<p>I was deferred from Penn Arts and Sciences ED, so I've become interested in Columbia. Tell me what you think, please.</p>
<p>Gender: M
Location: California
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Private
High School Type: sends many grads to top schools</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<p>GPA - Unweighted: 4.15
GPA - Weighted: 3.71
Senior Year Courses: AP English Literature, AP Economics, AP Calculus BC, AP World History, AP Spanish Literature, Directed Studies: Hispanic Film
Class Size: 275</p>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p>SAT I Math: 740
SAT I Critical Reading: 740
SAT I Writing: 790
SAT II U.S. History: 730
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 760
SAT II Spanish: 750</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Investing, Peer Support, Admissions Committee
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: Tennis (non-school)
Volunteer/Service Work: Church Soup Kitchen (9-10), Working with blind children in Argentina (11)
Honors and Awards: Honor Roll (9-11), National Merit Commendation (12), AP Scholar (12), Spanish Honors Society (11), Humanitas Community Service Award (9)
College Summer programs: Abroad Program to Spain and Argentina (grades 10, 11)</p>
<p>good gpa, good sats, rigorous curriculum, i think maybe bit weak on extracurricular... you do have some but no leadership.. i like your abroad programs tho.. for columbia, i'd have to say..... possible.. esp with great essays,, cannot guarantee..</p>
<p>How is your weighted GPA lower than your unweighted?</p>
<p>Fennesz, his SAT's are fine. Your grades really aren't that competitive.. Columbia is near the level of Harvard/Yale these days.. ALso, the final thing that kills your App is your weak EC's. The only one that means quit a bit probably is the fact your travelled to Aregntina in the Summer.</p>
<p>As far as my ECs being weak, let me clarify and state my case. My two most significant activities are my Spain and Argentina abroad programs and Investing. </p>
<p>I spoke extensively about my passion for Spanish and trip to Argentina in my personal statement. I tied this into my general interest in business and economics while stating that I wanted to combine my abilities in Spanish and business to make progress in developing Latin American countries.</p>
<p>Seeing "Investing" doesn't make you think much, but I explained that from age six I have been using my own money (from gifts, jobs, etc.) to invest in stocks, real estate, and hedge funds. Most notably, when I was 13, I used around $5000 in Bar Mitzvah gift money as a down payment for a mortgage on a single family home in Florida. That home doubled in value, and I used the equity as collateral for credit line to purchase a similar home. Of course, these homes are under my father's name, but I made the investment decisions and balance my accounts. How many minors do you know who used their own money to buy houses? This is what I am trying to impress Columbia with, but since there is no undergraduate business school there, it might not be relevant.</p>
Seeing "Investing" doesn't make you think much, but I explained that from age six I have been using my own money (from gifts, jobs, etc.) to invest in stocks, real estate, and hedge funds. Most notably, when I was 13, I used around $5000 in Bar Mitzvah gift money as a down payment for a mortgage on a single family home in Florida. That home doubled in value, and I used the equity as collateral for credit line to purchase a similar home. Of course, these homes are under my father's name, but I made the investment decisions and balance my accounts. How many minors do you know who used their own money to buy houses? This is what I am trying to impress Columbia with, but since there is no undergraduate business school there, it might not be relevant.
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<p>That is personal finance, that has very little to due with academics and would probably be deemed irrelevant. Even for a undergraduate business program personal finances won't get you anywhere. Anyone can say "the investments in my fathers name are all mine, I was just a minor and too young to legally contribute." However, regardless I don't think that relevant either way, and definitely not an excuse for having weak extra curricular activities. I'd say you're a long shot.</p>
<p>Even though it's personal, the investment shows an ingenuity and a boldness that most teenagers (including myself) do not possess in terms of finance. I barely had the faintest idea of what investment meant when I was 13. I wouldn't go so far as to call it an extracurricular, but it is in the same vein as a hobby like painting in that it illustrates qualities of the applicant that might not be shown elsewhere and makes good fodder for the personal essay. However, like UriA702 says, this may not balance out weaknesses in other areas. But I do not think it will/should be totally discounted.</p>
<p>I appreciate your opinions, guys. So, my areas of weakness would be my low GPA and problems with my ECs. What can I do to mitigate these things before my application is reviewed? Of course I can pull good grades for the first semester. Is there anything else you guys would recommend?</p>
<p>Phedre. I understand your point. However, the kid sounds like he is planning to show his father's investment portfolio and say "it's my decision" there is a reason why a minor can not be legally bound to a financial contract and simply stating I invest in stocks/bonds/real estate is not relevant to education. All ivies look for well rounded individuals who are looking to do good for the world, especially Columbia. I would be extremely surprised if those stats got the OP into any Ivy, even with the investment portfolio. Sure, profiting off investments is great but doesn't show leadership or interpersonal skills. It is just sub par to what all other applicants have to offer.</p>
<p>I can assure you I'm not simply deeming my father's investments my own. He has taught me a lot, and I have employed what he has taught me. My dad signs his name and legally owns the property, but it will be under my legal control in February. I think it all depends on how the Admissions Committee views this. I might not explicitly be demonstrating leadership ability, but I think you're underestimating the interpersonal aspect of investing. For example, I must correspond with and deal with real estate agents, maintenance people, property managers, and even tenants themselves, among others. Furthermore, I see investing as a service to the community, and I explained this in my essay. I am, after all, putting a roof over people's heads by providing affordable housing to those who need it.</p>
<p>It's not a service to the community. It's a service to your bank account, no admissions officer is going to buy that investing is a service to the community. I wish you the best of luck but you might want to rethink your strategy. There was a interesting article regarding what Ivy league admission officers look for in The New Yorker a few months ago. I suggest you look it up and read it.</p>
<p>EVen after you clarified it, i still don't think you have such a great chance.. You have a great profile/stats.. but columbia is at a very very competitive level these days.. Just look at the ED decisions thread. You definately have a chance, but it's not that great. </p>
<p>"I appreciate your opinions, guys. So, my areas of weakness would be my low GPA and problems with my ECs. What can I do to mitigate these things before my application is reviewed? Of course I can pull good grades for the first semester. Is there anything else you guys would recommend?"
Ask people on the other forums... I'm not very sure.</p>
<p>That should be it. I don't remember exactly. I am not saying that investing is bad, it's great for you personally for it is almost irrelevant. It could be a good contributing factor but you are lacking very heavily in AP, EC (tennis is not school, can not get an eval from a coach.) Honor roll and honor society are on every single applicants application, spanish honors society is available to everyone. You do have a strong point which is working with blind children. At this point you should really try to write the best essay possible. Unless your essays are super good I don't see you being accepted to any ivy, due to the lack of ecs and other things.</p>
<p>The reason I say this is because I also have had a lot of investments as a kid, Bar Mitzvah money and Bris money went directly into stocks and bonds, even a business venture (retail shop.) where I was listed as a partner. It just isn't relevant for college admissions.</p>