Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Eventually, everything burns. Because, rooted, I can’t run. Does that mean, the next time I grow, It should only be leaves and flowers? 'The Wildfire', though now in verse, was painted years ago b

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Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

Leadership in the conscript environment of national service was challenging. When I first stepped into Platoon Command, I faced a group of strangers, diverse in age, education, and experience but loos

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Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

Ingrained since infancy, art remains the monolith of my family's proud Bengali heritage: an artist grandmother and a father who used to paint. A member of school art clubs and a student at the Nanyang

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Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Byron Williams' Analysis and Management of Animal Populations inspired me to explore quantitative ecology. Referred to his book by classroom mathematics enthusiasts, I studied his chapters on Markov C

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What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of classes, extracurriculars, and volunteering island-wide. Nonetheless, while Singapore reached the peak of its crisis in May, the International Bac

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List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy. (100 words)

Books: Woman at Point Zero, Nawal El Saadawi The Poppy War, R. F. Kuang The Harvest, Amy Hempel Black Swan, Eve Babitz The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath Circe, Madeline Miller The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd

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A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community. (150 words)

Singaporean schoolchildren learn gratitude – we didn’t always have the skyscrapers of Shenton Way. 1960s Singapore struggled with poverty, which was only overcome through the leadership of our foundin

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In college, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant's ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words)

Prone to fights and malingering, the only unifying factor in my conscript platoon was a single sentence – “I hate the Army”. Yet, as their Lieutenant, I was to teach them Army Reconnaissance. To inst

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Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words)

As an aspiring leader for marine sustainability, I aim to learn from Columbia’s environmental projects and apply my insights to marine protection. From joining the Climate and Life Initiative’s invest

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Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (250 words)

Since Primary School, all Singaporean children are taught to be grateful – we didn’t always have the skyscrapers of Shenton Way. In the 1960s, Singapore struggled with poverty, which was overcome thro

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Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

Forrest Gump stands beside his wife’s headstone and carefully places their son’s letter beside a bouquet. I’ve seen this scene dozens of times. Yet, as always, I burst into tears. Regardless of film

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What three words best describe you? (3 words)

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Most meaningful extracurricular commitment. (100 words)

Volunteering shut down island-wide during the pandemic, but the International Baccalaureate remained adamant we achieved mandatory service hours regardless. To help struggling friends meet graduation

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If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

'Historical Freediving: An Experiential Approach' Freediving – diving with nothing but the air in your lungs – is an ancient sport. By exploring its origins in South American Chinchorro civilizations

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Why Brown? (50 words)

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