Lilienne Shore Kilgore-Brown graduated from Pullman High School in 2020 and attended Columbia in University in New York City. Lilienne graduated from Columbia last year. Here’s why she thinks Columbia is worth your consideration.
Coming from the Palouse, going to a rigorous and urban school like Columbia seemed like a long-shot to me. Now, a few years later, there is a well-established lineage of Palouse students going to Columbia and similar institutions—these schools are looking for more rural students.
Importantly, Columbia is going through a watershed moment of student activism right now, which any prospective student should consider carefully. The political scene at Columbia is vibrant and significantly shaped my time there, but not every student will respond as I did.
Otherwise, I want other Palouse students to know that going to a school like Columbia and having the full experience is possible. I come from a low-income background, but because of my financial aid, I didn't have to take out a single loan in my four years there (including a semester and summer abroad). I worked throughout my college experience (on the student newspaper, as a resident adviser, and as an office assistant), but I was always able to easily balance those responsibilities with school. I received financial help from Columbia in emergency situations and was able to work closely with the financial aid office when there were problems with my aid package.
I chose Columbia in large part because of their Core Curriculum—allowing me to take many classes outside of my degree's course of study—and the quality of their English department, where I majored. While I cannot speak to pursuing STEM degrees, I loved studying the Humanities at Columbia. I was able to take largely seminar-style courses, allowing me to write more in-depth essays and work closely with my professors in both of my departments, who were very invested in my success. Additionally, I really relished spending my college experience in New York City, where museums and plays and concerts proliferate.
Columbia can be a very stressful environment and a lot of the people there are not going to understand the background you come from—some people are laser-focused on their career and academics in a way that is seldom seen somewhere like the Palouse. However, you can find your people even at an institution like Columbia. You're going to need to dedicate significant time to your studies, but you can also have a really wonderful time carrying values beyond just your course load and what your eventual career might be.
I grew a lot in my time at Columbia. Making such a big shift when I went to college had a profound and positive impact on me, and despite the turbulence during my four years there, I am very grateful that that is where I got my undergraduate education.