

Mass Tech Layoffs? Just Another Day in the Corporate Blender.

By Ashley Goodall

Mr. Goodall, who previously worked as an executive at Deloitte and at Cisco Systems, is the author of the forthcoming book “The Problem With Change.”

Silicon Valley, home of so many technological and workplace innovations, is rolling out another one: the unnecessary layoff.

After shedding over 260,000 jobs last year, the greatest carnage since the dot-com meltdown more than two decades ago, the major tech companies show little sign of letting up in 2024 despite being mostly profitable, in some cases handsomely so. In their words, the tech companies are letting people go to further the continuing process of aligning their structure to their key priorities , or “transformation” or becoming “ future ready .” Behind these generalities, however, some tech companies are using what has hitherto been an extreme measure in order to engineer a short-term bump in market sentiment.

Investors are indeed thrilled . Meta’s shares are up over 170 percent amid its downsizing talk. And where stock prices go, chief executives will generally follow, which means it is not likely to be long before the unnecessary layoff makes its appearance at another publicly traded company near you.

These layoffs are part of a tide of disruption that is continually churning the work days in corporations everywhere. If you’ve spent any amount of time working at a company of pretty much any size, you’ll be familiar with what I call the resulting “life in the blender”: the unrelenting uncertainty and the upheaval that have become constant features of business life today. A new leader comes in, promptly begins a reorganization and upends the reporting relationships you’re familiar with. Or a consultant suggests a new strategy, which takes up everyone’s time and attention for months until it’s back to business as usual, only with a new mission statement and slideware. Or, everyone’s favorite: A merger is announced and leads to all of these and more.

Now, no business prospers by standing still, and there is no improvement without change. Course corrections, re-orgs and strategic pivots are all necessary from time to time. Technological changes continue to demand the restructuring of major industries. But over the last quarter-century or so, the idea of disruption has also metastasized into a sort of cult, the credo of which holds that everything is to be disrupted, all the time, and that if you’re not changing everything, you’re losing.

You can take courses in disruption at the business schools of Stanford, Cornell, Columbia and Harvard. You can read, on the cover of a leading business magazine, about how to “Build a Leadership Team for Transformation: Your Organization’s Future Depends on It.” And if it is the catechism of chaos you’re after, you can buy the inspirational posters and chant the slogans: Fail fast; disrupt or be disrupted; move fast and break things. Part of this, of course, is a product of the hubris of the Silicon Valley technologists. But part, too, is the belief that the fundamental task of a leader is to instigate change. It is hard to remember a time when there was any other idea about how to manage a company.

Moreover, because a majority of corporate executives — together with the consultants and bankers who advise them, the activist investors who spur them on and the financial analysts who evaluate their efforts — have been raised according to this change credo, the constant churn becomes a sort of flywheel. A leader instigates some change, because that’s what a leader does. The advisers and investors and analysts respond positively, because they’ve been taught that change is always good. There’s a quick uptick in reputation or stock price or both, the executives — paid, remember, mostly in stock — feel they have been appropriately rewarded for maximizing shareholder value, and then everyone moves on to the next change.

But it’s hardly clear that this is having the desired result. Studies of merger and acquisition activity have pegged the rate at which they destroy — rather than increase — shareholder value at something between 60 and 90 percent; a Stanford business school professor, Jeffrey Pfeffer, has argued that layoffs seldom result in lower costs, increased productivity or a remedy for the underlying problems in a business; and few of us who have lived through re-orgs remember them as the occasion for a sudden blossoming of productivity and creativity.

Seen through the eyes of the people on the front lines, the reason for this gap between intent and outcome comes into tighter focus. After all, when the people around you are being “transitioned out,” or when you find yourself suddenly working for a new boss who has yet to be convinced of your competence, it’s a stretch to persuade yourself that all this change and disruption is leading to much improvement at all.

“It’s exhausting,” one person I spoke to about change at work told me. “It’s soul-sucking,” said another. One person told me that after the combination of two departments, his people were like deer in the headlights, unsure of what they should be working on. Another had 19 managers in 10 years. Another told me that perpetual change drained the energy from work: “You say the right things in the meetings, but you don’t necessarily do what needs to be done to make it happen.” Another learned to watch the managers and be alert when they stopped dropping by or communicating: “It is like before a tsunami, when the water goes. You don’t see the water, and then the tsunami comes — all of a sudden, it comes, hard. When everything is calm, I worry.”

Of the dozens of people I spoke to, every single one had some sort of change-gone-bad story to share. And these sorts of reactions are about more than simple frustration or discontent. They are rooted in the psychological response we humans experience when our sense of stability is shattered and our future feels uncertain, and indeed the scientific literature has much light to shed on exactly why life in the blender is so hard on us. Experimenters have found, for example, that our stress is greatest when uncertainty , not discomfort, is at its peak — and uncertainty is the calling card of change at work. Then there is the question of agency: a well-known series of experiments conducted by Steven Maier and Martin Seligman in the 1960s discovered that when we sense we are not in control of a situation we give up trying to make things better — this is “learned helplessness” setting in.

Other researchers have described our fundamental need, as a species, for belonging , and the importance of our social groupings — which helps to explain why we don’t like it when our teams are disassembled, reshuffled and reassembled. And others still have shown that we have — perhaps unsurprisingly! — a deep-seated need for things to make sense in our environment, a need that is so often thwarted by the generic C.E.O. statements and exaggerated cheer-speak with which most change initiatives are communicated.

But while the essential response of the human animal to uncertainty and disruption is hard-wired, the degree of change we introduce into our workplaces isn’t. It’s often a choice. We’ve reached this point because the business world seems to have decided that change is an unalloyed good, and so there is no amount of it that is too much, and no cost of it that is too great.

Were more leaders to be guided by the science of change, or by the stories that people on the front lines share, they would quickly discover that it is stability that is the foundation of improvement. Only once we begin to honor people’s psychological needs at work, by thinking twice before launching into the next shiny change initiative and by paying more heed to the rituals and relationships that allow all of us to point our efforts in a useful direction, can we begin to do justice to the idea that a company must be, first, a platform for human contribution if it is to be anything else at all.

Ashley Goodall, who previously worked as an executive at Deloitte and at Cisco Systems, is the author of the forthcoming book “The Problem With Change.”

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