<p>I've just finished a year at a well known London university, and didn't like my course. My personal circumstances also changed over the past year and now I have the opportunity to fully finance degree level study in the States. Not wishing to go through the British university system again, I'm attracted to Columbia College to Major in mathematics.</p>
<p>It's a given that Columbia is highly selective, but the application system is also very different compared to that of the British system. For example, there appears to be a huge emphasis on ECs.</p>
<p>I have 4 A-Levels graded AAAB, believe I can perform well on the SAT Math II and French (I've done a years degree level French post-A-Level and the Math II questions I've looked at are child's play). If I were to rank myself within my school year, I'd be in the top 10%.</p>
<p>EC wise I do athletics at a non-competitive level for I never wish(ed) to take it 'that far', but have done so for many years. There's nothing else that springs to mind, so I guess there's nothing else worth mentioning.</p>
<p>I went through the state school system, so American universities were very much off the cards. We're not pushed to do ECs, not given awards. I've seen hardship, but I'd prefer not to play that card.</p>
<p>While I'm fully aware I can give the whole process a shot (I've nothing to lose bar a c. $70 fee and free time), am I wasting my time?</p>
<p>Back in the UK these things wouldn't matter :(</p>
<p>If you haven't, I would post this in the international students forum. They would probably be able to give you better advice...</p>
<p>Just some thoughts tho:
-you would be considered a transfer since you already have a year under you. transfer admissions are notoriously harder than regular
-british uni's and US uni's are 2 very different beasts. have you done the research on the differences?
-which a levels did you take? this is another reason you should post in the internat'l forum but i thought AAAB was a fairly good thing....</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply, I'll have a look in the international students' forum later tonight.</p>
<p>Are you sure I'd be a transfer? I'm not renouncing the fact I've already done a years study in Britain and I will declare it, but I wish to pursue an entirely different degree and begin from the first year again. I know that wouldn't be considered a transfer in the UK.</p>
<p>I studied business, French, mathematics, and physics (grades respectively). I pulled a pdf from Cornell's site which said I'd get AP credit for those grades in maths and physics. The A-Level still appears to be held in good esteem in the States, despite its declining prestige here.</p>
<p>How much is this forum a representation of the typical applicant? Every user seems to have an excellent profile of credentials behind them, but to what extent is this a reflection of the reality? It's a given that student forums tend to attract the more studious among the crowd.</p>
<p>Skraylor, I'm wondering: At what time-gap between his British education & his American application would he no longer be considered a transfer? In any case, the OP might want to make a call to Columbia admissions to determine some of this. It also may be on the website, but I'm being lazy today.</p>
<p>The thing with the Euro/Brit education system is that it has very few, if any, "core requirements". While a student at Oxford begins his/her studies right away, US students dont tend to really jump into their subjects until 2nd semester of their 2nd year. This is when you declare a major at most places anyways....</p>
<p>That's why I'm pretty sure you'd be considered a transfer, not simply an international applicant. Whatever classes you took, French for instance, may or may not be counted for credit at Columbia but that's besides the point...</p>
<p>Calling is probably the best bet. I can only speculate on these things</p>
<p>I've checked and given the gap between my studies will not exceed one academic year I am, as an international student, eligible for first year admission.</p>
<p>I'll likely reserve my questions until College Day in September where Columbia will be attending for I don't wish to bombard the department with my seemingly trivial questions. The ED deadline is in November and I've plenty of time still.</p>