noticed the astounding degree of intellectual thinking and involvement that defines the school.
I guess you already submitted this, but I wanted to mention an idea anyway, in case it helps you. "Intellectual thinking and involvement" are very vague. If you don't specify what you mean, it sounds like you are just throwing words around, the words you think the reader wants to hear. If you make a statement like this, it is best to back it up with an example to explain what you mean.
Columbia offers innumerable opportunities that cater to all of my interests, academic or otherwise. ---Here again, it is too vague to be meaningful.
BUT in the second half of the essay you give lots of good examples. I think the second half is very strong... and really, the whole thing is strong. I'm just nitpicking.
:-)