Chance me at Columbia?

I’m new to CC, so bear with me.

Currently a stressed junior (hs class of 2018) wondering whether I should continue trying or just give up and go to my state school. My top choice is, and has been, Columbia University for about a year now. My current list is Penn/ Huntsman (legacy), Brown, Cornell (legacy), Yale, Georgetown, GW, American, UVA, Barnard, and of course Columbia.

GPA: 4.0 unweighted
Class Rank: top 5/ 350
SAT: 1500- 800 reading, 700 math, 18 essay (retaking in Jan- will be around 750ish for math and a 20-22ish essay)
Subject Tests: I’ve taken math i (way too low to submit), will take US history and Literature
Course Load: Full IB- although I’m self-studying for AP Comp Gov
School Type: poor public- sends a kid to an ivy every 1-2 years

Extracurricular/ Service:
-Model UN: Board Member (no hierarchy), lots of awards, been involved forever, will be on secretariat for conference next year (7-12)
-Charity 1: Program associated with a prestigious institution, officer at school’s club, founded a conference related to this charity, scholarship to attend the national conference for this organization, will likely be a student advisor for it next year (9-12)
-Charity 2: Large development organization, volunteer- will be around 150 hours by the time I apply (11-12)
-Charity 3: Helps me do voter registration at school, aiming to get an award from the governor for registering a certain percentage of the senior class to vote, will also be assisting in expanding this organization to my area, will likely be an intern at this organization next year (11-12)
-Mock Trial: founder and captain, not a giant thing in my state so I have a strong chance at placing at the competition this year (10-12)
-City World Affairs- only high school-aged Student Ambassador, help out with events (11-12)
-Student Government: officer positions in freshman and sophomore year, lost junior election but I am a rep to the county student board and will be the only rep from my school to the county student caucus next year (9-12)
-Volleyball: JV freshman year, varsity sophomore and up (like 4-12)
-Dem Party- intern on campaign during soph-junior summer, will be interning with state senate this winter (10-11, maybe 12)

Awards: school awards, MUN awards, honorable mention on a national essay contest last year. I’m doing several essay contests this year, so I may get another national award from that, in addition to MIT Inspire. It’s looking like I’m not going to be national merit

Also worth mentioning: I’m a semifinalist for NSLI (crossing my fingers), but if that doesn’t work out I’ll probably go to governor’s school for language or intern on another campaign this summer

Demographic info: Asian, but I’m ethnically ambiguous name-wise; income is upper middle class; state is pretty competitive, although I’m not in a super competitive area of the state

I really really really want to go to Columbia (CC) and will be applying ED Human Rights or Poli Sci Stats major. My main concern is my SAT score, although the lack of major awards and fact that I’ve started most of my extracurriculars this year are also making me doubtful. I got really freaked out seeing that the ED pool is 16% larger than last year!

Don’t give up! You’re a junior right now, after all. You have plenty of time to improve your resume (which outside of the subject tests is extremely good to begin with). From what i’ve seen, it will be especially important to make an impact with your essays, so get started with them (a whole 7 supplements plus the common app!).

You’re competitive for all the schools on your list IMO. I teach at Wharton and I can tell you getting into Huntsman program is even more competitive than Columbia College. But you seem to be the type of candidate they admit. Deciding between CC & Wharton/Huntsman would be a tough one … I hope you get there. (Pick Huntsman unless you love/are prepared to love NYC.)

You have Barnard on the list … it’s a lot easier to get admitted and no real difference from CC in the education you get. You’ll live in a different dorm freshman year, that’s all. Do consider applying ED to Barnard for the best chance of spending 4 years on Morningside Heights, and in the meantime buff your feminist credentials.

Thank you for mentioning NSLI which I’ve never heard of before. Wow … they are recruiting HS students for the CIA with language scholarships. GL with the scholarship, but if you get it I advise staying away from the spook world.

Try to retake your SATs and practice bc practice makes perfect! I would say that your extracurriculars are strong and so is your GPA. Good luck!