<p>Dear _______,</p>
<p>I understand from Columbia’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions that you have expressed interest in Columbia College. As a member of Columbia College’s Class of 1994, I am happy for the opportunity to share my experiences with you as you make your college choice. Should you be admitted and attend Columbia, you will be joining thousands of women and men who were educated here and went on to make incredible contributions to the world.</p>
<p>I chose to attend Columbia based on the recommendations of many well respected mentors in my life who suggested that my time here would be well spent. My passion for debate, history and civil rights was fostered in a home environment that promoted intellectual curiosity, justice and equality. My parents met as activists during the movement for civil and women’s rights and inspired me to continue that legacy in my life. The experience at Columbia made that all possible. As a student, I worked in Harlem as a community organizer for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and led school-wide movements, including boycotts and pickets for homeless rights and a successful campaign to save full-need financial aid and need-blind admissions when other national universities were cutting such programs. These early activities provided a strong foundation from which to launch my professional career and continue in Columbia’s rich tradition of civic participation and activism.</p>
<p>Upon graduation in the class of '94, I was fortunate enough to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar and received a Master’s Degree in comparative social research from Oxford in 1997. Like Columbia, it was one of the most stimulating experiences I’ve had in trying to figure out how to fix problems. I expanded my focus on civil rights to include human rights and went to work for Amnesty International and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP). Ultimately my experiences would lead me to my current position as President and CEO of NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization where my commitment to justice continues to flourish.</p>
<p>As an active Columbia alumnus, I try to visit campus as often as I can. The community here is much like an extended family that provides the comfort of familiarity and an unconditional level of professional and personal support. You will find throughout your life that you will encounter Columbia alums being leaders in their fields in so many ways and, like me, you will discover that the Columbia experience will indeed be time well spent.</p>
<p>Best of luck with your college search.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Benjamin Todd Jealous, CC '94
President, NAACP</p>