Describe why you are interested in being a part of the Columbia community.

Columbia and I share a commitment to establishing a community of positive impact for those within and those it touches. My history of service includes effecting change as an officer in my Dartmouth eating club, helping my community as a Girl Scout and representing analyst initiatives on the X2 Junior Council. I always strive to maximize the experience for myself and those in my community and I believe Columbia does the same for students providing them with numerous touch-points in the city, campus and classroom. With a New York setting, I initially expected Columbia to be upstaged and its students distracted by the city’s flurry of activity. This impression was soon dismissed upon visiting Columbia, where I found a distinct haven for students to find a community of peers to engage with on and off campus. Columbia is proactive in providing a community for students through the learning team and cluster system. On campus students described the bonds formed with their learning team collaborating on assignments. In addition, alumnus Donald Knight said heated competitions for the cluster cup were highlights of his first year. Outside of these two structures, students have the opportunity to build communities independently with student groups. This composition of community structure and flexibility allows students to feel supported yet not boxed in or limited in their experiences. The Columbia community strikes the right balance in what I am looking for in my own MBA experience and I am eager to be a part of it.