<p>So I should probably preface this by saying that I applied Early Decision to Columbia this year, was rejected, and was absolutely devastated. I could not function normally for a week, and was severely depressed for a month. I don't know that I could stand to be rejected again, and I'm really happy with the college I will be attending in the fall. That being said...a part of me still really wants to go to Columbia more than anything in the world, and I would appreciate it so much if anyone who has been through the process could tell me a little about what it's like/if I have a chance. </p>
<p>Stats:</p>
<p>GPA: around 4.3, will most likely graduate in top 20 of my high school class. Was ranked 18/256 at the semester mark, but I'm going to get a B in math. (It would be helpful if someone could tell me how they think that would effect my app as well.) Will definitely be top 10% though, and with the amount of slacking going on around me, my class rank could potentially even improve.
SAT breakdown: 780 Critical Reading, 800 Writing, 580 Math (2160 total)
SAT II: Spanish: 440 (took it far too soon), 620 US: 760, Lit: 740
AP scores: Spanish Lang: 2, US History: 5, English Lang: 5
AP scores pending: European History, US Government, English Lit, Spanish Lit
ECs: Vice President of Debate, Youth Roundtables, volunteer at Habitat for Humanity (around 70 hours), NHS
Awards: NMS commended, few minor school ones
Accepted: American, Fordham, NYU
Waitlisted: Harvard, Reed, UMichigan
Rejected: let's not talk about it</p>
<p>Based on this info and assuming I manage to get straight A's in my first semester of college, do I have a realistic chance of admission next year? Also, I read a little on the website about what financial aid is like for transfer applicants, but if someone could give me an account of how that translated to an actual package that would be great. Additionally, I must admit that I am wondering how transfer students are treated at Columbia - are they looked down upon? Is it easy to acclimate?</p>
<p>Can anyone help me? Please, this information would be really useful to me and I’d be glad to chance someone/answer questions about my experience with admissions (which was obviously dismal, but I could maybe still help)</p>
<p>None that I can think of :(. Maybe being the daughter of teenage parents? They both went to college though, so I don’t have the first generation thing going on. Also, we have abysmally low income, so that’s probably an anti-hook. Um, I’m trying to think. I love languages, am really interested in Comparative Literature (I’m most likely doing a minor in it at NYU). Also curious to know whether applying from NYU would help or hurt my application.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the response, by the way - I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I mean, sure. I’m really interested in languages, which is evidenced by the program (Global Liberal Studies) I’m doing at NYU. I’m fanatically passionate about the idea of the Core, which is the main reason I haven’t given up on Columbia - because that particular experience is impossible to find anywhere else. I guess my main question would be, assuming I can put together a compelling application in the subjective sense, are the objective factors up to par? Regardless, thank you very much for the feedback, I appreciate it.</p>
<p>Remember, the earlier you apply, the more important your SAT scores and HS grades (mostly Senior grades) will be.</p>
<p>Do make sure you get straight A’s in college though. By the way, where do/will you go now?</p>
<p>Also, I’d advise that you display some extra-curricular activities that would make you stand out so that you’d be an interesting contribution to the student body. You have to convince them that you would contribute to Columbia and that Columbia will be vital for your goals as well.</p>
<p>“I don’t know that I could stand to be rejected again, and I’m really happy with the college I will be attending in the fall.”</p>
<p>Then don’t apply as a transfer. Besides, I believe you have to wait at least one year after being rejected from Columbia before you can apply again. But even more important than that is the fact that you will be miserable at NYU if you focus the whole time on going to Columbia. NYU is a great school with tons of opportunities. The social atmosphere is different (many would say better) than Columbia, but that shouldn’t matter that much, since you’ve never actually been at Columbia. For all you know, you’ll fall in love in NYU and end up hating Columbia if you do decide to transfer. And for the love of god, please don’t try to transfer just because Columbia seems more “prestigious.” No doubt, Columbia is an amazing school, but so is NYU. Give it a chance.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, all of you. Pwoods, you make a lot of sense. We’ll see how NYU goes. I do want to say though, that it isn’t about the prestige for me. Columbia was my dream because of the Core and the other amazing opportunities it offers, and it’s difficult to let go of something that’s kept you going for the past two years of your life. It also doesn’t hurt that I would have pretty much had a free ride if I had gotten in because of their incredible financial aid. But it sounds like aid for transfers isn’t that great, so if I do end up trying to switch schools it’ll be because NYU wasn’t right for me, which is something I can’t know until I get there. I will definitely give it a chance, and thank you all for the advice.</p>
<p>"Besides, I believe you have to wait at least one year after being rejected from Columbia before you can apply again. "</p>
<p>Where does it say this?</p>
<p>Also, how would you compare the types of factors for admissions between first-year transfers and general freshman admission? Do you think there is a greater emphasis on ECs (and other subjective stuff) in general freshman admission than in transfer admission?</p>