Q: Although is may seem counter-intuitive considering that acidic foods are definitely not recommended for acid reflux, the acetic acid which is the main ingredient of apple cider vinegar is a weaker acid compared to the hydrochloric acid being produced in the stomach. Consuming this kind of acid tends to balance the acid production in your stomach and allows it to reach neutral acid levels. Apple cider vinegar is available in many grocery stores and supermarkets. Mix one to two tablespoons with eight ounces of water before meals. You may also add a teaspoon of honey to improve its taste. Apple cider vinegar makes tasty vegetable salad dressing, too. You can mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water as a natural antacid. Knowing that baking soda is a base, it will help to neutralize the acidity in the stomach. Take precaution when using baking soda, however, because this is high in sodium. Too much sodium is definitely not a good thing, especially for acid reflux. Aloe vera gel and leaves can be made into juice. Aloe vera contains glycoprotein, which is an essential healing property to reduce esophageal irritation and polysaccharides to promote tissue repair. Aloe vera is one of the medicinal plants approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Drink two to three ounces of aloe vera juice in an empty stomach or 20 minutes before a meal to treat acid reflux. Be careful not to use this remedy too much because it's a known laxative. Ginger contains natural anti-inflammatory ingredients while honey coats the esophageal walls, preventing cell inflammation. Add two to four grams of ginger powder in hot water to make tea. You can also cut a regular size piece of ginger root into bits and bring it to boil. Add a teaspoon or more of honey to taste. Make sure it's not too hot. You don't want to burn your esophagus. For 30 minutes after a meal, chew a piece of sugarless gum. This will increase saliva production and will help neutralize the acid in the stomach. Also, the acid in the gut will be excreted due to a large amount of saliva that was ingested. For centuries, the roots of the licorice plant have been used for cuisines and for medicine. You can also try deglycyrrhizinated licorice, which is a tablet that you can chew about 15 minutes before you eat to protect the lining of your stomach and esophagus and prevent future acid reflux. Licorice increases the number of mucous secreting cells in the stomach and enhances the life of intestinal cells as well. Likewise, it improves the microcirculation in the gastrointestinal tract.
A: Try apple cider vinegar. Drink water mixed with baking soda. Try aloe vera juice. Drink ginger tea with honey. Chew sugar free gum. Try licorice.

Q: Potential undergraduates at Columbia can apply to either Columbia College or Columbia School of Engineering. If you are unsure about your area of interest, or know that it will not involve engineering or computer science, you will want to apply to Columbia College. Columbia's admissions office will generally be unable to look at grades from the second semester, so grades from the first will weigh heavily on your application. You will need a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be considered, and the school strongly encourages a minimum of 3.5 in science and engineering courses for the School of Engineering. To transfer to Columbia, you must have completed, or be scheduled for, 24 credit points. Make sure you are taking, and have taken, transferrable credits. Columbia does not accept transfer credits from departments such as business, communications, and education, as the school does not have those departments. Colleges may count class credits differently. Review Columbia's requirements to make sure you are on the right track Columbia's admissions committee uses a "holistic" review process, meaning they take into account not only a person's academic marks, but also extracurricular activities. Columbia wants undergraduate students who can make an impact outside the classroom, and contribute to social and cultural life at the school. The Columbia Writing Supplement asks about books, newspapers, and magazines you have read, or films, concerts, exhibitions, and other performances you have seen over the prior year. If you are already attending a college, there will undoubtedly be a variety of opportunities to attend interesting and worthwhile events. If you have previously applied to Columbia, past materials such as test scores and essays will not roll over. Before resubmitting materials, such as your personal essay, try to review review and improve upon them, using on your own personal growth and input from others at your current institution. Columbia requires letters from college instructors. Letters should come from professors who are closely familiar with your work ethic, communication skills, character, and capabilities. If they are willing, take the opportunity to talk with your letter writers about why you wish to attend Columbia, which can help provide a more personalized letter that more strongly emphasizes your strengths as an applicant. Make sure you have all of your materials ready when you submit the Common Application. Review the Columbia-specific questions for the Writing Supplement, and prepare your answers within the guidelines provided. There is space on the Common Application to provide supplementary materials for work in science or the arts. If you have experience in these fields, include materials to help give depth to your application. Make sure to carefully review the correct types of materials, including formatting and file type.
A:
Choose the appropriate program. Do well in your first semester. Take enough appropriate classes. Develop extracurricular interests. Make sure your materials are up to date. Provide two good letters of recommendation. Fill out the application as completely as possible. Provide supplementary materials.