Introduction to Columbia University/ School of Engineering and Applied Science

Columbia's tradition in engineering and applied science education traces back to the chartering of King's College in 1754. Steamboat inventor John Stevens graduated from the college a few years before the Revolutionary War, and DeWitt Clinton, the statesman responsible for the Erie Canal, earned his Columbia degree in 1786. Columbia's legacy of engineering instruction continued in the nineteenth century and was formalized in 1864 with the founding of the engineering school, the third oldest in the country.

As the Engineering School has diversified and grown, it has built an enduring reputation as a center of research excellence in select fields and as Alma Mater to generations of alumni who have shaped academic departments and industrial research programs across the country. In 1997, Z.Y.Fu and The Fu Foundation announced a gift of $26 million, designed broadly for "support of engineering excellence at Columbia," and more specifically for support of faculty and the enhancement of interdisciplinary research in areas of emerging strength.

Retrospectively, I appreciate Columbia far more than I thought possible; conversations with friends, both recent's graduates and not-so-recent graduates, seem to indicate that this is the norm. It is rare that one appreciates the intangible lessons and experiences of life-especially as an undergraduate while they are being taught; rather one looks back to treasure the good times and internalize the experiences. SEAS exposed me to a rigorous technical engineer program, as well as an insightful liberal arts curriculum, but it also taught me to be resourceful and to be prepared to walk through any doors leading to opportunity.

An immediate measure of the benefits of the naming gift from the ease within FU Foundation has been the addition of more than forty-five new faculty members, representing a fifty percent increase within the past decade. While the faculty has grown, class size has not increased, so an already impressive student-to-faculty has gotten even better, and now stands at 10:1.

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Introduction to Bates College

Choosing the right college or university is often thought of as a difficult task. One obvious reason for this perception is that many college applicants are preoccupied with the academic, social, and athletic rigors of their senior year in high school. Deeper examination may reveal that the student is struggling with the important task of discovering exactly who they are. The successful choosing of the right college, in fact, involves a recognition and understanding of the true identity of an individual. It is also a reflection of what he or she wishes to become.

Bates College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine. The school is known for its excellent academics, internationally distinguished debate team, competitive athletics, and its history. The college was founded in 1855, as the college course catalog states, " by people who felt strongly about human freedom and civil rights. Bates is among the oldest coeducational colleges in the nation and from its beginning the college admitted students without regard to race, religion, national origin or sex."

From its creation, the college has never had fraternities and sororities. College activities are open to all its students. These long-held values of  Bates pervade every aspect of the college, and are what makes it unique. Walk on the campus and talk to the students, the faculty, and the staff. talk to the people who make up what Bates is today. In these conversations, the values and ideals upon which the school was founded become obvious. There is a warmth in the interaction, a "friendliness" that over the years remains a characteristic of the typical Batesie.

 I asked a friend about his college selection process, and his response often echoes what other students say of Bates:

I loved Bates from the first time I set foot on the campus. There is something about the college, the feel of the quad, the people who inhabit this place, that makes Bates so inviting that makes Bates "friendly". In the summer before my senior  year of high school, I visited about fifteen schools in several different regions of the country. In pursuit of a good education, and following my heart, I decided to apply Early Decision, I liked this obvious reasons for wanting to attend Bates, which were advertised in the viewbook, but I also liked the excellent facilities, the small size that allows one to get to know a lot of different people well, and also gives everyone the opportunity to make a difference, I also liked the cohesiveness of Bates, which can be seen in the absence of fraternities and sororities thus helping to remove social barriers and in the committed and accessible faculty.

Bates has much to offer its students. In addition to its human resources of faculty and staff, Bates continues to be committed to providing the latest equipment and finest facilities for its students. The new $35 million Dining Commons is under construction. Pettengill Hall opened in the fall of 1999. This five-storey building is the home of the social science departments with classrooms, offices, and an atrium overlooking Lake Andrews or, as the students call it, "the puddle". There are lots of opportunities for research with faculty. In a 2003 senior survey, more than twenty-five percent of respondents reported that they participated in a faculty member's research project.

The Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area is 574 acres of salt marsh and rocky forested terrain adjacent to one of the last undisturbed barrier beaches where Bates students and faculty can study geology, botany, and zoology. In addition, the college owns eighty acres of freshwater habitat just north of the conservation area.

From electron microscopes to the Olin Arts Center, from the Davis Fitness Center to having the entire campus hooked up to a computer network and being Internet ready, Bates provides an environment in which students enjoy the benefits of attending a large university, while getting the personal educational experience of a small college.

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Introduction to Carleton College

Aerial View of Carleton College

Driving down rural Highway 19 in southeast Minnesota amidst farms and cornfields it's hard to imagine that one of the country's best liberal arts colleges lies just out of sight. Nestled in the small town of Northfield, Carleton attracts a talented, diverse, and intelligent group of students, many of whom were initially considering matriculation at the Ivies. In fact, what sets Carleton apart from its East Coast counterparts is that the campus atmosphere, while intensely intellectual, is at the same time laid-back and friendly. Strangers really do smile at each other in passing, and even in the middle of finals or midterms, Carls can be seen tossing a frisbee in the middle of campus or building snow forts in the subarctic Minnesotan winters.

Residence Hall of Carleton College

In typical Carleton style, the college just celebrated the 140th anniversary of its founding with celebratory cupcakes during the half-time of its homecoming football game. Although the rural college still maintains its Midwestern humility, its student body hails from forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and more than thirty foreign countries. Carls come from a wide range of socioeconomic, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, so there really isn't a "typical" Carleton student. Carls often discover their classmates unique perspectives not just in the classroom but also in late-night conversations with their roommates, over a team dinner after sports practice, or on walks with friends in the college's arboretum.

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Admission Requirements for Columbia University

Admission at Columbia University's FU Foundation, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) is highly competitive. Either SAT or the ACT is required. Additionally, SAT Subject Tests are required in the areas: Mathematics (either level I or II), Chemistry or Physics, and Writing. For students taking the new SAT with writing, or the ACT with writing, students are not required to take the SAT II Subject Writing test. In addition to the standardized examination requirements, it is expected that each applicant has had sufficient preparation in high school to maintain competitive standings while enrolled at Columbia. It is recommended that the high school preparation courses include:

• mathematics courses including calculus
• one year of chemistry
• one year of physics
• four years of English
• three to four years of history or social science
• two to three years of a foreign language

Admission Requirement of Columbia University

In addition to coursework requirements, in consideration for admission to SEAS, a written evaluation from a guidance counselor or college advisor is expected. Also expected as part of the applicant's file are two recommendations from teachers of academic subjects, including one from a mathematics teacher. A personal essay is also a required part of the application.

As in most other aspects of life at Columbia, admission is based on balance. Academic standing alone is not the only attribute used to measure a student's potential to be a successful and integral member of SEAS. While Advanced Placement or honors placement in high school are important factors, also weighted is the applicant's extracurricular activities record as well as evidence of special talent. Further, a substantive and sincere interest in engineering should be demonstrated.

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Academic Life of Columbia University

Since the founding of the school in 1864 as the nation's first engineering school within a liberal arts college, the University has always placed engineering and applied science in its broadest intellectual context. The school's graduates, shapes of industrial and academic programs across the country, have been educated, not trained.

From their first days as undergraduates, Columbia's engineers work to master scientific fundamentals problems, problem-solving, and original thinking. To give the broad perspective necessary for a successful career, first and second year undergraduate students take courses from different disciplines within the University that include Columbia's famed Core Curriculum in the humanities as well as professional courses in individual engineering disciplines. Columbia SEAS is committed to educating the whole person to ensure students have both the fundamental technical knowledge and the professional skills required to participate in the rapidly changing technological environment. This integrated approach to engineering education begins from the start of the first year.

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Admission Requirements for Caltech

Caltech is not everyone, and getting in is not easy. By campus tradition, the target size of the freshman class is always 215-the number of seats in the physics lecture hall. Compare that to the fact that 2,760 applications were received and the 551 letters of admission that were sent in 2005; do the math and you'll see that it is a highly selective process. Although there are no strict requirements for test scores, the academic achievements of the freshman class are always very high. The middle SAT I scores range from 700-770 Verbal and 780-800 Math; eighty-eight percent graduated in the top tenth of their high school class.

 As a Caltech alum, I often speak to high school students about admission to Caltech, and they always ask, "How can I be sure that I will get in"? My answer, of course, is that there is no sure way, but there are definitely things that you can do to increase your chances. Take the most challenging courses offered at your high school. Look for ways that you can express your love of science outside of school. Ask for recommendation from teachers who really know you and what makes you tick, and who are willing to write about you in depth. And finally, spend time on your application essays! Your essays speak for you to the admissions committee, and they want to hear you have to say, not what you think they want to hear.

Although those numbers look daunting, there is no blueprint for getting in to Caltech. The admissions process at Caltech is not formulaic. The Undergraduate Admissions Office has only six admissions officers, but they get help from faculty and students in reading applications. The Freshman Admissions Committee includes sixteen faculty and sixteen undergraduate students. Each member of the Admissions Committee brings his or her own personal experiences of Caltech, and they work together to find and admit those students who fit best with Caltech. There are a few qualities that Caltech always looks for in its applicants: a strong interest in mathematics, science, or engineering, high academic ability, and demonstrated initiative in their approach to learning.

Caltech admission has a knack for evaluating applicants for the intangible quality of being a good scientist, and in such cases can overlook blemishes in grades or test scores.

The goal of the Admissions Committee is to admit students who will become the "creative type of scientist" that Caltech seeks to produce. Members of the committee find these students by carefully reviewing the more subjective parts of the application-essays, choice of high school curriculum, extracurricular activities, and teacher evaluations. Caltech also encourages prospective students to attach a research paper to their application, which is one of the best ways to evaluate how well an applicant will do in a research-oriented environment. Caltech loves to find students who take an active role in their won education, and who pursue opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.

The only absolute requirement for coming to Caltech is a passion for science. Through Caltech's core curriculum, students who enroll don't get to choose whether or not they take science classes. This does not mean that applicants need to be one-dimensional; Caltech students are actually required to take more humanities courses than science majors at most other schools. A strong love of science is a must, though, those with just a casual interest need not apply.

The key to admission to Caltech is passion. An applicant must demonstrate a passion for learning, for life, and for science through activities outside the classroom. We focus more on how you spend your free time than on your test scores and class rank, because being successful at Caltech takes more than brains and more than diligence; it takes a lot for what you are doing.

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Social Life and Activities of Carleton College

If you think that the process of "getting an education" at Carleton only applies to hours spent in the classroom or studying in the Libe, think again. Much of the "learning" that happens at Carleton occurs during the conversations between classes with a floor-mate, in late-night broom-ball competitions, or while trying to organize a campus-wide event with a group of friends. But really, what does happen when you get a community of almost 2,000 incredibly interesting and talented young people together? Something pretty interesting.

Residence Halls

Carleton is first and foremost a residential campus, so all first-year students and the majority of all students live in the nine residence halls (or dorms) on campus. Every dorm is coed and mixed by class year. Freshmen will live in one of seven dorms (they don't live in two dorms because their layout isn't conductive to proper freshmen "floor bonding") and will be assigned to one or two roommates. Living in close quarters with a diverse group of people for an entire school year can be a challenging, yet ultimately rewarding experience. Dorm floors become small communities of their own, and many of them band together in intramural broom-ball games or as cast and crew of an annual campus-wide video-making competition called DVD Fest.

The chief overseers of the floor living communities are Resident Assistants, or RAs. RAs are upper class students who have all applied for the job and have been trained to handle many of the situations that might arise in a dorm environment. Two RAs are assigned to live on each dorm floor, and they are good resources for first-year student making the transition to life at college.

Upper-class students progressively get more living options as their seniority grows. After their first year, students can apply to live in special interest houses like the Sustainable Living house or the Jewish Interest house. Some juniors and seniors  can apply for Northfield Option, which means that they can live in privately owned houses or apartments in town. A few lucky seniors (and maybe some very lucky juniors and sophomores) get to live in college-owned townhouses, the cushiest campus living.

Clubs and Activities

At the beginning of every school year, each student is given a Lagniappe, Carleton's very own daily planner. It's a good thing to have around campus because schedules can get complicated very quickly. Besides class periods, assignment due dates, and readings to follow, a Carleton student will probably want to keep track of things like club meetings, performances, volunteer events, intramural games, and dates to hang out at the local coffee shop. All students are part of the Carleton Student Association (CSA), and elected officers form a student government that influences college policy and allocates funding to student organizations. There are over 150 "official" student organizations on campus to satisfy just about everyone's interests, whether it be religious, athletic, political, artistic, cultural, intellectual, or just plain goofy. If there isn't a club for a particular group of Caris, they can easily start their own

Students often find a sense of camaraderie in the club that they join because they are drawn together by a collective enthusiasm, and sometimes passion, for a particular subject or cause. Because students have a broad and often unique range of interests, it's hard to peg people into certain groups. The captain of the rugby team might also be involved in the outdoor enthusiast association and the campus alliance against gun violence, or the awkward guy who helps you out with your calculus homework is also a member of a comedy improv group.

AFRISA Group

Being Nigerian means so much to me and I wanted to make sure that I did not forget that when, I went to college. Joining AFRISA (African Students Association) was like meeting all of my brothers and sisters and getting to know a place I had not seen in so long. It's role is to make sure that the spirit of Africa that lives inside every African student on campus has a voice.....and that voice is heard.

Community Involvement

Northfield's population of just over 17,000 people includes students from the town's two colleges, and this inclusive measurement goes to show how much the town relies upon college students to be involved residents. But what does it mean to be a Carleton student and also live in a small town in the middle of cornfields? First of all, there's plenty of opportunity to get invested in a small but vibrant community. Carleton's Acting in the Community Together (ACT) office is a place that helps studetns find service opportunities in the Northfield area. From playing with puppies on Friday afternoons at the local animal shelter to traveling to rural Arkansas to help out with a Habitat for Humanity project during spring break, the ACT office gives Carls plenty of opportunities to get involved and stay involved.

Many students work as peer leaders in many different offices on campus. Carleton's Resident advisors, Intercultural Peer Leaders, Gender and Sexuality Center Associates, Student Wellness Advisors, Chaplain's Associates, and Student Departmental Advisors are constantly working to make Carleton a welcome and inclusive campus for all students. They frequently host guest speakers, panel discussions, open houses, movies, and other events to educate and inform the entire campus community.

Fine Arts

KRLX Organization

Two of the largest student organizations are KRLX, Carleton's very own radio station, and Ebony 11, a dance troupe open to anyone (like just about all Carleton groups). Over 200 students are involved in each club each term-as DJs, newscasters, and engineers for the round-the-clock FM station, or as dancers in one or many of the Ebony 11 shows that debut near midterms, Students wanting to get more involved in dance can try out for Semaphore Repertory Dance Company, take classes ranging from ballet to moving anatomy, or even apply for a special major. Every year a few students also apply for special majors in theater, and there are many opportunities for Caris with a wide range of abilities and interest levels to get involved in theatrical productions. Every year students write, direct, and perform in a program of one-act plays or put on larger faculty-directed Players shows that go up in the large Arena Theater. Students can also participate in a number of CSA-sponsored theatrical and comedy groups that usually perform several times a term.

Ebony 11 dance troupe

If there's one thing there isn't a lack of on campus, its's singing groups. There are seven a cappella groups, many of which you can sometimes hear practicing in dorm stairwells singing anything from The Postal Service to traditional Irish airs. There are also a number of choir ensembles, as well as an orchestra, a symphony band, a jazz ensemble, an African drum ensemble, and many other smaller groups for those who are musically inclined. Those who are interested can learn how to play the sitar, as Carleton offers music lessons to both beginners and advanced musicians for many different instruments.

Carleton offers a wide range of publications to inform, entertain, and educate the student body. The campus weekly newspaper, The Carletonian, has been an independent source of new since 1887. From the wacky and often cynical articles in the Carleton Literacy Association Paper (the CLAP) to the heated political debates published in the The Observer, there's something for everyone. There are also several more artistic and literary journals around campus for students to debut and share their work.

Athletics

Whether its varsity soccer or intramural dodge-ball, Carleton students will support their teammates and make lasting friends inside and outside the field, court, or pool.

There are twenty-one NCAA Division III varsity teams at Carleton who compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, one of the strongest Division III sports conferences in the country. Men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and diving, and women's soccer and volleyball have been particularly successful in the past few years. While varsity sports are a large commitment, student athletes are no different than their friends, lacrosse, and equestrian teams.

Most students get involved in intramural leagues, which are truly open to any student with any type of sports ability. Many students get involved in intramural through their dorm floor teams, and others get involved through academic department squads. One of the most beloved intramural is broom ball-the perfect excuse to run around late at night in subfreezing weather and not feel cold. For those not wanting to brave the cold more than they already have to, there are also Frisbee, sand volleyball, 3 on 3 basketball, dodge ball,indoor soccer and tennis intramural leagues as well.

Many students will do a pilgrimage to Carleton's fairly new Recreation Center especially in the winter months. The Rec Center features a fully equipped fitness center, as well as a climbing wall, a bouldering gym, multipurpose courts, racquetball and squash courts, and a dance/yoga studio.Students can sign up to take classes like yoga and kick boxing through the Rec Center. There are also two lap-swimming pools on campus available for student use. In the fall and summer months, Carls will take advantage of the seemingly endless running trails in the 880-acre Cowling Arboretum, or Arb (President Oden claims to have run on every single one of them). In the winter, students can check out cross-country ski from the Rec Center and explore the miles of trail while hurling a few snowballs to a friends. Whatever the sport, Carleton students will stay active all year long and make like they're having fun doing it.

Making the Most of Campus

Since Carleton is a full-time residential college, the social scene is very campus-centric. In any given week or weekend, there are countless speakers, exhibits, community meetings, movies, presentations, gatherings, festivals, performances, and parties to attend. Sometimes it can be quite overwhelming. If there's one thing Carls know how to do, it's how to have fun, both inside and outside of academic activities.

Carleton does a good job of providing various types of events and social opportunities for its eclectic student body. The social atmosphere on campus is pretty laid back, and most feel that they're free to do what they want, with whom they want, and when they want. On a Friday night, Carls can watch and talk about Anime movies, sled down icy hills on lunch trays, or catch up with friends at a party, among a million other activities. There aren't any sororities or fraternities on campus, and the vast majority of social events on campus are open to all students. Members of the CSA-sponsored "Party Crew" will even help any group of students put on a unique all-campus party, whether it's a Bar Mitzvah or a Luau on Mai Fete Island.

The social atmosphere on campus is pretty liberal, and xenophobic. Homophobic, sexiest, and racist attitudes are not tolerated inside or outside the classroom. But students aren't just tolerant, and the college itself makes an effort to help student organizations that foster campus inclusiveness. In fact, Carleton was one of the first colleges in Minnesota, and perhaps the United States, to give institutional support to a campus Gender and Sexuality Center and the Queers and Allies

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