Chance please thank you very much

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hello, this is the first time I am posting so bear with me here.
I go to a fairly competitive school in the northeast where 10% of the student population goes to some ivy league school or top public school. I know this is a reach but I will be grateful if you could be honest with me here. </p>

<p>GPA(UW): 3.85 (terrible freshman year gpa)
GPA(W): 4.21
Rank: Top 5 - 10%
Class size: 642
Took 7 APs from freshman to junior year and 4 more senior year (with a total of 8 honors classes):</p>

<p>Freshman year:
Hon Bio
Hon Alg 2
Hon Government History
AP Physics B
English
French
Gym</p>

<p>Sophmore year:
AP Bio
AP Calc AB
Hon Chem
Hon World History
Hon French
English
Gym</p>

<p>Junior year:
AP Chem
AP Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations
AP Government Politics
AP Statistics
Hon French
English
Gym</p>

<p>Senior year:
AP Physics C
AP Economics
AP Psychology
AP Linear Algebra and Numerical Analysis
Hon English
Hon United States History
Gym</p>

<p>I scored 5s on Bio, Calc, Chem, Government Pol. 4s on Calc BC (self studied in one day --- terrible circumstances) Stat and 3 on Physics B (feel terrible about this)</p>

<p>SAT I : 680 CR 800 M 790 W Essay 12 (both times I took it)
I am taking it again next year
SAT II: 800 Chem, 800 Math II
I am going to take Physics also</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Represented School in Science League Competition twice (Chem and Physics - 1 out of 4 individuals chosen to take the test out of entire student body taking those respective courses. Which is about 100 - 200)</p>

<p>Science Olympiad (9th and 10th) - Competed in biology event (was the first year for this event so they did not give out awards but we received certificates for outstanding performance) and engineering event</p>

<p>AIME qualifier 2x (9th and 11th - asdasf messed up sophmore year)</p>

<p>Organized and arranged Princeton University Math competition (located a good 400 miles from us) and team received 6th place </p>

<p>Also went to HMMT (but both our teams got creamed)</p>

<p>Attended a regional math tournament and received 21st (I know but there were so many people there)</p>

<p>Ranked in the state for tennis</p>

<p>Participate in various clubs but none of the clubs offer positions. However, I think i am going to mention the fact that I sort of lead and organized various activities in this one club that does school services. I also do the same for the science and math club. </p>

<p>School Math team 3 years and received some award freshman year</p>

<p>Vice President (management, recruitment, etc) of this organization that worked alongside this fortune 500 company to assist them with their problems. We were also split up into small groups of 5 people (which i was the project manager of) and worked to create a solution. After being assigned a few subject matter experts, we were then required to present the solution. I have awards n such from that. </p>

<p>Interned at a Doctors office (shadowing I Guess) and did some computer work as well for a few weeks last summer</p>

<p>Volunteer at the hospital and library (should be over 120 hrs)</p>

<p>Am doing research for Intel, etc.</p>

<p>Ethnicity : Asian
Gender: Male
Teacher reqs: reasonably good, especially one teacher
Essay: I did not write them yet but I am a fairly good writer despite the fact that I fail to challenge myself in english
Interview: I know this hasnt happened yet but I have great passion about math and science and will do anything possible to make sure I help humankind in someway</p>

<p>I know this is tough but I am hoping. Is it also good to mention that I am the first generation from my family to come to America, let alone attend an American college?</p>

<p>Also, I have been taking care of my siblings basically everday since 8th grade for about 2-3 hrs a day because father is at office and mother works hard to keep the home running and gets very tired (headache, fever, etc) because of that. Should I mention this?</p>

<p>I have some other schools too if none of the above work --- NYU, Penn State, Boston College, Cooper Union</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your help, I appreciate it</p>

2

<p>Sorry… my math courses junior and senior year received ap weighting. I should have explicitly stated that.</p>

3

<p>

not really. if you’re the first to attend any college then yes. otherwise you’re just grasping at straws.</p>

<p>

um. I don’t know what to say. yes, it does take up a lot of time, but it doesn’t seem like an extenuating circumstance, simply a (very) inconvenient one. up to you, but you don’t want to just seem like you’re making excuses.</p>

<p>

above? I don’t think you mentioned any school in the first place.</p>

<p>you also won’t have much room on the app, think about how you’re gonna focus your app and cut it down to 5 ECs with one short line of description and 5 awards.
raise your CR score, but you know that.</p>

<p>overall, I think you’re looking pretty good. stats aren’t bad, though gpa looks slightly low on first glance. ECs are fairly strong, show initiative, some leadership, a focus, and also some diversity. I would include the tennis and the organization for recruitment if at all possible (as in you had comparable commitment to these as your other ECs), and have the other 3 ECs focused on math/science. chances are good in my opinion, but it’s a bit of a crapshoot being an Asian that has a strong application but doesn’t particularly stand out.</p>

4

<p>thank you so much, that helped a lot. any more chances? please</p>

5

<p>Take a humanity for your third SAT II… from what you’ve provided, it seems that you’re very science/math oriented, which isn’t a bad thing, but you should shoot for a little diversity. Maybe, since you took it for 3 years, try the French? </p>

<p>The sibling situation isn’t very unique, but if you were greatly influenced by it, you could certainly write an essay about it and how the experience shaped you. Just don’t, as mentioned above, make it an excuse for anything.</p>

6

<p>thank you, that helps a lot. I will probably not discuss the situation in my application since I don’t want to seem desperate or w.e (even though I am lol).</p>

7

<p>are you required to take gym all four years? wow.</p>