Columbia University Supplementary Materials

While we request that the volume of supplementary credentials be kept to a minimum, there may be occasions where such credentials provide valuable information that the standard application does not. As a result, some recommendations are detailed below. If you plan to submit supplementary credentials, please follow the instructions below. Please note that we specifically ask that you do not send collections of award certificates and the like and explicitly direct that you refrain from submitting your application in binders or folders.

Science and Engineering

If you have been involved in scientific research and you are interested in studying engineering or the sciences at Columbia, you are welcome to provide a one or two page scientific abstract or a letter of recommendation from your research mentor for our review as a supplement to your application. You may upload your abstract in the Writing Supplement of the Common Application. Your research mentor can send the letter via e-mail to ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu, via fax to 212-854-3393, or via mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Creative and Performing Arts

Please follow the directions below depending on your area of interest:

Musical Performance

Please note that musical supplements are not a required part of our admissions process.

Students who do wish to submit electronic samples of their musical work should indicate their intention to submit an art supplement through the Common Application. In Columbia’s member-specific questions, please indicate your intention to submit an arts supplement.

Audio materials will be accepted as .mp3 files. Composition scores may be submitted as .pdf files. A processing fee of $5 will be required at the time of submission. SlideRoom fee waivers are automatically provided for all applicants receiving a Common Application fee waiver. 

Students submitting a music supplement should select two works contrasting in period and tempo. Students will choose from one of three possible types of submissions:

• orchestral instruments (specify instrument);
• jazz (specify instrument or composition);
• piano, voice, non-orchestral instruments (e.g., classical guitar) or composition (score or recording of score).

We require that you also list the composer, title of the work and movement title or opus number. The total length of recordings should not exceed 20 minutes and should not include any biographical or introductory material.

Students may submit two music supplements only when their talent is equally impressive in two different areas within music performance or composition.

Live auditions are not part of the admissions process, but auditions for private lessons and selective ensembles are held for enrolled students at the start of each academic year.

Columbia College candidates applying to the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange should still submit materials so that Columbia faculty may assess their talent and potential.

Early Decision applicants must submit their musical supplements by November 8. Regular Decision applicants must submit their musical supplements by January 1.

Visual Arts

Please note that visual arts supplements are not a required part of our admissions process.

Students who do wish to submit electronic samples of their artistic work should indicate their intention to submit an art supplement through the Common Application. In Columbia’s member-specific questions, please indicate your intention to submit an arts supplement.

Digital images will be accepted as .jpg, .gif or .png files, up to 5 MB each. Students submitting a visual arts supplement should select up to 20 digital images that highlight the best work in their portfolio. Live portfolio reviews are not part of the admissions process. 

A processing fee of $10 will be required at the time of submission. SlideRoom fee waivers are automatically provided for all applicants receiving a Common Application fee waiver. 

Early Decision applicants must submit their visual arts portfolios by November 8. Regular Decision applicants must submit their visual arts portfolios by January 1.

Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts and Film Studies

Applicants should not create a SlideRoom profile through the Common Application. You may upload your resume in the Writing Supplement of the Common Application.Students are welcome to submit professional resumes that list artistic achievement. Please do not send CDs, DVDs or hard copies of any materials, as they will not be reviewed. However, if samples of your work can be viewed online, please clearly indicate the relevant links in the Additional Information section of the Common Application.

Finally, please be advised that while we welcome the submission of such credentials, we can provide no guarantee that all materials will be reviewed or evaluated, as they are not required for the admission process.

Posted in: Columbia University Supplementary Materials