Chance Me for SEAS RD

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Information:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW</p>

<p>School: US News Top 50 public</p>

<p>Courseload: 5 APs junior year & 7 APs senior year (probably most rigor possible)</p>

<p>Class Rank: 65/400+ (my counselor wrote a note on school report that my rank is unrepresentative since I transferred)</p>

<p>SAT:
Superscore: 2270 (790 CR, 730 M, 750 W)</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests:
Math II: 800
Physics: 690</p>

<p>AP: 5 Calc, 5 Stats, 4 Physics B, 4 APUSH</p>

<p>Half a Hook?: Spent the 9th and 10th grades in India. Got a solid 92% average in the 10th grade national examinations.</p>

<p>Intended Major: Computer Science</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Indian (US Citizen)</p>

<p>Gender: Male</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>-(11,12) Investment Club (President 12)</p>

<p>-(11,12) Washington State Finance Association (Co-Founder and Vice-President)
A student run group that promotes the field of finance to students in the local area. We have a flashy website which I (helped) develop.</p>

<p>-(11,12) Volunteer for a non-profit called Student Research and Development (Relations Manager)
Non-profit that has a mission to inspire students to learn more about science and technology.</p>

<p>-(11) Washington Business Week (Summer Program) (VP of my company)</p>

<p>-(11,12) Math Club</p>

<p>-(11,12) Robotics (Programming & Marketing team)</p>

<p>-(9,10) School Basketball team</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>-AP Scholar with Honor</p>

<p>-community service award from school</p>

<p>Extra:</p>

<p>-I'm expecting something like 3 Bs in my 7 AP schedule for first semester senior year so my GPA will drop to 3.9. Do senior year grades matter a lot?</p>

<p>-My extracurriculars aren't really related to my intended major but I'm trying to stress the tech aspects of them such as web-site development</p>

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<p>Idk if I would send in the Physics score…</p>

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<p>He doesn’t have another science SAT II so it’s not like he has a big choice there.</p>

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<p>1) uh yeah, well like since you can send in January scores, I would recommend taking Physics again or Chemistry for SEAS</p>

<p>2) your overall academic record is not super impressive. It is average though, and so it doesnt automatically throw you out of the running. At this point, to stress your intellectual ability, you have to show Columbia lots of outside research, pursuing your academic passions, and very supportive teacher recommendations that stress you are a standout in the classroom</p>

<p>3) Your extracurriculars are fine, although I would have strongly recommended more academically related outside research and such. Also, (okay this is kind of controversial and not everyone would agree) but ivy leagues like Columbia are very humanities oriented (read on, this kind of applies even if ur doing SEAS); they really don’t like ppl who like to do busines (not my personal opinion, but I read that somewhere, so look into it). they like philosophers, future leaders, etc., not investment bankers. Since ur ec’s are very business related, idk…but once again, I could be wrong in this judgement.</p>

<p>4) write a super compelling essay!!! do your last bit to impress your teachers!!!</p>

<p>GLGLGLGL</p>

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<p>I disagree with any blanket statement that “Columbia really doesn’t like people who like to do business.” A sincere and devoted interest in business is as valid as any other high school interest. (And “business” entails a lot more than investment banking.)</p>

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<p>considering that a fairly significant group of CC and especially SEAS graduates move on to careers in finance, that Columbia does actually have a graduate business program, and that New York is more or less the financial capital of the US, i don’t see how you could say that columbia doesn’t like people interested in business. </p>

<p>w/r/t chances: i really have no idea if being indian is a hook, but if it is you could be in decent shape. your transcript, scores, and extracurriculars are fine (well actually, your rank is pretty low, but hopefully you shouldn’t have to worry about that if your GC wrote that note), people get in with worse scores and with better. try to write great essays and you may have a shot. your physics score is not terrible but is relatively low so if possible it might help to retake it in jan. of course, i’m not an expert, just a deferred applicant aimlessly wandering around the forum…good luck!</p>

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<p>Living in India is not a hook. A hook generally refers to either legacy, URM status, or recruited athlete.</p>

<p>Seems like grade inflation to me… perfect GPA and not even top 10%? It doesn’t matter where you moved because they will look at you in the context of your present school. Also, you are cranking out a perfect GPA but 4s on APs (690 on Phys)??? The difficulty of your classes is highly questionable.</p>

<p>SAT scores are good, Math 2 score is excellent. Physics is subpar (for applicants to SEAS). </p>

<p>Overall your grades and SATs are pretty good, the place that seems to be lacking the most is the ECs… </p>

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<p>Very much so. A lot of top colleges stress the importance of attaining strong senior year grades since a lot of colleges like to see how you are progressing. A downward trend will hurt you.</p>

<p>I think you might have a chance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you got rejected or waitlisted. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>thanks for these detailed responses guys. I will either retake physics in January or take chem. and yes my ECs are mostly business-related and I’m applying to engineering so I don’t really know what to expect.</p>

<p>@wongtongtong haha I crammed on the last day for all my tests in physics so I didn’t end up learning much… And my school is a top 50 public so there is neither grade deflation nor “easy” classes. I moved back to the US from India in the 11th grade so it does drastically effect my weighted GPA (since there were no AP classes).</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE APPLYING RD.</p>

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<p>okay alex chill out man I said it was just somethign that I read somewhere cuz i knew ppl like you would freak out. I don’t personally believe too strongly in the statement, but I read it in “A is for Admissions” if you wanna go check. You can of course have you opinions on the matter but please refrain from blaming me if you don’t agree. take it up with the author. k thanks. and i was just trying to help</p>

<p>btw, gl jumpshooter!</p>

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<p>I’m not sure that’s going to help you. </p>

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<p>If you are trying to tell me you go to a feeder school I don’t see any reason why you should even be making this thread. </p>

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<p>Yes, I’m quite aware of that, since I am Indian, and I have cousins who complain about their studies in India. :p</p>

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<p>That’s impressive.</p>

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<p>I d say you have a solid chance!!
The only things which arn’t Columbia worthy are

  1. Rank
  2. Gr 9 and 10 ECs
    Everything else is brilliant. Just remember that RD acceptance rates are significantly low and you will be competing against the people who end up in MIT also. Thus make your essays stand out. Submit a research paper if possible.</p>

<p>Best of Luck</p>

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<p>i wasn’t really “freaking out,” just stating my opinion (and it is basically an opinion)…sorry if i sounded confrontational or something…</p>

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<p>Hm I think your chances are a crapshoot. Your stats sound like thousands of other students, and we have many (extremely smart) Indians (and other Asians) in SEAS. If you had 2350+ and a couple SAT II 800’s you’d be in much better shape, and you would very likely be admitted (if not SEAS, then a few other Ivy schools even better than Columbia).</p>

<p>In any case, you are a hard worker and a smart guy (like many other students), so your admission can really fall anywhere. And as for some unsolicited advice, life will continue regardless of the school you attend, and life can always be great. Do not be too anxious about everything (in general). Best of luck.</p>