How I got accepted to Columbia University with 100% scholarship
๐Bachelor
Scholarship
Admissions
Application
First year
Sep 22, 2022
2 mins read

Columbia University

๐ฆ
@yonaraanastacio
from
Peru๐ต๐ช
๐ผ Bachelor: Biology
โณ Sep 2022 โ May 2026
๐ New York City,
US๐บ๐ธ
๐ฃ English
โ Student Visa

Columbia University
๐ New York City,
US๐บ๐ธ
๐ฃ English
๐ฐ 100% Financial Need Met
๐ค 31,000 Students
๐ 35% International
Yonara, who got accepted to Columbia University in New York with 100% scholarship was interviewed by @megan, Borderless ambassador. Enjoy!
Hello everyone! My name is Yonara Anastacio and I am from Lima, Peru.ย I started studying at Columbia University 2 weeks ago with a major in Biology and a minor in Computer Science. I am currently in my first year of undergraduate studies.

Why I chose Columbia
Columbia has always been my dream university! It has various centers like the career center, where mentors help you with internships, exchange programs, and general adaptation to campus and new environments. People here are so friendly, many of them from the same background as me. Professors are at the maximum level of knowledge. I also always wanted to live in New York๐ฝ๐
Application processย
I applied through the Common app, a platform where you can apply to up to 20 colleges in the US. You need to provide personal information, write essays, do international exams (like the TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, SAT) and send recommendation letters from your school teachers. Also, submit your extracurriculars.
My extracurriculars were:
Building a robot
Recycling
Playing piano
Designing a website
Teaching little kids in my community
Since covid, most of the universities made international tests optional but in Columbia's case, you were required to submit TOEFL or Duolingo tests. SAT and ACT were optional. My TOELF score is 100+ and my Duolingo score is 120. Columbia's average scores are 10-20 points more.
The application fee was 85 USD. I submitted my application in January via Regular Decision.
Scholarship
I got a 100% scholarship that covers everything from tuition (which is one of the most expensive things at Columbia) to books, personal expenses, flights, room, and more. I completed the CSS profile and thoroughly declared my family's income & expenses.
Tips for prospective students
BE YOU!!! It may seem clichรฉ, but it's very important to express yourself by talking and writing the way you really are.
Be confident and imagine that your application is a success and one year later you will be on that campus!
Start writing essays early to have time to review them over and over. Make sure to describe how you would share your own culture and be of value to the university's campus.
Donโt worry a lot about standardized tests, because many are optional due to pandemic
But do worry about required tests such as TOEFL or Duolingo. Start preparing early so that if your score is not high enough on the first try, you can take it again.
Be patient, it is a long journey and it needs time to be great
Have trust in your teachers to provide great recommendation letters that play a crucial role in college applications.
Hey John! Please ask your specific question in the comments, so that everyone else can get learn too. We are a community-based platform, and instead of individual help, we try to maximize learning for everyone๐
@zeresenay
1 year ago
is it a must to fill out the CSS Profile or just the common app is enough?
Hi Zeresenay, it is required to submit a CSS Profile if you want to apply for financial aid.
Can I get in to the school for a graduate program with a Cgpa of 2.59โฆI want to to study engineering management
Hi Mbuanobe! Every school has different GPA requirements, so you need to check that on an individual basis. However, your GPA is on the lower end, so you should try to improve it!๐ช
Hi! When you apply for financial aid to US universities, you need to submit a CSS Profile where you will declare your family's income
@veronicalee
Co-founder & CEO of Borderless
11 months ago
Hi somzy516! You apply for financial aid separately by submitting a CSS profile, which is an online form where you describe your financial situation. You submit it after the general application.
There are two types of aid: need-based and merit-based. Need-based is provided based on financial need, not performance.
Hope this helps!
@lety.grilli
3 months ago
Hy Yonara, so nice to meet you. I'm Letizia and I'm about to apply for colleges in America. I'm Italian and my dream has always been to study at Columbia. I would love to try and be able to get an offer from Columbia but on one condition only, that is if I can also receive a scholarship. My question is: if I apply to join columbia and they accept me but I can't win a scholarship, can I refuse the offer or do I have to accept? I don't want to screw things up. Thanks so much for your help.
@julili
1 month ago
Hi! Im from peru and lima too. Currently im in my gap year (actually, im trying to make my aplication profile stronger, and i think i will need 1 year more). Im planning to apply to biotechnology, and well... in particular im very insecure about internships (i dont have any, and i think im too late), extracurriculars related to my major, and my lack of awards... I noticed that your extracurriculars where somewhat not aligned to your major, and now i'm confused... everyone have told me that my ec's have to be aligned because of showing commitment and passion, maybe Have you won awards related to biology? Or, made more ec's related to bio?