Chance me please Columbia!! Early Decision '14!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>I will make this as short and simple as I can possibly make it, thanks to everyone who gives me chances.</p>

<p>Rising Senior from WA State
Asian Male
First Generation College Student</p>

<p>STATS:
-3.98 GPA (UW) School doesn't weighted GPA.
-Rank: Top 15/480 (Past Top 5%)
-SAT: 2240 (CR:690 Math:800 Writing:750, 10 E)
-SAT II: Math IIC:800 Chemistry:770 Biology:720
-IB Scores: Chemistry SL:5, Spanish SL:5
-IB Diploma Candidate
-Taking ACT this weekend (expected 33+)</p>

<p>SENIOR SCHEDULE:
-IB English
-IB History
-IB Biology 3/4
-IB Physics
-IB Theory of Knowledge
-AP Calculus BC</p>

<p>Chose my top 3 majors as: Chemistry, Mathematics, Undecided</p>

<p>EXTRA-CURRICULARS:
-Junior-Class President and President of Math Team. We are one of the top teams in the nation, placing 4th in nationals as a team this year.
-President of National Honor Society
-President of FW Youth Ecology (A community service group)
-Vice-Chair of FW Youth Commission (starting projects)
-Math Tutor (In and out of school)
-Youth Basketball Coach
-Waiter at my moms restaurant
-Church (Sunday School teacher, Youth Group leader)</p>

<p>My top 5 are my main E.C.'s, with my main passion being in Math and leadership along with it (tutoring, etc.).</p>

<p>HONORS/AWARDS:
-Pretty much all math team awards that I'm going to put on my app.:
-3rd in MAO State Alpha Sequences + Series
-10th in MAO Nationals Alpha Sequences and Series
-6th in MAO Nationals Alpha School Bowl
-14th in MAO Nationals Open Statistics
-9th in MAO Nationals Theta Gemini</p>

<p>I have some regional awards (community service award, etc.) but they are not prestigious at all, these math awards were much harder to come by.</p>

<p>Essays should be decent, Recs are solid to good.</p>

<p>It is my dream to go to Columbia,
please Chance me for ED! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I think you’ve a good chance.</p>

<p>But why are you taking the ACT? I would think that re-taking the SAT and improving your CR score would be more beneficial.</p>

3

<p>An uphill battle that can be won via essays, but needs to be supplemented with a real college admissions plan. In other words, you are below average for an Asian applicant (with whom you will be compared in the admissions process at all elite-level schools). Here’s why:</p>

<p>1) While the math team accomplishments are impressive, it is not as valuable as an individual math award at the state or national-level.
2) Other Asians have achieved similar academic results with substantial musical participation. You appear to have none.
3) You have no athletic ECs, which hurts you as this fits into the Asian stereotype of the egghead student with no balance
4) SAT scores are approximately at the mid-point for admitted students–usually not good enough for Asian applicants unless they have superior ECs to counteract this</p>

<p>The big unknown is your class rank context–namely, is your school competitive at the elite schools? Where does the Top 5% in your class end up college-wise? And who are the other whites/Asians in your class with whom you will inevitably be compared when applying to elite schools? Will any others be applying to Columbia?</p>

<p>Do make sure that you apply to a wide variety of schools where you stand an average or better than average chance of getting in (along with some reaches). At your level, this includes Northwestern, Emory, Rice, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie-Mellon, Tufts and Cornell (with the exception of Cornell, these are all located in large cities). You should also pick some good safety schools as well (Boston U, Georgia Tech and Brandeis come to mind). Do your research, and be realistic about your chances of getting into Columbia-level schools. Then, give it your best shot.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you during your college search.</p>

4

<p>Are you applying to the SEAS or CC ?</p>

5

<p>CC! Thanks for your guys’ opinions and help</p>

6

<p>Thanks Jameschen. Youre analysis is very accurate. My love in sports comes in basketball… I played C-team as a sophomore and coached several years of a boys and girls club league. However, I wasnt good enough nor wanted to play JV during my junior year when I was going to be too busy. I doubt I will mention my one year of basketball on my application…</p>

<p>The top 5% of my class got: 2 Brown, 1 caltech, 1 dartmouth, 1 duke, 1 harvey mudd, and others. It isn’t too much, but our school is respected as well.</p>

7

<p>bumppppp please</p>