Chance, please?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Current Grade Point Average: 97.2/100 (UNWEIGHTED AT MY SCHOOL)
Current Class Rank: 4/250
ACT: 31 (Essay: 10)
SAT II: Bio - M (680), US History (690)
Schedule: My school only has 4 AP classes, and I haven taken them all. In the subjects where AP isn't offered (Spanish, French, English, Government, Economics, Calculus), I take the most rigorous (either SUNY or honors). I'm also in both band, choir, and our select vocal group. I have given up a lunch and study-hall for the past three years to achieve all of this. </p>

<p>Leadership Experience:
• President of the Class of 2010 (9, 11, 12)
• Co-Editor of The Paw Print (11, 12)
• President of the South Glens Falls Choral Department (11, 12)
• President of the International Thespian Society (12)
• President of El Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (12)
• Attendance at the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (January 2009)
• Participation in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law (July 2008)</p>

<p>Notable Awards and Honors:
• University of Rochester’s Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences (2009)
• President’s Award for Educational Excellence (2009)
• Most Outstanding Student in AP European History (2008)
• Citizenship Award (2007, 2008)
• President’s Award for Educational Achievement (2007)</p>

<p>Highlights of Extracurricular Activities:
• South Glens Falls Drama Club (9-12)
• The Paw Print (9-12)
• South High Marathon Dance and Planning Committee (9-12)
• Annual participation in Lake George Youtheatre (9-12)
• South Glens Falls Arrowhead Yearbook (10-12)</p>

<p>Membership in five honors societies:
• International Thespian Society (10-12)
• La Société Honoraire de Français (10-12)
• Mathematics Honors Society (10-12)
• El Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (11, 12)
• National Honors Society (11, 12) </p>

<p>Highlights of Volunteer Services:
• Scott Murphy for Congress (March 2009)
• Kirsten Gillibrand for Congress (November 2008)
• St. Michael’s SHMD Breakfast (9-12)
• Spanish tutoring at Tanglewood Elementary School (12)
• Salvation Army (11)
• St. Mary’s - St. Alphonsus Polar Express Train (11)
• Mrs. Roberta Berg’s 2nd Grade Classroom, Tanglewood Elementary School (10)</p>

<p>Employment:
• Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf (11, 12)</p>

2

<p>Bumpppp.
Any input? Thanks :)</p>

3

<p>Bump. Bump. Bump.</p>

4

<p>I’m not so sure. You have a plethora of extracurriculars and awards but your standardized test scores indicate your school may simply be… very easy to get A’s in.</p>

5

<p>I’d say you have above average chances. Your leadership positions stand out well. Just try to increase your ACT and SAT II scores.</p>

6

<p>it’s great that you’re involved in so many extracurriculars… but it’s really not. could you really focus on the 5-6 ECs that you will be putting on your app? I’m sure the ones that you are most dedicated to will be quite impressive with leadership and all, but A) you won’t have room on the app and B) the ones that you didn’t put much effort into aren’t important and shouldn’t be mentioned anyways</p>

<p>and then you just need slightly higher SATs and good essays+recs.</p>

7

<p>Concentrate on the ECs that mean the most to you. Really make an impact at the beginning of school, or now during the summer. </p>

<p>You need to get those test scores up 10-15% to sit safely. </p>

<p>Looking back on last year, I think the most important (and time consuming) element of the application process is essay development. Spend the time now to research which schools you are interested in, and what their app requirements are (just the common app, supplement, how many essays total and subjects). There will be a ton of overlap where you can reuse essays. Then spend Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov thinking about and developing all of your essays. They mean the most in the end.</p>