@sgopal2 My dad is not an involved alumnus unfortunately, and my family isn’t in a position to donate any significant amount of money to the university. Does this take away the legacy hook? Does it weaken it? Are they going to look at the fact that my dad hasn’t donated/been involved with the Alumni Association when considering legacy?
@2muchquan I know. This is the Columbia University forum. I was referring to the Arts and Sciences school within Columbia University.
One addition: My Mock Trial Lawyer Coach (who I’ve known for 4 years) is writing me a rec letter.
There are different levels of legacy preference. The best situation would have been if your dad was deeply involved in the alumni association. If you want some more insight read Dan Golden’s book.
It’s too late to do anything now for your dad. I don’t think it will hurt but they can pull for a legacy much more if the parent is deeply involved. Penn is quite finicky with legacy. The legacy advantage is eliminated if you were to apply in the RD round. Just apply ED and hope for the best.
Good luck.
@sgopal2 I am absolutely applying to Penn ED. I am just hoping I get that boost that other legacies get. I heard it’s a 40% acceptance for legacy applicants. I like my odds at 40%.
@jarrett211, I think you already know that your chances, like the chances of just about every other candidate at a school with an admissions rate of under 10%, are low. That said, you have an impressive list of accomplishments and, if you want to go to Columbia, it wouldn’t be a waste of time for you to apply and hope for the best. Your chances of being admitted are better if you apply than if you don’t apply. Just make sure you have some match and safety schools on your list too. And best of luck!
@2muchquan, actually it is Columbia College, which is a school within Columbia University.
A couple things:
1- I believe schools count Math I and Math II as one subject test altogether (i.e: it’s as if you never took Math I) so yes they’ll look at the Math 2 only, but it means you only have two subject tests.
2- Nothing can really verify your “Unique Interest in Philosophy & History”, I’m sure everyone applying to Georgetown loves the subject they’re majoring in.
I probably wouldn’t spend time on my app bragging about how I was the first kid allowed to take a certain class or whatever either (it just seems like not a big deal in comparison to some of the great things you’ve done)
Anyway you look great, but since I’m applying too I’m not qualified to chance you or anything. I just wanted to say best of luck to you!
@TheAtlantic Thanks for responding! For the things you said:
- Good to know. I actually have taken and will be sending the World History and Spanish subject tests as well along with the Math ones.
- What I meant by the unique interest is that it's a unique subject that isn't always often pursued in college, and I think I have a lot to back it up, not that anyone else doesn't love what they do.
- As for the "bragging," I didn't mean it to come off that way. I likened it to an achievement because it was something that was very hard to accomplish and I had to petition the department for two months to get it done. I will rephrase how that is written on my application.
Good luck to you as well!
@nynyparent Thanks for the reply! Yeah, when I said chance me, I guess I was more thinking along the lines of is there anything that can improve my application based on what I have.
I think your chances are good, though I’d get to work on those essays and probably not write about atheism.
@jackrabbit14 I’ve heard sometimes it is good to go out and take a risk with some things. I haven’t started writing yet, and I might change my mind, but sometimes it’s good to try and stand out. It isn’t set in stone yet, though.
UPenn-reach
UChicago -match
Northeastern-match
UMass Amherst EA-safety
Boston U RD-match
Columbia University-reach
Georgetown-low reach
George Washington U-match
Wash U-match
Tufts U-match
NYU-match
I would agree entirely with the above poster. Penn will be less of a reach than Columbia due to the legacy and ED, and I would probably bump it down to a low reach.
Thanks for responding!
@DunderMifflin27 @dennis052798 In what conceivable world is UChicago a match when UPenn is a low reach even with ED and legacy?
Lower acceptance rate, higher SAT midrange, EA instead of ED, no legacy status, and you call Chicago a match. Why?
UPenn-Yes, their ED is nearly 25%, I would be surprised if you were not admitted with your business interests and legacy.
UChicago -As you know UChicago has some really unique writing supplements, clearly indicating they value that portion of their application. If you supplement for this school is really great I would bet your accepted.
Northeastern-Yes
UMass Amherst EA-Yes
Boston U RD-Yes, though not advertised, if you live in the same state of the college you apply to, the acceptance rate is more friendly.
Columbia University-No/Maybe, their RD is simply so unfathomably low I wouldn’t bet anyone a yes.
Georgetown-Totally possible, your subjects test are solid, but many of their admits are 750+ in each test.
George Washington U-GREAT back up
Wash U-Yes
Tufts U-Yes
NYU-Yes
My only question for you is that I am wondering if you are applying to Penn ED, you are unable to apply to UMass Amherst and Northeastern EA. Which one will you apply to? Best of luck, I bet you’ll have a bunch of options!
@NotVerySmart I agree. I wouldn’t self-rate myself a match for UChicago. I think it’s a reach at best to be completely honest.
@MT16Actor For UPenn, I am not applying to Wharton. I am applying to the College of Arts and Sciences. My primary interests are not business. It’s philosophy.
Thanks to both of you for responding!
Just to clarify for everyone, I am only applying to Arts & Sciences schools within these universities.
you have a pretty good shot at upenn.
I think you have a good shot at UPenn all things considered, making the rest of the list pretty irrelevant.
I think your biggest issue is just making sure you don’t forget about Tufts/Northeastern during the process, and make it clear you’d love to be there.
Good luck! You should have some great choices by the end
you are a match or high match for most of these schools, however based on what I have seen in my school Penn and uChicago are a reach for everyone however for you they would be a low reach especially in the context of your grades and fantastic ecs