Columbia book list supplement?

Hey everyone! I heard that Columbia might have a book list supplement where you list the books you've read over the past year. Is this true? If so, how have you guys approached this and what kind of books should we list? Thanks!

Yes, Columbia University does have a book list supplement as part of their application. They ask you to provide a list of books, articles, or other texts you've read for pleasure, schoolwork, or intellectual curiosity in the past year. The purpose of this supplement is for the admissions committee to gain insight into your intellectual interests and see how you engage with different literary or informational materials.

When approaching this supplement, it's important to be honest and authentic. List books and texts that genuinely interest you and have made an impact on your intellectual growth, opinions, or worldview. That being said, try to include a diverse array of books that showcase different interests and genres.

Your list can include fiction, non-fiction, classic literature, articles from reputable magazines, scientific journals, and even poetry. It's okay to include books from your coursework if they truly piqued your interest, but also make sure to include texts that reveal your personal intellectual pursuits outside of the classroom.

Avoid listing books merely because they are considered "impressive" or highly regarded if they don't hold any genuine significance to you. The admissions committee is more interested in understanding who you are and what drives your curiosity, rather than seeing a list of popular or academically challenging books that you may not have actually connected with.

For more in-depth advice on tackling this supplement, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-columbia-university-essays

Take this opportunity to show the admissions committee a glimpse of your intellectual life, and don't stress too much over creating a "perfect" book list. Good luck with your application!