Chance of acceptance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>I posted like this awhile ago, but my stats have changed quite a bit, and plus, I forgot my username and password. I just completed my junior year at a pretty uncompetitive, unprestigious public high school. My cumulative GPA, not weighted, is 3.975, and I'm ranked 11th of 207 students. I've taken the most intense course load possible at my school, with three APs this year as well as another AP and planned dual enrollment next year, and I'm moderately involved: four years of varsity tennis, founder of the film club, independent study for art, volunteer work and NHS. This summer I'm interning at the local newspaper, which is a great opportunity considering that journalism is my planned major. I got a 2270 on the SAT reasoning (800 Reading, 780 Writing, 690 Math...I know that last one is relatively bad, but then again, it's not really my planned area of study). My father is Egyptian but my mother is American, and I was born here in the States, so there goes that advantage.</p>

<p>Basically, do I have a shot? Should I apply early decision? Should I apply at all? And what else can I do between now and then to improve my chances? I know these questions are asked over and over but Columbia has been my dream school for a long time and all of that **** you always hear. It'd be great to get some insight.</p>

2

<p>I'm in pretty much the same boat as you, warhol. Except I really don't know which school (college or SEAS) to apply to. I honestly like both equally, and I am equally interested in a Chemical Engineering major as I am a Chemistry major. SEAS takes a larger percent of applicants, and apparently more people off of the waitlist. Would someone who got in take a look at my sats and give their opinion on which they think I'd have a better chance at? Thanks. (Oh, and btw, I'm applying no matter what-- Columbia has always been my dream school, even if I have no chance of getting it. I just need to decide which school to apply to).</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT: math 760, reading 730, writing 710 (9 essay)
SAT II (which I'm retaking in October): math IIC 760, chem 680, french 640. I will definitely be bringing Chem up a lot.
GPA: 3.667 UW, 4.5 W
Rank: Doesn't rank, but my counselor sends a letter saying that I'm in the "top 2% of the county"... out of my grade, probably 35/551
AP: Took the Calc BC, English Lit&Comp, Chem, and Physics E&M and probably passed (4 or 5) on the first three, but I'm very worried about physics...
IB: I'm in the IB program at my school, and my higher levels are Chemistry, Math, and History
National Merit Commended or SemiFinalist (don't know yet)</p>

<p>Subjective:
My teachers like me, so I figure I'd get pretty good recommendations, and my counselor has known me for the past 3 years (I made sure to go into his office and talk to him often).</p>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: FL
School Type: Magnet Public, very competitive, one of the top IB Programs in the nation
Ethnicity: White, american parents, canadian grandparents
Gender: Female
Income: 150,000+
Hooks: NOT first in family to go, my sister is in college, my dad graduated from SUNY at Albany... so... pretty much I look terrible and boring</p>

<p>My problem is that I don't have one of the "hooks" everyone talks about. I've been in Mu Alpha Theta (Math honors club) since 9th grade, I helped start a book club in 10th grade, french club 9th grade and french honor society in 11th (and this year), and I do backstage work for the Drama club since beginning of last year. But I'm not exactly the most popular person in school, and since I'm in a magnet school, everyone wants leadership positions for college, so I don't really have any. What I'm hoping looks pretty good is my 400+ hours (about 8 to 16 hours a week during the summer, and school breaks) volunteering at the Veterans Affairs Hospital since before 9th grade, and my (when I graduate) six years of french. I've seen people get in with worse scores than mine, but better ECs, and I've seen people rejected or waitlisted with amazing scores but ECs similar to mine.</p>

<p>If I like SEAS and College equally, and I'm a math/science kid with not amazing scores, which one should I apply to? The 11% acceptance or the 25% acceptance but requiring an 800 math SAT score?</p>

3

<p>Since I am also a IB student, I'll start off with vanillabeeny.</p>

<p>My question is: Why didn't you choose four high level courses?</p>

<p>Both of you guys did fine at the SAT, so there is no need to retake. Essays will be the key.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, I'll start thinking about those.</p>

5

<p>Wow, vanillabeeny, nice threadjacking.</p>

<p>warhol: You haven't listed out your ECs in any detail, nor have you given SAT 2 scores, so based on what you already have I would say you definitely have a shot. Your scores fall within the middle 50%--so EC's, recs, essays will matter.</p>

6

<p>Hahaha thank you, Force13. Yeah, since I don't really have any "hook" to speak of I guess I'm just going to have to focus on presenting my ECs and experience in a way that will make me stand out as much as possible. I haven't taken the SAT II yet, though, I'm behind on that. It should be okay if I make the October test date, right?</p>

7

<p>Yes, you'll be fine, even if you're planning to apply ED.</p>

8

<p>Only apply ED if you're positive this is where you want to go. As for a 690 on math being "bad," I got a 690 CR and a 700 W and I got in RD.</p>

<p>Just write interesting essays and you have a shot. Oh, and be honest on the section about books you've enjoyed and publications you read. I got in and I put that I read Seventeen (among two other newspapers and a gymnastics magazine). Quite frankly, I have no idea how I got in, but I'm not complaining :)</p>

9

<p>warhol, just to let you know, Columbia doesn't have an undergraduate journalism major. Just thought you should take that into consideration if you're serious about majoring in journalism. However, majoring in journalism isn't necessary (or even strongly suggested) if you're interested in a journalism career. Judith Miller came to speak to our newspaper staff and actually said not to major in journalism, but instead to learn everything you can about the world through history, current events, etc. Just my two cents.</p>

10

<p>you both have great stats</p>

11

<p>First one has a chance. Second one is iffy.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
Since I am also a IB student, I'll start off with vanillabeeny.</p>

<p>My question is: Why didn't you choose four high level courses?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>4 HLs is unnecessary and quite hard to do and in some schools its impossible because of how classes are scheduled.</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
I'm in pretty much the same boat as you, warhol. Except I really don't know which school (college or SEAS) to apply to. I honestly like both equally, and I am equally interested in a Chemical Engineering major as I am a Chemistry major. SEAS takes a larger percent of applicants, and apparently more people off of the waitlist.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>chem.e. is not the same as chemistry. while chemistry is certainly a tool used by chem.e's, dont think that it dominates the curriculum because it doesnt.</p>

14

<p>I think there's a 3-2 program so you can do a major in each school, but I don't know much about it</p>

15

<p>Skraylor, I know it isn't, but thanks for mentioning it in case I hadn't. Schmivy, I know about the program, but getting in period matters a bit more to me than something I'd have to decide about after I do get in. :)</p>

<p>iAppler, I just plain wasn't allowed to take them. I tried to take HL Physics, Chemistry, Math, and History but my guidance counselor said that he would only let me take 3 HL exams, and my classes would be really messed up senior year if I tried to have four higher levels. So I really didn't have any option. And other than the APs that were just part of the junior year fit, I'm only allowed to take one other AP class either in 10th grade or 12th grade (because of the schedule) and I am taking it next year.</p>

16

<p>Mine as well as throw my stuff in here:
Stats:
GPA 4.0 UW 4.96 W
RANK 18/519
SAT M-700 CR-690 W-680: 2070 Taking again in October as well as SAT II's</p>

<p>Courseload: Very Rigorous. Mostly Honors and AP's except gym and a couple electives
9th
General Science Honors- A
Geometry Honors- A+
Algebra 2 Honors- A
World History A+
Music Theory B+ haha
IMG English A
Spanish 2 Honors A+ Won Award
10th
Biology Honors- A
IMG English- A
US History A+
Spanish 3 Honors A+
Trigonometry A
TV Production A+
Art and Photo .5 credits A's
11th
AP Calculus AB- B
AP European History A
IMG English A-
Chemistry Honors A
Spanish 4 Honors A</p>

<p>Boring I know.
AP Scores: CALC AB (4), EUROPEAN HISTORY (4)</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
AP Biology
AP English Language
AP Spanish Language
AP Calculus ABC
AP Government and Politics
Weightlifting .5/Intro to Theater .5</p>

<p>E.C's
Varsity Cross Country 11,12
Varsity Swimming 9,10,11,12 Captain
Volunteered at Younger Age Meets
Varsity Tennis 10,12
Mock Trial: Regionals (Best Attorney)
Debate Team Public Forum
Film Club 10,11,12 President in 12:
Made Veterans Day Film
Made School Color War Event Film
With club entered film in 48 Hour Film Festival Contest
Co-made "Mix it up Day" (Diversity event) Film
Academic Team 9,10,11,12 (Should be President in 12)
Attended many Quizbowl Tournaments
Helped Run Brainy Bunch Tournaments (Quizbowl Tourney run at High School for Middle Schools)
Key Club:
Participated in several events: AIDS WALK every year, Food Drive every year, Holiday Stockings made several every year, Helped out at Spaghetti Dinner for Bulgarian Orphanage, Helped out at Mr. Tennent (School Event)
Environmental Club:
Competed in 10th and 11th in Envirothon Competition
Highway Cleanup Crew
Helped take care of school Pond and landscaping
Student Government Member
Spanish Club Member
Ultimate Frisbee Team Member 10,11,12
-Won Student of the Month as Sophomore
-Won School Foreign Language Awards in 9, 10, 11
<em>Out of School</em>
Led MS Walk Team 9,10,11
MS 150 Bike Ride 11, 12 (Should I list?)
Part Time Jobs: Worked 20+ a week as a Busboy. Work 25+ a week at Retirement Community
50 Hours Volunteering teaching CCD (Religious School) (Should I list?)</p>

<p><strong>Also for film</strong> (do i list??)
Made various school project videos (Shows interest)
Entered contests for teen scriptwriting and filmmaking
Honorable mention for teen filmmaking competition</p>

17

<p>Ah!! This thread is so freakin' messy!! </p>

<p>OP: SATs are fine, nice GPA/rank, and your ECs are also good. It would help your chances if you have any awards (you didn't list any). Oh, and I know Columbia has a j-school, but I think that's for graduate work. There is no journalism major at Columbia. That being said, if Columbia's your first choice, definetly go for ED. Just make sure that there is no other school you'd rather be at.</p>

18

<p>Apologies for not keeping up with my own thread, but I've been in NYC since Tuesday doing college visits. NYU was not that impressive, and now that I've seen Columbia, I want to go more than ever.</p>

<p>bad1017, that's exactly what I was thinking, because the core at Columbia is really what interests me - more than anything, I just want an education, and the options that come with it. Journalism is a practical application for writing, which is something I love. By no means do I want to be stuck with it forever, I've just heard that admissions officers look for interest in a specific area or path, and indecision can't be very impressive.</p>

<p>blondie625, yeah, there's definitely no other school I'd rather be at, it's just a matter of acceptance (and later, finance). Like I said, my school is pretty uncompetitive and awards are only given out at the end of senior year, which is unfortunate because I won't be able to include any of that information in my application. I've won some essay contests, though, if that means anything.</p>