chance me (HS class of 2012)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>GPA: 3.9 (on a 4.33 scale... I don't know how that's gonna translate)
SAT IIs: 740/US History, 730/Biology M, predicting the mid to high 700s for World History (taking this in the spring)
PLAN (ACT for sophomores): 30* (should get a 32-34, see below)</p>

<p>School/location: Top 500 public school in the Midwest (most underrepresented area at Columbia, with only 8% of the student body from the Midwest).</p>

<p>Sophomore year classes: Photo I, Honors Biology, Honors Am. Lit, Adv. Journ. I, AP US History, Geometry College Prep (not in honors), French III
Junior: AP Microeconomics, Honors Chemistry, AP Lang, Adv. Journ. II, AP Euro, Alg. II CP, French IV Honors
Senior (guessing): AP Photo, AP Bio, AP Lang, Adv. Journ. III, AP Gov, Pre-calc, AP French V (plus some other stuff like art history and maybe anatomy... I'm not a hundred percent on what I'm taking)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-Involvement in journalism. Will be editor-in-chief/managing editor by senior year (assistant editor at the moment). Our paper is gosh-darn good, if I may say so myself (winner of Columbia Gold Crown). Have won state and national awards for writing. Helped launch our online newspaper. Interning at a local newspaper this summer.
-Founder and President of French Society. We do a lot of community service stuff, and we're going to France next summer (first time French class has gone for about ten years).
-Member of a variety of other clubs (NHS, NAHS, Key Club, etc.)
-Assists in tutoring a class of underprivileged pre-kindergartners
-Member of a young woman's empowerment group, which granted $2,500 to a local woman's charity last spring
-Cashier at local cafe (yay?)
-Was involved in youth theater ages 8-13, assistant directed play freshman year, which is the age limit of involvement (theater at my school is all musicals, can't sing)
-Varsity Gymnastics freshman year (highlight of my profile...)</p>

<p>Anyways, I know I don't have all of the details, but how am I doing thus far? Thanks :)</p>

<p>*Yeah, I didn't actually pay too close attention to the exam. I obviously will for the real one. And I'm taking an ACT course, checking out some ACT books, the whole deal.
Quick question: Is it okay if I just take the ACT? My entire school career has pretty much been in preparation for this test (as in my sixth English grade teacher had us do essays that were of the same style of the ACT questions). Thanks.</p>

2

<p>no chance whatsoever.</p>

3

<p>Um… could you please be a bit more detailed on that?</p>

4

<p>is this strictly for Columbia? That’s the only school I’ve seen listed anywhere on your post.</p>

5

<p>Yeah I’d say you have to be way further than algebra II as a junior if you want any chance… and definitely honors at least</p>

6

<p>swim2daend: Considering this is the Columbia section, yup, I’m looking for Columbia-based feedback… though I’m obviously applying at other schools. </p>

<p>stocker93: Thanks, but why is it so important that I have to be further than Algebra II…? I’m following the curriculum, and it’s not exactly the highlight of my transcript nor does it have anything at all to do with what I’m interested in. At my school, the test that decides whether you’re in the Honors or CP math track is taken in fifth grade, so it’s not like I can go back in time.</p>

7

<p>bumpppppppppppppppppppppppppppp</p>

8

<p>Well I know that at my high school, advanced students take algebra II as a freshman… as I did. We also took Algebra I in 8th grade, and then sophomore year doubled up in geometry and pre calc, that way by junior year you can take AP Calc… just be aware that there’s going to be alot of competition out there, who are taking advantage of honors/ap classes offerred at their schools. if your school has an honors algebra II class and you’re not taking it, that might not look so good on an app. Also, you won’t have the opportunity to even take calculus in high school which is a major negative. Not to be negative, just honest.</p>