<p>Is it something that’s official? And yes, but honestly, if you’re aiming for Columbia, you’re really going to want to do as much as you can. </p>
<p>Some context:
I am accepted class of '15 to Columbia College at Columbia University. My interests were writing and political science. For writing, I was chosen as one of two people out of 2,000 and had a local NPO use a grant to have me co-write a children’s book that was then professionally illustrated. I also had a paid internship with a small book marketing business and was an editor/contributor for my school’s literary magazine. The summer before my junior year, I applied to and was accepted at a creative writing summer program that I received college credit for. Finally, I placed in a local essay contest.</p>
<p>Not to say that what I’m doing is what you should be doing (by any means–I’m still shocked that I got in), but from what I’ve seen, schools as selective as Columbia like to see that you’re taking your interests and using them to make a noticeable mark on the world. The more you can do that, the better off you are.</p>