Hello

Columbia Supplementals—Ege

List a few words or phrases that describe your ideal college community.(150 words or less)

1. A place where different opinions are encouraged to be heard and valued
2. A close-knit community that feels like and will become a second family
3. A welcoming community of people from different backgrounds, talents, cultures, countries that come together to collaborate with, learn from, and support each other. 
4. An intellectual environment where one discussion leads to another bringing together people who might have opposing views yet open minds
5. A global community reaching out to the world, yet remaining as one close community 
6. A small yet diverse community full of curious young minds living as part of a bigger community

Please list the following (150 words or fewer for each question):

1. The titles of the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year;

A World History by William McNeill; Turkey: A Modern History by Erik Jan Zürcher; Common Sense Economics by James D. Gwartney, The Stranger by Albert Camus, The Story of Philosophy by Bryan Magee, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

2. The titles of books read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year;

I never leave home without taking a book with me. I read on the ferry from one side of the Bosphorus to the other, on the beach, or during long waits at my dentist. I can’t limit my reading to any genre nor to any topic, because I believe that wisdom comes not only by mastering a single topic, but also by exploring many others. My books are to me like Santa Maria was to Columbus. I discover new worlds with them. 

Sapiens, Homo Deus, Stumbling on Happiness, Improbable by Adam Fawer, Gnosis by Adam Fawer; Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages; Outliers; Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, On the Genealogy of Morals by Nietzsche, Freakonomics; Buffett : the making of an American capitalist; I Am Malala; The Interpretation of Dreams by Freud; Thinking, Fast and Slow.

3. the titles of print or electronic publications you read regularly;

New York Times, MIT Technology Review, local Turkish newspapers (Sozcu and Hurriyet), WIRED, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, Onedio (Turkish BuzzFeed), Popular Mechanics, FOX News, Al Jazeera. 

4. and the titles of the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year.

Concert: Can Gox (Turkish singer), Buyuk Ev Ablukada (Turkish rock group), Ezhel (Turkish rapper).

Movies: Inception, The Big Short, Margin Call, Too Big To Fail, Hidden Figures, 3 Idiots, Moana.

Exhibitions: Contemporary Istanbul Art Exhibition; 15th Istanbul Biennial: a good neighbour; Ai Weiwei On Porcelain Exhibition; Leonardo da Vinci Expo in Istanbul

Other: Vodafone 39th Istanbul Marathon, Istanbul Social Innovation Hackathon: “Hacking the Glass Ceiling: Tech Solutions for Gender Equality”; 3D Print for Social Good Meetup; Gamification for Social Good Meetup; Istanbul Maker Faire; RC Maker Faire; Visit to Batu Caves in Malaysia

Please answer the following short answer questions (300 words or fewer for each question):

1. Please tell us what you value most about Columbia and why.

Growing up in a crowded city like Istanbul, I love the constant stream of people walking down the streets, bumping into one another with haste. I value this constant movement — even chaos — that reminds me of humankind’s continuous strive for development and learning. Similarly, I value the unique lively, cosmopolitan, and engaging environment of Columbia. Studying at Columbia will not only allow me to be active in diverse activities on and off campus, I will also benefit from the endless opportunities provided by being a part of this “magnetic” city that draws talented people from all different backgrounds.

Columbia itself also brings together students from all socioeconomic, racial, religious, and national backgrounds. Through its Core Curriculum, Columbia nurtures an environment where intellectual discussions and revolutionary ideas take place. I imagine the discussions in my philosophy classes where my classmates from many continents will bring their own culture and experience to the table to create a truly global conversation. With such an intellectual experience, I will continue to expand my horizons and gain new perspectives to approach the world around me. 

Considering my current school, upon arrival one is welcomed by two security guys, three consecutive metal barriers, and questions about the reasons for campus entry. So, my friends and I were anxious as we walked towards the main entrance of Columbia after our FIRST Robotics Competition, worried we would encounter a similar procedure, and be denied entry since we didn’t sign up for a tour. Instead, from the entrance door to the Visitors Center, we were welcomed with warm smiles. When I lay on the fresh grass in front of Alma Mater in awe of every aspect of Columbia, I realised how much I valued the hospitality and openness of Columbia and its students. Everyone is welcomed here.