Chance Me - NYU/Columbia

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hi, so I have had my eye on NYU since middle school and I have read a lot about how they have a very good pre-med/biology program. I am currently debating whether or not I should apply early decision to NYU or Columbia since these two are my dream schools and I would honestly be excited to attend ether. I am worried that if I ED to Columbia and get rejected, I might not have a shot at NYU in the regular decision pool. I know its early to be thinking about applying to colleges, but I would really appreciate input on which school I should ED to. My intended major is pre-med/biology.

School: I attend a selective partial day STEM-based governor’s school in affiliation with a local major research university.
Race/gender: Asian female

UW GPA: 3.95
W GPA: 4.54 (school weights AP/ gov school courses, so pre-aps/honors are not inputted)
Rank: top 1% (school doesn’t release final numerical ranks until end of senior year)
ACT: 36

SAT Bio: 800
SAT Math II: 800
SAT Chem: 780

AP classes: Physics I, Chemistry, World History, Calculus BC, Biology, APUSH, Environmental, Psychology, Lang

Senior year courses: anatomy+physiology/microbiology, multivariable calculus/linear algebra, geomatics, research, AP seminar, AP lit, AP gov, AP physics C - yes I know senioritis is real but most of these are required semester courses at gov school :frowning:

ECs: 10+ years in Girl Scouts (gold award, senior leader), congresswoman’s summer leadership program, accepted/committed to Girl’s State, founder/president of STEM community outreach club, founder/vice-president of mental health matters club, varsity tennis, Women in STEM secretary, HOSA.

Notable: recognized by US navy + congress for science fair project, placed in county science fair for 5 years, semifinalist in national science fair, I have research experience/have had my work published, I shadowed a dentist for a year.

Again, I am more so asking for opinions on whether I should shoot for NYU or Columbia as my early decision school. I am obviously applying to many other schools including match/safeties, but NYU/Columbia have always been tied as my top schools.

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If you’re not worried about FA at NYU – an expensive school that tends not to give great FA – I’d advise to ED at CU. Your stats are high enough for NYU in my opinion without EDing. And ED might give you the edge at CU.

Have you also considered Barnard …? It’s a wonderful school in and of itself and it’s part of the CU campus …It just seems that if you identify as female and you have the option of attending CU through an additional avenue, then maybe consider that approach. Best of luck to you.

Barnard shares all facilities with CU. Barnard has its own college and it’s own support system and its own culture etc. No you would not be attending classes with only women–as men from CU go to Barnard for classes and Barnard women got to CU for classes and they all share facilities–but you would enjoy the unique culture of an all-women’s school which tend to produce women who achieve at higher levels in their careers. Barnard also would relieve you of the heavy core at CU, which if you’re premed might be something to consider.

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You’re not going to get rejected by Columbia ED, you may get deferred but not rejected. If you’re willing to share, what state are your from and was the science fair you got semifinal in something like Intel? Anyway, as Dusty posted, apply ED to Columbia, RD to NYU and see what happens. good luck!

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Hi @theloniusmonk thanks a lot for your input! It really boosted my confidence in this extremely stressful college app/search process! I reside in northern VA and I was a semifinalist at the ISEF science fair.

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Your stats are near perfect. And you probably already know that ED to Columbia is unpredictable. Are you sure that you want to do premed at Columbia? The core will take up a considerable portion of your class-load. There are a few weed-out classes that are notorious at Columbia. Google Mowshowitz Biology and read up what you’ll be facing. I assume you’ll be applying to Columbia College, and not SEAS. The GPA deflation at SEAS make it difficult for grad school admissions.

If med school is your ultimate goal, then you would be better off at a smaller, liberal arts college where you can be near the top of the class. GPA along with MCAT are the two primary determinants of med school acceptance. Having an ivy league degree won’t really have a large impact.

1 Like
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ok, you’ll do fine, you’re a really strong student, such that I would consider MIT and Stanford as well, don’t ED anywhere. I actually would EA to a place like MIT and UVA for your safety. Northern VA is a tough demographic, that and being Asian pre-med are the things working against you. If Columbia is still your dream, I still wouldn’t apply ED there.

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I respectfully disagree with doing premed at MIT – unclear about UVA. Before deciding, check the premed threads. Several parents with kids in premed suggest not going to the most rigorous school that you can get into. Why? Because much of med school entry is GPA plus MCAT–not the name of school you attended. In fact if I’m recalling correctly some were arguing that going to a lower-level school is beneficial because you, the superstar academically, would get that much more attention and nurturing–and you’d be the one at the top of the curve. At extremely high-level schools getting the GPA you need is that much harder. I’ve personally known folks at Yale whose med school chances were dashed freshman year chem class. A smaller LAC that has hands-on care for its students, labs, etc. might be a better option. Some are known for prepping students for med school entrance. One that comes to mind is Bryn Mawr – it has a post-bac program for premed that’s respected and your undergrad classes benefit from that expertise. CU has a premed post-bac through its school of general studies, but to my mind, if you were my child, I’d suggest Barnard for the small classes and individual nurturing since you love the CU vibe. Then I’d gently point you to Simmons in Boston–you’d get radical amounts of merit aid, they have a nursing program and you’d be like the strong student there, have the benefit of Boston at your fingertips. Or Mt. Holyoke or even Smith–Five colleges to balance your experience.

Others that aren’t all-women (even though men often attend classes at women’s colleges): Connecticut College; Wheaton in Massachusetts; Earlham in Indiana; Southwestern University outside of Austen (I’ve heard it’s a gorgeous campus, really fun); St. Olaf; Kenyon; Oberlin; Dickinson; etc.

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Your profile is the only thing that could make it more a case of randomness for you. Your academically near perfect, and your extracurriculars make you competetive within a pool of other insanely successful applicants like yourself (not all of whom will be admitted). You have a good 50-50 at Columbia, but I agree it would help if you applied to Barnard instead.

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@Dustyfeathers wow thank you so much for your advice! I have been looking into some of the small LACs that you mentioned and I really think that I would enjoy them (especially Barnard :smiley: ). I will definitely research these schools more and most likely apply to a few of them later this year! Thanks again!!

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@VArachel: Please also check out the forums on Studentdoctor. There are a lot of premeds on that forum, and they often have a good insight onto premed committees and each individual college’s quirks.

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“I respectfully disagree with doing premed at MIT”

My point on MIT was that it has a flexible EA program, so you’re not locked in, the OP could EA to a LAC as well.

“A smaller LAC that has hands-on care for its students, labs, etc. might be a better option.”

Sure, but there’s still weed out that happens, as we’re discussing in a thread around Bowdoin and other LACs. Pre-med is inherently weed out, there will always be more people that want to be doctors as freshman than when they graduate as seniors.

on gradeinflation.com, MIT’s gpa is 3.39, St. Olaf’s is 3.41, other LACs have similar gpas but older data. Again OP doen’t have to apply to MIT.

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Your stats and ECs are awesome! But do keep in mind many people applying to high-ranking schools, which includes NYU & Columbia will have similar stats so do not heavily rely on them to get you in. I’m class of 2020 (HS senior) and from personal experience, their decisions are unpredictable/not guaranteed.
Given that we have free time due to COVID-19, I suggest you focus on writing a strong personal statement & supplemental essays, especially for NYU & Columbia. These will distinguish you from other applicants, so make sure you’re showing why you’re a good fit for these schools, not solely why they’re good for you. Use your personal experiences (such as your several leadership positions) to display that. The process is competitive so make sure you have other options too & don’t get too caught up on these 2. Hope this helps in any way!

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Please also take a look at the AAMC stats for medical school applicants. There are some useful tables:

https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/interactive-data/2019-facts-applicants-and-matriculants-data

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The biggest problem with prestige is that 9 times out of 10 you can’t afford it, even if you’re the smartest kid in the room. If you keep that mindset through the application process, you can at least preserve your sanity. There’s nothing that these schools offer that you can’t already get at your state university. Just a fair warning, NYU is not known for generous financial aid. Columbia is better, but near impossible to get in. Keep a healthy list of schools…and consider scholarships. They’re a far better deal.

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you said Columbia is your dream school so I don’t know why people would try to talk you out of it. You obviously like NYC. Go for it- you have the stats. IF you don’t get in and “waste” your ED it’s ok- you have the stats to get in somewhere else great.

You might change your mind and decide not to be pre-med, and if so then Columbia is a nice thing to have on your resume. will it be challenging there? of course. Do med schools care what school you go to? Everyone here says no, but I am sure they do care a little. I suspect, all else being equal, a 3.7 from Columbia will get a med school spot over the 3.8 from Univ of Generic Town.

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I’m not trying to talk OP out of Columbia, more ED. But if the OP is set on Columbia and can afford it, then sure ED there.

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Thank you all for your help! I look forward to using the knowledge and advice you have provided me later this year when I apply to colleges!

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Remember NYU has ED2 as well, so if you don’t get in Columbia ED, that’s also an option if you’re still thinking ED is the route to go.