transfer short answer: Why Columbia? a sense of community, unique bond

Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why:

What appeals to me most about Columbia is its unique sense of community, which I struggle to find at BU. Columbia's location in New York City provides students with a myriad of opportunities for internships and immersion into a rich cultural scene. For me, it means an opportunity to jumpstart a career in one of the world's most influential cities, admire architectural splendors like Mies' Seagram Building, and visit the MET on a regular basis. At the same time, Columbia's compact and small undergraduate population create a secure and welcoming environment, a nice contrast to the commotion of city life. Living in Boston and taking shuttles to class on a scattered campus has been a valuable learning experience in independence, but living in a dorm that lacks common rooms among 18,000 fellow undergraduates has made me yearn for a better sense of community. While most colleges establish it by simply encouraging students to join extracurriculars, Columbia goes above and beyond that by using academics. At BU, students gravitate towards others within their own specialized schools and it is possible for one to never take a class unrelated to a chosen area of study. Columbia's Core, however, connects all students, no matter how different their future plans are. It creates a bond not only between classmates, but also between past, current, and future generations of Columbians. It is a bond that transcends professions, races, continents, and time and it'd be an honor to be a part of it.

That's all I could find wrong. It's really good. However, I do not find anything interesting about this. I don't wanna sound harsh, but I wanna help you get into Columbia. I feel like a lot of this essay was found on Columbia's homepage. They know they have a great sense of community filled with so many cultures. Heck! They're in NYC, one of the most diverse cities in the world. I say talk about how horrible your current institution is, or change your topic. Is there a certain organization that you love? What specifically is it that you love about NYC? The essay is alright right now, but I would probably just skim through it and then forget about it. There's nothing interesting.

I know you can do it. I like your diction. Now, change the topic. Good luck and I hope you get in!!!!! :D

I do agree with ralph_rodgers, that you can maybe talk about how horrible your current institution.
But I mean, it feels like your complaining about BU. It's like an essay with the topic, 'the difference between BU and Colombia'.Try to focus more on your own needs and reasons. Specifiy it with more details. :) The reason that you've given, they can fit into any other student applying to Colombia.

But maybe the AO hates BU, and you get bonus :DD

Good luck

Olga, Yvonne, and Ralph, you are all such impressive EssayForum members. We're lucky to have you all here.

This essay should be separated into three succinct paragraphs, I think.

It's funny, I have heard a lot of people say the same thing about BU!! Good luck, I hope you love the next school.

it is possible for one to never take a class unrelated to a chosen area of study. --This part is not very clear.

Anyway, let's not write so much about BU. Can you write a little more specifically about your clear intentions for the future? Add some sentences that show how well-developed your plan is and how well developed and specific your interests are within your chosen field. Show that you are excited about your chosen field and about some specific resources at Columbia.. perhaps a specific club associated with your interests.

Cut this stuff about location; write only about your plan and your specific interests, a book you are currently reading, and articles you have been reading about Columbia or written by Columbia professors.

And I think you should only have 1-2 sentence about what BU lacks.
:-)