Chance me Columbia ED

Demographics: Male, Indian - American, Texas, Private school, upper class

Intended Major(s): My intended major for Columbia is Middle Eastern, South Asian and African studies, with minor in public health. I don’t actually want to do these majors but it fits well with my background and EC’s.

ACT/SAT/SAT II: ACT - 35 composite (Math - 34, Reading - 36, Writing - 34, Science - 36) Essay - 7

UW/W GPA and Rank: 3.7 unweighted (at least top 30% in the class bc we don’t do ranks)

no weighted gpa, but my classes are top 5% in the grade in terms of rigor

Coursework:

7 AP’s so far: AP Chem - 4 APUSH - 4 AP Physics - 4 AP Calc AB - 5 Ap Stat - 4 Ap Comp Sci - 4 AP Lang - 3 (prob wont submit)

Subject tests: Math 2 - 760 Chem - 770

Current courses: AP Calc BC, AP Econ (Macro and Micro), AP Physics C, Spanish 4h, Global Studies and Entrepreneurship, and Japanese Literature

Awards:

National Merit Commended Student

Mu Alpha Theta

National Honors Society

Spanish Honors Society

AP Scholar with Distinction

Extracurriculars:

I have been apart of the math team all during high school and all of middle school as well. I am currently a Statistics coach

I have been playing a classical Indian percussion instrument for the past 10 years and have a “graduation recital” next year

I co-founded a nonprofit organization that screens children in schools in developing countries for eye defects (screened over 150,000 children across India and the DR and raised almost $100,000) - started in 2016

I volunteer frequently at local hospitals and do research about neurological disorders, optical imaging in cancer cells, and the efficacy of radiation oncology treatments.

I did rowing from 9th grade to 11th grade and got a state award in a race as a coxswain

Received a grant from my school to travel to India and create a documentary based on the impact of my nonprofit (shown above)

Essays/LORs/Other:

Personal Statement - 9. I think it’s pretty good. It’s very personal and talks about a time when I had malaria and it really connects my nonprofit with my background.

Supplements - 9. I don’t know what else to say. My college counselors say they’re pretty good

LOR’s - 8. Not sure how good they’ll turn up. One is from my physics teacher who knows me well from his class and he knows what I do outside of school. My other rec is from my english teacher who went to Columbia, I don’t know if that helps anything tho.

Schools: Columbia (ED), UChicago (Possible ED2), MIT (early), Harvard (RD), Johns Hopkins (RD), UPenn (RD), Vanderbilt (RD), Cornell (RD), Georgetown (RD), Tufts (RD), WashU (RD)

Hey!! Amazing stats and extracurriculars. Just wondering if you got in?

No I got rejected from Columbia ED, but I got in UChicago ed2!

1 Like

Hey I also come from similar demographics (upper class, texas private school (spc)), I was wondering more about your non-profit. I want to start one, but i was wondering if you have any advice on the logistics of helping people across the globe (ie. how would I set up connections with schools in South America or Africa.)

@THEcurryman23

Congratulations!! University of Chicago is a great school and I am sure you will do great things there.

If I had seen this post last year I would have given you one piece of advice:

"I co-founded a nonprofit organization that screens children in schools in developing countries for eye defects (screened over 150,000 children across India and the DR and raised almost $100,000) - started in 2016

I volunteer frequently at local hospitals and do research about neurological disorders, optical imaging in cancer cells, and the efficacy of radiation oncology treatments."

Get this stuff to the top of your list of extra curricular accomplishments. They are both really impressive!!

Ironically, I would have given you that advice based on a YouTube video I saw. Are you familiar with a YouTuber called “itschloetan?” She goes to the University of Chicago. She is about to take a gap year and is currently making videos talking about, among other things, college admissions, including how to maximize your chances of getting into your dream school. You might want to check out her videos talking about the University of Chicago, and maybe even reach out to her.