Getting deferred from Early Decision is really disappointing. You picked a school, Columbia College or the School of Engineering at Columbia, and said “yes, this is my perfect fit.” Then you went through the effort of applying Early Decision — and it didn’t pan out. You are well within your right to be frustrated and disappointed. But you also weren’t rejected. You have the chance to turn this around, or to launch into another great option. Basically, the stage lights are still on, and the curtain hasn’t dropped. You’re still in this.

It feels weird introducing Columbia, like, come on, this school canonically exists both in the Marvel and Sex and the City Universes (yeah, both Miranda and Spider-Man are alums). However, just in case, Columbia is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. Founded in 1754, Columbia is the fifth oldest institution of higher education in the US. They have extended their test-optional policy again this year. However, once we said "Ivy League," you should have probably been able to guess that it is hard to get in. Last year, their acceptance rate was around 3.8%. If you want to get into Columbia, you need to be the complete package, and part of that is writing a great supplement.

For more than 250 years, Columbia University in New York City has led the conversation academically and culturally. The community is passionate, engaged, and lively. Sometimes really lively. And they like being in the heart of the action. Most of all, though, they’re smart. Students at Columbia want to be at the forefront of whatever it is they are passionate about, whether it’s through assisting with research, working in a lab, or pushing a field forward.

Columbia University is a member of the iconic Ivy League, and one of the best-known universities globally. Based on the island of Manhattan in New York City, it has the unique characteristic of being a traditionally laid-out university in the middle of a fast-moving urban center. Step off campus, and taxis are whizzing by. Step onto campus, and you’re immediately surrounded by grand classical architecture. We’d call it calming, which it is most days, but Columbia is also known for being deeply social-justice motivated and students aren’t shy about making their opinions known. Sometimes, it gets quite lively. It’s a community, though, through thick-and-thin, and many members of our team at TKG are proud to call Columbia our alma mater.