<p>quick ? for ethiochick, I always wanted to go to harvard growing up. I haven’t taken SAT and I got 23 on ACT, but think I will do better at SAT. I have 4.2 GPA, will have taken lanuage 4 yrs., lots of service and clubs and leadership positions, and with a killer essay, should I apply to harvard and yale just to see or do i not have a shot?</p>
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<p>My constructive criticism was apply to less selective schools, something people on this board are averse to saying because it hurts ethiochik’s feelings. Yet it is more radical a suggestion than “work on your essays and convey your interest in the school”, it doesn’t help to tell ethiohick to do something that is obvious, and that she most probably is already doing given that it’s a major part of the application. </p>
<p>With that score/grade combination, if ethiochik applied to 10 ivy league (or even one tier below in terms of selectivity) caliber schools, she’d likely be rejected by all. shooting at a range of schools where you have a decent chance of getting in, maximizes your chance of getting into the best school that you can.</p>
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<p>The middle 50% of the accepted class scored between 2110 and 2300 in their sat, how’s that for narrow? basically 80-90% of the admits score above 2000, so Columbia must have some compelling reason to take someone below a 2000, like “she’s could win us the ivy league soccer championship”, “his parents have given us a lot of money, we still want their money”. Being a URM and first gen could make up for a 1900 score but not for a 1650. The “Someones” getting in have much higher scores/grades and as impressive extra-curriculars. If she was what Columbia is looking for, our 25th percentile SAT score would be significantly lower. I agree that if Columbia is her absolute dream school, she should apply, but she shouldn’t apply to several more which are as selective, because they are too selective for her profile.</p>
<p>Mmm, are you a debater confidentialcoll? I must applaude you on your outsstanding reasoning skills, even if I disagree. I concede that it will be tough for her to gain acceptance into Columbia, but she wasn’t asking you for how she could “maximize her chances of getting into the best possible school”. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, I do admire your reasoning and I understand your “cold calculations” viewpoint, but in case you hadn’t noticed, she’s new on cc, so chances are she hasn’t been schooled on the art of marketing yourself. So, I told her to work on her essay more. </p>
<p>Ethiochick, I wouldn’t do chances here. None of us can tell you how you’ll do. Rather, we can guide you in a better direction.</p>
<p>Folks, I’m just a Columbia parent, but I suggest that you listen carefully when contributors like confidentialcoll, admissionsgeek, or any other weathered veteran speaks in the Columbia forum (apologies to the other veteran contributors whose handles I can’t currently remember). These people are spending their free time trying to help all y’all “find your way” through the admissions labyrinth. Although I don’t always agree with them, I always find their contributions thoughtful, well-intentioned and, most importantly, honest. I’m not throwing rocks at any other poster, by the way.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for help finding schools and you want to be in NYC, then try some of the CUNYs, like Brooklyn College and Baruch College. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope everything works out for you!</p>