Chance me for Columbia ED + Others!

<p>Hey, so all you CC people seem to have a pretty tough view on chances to the Ivies and Upper Tier Schools. I've checked out my own HS's acceptance and rejection graphs and data but people here seems to have fair opinions and judgements. My dream school is definately Columbia and I will be applying Early Decision regardless of what anyone says, but I want to see what you guys think... I am a little worried about my lack of leadership and volunteer EC's but im hoping my depth and time commitment to in a few other things will outweigh that.</p>

<p>Thanks in Advance :P</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Asian - Southeast Asian
Gender: Male
School Type: Public (Top 50. According to US News at least :P)</p>

<p>Academics-
Unweighted GPA: 3.9
Rank: My school doesn't rank, but might be Top 10%
SAT: Total: 2250, Crit Reading: 790, Math: 740, Writing: 720. This was my first try I am retaking it again in October.
SAT II's: Math IIC: 800, Biology: 750, American History: 730. I'm retaking Biology in November... and probably not going to send in the Am History one.</p>

<p>Classes-
Senior Courseload: AP Physics C E&M, Adv. Topics in Mathematics (highest available class), AP Biology, Science Research, and some other english and social studies electives....
APs Taken: 10th Grade: AP European History - 5, 11th Grade: AP Calculus BC - 5, AP Physics C Mech - 4, AP U.S. History- 5
Extracurricular Activities and Awards (Hah i wish i had awards...)-
-Science Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Spent this summer performing research under my mentor. I'm currently writing a paper which will be enetered into Intel Science Talent Search and WESEF. I plan to major in Biology or Biochemisty, might do premed...
-Classical Piano - 12 Years. One of my biggest passions, definately plan to continue in college. Maybe add some Jazz too!
-Awards: Yale Piano Award(I need to check how big a deal this one is...), performed at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall (in a group for both...), National Guild of Piano Teachers Audition - National Recognition 3 Times.
-Chinese School - 12 Years. Saturday Classes.
-Awards: Top Three in class for 10 Years. (haha classes were tiny though)
-Tennis - 6 years of lessons, 2 years on Junior Varsity, 2 Years on Varsity
-Leadership: Captain of JV (wonder if this counts....)
-Orchestra - 8 years in school Orchestra, violin.
-Leadership: First Chair of my section (dunno if this counts either...)</p>

<p>Minor ECs -
-Snowboarding - 9 years.
-YOCAA (Youth Organization of Chinese and Asian Americans) - 2 Years, Treasurer.</p>

<p>Recs-
- Teachers - Wow I really dont know...
- Counselor - I like my counselor, and I think she likes me so im gonna assume that it is good.
- Piano Teacher - This one I know will be very good. She has known me for 10 years. Also her students that she writes for have a tendency to get into really good schools haha.
-Sending in a CD of piano playing also...</p>

<p>Personal Essay:
Focusing on my piano playing and how it helped me to grow and develop as a person.</p>

<p>Columbia Essays:
-Why Columbia? Essay - Focuses on Science Research
-Activities Essay - Also focuses on Sci res.</p>

<p>Hooks: Mom went to Grad School at Columbia, Dad went to Princeton Undergrad, and Brown Grad.</p>

<p>Schools:
Columbia University ED</p>

<p>JHU
Northwestern
Wash U in St. Louis
Yale
Princeton
NYU
Carnegie Mellon
U Penn
Cornell
Brown</p>

<p>All I can say is wow…on paper everything looks amazing.</p>

<p>yeah, i agree… and just do the BIO SAT 800, u will look great
all u need to do is just to write some kick-ass essays</p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback. Glad to know that you think my app seems pretty good!
Anyone else?</p>

<p>Probably need to take the Ivy League schools off the list. Those are too much a reach for you</p>

<p>It will depend on your rank. Whether your school ranks or not officially, Columbia will have a rank for you figured out. Unless you go to an amazingly competitive school (SAT average about 2100, 25% plus to ivies) you will need to be in the top 5% at the very minimum and most unaccepted accepted will be top 2 in their class.</p>

<p>Are you indian?</p>

<p>It actually doesn’t matter, but sure the numbers look good. But the thing is you are a stereotypical asian-science, good grades, tennis, orchestra. The thing you have to do is distant yourself from other stereotypical asians. You’ll def get in somewhere because you have great stats but my advise is that you may get rejected from some schools just because you are just part of the bunch</p>

<p>Hahaha good bless us stereotype asians… yeah I guess the essay’s and interview and all that subjective stuff will have to separate me. Oh yeah i’m not indian, i’m malaysian, but i sure could pass for an indian online couldn’t I?</p>

<p>asian75 which particular ivies do you think are too far a reach, and uh any chance i’ll get a reason why?</p>

<p>well right now im really focused on columbia, probably not a good thing seeing as it is getting more selective as we speak but oh well…</p>

<p>also hmom proably true that columbia does it’s own ranking, im pretty sure im top 10% not sure about top 5% thanks though</p>