<p>African student deep trouble? :(
Hello, I am an international applicant FOR FALL 2009. here is my characteristicS</p>
<p>Origin: Africa (black)
Nationality: SENEGAL ( west Africa)</p>
<p>I just took the SAT I on december 6, pfff I my first SAT ever and also the first real exam in english I have never taken. As you you guess, It was a disaster, my scores are below</p>
<p>CR 400
Math 510
Writing 470
total 1380/2400</p>
<p>The problem is that It is too late to take another SAT I because on January I plan to take 3 SAT subjects (MATH CHEMISTRY AND FRENCH) besides the IBT TOEFL in order to complete my application process-I have no choice because of the deadline. In another hand
in High school (graduated last JULY 08)</p>
<p>Average: (French system) 13.6/20 which is pretty good
Rank: 1/49 - top 5 student overall.
Good recommenders from FRENCH TEACHER AND MATHEMATIC TEACHER</p>
<p>However, about my Extracurricular, there is no big deal.
Leaded humanitarian and environmental expediation in a very poor village as the president
Government-President
Government-journalist
Math club
music-African drum
Soccer varsity</p>
<p>***Something special>>>>> I was regularly sent to my grandparent`s hometown to participate to the harvest. YES! I used to be a FARMER every school BREAK!!</p>
<p>CHANCE ME PLEASE for COLUMBIA COLLEGE MATHEMATICS AND STATISTIC, MY STRAIGHTS MY WEAKNESSES PLEASE!</p>
<p>I don't think columbia has ever accepted someone with SAT scores that low, i understand that english is probably your third? language, but classes at columbia are taught in english, even math and statistics. Columbia also has many required courses in philosophy, literature, cultural history, and you will not be able to cope in these classes without a decent understanding of english. All three of your sat scores (even math) are below the world average. </p>
<p>You certainly come from a rare background compared to most applicants and this explains a lot of your performance and activities, but you have not proven that you can succeed at columbia and you will nearly certainly be rejected. Columbia will never accept someone they feel will fail out of school, they sometimes take amazing athletes who do not have an amazing academic record, but their reason is they have given up half their lives to that sport.</p>
<p>My advice: take a year off (if that is financially possible), spend a lot of time studying for the SATs, take part in something that you are interested in (job, community work, business, etc.) and then reapply with better scores and a background that is even more interesting.</p>
<p>Thank you for your advices! I truly understand that Columbia require a good stand in English! However If I score well for the IBT TOEFL AND THE 2 SAT II subject, CAn I still have a chance?</p>
<p>I think if you want have a chance of getting into Columbia or any top school you should take a year off and redo the SATs, try to get at least 1800,1900.</p>
<p>i think you should be realistic and look at less competitive schools. Your english definitely won't cut it at columbia and there is no way an admissions committee would overlook an SAT score like that. I would be absolutely shocked if anyone has ever gotten into columbia with an SAT score that is that low. </p>
<p>You should definitely take the TOEFL and apply to US schools that are much less competitive than columbia.</p>
<p>hunter is a good bet, it's still a reach with scores like yours, but you might actually have a shot there, considering all the other things you've accomplished.</p>
<p>On CR and W, they might cut you some slack. But your math score will haunt you, considering you want to be a Math major. I dunno, maybe the fact that you are from Senegal helps a bit. I doubt anyone's applied from there....</p>
<p>I don't want to scare you, but here is the deal: Most average Internationals would have a M+V score which is higher than your total. You have to pull out something really special, something unique....</p>
<p>I still think you should apply if money's no problem. Maybe you could take a gap year if you get rejected. I think you just might have a chance.</p>
<p>A French speaker who gets 510 on SAT math isn't going to do math/statistics at Columbia. There is an army of foreign students (such as from China) with 800 math even though English is their second language.</p>
<p>I think you have to prove your academic ability in an English language system.</p>
<p>You say you don't need financial aid, if you have money you have many choices. </p>
<p>You could go to an English language international high school and do a year or more of IB curriculum.</p>
<p>You could go to a non-competitive college in the US and get outstanding grades, then apply to transfer to a better university. There doesn't seem any special reason why it must be Columbia (for you or for them).</p>
<p>You can apply, sure. But first really work by yourself on the SAT and take it again. At the same time, you better do SAT 2 French so you can prove you are fully capable in at least that language.</p>
<p>"At the same time, you better do SAT 2 French so you can prove you are fully capable in at least that language."</p>
<p>Excuse me but my French skills are not debatable. We are talking about English skills please. Also, There is no reason for me to be scared of anything, I did come in the USA only last September (3 months ago), I took the SAT for the first time on december 08, it was my first one and I had 20 days to prepare it with merely a Barron`s (no classes no tutor anything>>>) I did not even know whether I would have to take the SAT or not....so please do not judge without being aware of the real conditions in which all of these events occurred. I know it is a bad score but you should consider that I started speaking english just 3 months ago. Those Asian student like several American student spend years preparing the SATs so a comparison between them and me is not proper at this time I think.</p>