Columbia University's wording, checked October 26, 2026Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons. Items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order. It is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications. No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.“List the titles of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.”
How to approach it
- 1Follow the format exactly; it is part of the question.
- 2Mix forms (books, podcasts, museums, sites) the way your real reading does.
- 3Include a few specific or unexpected titles that show where your curiosity actually goes.
- 4Because it is a list, almost every word is a title: 100 words holds roughly 15 to 25 items.
A structure that works
One way to shape this answer. It describes moves, not sentences: the words have to be yours.
- 1Collect everything you have read, watched, listened to and visited outside class in the last two years.
- 2Cut to the items you would happily talk about for five minutes.
- 3Arrange them so related items sit together and the range shows.
- 4Format it as a plain list separated by commas or semicolons, with no explanations, inside 100 words.
Mistakes to avoid
- Explanations or authors after the titles.
- Only famous classics chosen to impress.
- School reading lists (it asks for outside your courses).
- Listing anything you could not discuss if an interviewer asked.
The checklist our grader uses for this question
When you check your Columbia answers, this answer is read against these 4 areas. Each comes back Met, Partly or Missing with a quote from your draft as evidence, and together with the 100 words limit they set its readiness verdict.
| Area | What a reader looks for |
|---|---|
| Follows the format | It is the list the college asked for, in the format it set (items only, the right number, no explanations unless invited). |
| Specific items | Items are specific titles, names or things, not categories ("podcasts about science"). |
| The list says something | Read as a whole, the list reveals range, depth or a pattern that tells the reader about the applicant. |
| Columbia's ask | Follows Columbia's list rules: titles only, separated by commas or semicolons, no authors, subtitles or explanations, outside academic courses. |
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Questions
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