Are all Columbia students "exceptional"?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>I've been pondering over this question. I believe most of those who apply to Columbia have great SAT scores or great GPA. But what's going to make the difference between two students who both got 2200 for instance? What's going to make the jury choose one rather than the other?</p>

<p>I was told that your extracurricular activities make all the difference, but I'm wondering up to what point it can make the difference.</p>

<p>Do all students need to have travelled all other the world? Speak 3 languages? Always be first at every sport competition? Actively involved with volunteering?</p>

<p>Of course, I'm a bit exaggerating, but what I did understand is that great SAT and good GPA won't be enough to get you in Columbia.</p>

2

<p>Of course we are!</p>

3

<p>This is cute and nostalgic, in a way. I also used to ponder about the same question, and the answer is very simple, even if most people don’t know it.</p>

<p>A Columbia admissions officer once told me: DO WHAT YOU LOVE.</p>

<p>Yeah, practically screamed that phrase at me with desperation. She meant it.</p>

<p>And I second her! Endorse that advice completely! Do what you love. Do you love learning languages? Then become fluent in one. Do you love building? Then build. Do you love dancing? Then dance. Your application is supposed to reflect what you love.</p>

<p>What can you tell me about a person in whose app you see this:</p>

<p>Debate Team, Captain
Water Polo, Captain
Robotics Club, President
French Literature Club, Founder & President
Science Fair, 1st place in genetics</p>

<p>Nothing, really. It doesn’t tell you what that person likes, what moves him or her, what is he or she passionate about. What does this person even like to do, out of all those?</p>

<p>2400 SAT scores and 4.0 GPAs are good, but they are a dime a dozen. YOU matter more than your scores. Find something you love and do it, do it a lot and do it right.</p>

<p>Trust me, admission officers are magical. They notice everything. If you have put your heart into something, they’ll know, and that’s what’s going to make the difference.</p>

4

<p>No. That is defeatist thinking if one is applying and arrogant if one is accepted. Are Columbia students clearly some of the best in the nation? Of course. A whole group of people is almost definitionaly not entirely exceptional. If you are a great student you have a small chance. They look for real people, not super-humans.</p>

5

<p>Thank you so much for your answers. I will keep doing what I love and what I’m the best at. ;)</p>

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<p>Also, when admission time comes, make sure to put much thought into how you’re going to show them why you love what you do, giving them drops of your essence! It’s tough to really figure it out, but it’s worth it!</p>

7

<p>Strawberry95: You don’t necessarily need to pursue what you’re best at. Pursuing what you love might mean trying something that you don’t do well in at the moment. Overcoming challenges, bouncing back from frustrations and failures, extracting meaning from successes and failures, growing one’s capability and view of the world are all worthwhile. If an applicant has not experienced frustrations and failures in their pursuit of their passion, then perhaps they have missed out on some valuable growth opportunities.</p>

8

<p>All students are exceptional in their own way :)</p>

9

<p>MidWestFather: I shouldn’t have said “what I’m the best at” but what I’m the most passionate about. I meant it this way but didn’t express it well.
I have passions that take me all my time. I can literally say they have shaped me the way I am today, not only in victories but also in failures and losses. I hope I will be able to make them feel how much I feel about them when I apply. But first, I gotta get good SATs! Will keep working everywhere! Thanks for all your helpful answers.</p>