Q: Why did you choose to study at Columbia College?

A: I’m a native New Yorker, but I didn’t venture much out of my Brooklyn bubble growing up. Columbia’s exciting location — combined with students of many different backgrounds and experiences — extended my world to New York City and beyond. Columbia College checked all the boxes most important to me in choosing a college: academic rigor, the Core Curriculum and a diverse, collaborative student community.

Q: What do you feel sets Columbia College apart from other colleges?

A: For me, it’s the students and the Core Curriculum. Interacting with students who come from all over the world and have different socioeconomic backgrounds in the same space is an experience like no other. The Core Curriculum put me in spaces with students with different perspectives, majors and academic interests. Columbia has a unique ability to foster collaborative learning by connecting all corners of the world and society.

Q: How has the Core Curriculum impacted your undergraduate experience?

A: The Core Curriculum unites brilliant minds to form the academic groundwork needed to appreciate the knowledge gained at Columbia College. We may study the same information, but we ingest and interact with it differently. In just my first year, I gained new insight from my peers and my Core classes: Literature Humanities, University Writing, Frontiers of Science, a Language Core and a Science core. What's wonderful about the Core is that these seminars continue throughout your undergraduate experience. The Core is the basis of my Columbia education, meaning that I will be constantly challenged and uncover new information through the courses I choose.

Q: What academic interests are you excited to explore at the College?

A: I’m especially eager to explore sustainable development, architecture and urban studies. Everything has a purpose and a place in this world; I want to figure out how this purpose and place works and is reinforced, especially in urban areas. I’ve always had a curiosity for efficient design because of the limited space and accessibility of my home in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. I would like to not only give back to my community in New York City, but also I’m interested in the architectural and sustainable development scene that is rapidly changing in the Dominican Republic — where I was born and some of family still lives. I desire to gain the knowledge to effectively assist both of my communities through my College courses in the upcoming years. Columbia allows me to investigate these interests even if a subject happens to be outside of my major.

Q: Can you describe the feeling when you received your financial aid letter?

A: As a first-generation, low-income college student, tuition cost was my main concern when applying to college. I wanted to immerse myself in a university that would enable my academic growth, yet, the heavy price tags of the top schools I was considering made my educational dreams seem unattainable. Columbia was my number one choice, and receiving my financial aid letter was a significant relief. Columbia’s aid allowed me to be a student. Having the ability to focus on my education completely without worrying about when the next bill would arrive provided both me and my family financial peace of mind.