Chance me for Columbia ED!

<p>Intended focus: Physics (CC for Columbia)
SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT: 33 (35 S, 34 W, 33 R, 31 M) [Retaking this in October (couldn't do September date), after taking around 10 practice tests I get around a 34.25-34.75 on each one]
SAT II: (Taking US History and Math II in October)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2%
AP (place score in parenthesis):
AP Calc AB (5)
AP Lang (5)
APUSH (5)
AP World (4)
AP Chem (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load:
AP Gov
AP Micro
AP Calc BC
AP Stats
AP Lit
AP Macro (Self Study)
AP Physics C: Mech (Self Study)
AP Comp Gov (Self Study)
Academic Decathlon
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Dozens of medals for AcDec (national, state, and regional level), highest scorer on team at 2014 nationals
Minor Awards: NHRP, AP Scholar, Recognized as student of the month in regional district</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Academic Decathlon (Team captain 10,11,12) [First time any school in our district has placed 1st at regionals and state, qualified for nationals and placed 6th in the nation, had lots of media coverage since our team really came out of nowhere. I've spent hundreds of hours studying for it]
Physics Club (Founder/President, 12)
Chemistry Club (11, President 12)
Calculus Club (VP, 11,12)
Job/Work Experience: Builds and fixes computers for friends and random people
Volunteer/Community service: I organized fundraisers to send our team to Nationals for AcDec and will have organized an entire district scrimmage for our school by November
I also tutor math, physics, and chemistry</p>

<p>Summer Activities: Boys State, studying for next year AcDec
Essays:
- Personal Statement: About how I skateboarded for my entire life and how it taught me to love learning and advance myself within a group of people who were much older than me.
- Why Columbia: About how my AcDec team and I all were exposed to many different subjects and loved each one of them (specifically art for me). I tie this in to Columbia's Core curriculum
- Why my major (Physics): About how I took a trip to Europe and visited the Large Hadron Collider and how it inspired my interest in physics
-- If anyone could read these and give me some feedback it would be great!
Teacher Recommendation: From AcDec coach who I have had as a teacher for 3 years, very very close (like, texting close), should be amazing
Counselor Rec: I go to a large public, so it should be pretty generic as I've only spoken to her a couple of times
Additional Rec: From my Calc teacher who I've had for two years and I'm also close with, but not nearly as close as AcDec coach
Interview: Not yet</p>

<p>State (if domestic applicant): AZ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Middle class, large public (2400 kids)
Ethnicity: Hispanic/Mexican
Gender: M
Income Bracket: $120,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM</p>

<p>Bump!</p>

<p>You definitely have a shot! Make sure your essays demonstrate your passions and how you will contribute to the Columbia community.</p>

<p>@momfromme‌ Thanks! Would you mind reading one of my essays? I’ve only had my parents read them so far and would love some feedback.</p>

<p>I don’t know if I’ll have time but feel free to send via DM.</p>

<p>I would prepare an academic resume to leave behind at the interview. It should pull together quickly from Naviance. Ask your counselor for an appointment to do a practice interview and be sure to leave the resume with him/her. Perhaps also do a practice interview with your calculus teacher over lunch or some free period and leave him a copy of your resume. This may help him write up his recommendation! I think you will be in NYC this time next year! Good luck!</p>

<p>You are an URM with greeeeat ECs. As long as you didn’t bomb the subject tests, and don’t do anything stupid in the essay, I say you got a really great chance. Good luck and great work</p>

<p>@brickthelegend‌ Thanks, I just took them this weekend and Im pretty sure I did well!</p>

<p>I’d say your application is about average without your main EC, but your acadeca talent seems to really shine.</p>

<p>@moliss Actually I updated this; I got a 35 on my ACT, a 790 on Math 2 and a 740 on US History</p>

<p>Very very good shot for ED. </p>