chance me for ED? thanks

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>What can I say, I'm curious....</p>

<p>I go to a really competitive private school and we don't rank or have GPAs</p>

<p>SAT I (I took them again nov 1st and dont have those scores yet but they'll probably go up... especially writing)
Math 720
Reading 720
Writing 690</p>

<p>SAT II
Math level 2: 740
Lit: 750</p>

<p>APs: AP European History 5, AP Biology 4</p>

<p>Classes i'm taking this year:
French 4 Language, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, Political Shakespeare (term 1), Dangerous Books (term 2), holocaust & the individual, drawing, and contemporary issues in biology
note: all of our english courses past 11th grade are considered to be APs</p>

<p>activities:
varsity volleyball 10-12
varsity basketball 10-12
varsity softball (captain) 10-12
church youth group 2 yrs
girl scouts since kindergarten
maroon key club (community service) 9-12
read to grow 9-12
environmental club 2 years</p>

<p>awards:
top ten nationally grades 9-11 for the national french contest
National Merit
Malone scholar (given to 2 kids that show most acedemic and leadership promise per grade in my school)</p>

<p>past 2 summers:
-volleyball camp x2
-community service trip with my youth group to port jervis, ny to fix up houses for elderly and those who can't afford it themselves
-one month on the island of dominica where my group of 15 built roads, repaired the community water tank, helped to form tourism businesses, taught 5-8 year olds how to read... no running water, no electricity, no tourism: just helping a community that worked hard but couldn't get it all done</p>

<p>essay:
I wrote it about how my mom's battle with depression helped me to mature and find what i wanted out of life</p>

<p>thank you! please feel free to be completely honest - i want the truth</p>

2

<p>The thing is that most who apply have the stats and the grades, and even extra curricullars, that show show leadership. The things is that there are 20,000 applicants combined for regular decision and at least 2,500 for regular decision. Applicants often dont realize that having stats and extra curriulars. is not enough, one needs to stand out. Those who stand out are usually those who show evidence of great passion in extra curriculars over years many with national achievement, extraordinary talent in an area usually in the arts, extraordinary involvement in community service, or unusually high achievement in academics and science/math ect. It is often not enough to just be involved in different activities, and even having leadership in these activities. What may be considered extraordinary often becomes ordinary when one is trying to stand out against thousands of others with similar test scores and grades.
If you are from an under represented state, or are an under represented minority, or overcome great obstacles, are a recruited athlete or legacy that might help overcoming things that do not make you stand out. Or even if your essay conveys something compelling that draws the interest of admission officers.
When it comes to great second tier schools, stats like yours may be enough to gain admission. For the ivy league and other top tier schools, there needs to be something extra. It does not mean that you will not be accepted. It just means that there will be some applicants who will stand out more.</p>

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<p>I hope I did not seem too critical. Your SAT scores/grades ect are competitive. I was just trying to say that your involvement outside of academics is similar to many other applicants. Maybe your essay about your mother gave you a more interesting edge.</p>

4

<p>i'm a fellow ED'er, and I'm glad to see that you actually did something cool/meaningful in your summers -- I think admissions must see a ton of "programs" for teens where they do some community service and a ton of tourism...so i think it will be refreshing for them to see your trip that was exclusively for community service and really a selfless decision on ur part.</p>

<p>your stats are solid, competitive -- i don't think most people get in on stats anymore anyway (excluding the 5.0's and the 2400s out there).</p>