How To Answer Columbia's 2025/26 Supplemental Essays
Key changes, examples, and strategies to stand out
Lauren P.
Head of Essay Mentoring @ Crimson
Summary
To stand out in the Columbia Supplemental essays, you need to show that you’re intellectually curious, self-aware, and eager to engage with diverse perspectives. Keep your answers concise, authentic, and reflective, highlight what truly shapes how you think and learn. Be specific about Columbia’s offerings (the Core Curriculum, professors, programs) and connect them to your goals. Each essay should reveal your mindset, growth, and how you’ll contribute to Columbia’s collaborative, idea-driven community.
Getting into Columbia is undeniably competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 4%. The Supplemental essays offer applicants a unique opportunity to showcase their intellectual influences, personal growth, and the distinct perspectives they'll bring to the Columbia community and alongside academic qualifications and extracurricular engagements, your essays and the insights you provide will play a significant role in helping you stand out.
Columbia Supplemental Essay Updates for 2025/26
Columbia's university supplemental essay questions consist of a list of 6 short-answer questions or prompts. Applicants must respond to all 6 prompts.
According to Columbia, the admissions office creates these prompts in order to learn how applicants fit with Columbia's values.
Each year, Columbia refines its supplemental essay prompts to better reflect its evolving values and priorities. For 2025–26, the changes are limited but meaningful, highlighting a stronger emphasis on intellectual diversity and collaboration.
What’s Unchanged?
Several prompts remain the same as last year:
- The list prompt
- The “Why Columbia” prompt
- The “Why this area of study” prompt
- The resilience/adversity prompt (slightly simplified in wording but unchanged in essence)
Word limits also remain the same, still concise and focused.
What’s New?
An additional prompt
There are now six total questions, the list prompt plus five short answers (up from four last year).
Updated community questions
Columbia reframed its diversity and inclusion language around “multidimensional and collaborative learning.”
A new prompt on disagreement
Applicants now respond to a question about how they navigate and learn from conflicting viewpoints, underscoring Columbia’s focus on intellectual openness and constructive dialogue.
These updates subtly shift the emphasis from cultural inclusion to intellectual diversity, reflecting Columbia’s commitment to fostering rigorous, respectful debate within its dynamic academic community.
Columbia has introduced a new, additional prompt for the 25-26 Writing Supplement, asking students to discuss how they navigate and learn from disagreements and debate:
At Columbia, students representing a wide range of perspectives are invited to live and learn together. In such a community, questions and debates naturally arise. Please describe a time when you did not agree with someone and discuss how you engaged with them and what you took away from the interaction.
What are Columbia's Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2025/26?
The List Question
Columbia's list-based question offers a glimpse into your intellectual influences outside the classroom. Responses are limited to 100 words maximum.
List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy. (100 words or fewer)
List-Question Instructions
The list format comes with specific guidelines to follow when structuring and formatting your response:
- 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.
Short Answer Questions
Responses for the remaining 5 items are limited to 150 words or fewer.
Tell us about an aspect of your life so far or your lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia's multidimensional and collaborative environment. (150 words or fewer)
At Columbia, students representing a wide range of perspectives are invited to live and learn together. In such a community, questions and debates naturally arise. Please describe a time when you did not agree with someone and discuss how you engaged with them and what you took away from the interaction. (150 words or fewer)
In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not anticipate. Please describe a situation in which you have navigated through adversity and discuss how you changed as a result. (150 words or fewer)
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)
What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer)
How To Answer Columbia’s Supplemental Essay Questions?
Prompt 1 (List-based question)
- 100 words max
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.
Understanding the Prompt
This question is designed to assess your intellectual fit for Columbia. The university’s courses are reading and discussion heavy, so the admissions team wants a sense of how you engage with ideas beyond school.
Your list should offer a quick snapshot of your intellectual curiosity: how you learn, what excites you, and how you take advantage of resources around you.
Diversify Your List
While it can be tempting to focus only on academic or highbrow materials, intellectual growth can come from many sources.
A podcast episode might have changed your perspective on a social issue, or a museum visit could have deepened your appreciation for art or history.
List resources across a few different formats like books, essays, podcasts, articles, exhibitions to show range.
Include a mix of traditional and unconventional influences, but make sure each one genuinely shaped the way you think.
If your list includes a mix of mediums and disciplines, it naturally conveys intellectual breadth without you needing to explain it.
Be Authentic and Intentional
Choose items that truly resonate with you rather than titles you think sound impressive.
The list should reflect your real intellectual diet: what you’d explore on your own, not what you think Columbia “wants” to see.
If something from pop culture has genuinely expanded your perspective, it’s fine to include, but avoid lists dominated by mainstream or entertainment-only media (for example, Harry Potter, Hamilton, or general outlets like The New York Times just for name value).
Admissions officers are quick to spot when a list feels performative. Authenticity and curiosity always read stronger than aspiration alone.
Admissions officers can tell when a list feels performative. They’re looking for students who are curious, not curators of prestige titles.
Consider the Impact
Although you don’t need to explain your selections, aim for works that clearly influenced your growth.
A book that introduced you to a new field, a documentary that reframed a moral question, or a lecture that sparked a fascination with urban design anything that reveals a mind that’s active and engaged fits this prompt well.
If you can see a loose theme like curiosity about technology, global cultures, or the arts, order your list to subtly highlight that pattern.
Format and Presentation
Keep it simple: items separated by commas or semicolons, with no numbering or author details.
Avoid commentary or justification. Columbia just wants a clean, uncluttered list that speaks for itself.
You can subtly group related items to show themes (for example, pairing philosophy texts or linking art and politics).
Columbia readers prefer uncluttered lists that reveal personality through selection, not commentary.
Columbia List Essay Example 1
-
1984 by George Orwell
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The Daily podcast
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TED Talks
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The Louvre
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The Social Dilemma documentary
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National Geographic website
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The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku
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Hamlet by Shakespeare
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The Economist
Columbia List Essay Example 2
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The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
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MoMA
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How I Built This Podcast
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The World in a Grain by Vince Beiser
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TED-Ed videos
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The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
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The Smithsonian Magazine
Recap
Columbia’s list question is a brief but revealing window into your intellectual world. Approach it with authenticity, variety, and purpose.
Show that you’re the kind of student who seeks ideas everywhere: in books, museums, conversations, or podcasts and who will bring that same curiosity and range to Columbia’s classrooms and the wider New York City community.
Prompt 2 - Lived Experience (Short Essay)
- 150 words max
Tell us about an aspect of your life so far or your lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia's multidimensional and collaborative environment.
Understanding the Prompt
This prompt asks how your lived experiences and perspectives have shaped the way you approach learning and collaboration.
Columbia values students who bring a diversity of viewpoints and who thrive in a discussion-driven environment.
Your response should reveal something personal and distinct that isn’t already obvious elsewhere in your application, a window into how you think and relate to others.
Reflect on Your Unique Perspective
Start by identifying a specific experience, community, or worldview that has influenced how you learn or interact with people.
Go beyond broad statements, focus on a defining moment, value, or challenge that continues to shape you.
Admissions officers want to see how those experiences translate into curiosity, openness, and empathy in an academic setting.
Great responses reveal parts of your identity and personality not presented elsewhere. They also reference at least one community you’re part of, helping the reader picture how you’d weave yourself into Columbia’s community.
Example 1
How reading led to rigorous thinking
As an avid reader I’ve grown up in ‘armchair conversations’ with thinkers from different eras and cultures. Reading has made me open-minded and more rigorous in my thinking. Columbia’s multifaceted environment feels like an extension of that curiosity — a place where my ideas can be tested and refined through real dialogue.
Show, Don’t Just Tell
Rather than simply naming traits (“I’m open-minded,” “I’m resilient”), illustrate them through a concise story or example.
Describe what happened, how you responded, and what you learned about yourself. This makes your essay memorable and authentic.
Readers remember moments more than adjectives. Show the scene where your perspective was challenged or reshaped.
Bridge your story to Columbia.
- How will the values you’ve developed help you learn from others and contribute to campus life?
- What kind of discussions, initiatives, or collaborations might you engage in?
Columbia prides itself on intellectual diversity and a collaborative spirit. Show that you fit naturally into that ethos.
The goal isn’t to sound lofty. Avoid writing in a way that feels arrogant or overly rehearsed; admissions officers value genuine curiosity and humility over grand claims.
Economic hardships to equitable opportunities at Columbia
Facing economic hardship taught me resilience and the value of education as a tool for change. At Columbia, I hope to advocate for equitable opportunities by joining student-led initiatives that support first-generation and under-resourced students.
Embrace the NYC Advantage
Columbia’s location in New York City is an extension of its learning environment. If relevant, show how your perspective connects with the city’s cultural or intellectual diversity and how you’ll use its resources to expand your learning and impact.
Columbia Lived Experience Essay Example
In early 2023, my dream came true: after a months-long application process, I became a youth partner of [Company]. I was determined to advance equity in the arts for marginalized students.
At my [Organization], [Art] was a moving art piece about a young African-American woman recovering from trauma-induced memory loss. But [Student], a student just a little older than me, was crucially missing a platform for her art. To elevate [Student]’s voice, I took the initiative to become her ally; throug...
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Recap
Columbia’s second essay prompt invites you to share how your personal story shapes the way you learn and connect with others.
Reveal something real and current about your identity, illustrate it through a short example, and link it to the collaborative and cosmopolitan community you’ll join in Morningside Heights.
Prompt 3 - Disagreement (Short Essay)
- 150 words max
At Columbia, students representing a wide range of perspectives are invited to live and learn together. In such a community, questions and debates naturally arise. Please describe a time when you did not agree with someone and discuss how you engaged with them and what you took away from the interaction.
Understanding the Prompt
University campuses in vibrant urban settings are often home to lots of intellectual, cultural, and political ferment. Columbia's leaders want to ensure this informs constructive learning and growth, not enmity or close-mindedness.
Whatever the disagreement may be, this prompt is essentially interested in providing insights into how you handle disagreements and why you believe you're prepared to learn from them and navigate them in ways that are constructive for your own learning and for encouraging a climate of open and vibrant academic freedom, dialogue, and debate.
Pick a Relevant Example
Choose an example that can be encapsulated concisely (perhaps a classroom discussion, a group assignment, a conflict with another club member), entails a meaningful conflict of opinion or viewpoint, and that allows you to illustrate a constructive response or insight.
Keep it small and human. The essay’s power lies in how you handled it, not the scale of the conflict.
Example 1
During discussion in AP government, I listened as a classmate shared a view on immigration policy that I strongly disagreed with. My hand shot up to give a response, but I caught myself: instead of making a rebuttal I asked him what experiences had shaped his views. His response helped me see the thinking behind his opinion. It didn't change my own opinion, but changed my thoughts about how to approach the larger debate.
Structure Your Response Carefully
You'll potentially have a lot to squeeze into just 150 words.
- Set the scene: Get right to it and leave out any fluff (30-40 words).
- Describe your words, reactions, thought process. How did you engage? Did you try to steamroll your counterpart, or did you ask sincere questions, seek understanding, shift your approach or appeal, recalibrate your own perspective, or respectfully agree to disagree. (60-75 words)
- Your takeaway & connecting to the Columbia context: Articulate how you changed, what you learned or discovered, and how this will shape your life in community at Columbia (25-35 words).
Spotlight Actions and Insights and Avoid Clichés
Be sure to not only show what was said and what happened, but provide a glimpse into your inner dialogue and thought process, including not just the final outcome and your takeaway but your essential insights as they unfolded in the background.
Avoid clichés like "I'm a good listener" or "I'm open-minded". Instead be sure to show and give concrete evidence of ways the interaction displayed your style of engagement and also perhaps the challenges you struggled with.
Example 2
When our group was preparing our first lab report for Physics, another group member and I got in an argument about the right structure for the report. I was so sure I was right, I only pretended to even listen to her explanation. It took losing points on the report for me to realize I had been wrong. Since that experience I now recite a silent mantra when I'm in a disagreement: 'listen first, ask questions, offer my viewpoint as a polite alternative (and then listen again)!''This may seem simpli...
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Recap
Part of Columbia's appeal is its ability to attract highly engaged students while fostering and maintaining a climate of open debate and academic freedom that furthers self-awareness, community awareness, and every participant's learning process. This prompt offers you a chance to show Columbia you're developing the intellectual maturity needed to navigate debate and diverse viewpoints constructively, in a spirit of engaged learning, open-minded inquiry, and civility.
Prompt 4 - Adversity (Short Essay)
- 150 words max
In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not anticipate. Please describe a situation in which you have navigated through adversity and discuss how you changed as a result.
Understanding the Prompt
This prompt assesses how you respond to challenge, disappointment, and change. All qualities that Columbia values highly in a rigorous academic environment. It’s less about the scale of the obstacle and more about your emotional maturity, self-awareness, and capacity to adapt and grow.
Columbia wants to know:
- When things get tough, how do you respond
- What do you learn from it?
- And do you emerge stronger, wiser, and ready to engage in a demanding but collaborative college setting?
Identify a Genuine Challenge
Pick an experience that truly tested you. It could be academic, personal, social, or family-related and that prompted self-reflection or growth.
The key is sincerity: don’t dramatize a small inconvenience, but don’t feel pressured to pick a tragedy either.
It’s okay if you struggled or even failed at first. What matters most is that you can show resilience, perspective, and maturity in how you handled it.
Narrate the Journey, Not Just the Outcome
Go beyond the “problem–solution” formula. Briefly describe what happened, but focus most on your reactions like your mindset, emotions, and turning point.
Ask yourself how did you think through the problem? What did you learn about yourself?
The strongest essays read as stories of emotional clarity, not just lists of accomplishments or coping strategies.
From academic challenges to perseverance
Facing academic challenges in my calculus class, I initially felt defeated. However, I sought tutoring, collaborated with peers, and spent extra hours practicing. This experience honed my perseverance and collaborative spirit, qualities I'll carry into challenging coursework at Columbia.
Highlight Growth and Optimism
Emphasize how the experience changed you. For example ask yourself what new skills, empathy, or insight you gained and how that growth prepares you for Columbia’s demanding but supportive environment.
Even though the essay centers on adversity, end on a note of optimism. Show that you’ve moved forward with confidence and perspective.
Connect It Back to Columbia
Show how your learned resilience will shape your approach to studying and community life. Maybe you’ll bring patience to collaborative projects, empathy to peer discussions, or persistence to challenging coursework.
Learning from hardship
When a close family member fell ill, I had to balance school with significant home responsibilities. This period taught me time management and the value of support networks. I've learned that seeking help isn't a sign of weakness but of strength. At Columbia, I'll proactively join study groups and access available resources.
Recap
Columbia’s adversity prompt isn’t about hardship itself, but about how you process it.
Show that you can handle difficulty with honesty, grace, reflection and that you’ve developed the optimism and composure to thrive in Columbia’s rigorous, fast-paced environment.
Prompt 5 - Why Columbia (Short Essay)
- 150 words max
Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia.
Understanding the Prompt
This is a classic "Why This School" essay, a staple of the college application process, but one that carries extra weight here.
Columbia uses this prompt to gauge whether you’ve taken the time to understand what truly makes it different from other Ivies.
A strong response shows clear research, self-awareness, and a genuine sense of fit.
The best essays connect your academic and career goals with Columbia’s offerings. Don’t just mention programs, show that you understand why they fit you.
The Core Curriculum
Columbia’s Core Curriculum is central to its academic identity. Nearly every successful essay acknowledges it, but avoid dropping the name as a buzzword.
Show that you understand its philosophy: how a shared intellectual foundation across disciplines will shape your growth and worldview.
Showcasing Research & Core Curriculum
The university fosters this passion for knowledge through its Core Curriculum, ensuring that even if I specialize in economics, classes such as Literature Humanities, University Writing and Frontiers of Science will ensure that I develop as a well-rounded scholar.
Pairing this interdisciplinary understanding with access to economics professors like Alessandra Casella and the opportunity to conduct research alongside David Weinstein is invaluable to me. Columbia offers the perfect balance of in...
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Mention specific Core texts, themes, or experiences that excite you. Perhaps how discussing “Contemporary Civilization” or “Literature Humanities” would expand your perspective beyond your intended major.
Beyond Academics
Columbia’s appeal goes beyond prestige or location. If you reference New York City, tie it back to how you’ll engage with it intellectually or socially, not just that it’s “in the heart of NYC.”
Think about the student clubs, research initiatives, or civic opportunities that would let you apply classroom ideas to real-world challenges.
Avoid writing that could apply to any Ivy. Focus on what Columbia alone offers — its unique blend of urban energy, intellectual rigor, and the Core-driven sense of shared inquiry.
“Why Columbia” Essay Example
Columbia stands out as a place where ambition meets enlightenment. From the statue of Athena in Low Library to the hum of energy across campus, it feels alive with purpose.
For me, success isn’t just achievement, it’s understanding. Columbia’s Core Curriculum embodies that pursuit, shaping students to think critically across disciplines. Its balance of science, history, and writing ensures I can adapt intellectually to any challenge. Programs like the Kluge Fellows Summer Research and mentorshi...
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Recap
The “Why Columbia” essay is about fit, not flattery. Be specific, be genuine, and show a clear link between your goals and what Columbia offers.
Highlight how the Core, the academic philosophy, and the university’s collaborative environment align with your ambitions and you’ll stand out from those who simply say “I love New York.”
Prompt 6 - Academic Interest (Short Essay)
What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering?
Understanding the Prompt
This question asks what drives your intellectual curiosity and how that connects to Columbia’s specific academic environment.
It’s less about declaring a fixed major and more about showing that your interests come from real experiences and that Columbia’s resources will help you take them further.
Students should focus on the specifics of their academic interests and clearly link them to what Columbia offers.
Show continuity, how past experiences built your interest, how Columbia will expand it, and what you hope to explore next.
Columbia's Academic Interest Essay Example
Conway’s Game of Life begins with a simple rule: some cells die, others survive, and a new one is born. From that seed, infinite complexity unfolds, a reminder that small beginnings can lead to intricate systems.
This idea first made me question determinism. Do we, like those cells, truly have free will, or are we bound by our environments? My self-study of psychology in high school let me explore how thought patterns are shaped before we even recognize them.
When I code, the same paradox fasc...
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Recap
This is Columbia’s academic-interest essay. Highlight the intellectual thread connecting your past to your future, and tie it directly to Columbia’s unique programs, faculty, or philosophy.
Authentic enthusiasm backed by specifics will always read stronger than prestige-driven praise.
What is Columbia looking for in your essays?
The 2025-2026 Columbia writing supplement asks students primarily about
- How they engage with the world
- How they learn and nourish their curiosity about the world
- How they navigate the communities they live in and the diverse perspectives and viewpoints they encounter
In other words, Columbia is looking for students who:
- Are intellectually curious self-learners
- Are Self-aware and resilient
- Can engage productively and constructively in community life marked by diversity: academic, social, cultural, and intellectual diversity, within student life and across New York's multidimensional and cosmopolitan urban offerings.
Columbia tells prospective applicants,
We ask about...
books and news sources — because books are a big part of our curriculum and our student body is very politically engaged...
entertainment and the arts — because of our location in New York City...
community — because Columbia's campus community is incredibly diverse...
General Guidelines for Answering Columbia's Supplemental Essay Questions
- Deep Dive into Columbia's Offerings: Columbia's prompts are tailored to understand your fit within its academically rigorous and culturally diverse environment. Highlight specific programs, courses, or professors that align with your interests. Demonstrating this level of specificity indicates genuine interest and thorough research.
- Reflect on Personal Growth: Columbia values introspective students. When discussing challenges or personal perspectives, always circle back to what these experiences have taught you and how they've shaped your worldview.
- Celebrate Your Unique Perspective: Columbia thrives on various voices and backgrounds. Emphasize how your unique experiences or viewpoints will enrich classroom discussions and the broader Columbia community.
- Authenticity Above All: Be genuine in your responses. Rather than trying to fit a mold, showcase your true self, interests, and aspirations. Authentic narratives resonate more deeply.
- Conciseness is Key: With tight word limits, it's essential to be concise yet impactful. Prioritize depth over breadth, giving a comprehensive view of selected experiences or thoughts.
- Engaging Narratives: Engaging storytelling can elevate your essay. Whether you're listing resources that have shaped your intellectual journey or explaining why you're drawn to Columbia, a narrative touch can make your response memorable.
- Meticulous Proofreading: Ensure your essays are polished and free from errors. Beyond grammar, ensure clarity and coherence in your narrative. Seek feedback from trusted individuals for fresh perspectives.
- Connect to the Columbia Experience: Relate your answers to how you'll engage with and contribute to the Columbia community. This showcases a long-term vision of your time at Columbia beyond just securing admission.
- Embrace the Opportunity: These essays are more than just a formality; they're your platform to present a holistic picture of who you are. Use them to articulate why the synergy between you and Columbia would benefit both.
- Stay Updated: Columbia, situated in the heart of New York City, is ever-evolving. Stay updated with recent developments, courses, or initiatives that might align with your interests.
Columbia's supplemental essays offer one crucial opportunity for showcasing a strong fit, revealing authentic personal passions, and for demonstrating the unique ways you personally will navigate and contribute constructively to the school's amazing community of motivated, but intellectually diverse, pool of students. By thoughtfully crafting your responses and intertwining them with Columbia's ethos and offerings, you can compellingly convey why you're a perfect match for Columbia University and use these essays to help your application and personality stand out.
Final Thoughts
Embarking on the journey to Columbia is not just about showcasing academic prowess but weaving a narrative that aligns with Columbia's esteemed legacy and the admissions committee's expectations.
If you're unsure whether your essay truly captures your essence or stands out amidst many applications, our Crimson consultants work every day with students like you, guiding application strategies and academic growth, including matching students with patient and skilled essay mentors on our team.
If you're wondering if Crimson is a good fit for your college goals, learn more about our story, sign up for some of our consultant-led webinars, and get inspired by seeing where our students are gaining offers.
To put your dream of becoming a part of Columbia's legacy on a more steady and certain course, reach out and schedule a free consultation with a consultant from our team and discover how Crimson's world leading college admissions counseling services, tailored to your goals and challenges, can make all the difference in getting you into Columbia.