masagold
masagold,
Columbia
B.A., Philosophy
jazz guitarist, philosophy major, pre-law, coffee-lover
Features Included
4
Essays
12
Schools
9
Scores
5
Advice
3
ECs
1
Sports

Background

Hometown Bloomington, Illinois
GenderFemale
EthnicityAsian
Class of2023
First Gen College StudentNo

Results, Essays, and Advice

Accepted
Waitlisted or Withdrew
Denied
  • Columbia University (New York, NY)
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)
  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
  • Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
  • University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
  • University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
  • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
  • Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
Tap/click a school logo above to view essays and advice specific to that school.

Columbia University (New York, NY)

Applied for a B.A. in Philosophy

Accepted and Enrolled Legacy: No

School Specific Essays

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.
Bloomington Normal is almost laughably cliché for a midwestern city. Vast swathes of corn envelop winding roads and the heady smell of BBQ smoke pervades the countryside every summer. Yet, underlying the trite norms of Normal is the prescriptive force of tradition—the expectation to fulfill my role as a female Filipino by playing Debussy in the yearly piano festival and enrolling in multivariable calculus instead of political philosophy. So when I discovered the technical demand of bebop, the triplet...
Read more...
Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
Many debate whether Plato’s Republic is more important to political philosophy or ethics. To think of the book as political philosophy is understandable; after all, it’s called Republic. Yet, these political ideas are stated with the understanding that the Republic Plato speaks of serves as a parallel to the human soul. Although everyone always expected me to study math, philosophy offered an entirely different world. A freshman year reading of The Stranger left me confused, and then intrigued,...
Read more...
A lot of people can vividly describe the first time they listened to their favorite album. There’s some moment of cathartic release when everything clicks and the music feels so closely like home. My infatuation with Channel Orange, though, was a gradual development. At first I simply liked how it sounded. The album is a work of sonic decadence—Frank Ocean’s mellow croon overlays a swirl of glittering analogue synths where every nuance of warm mids and crisp...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay
140 Words
Prompt #1: In 150 words or fewer, please list a few words or phrases that describe your ideal college community.
Characterized by constant academic and cultural exploration, where students discover groundbreaking ideas and culture by attending a guest speaker lecture or a Sofar Sounds Concert in an unfamiliar borough. Collaborative, featuring a dedicated core of musicians and jazz ensembles on campus who gather for jam sessions or gigs at nearby venues, constituting a supportive, close-knit community. Engaged, offering opportunities to write for insightful publications that examine both issues on campus and in the city with a critical eye. Challenging, nurturing...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Amusing anecdote
252 Words
Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better. (250 words or fewer)
Recently when I visited the Museum of Failure, one product stood out to me: Colgate brand Lasagna. Delicious. I laughed at the oxymoronic nature of the product, but I realized the only difference between me and poor Colgate Lasagna man is that I have a pressure valve to let off my weirder ideas: my naps. Sometimes I actually sleep, but other times I lie with my eyes closed and my mind drifting aimlessly. It’s cathartic to let my brain...
Read more...
Supplemental Essay: Other
260 Words
Tell us something that is meaningful to you, and why? (Staford)



Write on something you would like us to know about you that you have not conveyed elsewhere in your application. (Yale)



What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you? (USC)



What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. (Carnegie Mellon)
A lot of people can vividly describe the first time they listened to their favorite album. There is some moment of cathartic release when everything clicks and the music feels so closely like home. My infatuation with Channel Orange, though, was a gradual development. At first I simply liked how it sounded. Frank Ocean’s mellow croon overlays a swirl of glittering analogue synths where every nuance of warm mids and crisp highs meld together to produce a beautifully hazy...
Read more...

School Specific Advice

My extracurricular activities in college, and why I chose them
47 Words
- Bacchanal Planning Committee (annual music festival) - WKCR (radio station) - Alma...
Read more...
Why I ultimately chose my school
194 Words
I was lucky to be accepted to some great schools, but ultimately Columbia was the perfect fit for me. The core curriculum's great-books approach and small seminar discussion style appealed to my love of discussion and reading. Both the campus and the city are rich with academic/extracurricular opportunities. My friends have seen Judith Butler and Patti Smith...
Read more...

More Essays

These essays haven't been tagged by school. Click school logos above to see tagged essays.

General Admissions Advice

What set me apart from other applicants
135 Words
Although test scores get you past the first "filter" for applicants at competitive schools, conveying your passions through your essays and extracurricular involvement is key. Connecting the dots between the active cities you do and the unique aspects of your...
Read more...
How I narrowed down my essay topics
156 Words
Your essays don't necessarily have to be about things you're good at. Just things that speak to who you are as an individual. My favorite essay of mine was on my HUGE love of the musical artist Frank Ocean, and I tried to show how my...
Read more...
How to deal with the stress of applying to college
103 Words
I was SO stressed during the college apps process because all of this was very new to me. I barely knew about Columbia (the school I now attend) until the summer...
Read more...

High School Performance

Unweighted GPA
3.98
 
Rank
Top 10%
 
College Classes In High School
Academic Performance in High School Steady

Test Scores

Highest ACT
36
 
ACT Score Details
 
Other ACT Scores
ACT Prep

AP / IB Classes and Scores

Details8 classes and scores

Sports

SportsTennis

Extracurriculars

ActivitiesSchool Jazz / Orchestra, Music: Instrumental, Student Council / Government
Elaborate on Extracurriculars or Work

Experience & Awards

Volunteer Experiences
Awards Received
Application Additional Materials

Similar Profiles

Vivikyung
Columbia


Accepted to Brown, CalTech, CMU, UC Berkeley, UCSD, Columbia

Currently a freshman at Columbia University: a California girl living it up in New York! I'm an engineer with an interest in computer science and basically everything from archery to travel to hackathons.
kimmykrisp
Columbia


Accepted to Columbia, Yale, Stanford, UPenn, Northwestern, NYU, Brown, BU, Northeastern

Interested in law, political science and economics
klaus251
Columbia


Accepted to Columbia, Binghamton

A mediocre programmer with an above average compsci essay.
hannahko
Columbia


Accepted to Columbia, Rutgers

Going to attend Columbia University in fall 2016! I am also an extremely active musician.
janetzhang321
Columbia


Accepted to Columbia, Fordham, Northeastern, Binghamton

Columbia Student studying Computer Science and Political Science