Am I on the right track?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

HI everyone,

I am a highschool sophomore (Class of 2017) who is thinking about applying to Columbia SEAS senior year. I know that many of you will probably say it’s too early to ask “what my chances are,” but I just want to get an idea of where I stand and what I need to work on as I enter the most crucial year of highschool: junior year.

Here’s a basic summary of my stats:

In eighth grade I scored a 2040 on the SAT, and because I scored a 790 in math I received the Grand Honors award from CTY (I’ve been in CTY since fourth grade and took online courses throughout middle school)

Freshman Year Course Load:

  • AP Calc AB (5 on AP exam)
  • honors level in every other class

Sophomore Year Course Load:

  • AP Calc BC
  • AP Chemistry
  • honors level in every other class

My junior year course load will probably include multivariable calc, AP Biology, and AP Physics Mech.
My school doesn’t allow juniors to take “humanities” APs, so I will be doing AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Econ, etc. senior year

Also my school (magnet-type/vocational?) is affiliated with Rutgers so we take college courses every year such as Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology.

As for ECs/achievements:

  • Columbia Science Honors Program (accepted freshman year, so I will attend for the maximum amount of time - 3 years)
  • Student Council Treasurer (freshman and sophomore year so far)
  • High honor roll every marking period (school doesn’t calculate GPA, but QPA is ~ 97ish unweighted)
  • Active participant in math league and science olympiad, hope to make AIME this year
  • tutor once a week (haven’t added up hours yet)
  • NJ governor stem scholar
  • fundraising and events head for school’s hosa chapter (1st place regionals and 2nd place states freshman year in RPS)
  • tae kwon do since I was 4, currently a 2nd degree black belt and will probably become jr. instructor and volunteer over the summer

other info:

  • white female from NJ
  • I don’t need FA
  • prospective major: biomedical engineering

My PSAT score this year was 216 (80 - M, 73 - W, 63 - CR). Freshman year I scored a 69 in CR (63 is abnormally low for me), so I guess my “PSAT superscore” would be a 222. I haven’t taken the SAT since 8th grade, but I’m doing a lot of prep and I will hopefully break 230 PSAT/2300 SAT junior year. I will be taking two subject tests this year - Math 2 and Chem.

I spend almost every Saturday at Columbia because of SHP and I’ve fallen in love with the campus. I’ve read a lot about the programs/course offerings at Columbia and its history, so I’m pretty knowledgeable about the school. It’s my dream school, and yes, I have looked at other colleges too.

So yeah any advice would helpful, like on what goals I should set for junior year and what I could do this summer and next summer in order to strengthen my application for Columbia SEAS (I hope to apply ED in fall of 2016). If I asked for advice/chances after junior year, I wouldn’t really have any time to improve or add on new ECs, so please no hate for posting this early lol.

2

Hey Sophomore,

I think you’re on the right track academically. Consider having more ECs toward your field of focus.

3

@collegeguy97 Thanks for your input! Looking back at what I wrote, I’m realizing that nothing is really pointing towards biomedical engineering specifically so I definitely see what you mean.

Here’s my explanation: I’m actually interested in medical school (that’s why I attend a magnet-type highschool specialized in health science that offers courses from Rutgers/UMDNJ). So those courses, along with science olympiad (I do biology related events), and my sat subject test score (800 in bio M - forgot to add that in) will hopefully show my interest in biology and medicine.

As for engineering, I honestly don’t know that much about engineering except that engineers take a lot of calculus, and I really like math. I think that comes through with the courses I’ve taken (right?).

I don’t actually want to work as a biomedical engineer, I just think it would be good major for fulfilling premed requirements. It involves math and bio, and since it’s engineering I wouldn’t have to take as many humanities/liberal arts courses as a biology major at Columbia College (correct me if I’m wrong).

I’m probably going to run for a leadership position in science olympiad, so that would focus in on science more. Do you think that applying to summer internships and doing research in something biology/medicine related is enough to explain why I’m interested in biomedical engineering (combined with the fact that I’m taking calculus and I’m in math league)?

Or do I also need to show more reasoning for the engineering aspect? Would you recommend learning java or C++ or something? Or joining robotics? Those are the only things that come to mind when I think of engineering specifically

4

Hey QP,

You’re a sophomore, so it’s definitely very good to think ahead. Congrats on your bio score, that’s very impressive, especially for a sophomore!

Although, as academically adept as you are, I don’t think you understand what you’re working toward.

So for you (and most kids, from experience) there is the bio route or the engineering route. Makes sense, since these jobs pay the most right now.

However, bio and engineering jobs are very different. And don’t be fooled by bioengineering, it’s not really a mix. No, I don’t really think you should learn java just for the sake of it. Although it is very interesting (and khanacademy does a pretty good job) you should first figure out what you’re interested in.

For me, I wanted an open world. So I chose engineering, because I couldn’t deal with memorizing bio or working in a closed lab setting. I also wanted to open my own business in the future, so for me I saw myself opening a tech start-up in the future. (Most often here it’s the innovation and the knowledge that you need, not a finance degree. If you know what you’re doing, the company will be successful. hopefully.) That’s not to say you can’t do bio and start a biomedical company either, but I just can’t see myself in a white coat.

Where do you see yourself? My biggest fear in bio was becoming a salary specialist, opening my own clinic and working there. Sure, the pay is good, and most young people only consider bio because of the pay. But you essentially are stuck there forever, dealing with patients. If you major in bio, be in research or new technology, cause it gets pretty stale.

Chem goes kind of hand in hand with engineering, so you still are on a middle track here.

5

@collegeguy97 Thanks for the informative response :smile: ! As for where I see myself, I know that medical school is my goal, so I researched biomedical engineering and saw that it’s one of the undergraduate majors that can get me there. I definitely see what your saying about bioengineering not being a mix. I just looked up its curriculum and compared it to a biology major’s curriculum, and the differences are big, but I still find bioengineering really interesting (especially since I would get to take more math courses, and still do a good amount of bio too).

In the end, I would still be taking the MCAT and applying to med school, so does it actually make a difference what I choose?

At the moment, since I have my heart set on Columbia, my reason for favoring biomedical engineering over biology (now I’m convinced I’d be happy with either especially since they would get me to the same place anyway) is:

a) If I wanted to major in biology, I would have to apply to Columbia College instead of Columbia SEAS. According to the Columbia website, engineering students only have to do half of the humanities core, whereas biology majors would have to do the full core. I’m not really passionate about liberal arts/humanities (I just do what I have to do to get an A lol), so that’s why SEAS is really appealing to me.

b) Columbia is sooooo hard to get into, and although it’s really unethical to be thinking this way, don’t I have a slight advantage at SEAS since I’m a girl? (especially since I can’t compete with all of the girls who are good at liberal arts and applying to Columbia College)

So I guess my question is how do I show colleges why it makes sense that I’m applying for biomedical engineering? What ECs show an interest in that (I definitely agree with you about my ECs not relating to engineering in any way)? Sorry for the long response!

6

Looks good so far, altho your SAT scores are a little low for Columbia, especially the College. You should want to go to the College or SEAS because you are interested in the particular majors, not because one is easier than the other. SEAS only appears easier because it is self selecting for fewer fields. Altho the College has more liberal arts requirements, SEAS will have more science requirements. Don’t forget that the entire catalogue of courses is open to you no matter which school you ultimately matriculate. Also medical school only requires four basic courses (bio, chem, orgo, physics), they actually do not care what else you take beyond that.

7

Look for internships in a lab setting. Ask to shadow someone that works in a bio lab. Send them a detailed message saying who you are and what you want to do. It’s important you establish a connection with any possible mentors in the future because they can write your recommendation. You need the work experience, and the worst they can say is “no.” Seriously, it’s like hitting on hot chick in your senior year, nothing can happen lulz.

Actually actively look for this type of internship. I’ll give you my example. I applied for a summer internship that basically half my grade was applying for, thinking I wouldn’t get it. Here’s how I got the job: I showed up overdressed and overly prepared. I had my resume AND a letter of rec, even though they didn’t even ask for these things.

So seriously, even if an internship isn’t offered, write a letter. Write one and ask to meet in person, too. Hopefully you can be there till senior year, which is ~3 years, showing commitment.

8

@collegeguy97‌ Ok I will definitely do that - thanks so much for the advice! I wasn’t sure if I should try one of those precollege programs (which kind of seem like a scam lol) or apply for internships this summer, now I’m looking into the latter (so far I’ve found 2 internship programs for highschool students in NJ and I’m starting my applications right now). This was my first time posting on CC and it was really helpful - you seem like a really cool guy! :smiley:

9

guess Columbia must have thought the same :wink: