Is Columbia University in a lively and fun city? Yep! Is the student body between 5,000 and 7,000, a perfect number of students? You bet! Is the academic program one of the best in the world? Correct! When I visited Columbia University last year, I knew that this was the institution for me. An Ivy League education in the heart of New York City. For what more could someone ask?

The second I walked on campus, I could see myself here, unlike the other schools I had visited. I first got on the subway in time square and traveled north up to the 116th Street stop. I was happy to see that I was still in New York City, but it was more of a residential area. There was not a huge crowd of people flooding the sidewalks, which was relieving. The architecture that was presented to me was historical and unique. I started to walk through the campus and was surprised to see a grass quad! It was strange to see a field of grass in the middle of NYC. Unlike the other concrete campuses of the other universities in New York City, Columbia had a grass field to help divide up the campus. This grass would be a reminder of life outside of the city.

After I browsed the campus, I then went on a informational speech in its university center. I heard of the great academic opportunities and about Columbia’s core curriculum. The core curriculum requires students to take a wide variety of subjects while attending Columbia. This allows students to come out of college with a wide variety of knowledge, unlike other universities where students focus on one subject. I would focus on engineering at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering, but I would also be able to take courses in English, history, and economics. Unlike other schools where I would be a solely Engineering focused student, at Columbia I would be well rounded and diverse in my knowledge. This is a major reason why I would love to attend Columbia University.

The choice of which university to attend is very nerve racking, but I now know Columbia is the perfect fit for me. I would be taught by world class professors, surrounded with a diverse and intriguing student body, all while living in the most influential city in the world, New York City. Columbia University is my dream of a school.