Hi, I’m currently a rising senior from NJ who is hoping to get into Columbia University. I’m an Asian male and come from a upper-middle class household.
Academics:
- SAT Superscore (2 sittings): 2350 (800 Math, 790 CR, 760 Reading)
- Weighted GPA of 5.31
- Top 5% of class of 450
- 11 AP courses by the end of senior year
- AP 5s: AP English Language and Composition, AP Chinese Language and Culture
- AP 4s: AP U.S. History, AP World History
ECs:
- Class Student Council President of Class of 2017 (Senior Year)
- Class Treasurer of Class of 2017 (Junior Year)
- Class Co-Chair of Special Activities of Class of 2017 (Sophomore Year)
- Class Vice President of Class of 2017 of Class of 2017 (Freshman Year)
- Co-Founder and Co-President of Philosophy Club (2 years)
- Vice President of Model UN Club
- Vice President of National English Honor Society
- Track and Field Varsity Shotput Thrower (3 years), Scholar Athlete, Senior Co-Captain
- Model UN (3 years)
- General Student Council (4 years)
- Key Club (3 years)
- Latin Club (4 years)
- Columnist for the School Newspaper
Honors:
- National Honor Society
- Spanish National Honor Society
- Mu Alpha Theta (High School National Math Honor Society)
- National English Honor Society
- DECA (Business Honor Society)
- AP Scholar with Honor
Recommendations:
- 10th Gr. Honors English and 12th Gr. AP Literature teacher (Columbia Alumni): very good
- 11th Gr. Level 1 Econ. and 12th Gr. AP Econ. teacher: very good
- 10th Gr. AP U.S. History teacher/4 year Class Student Council Advisor: very good
- Principal: great
- Guidance Counselor (new one, don't know her too well): average/mediocre
My essays should be very good/above average. Would anybody please give me a rough chance on me getting into Columbia (ED), Yale, Penn, NYU, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, Amherst, Williams, USC, and UCLA? Also, if I am only to pick 2-3 recommendations, who should I get it from?
Please let me know, I’ll chance back! 
You should definitely get into USC, UCLA, Wesleyan, NYU. Swarthmore and Williams will consider u and likely accept u. Amherst, Columbia, Yale, and Penn are simply crapshoots but u have done enough for them to notice u, now just blow them away with ur essays. if u apply to Penn ED, you’re much more likely to get in then Columbia ED. but if columbia is ur first choice then go for it.
I think a letter from guidance counselor is required so that and your AP Lit and AP Econ teachers. Problem with the 4 yr student council advisor is that they wont teach u a senior year class or even a junior year.
Chance me back
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1911121-chance-a-canadian-who-dreams-too-high.html#latest
Hi - You’ve got great SAT scores and grades. Congrats on being such a diligent student. However your demographics are probably just about as tough as it can get: URM, over-represented area (NJ). I’m a little doubtful that your ECs will get their attention. Do you know if anyone else from your high school is applying ED?
@sgopal2 thank you for analysis. I don’t believe that anybody else in my grade is applying for Columbia Universdity, ED or regular, as I go to a public high school that is only ranked average within New Jersey. Would that increase my chances?
Are you applying for engineering or CC?
@sgopal2 I will be applying for CC, hopefully majoring in film and media studies w/ a concentration in business management.
What is your unweighted GPA? @AllAroundCoolGuy
@TimeUpJunior unfortunately not too high, only around a 3.7ish out of 4.0. However, this was because I was a part of a STEM program in my first two years of high school that forced me to take many high level AP classes that I was not prepared for (AP Bio, AP Chem, etc) which I got Bs in and eventually lowered my GPA.
Hi - I don’t see any ECs or awards related to your potential major. How will you convey that film and media studies is a genuine interest of yours?
@AllAroundCoolGuy Good grades will not guarantee you in, but sub-par ones could shut you out. I am afraid that the 3.7 UWGPA might be the Achilles heel for you. You are a very strong candidate otherwise, do apply!