Chance me Columbia ED 2025

Hiiiii Columbia’s my dream school but I have mediocre stats for their level of competitiveness so, let me know if there’s anything I can work on this late in the game to help my chances! I understand that admit rates are low and it’s obviously a reach, just looking for any insight

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1550, 780 RW 770 M
SAT II: Taking Math II and Eng Lit in October
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.7
Weighted GPA: 4.1
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calc AB (4), World (4), Bio (3), English Lang (3), APUSH (3), failed two tests that i won’t be submitting lol
Senior Year Course Load: 5 APs: Macro, EnvSci, Literature, Stats, taking US Gov second semester. 2 visual art classes
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): :/// Presidential Service Award, finalist in a few debate invitationals and a lot of local competitions. AP Scholar and Honor roll n stuff.

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Debate, 4yrs (President)
hs democrats, 4yrs (president)
Journalism, 4yrs (editor)
Varsity Golf, 3yrs
Job/Work Experience:
Paid tutor, 2yrs
Volunteer/Community service:
Tutoring (club president)
Handful of community service clubs, probably will only report one max
volunteered on some local political campaigns

Summer Activities: one paid summer camp thing at a top 20 school

Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App Essay: 8 or 9 but I’m still editing it. Talks about my ethnic identity and how I overcame internal conflict, and how I’ve learned to embrace who I am through debate and activism
Lists: 10, solid amount of books, movies, etc from a variety of creators and genres that i think represents my personality well
Why Columbia: 8, I like it but def room to improve. I talk about how core curriculum would allow me to explore a wide range of interests and how I could prosper within columbia+NYC’s activism culture
Intended Major Essay: 9, again could probably improve but I think it’s decent. Columbia is the only school I’m applying to with the major I want and I think I expressed that?

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 10. AP English teacher, really likes me, had him for two years. I think he’d have a lot of really good stories and things to say about me.
Teacher Rec #2: 10, AP History teacher, same as 1.
Counselor Rec: 8, I don’t know her super well but I’ve heard she writes good letters
Additional Rec:
Interview: haven’t done it yet obv but I feel relatively confident, esp. since I do debate

Other:
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes? I don’t anticipate it but worth a shot right?
Intended Major: Sustainable Development
State (if domestic applicant): California
School Type: Public, competitive
Ethnicity: Japanese and white
Gender: F
Income Bracket: upper middle/lower upper
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First generation college, queer, mixed

I’d say you have a pretty good chance, your stats are really good. The only thing I can see that may hurt your chances a bit are your AP scores, but even then they are still really good. Considering that this year acceptance rates will drastically drop, I’d say that if you can really impress them with your essays you have a good chance at getting in.

Speculation is pointless on a school that has a 4% acceptance rate. And even if you get in, you may or may not be able to afford it. Make sure you have a list of affordable schools you can apply to.

Nice stats! did you get in?