Chance Thread for Columbia University 2018

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey Guys,</p>

<p>I am looking to apply to Columbia ED this upcoming fall(2013). Since many people ask others to "chance" them, I figured I too would join in. So here's the breakdown</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>SAT: Supercored - 2320(800 CR, 770 M, 750 W/ 11Essay)
ACT:(Not Sending) 33 one sitting
SAT II: 750 Math II, 730 Physics
Ranking: School doesn't rank, but counselors would classify me in the top
GPA: UW(with 2 Aps Soph and 5 Junior) 3.75
(taking 4 ap classes and 1 post ap class next year)
Aps(got the 8 Ap exam award): </p>

<p>Calc BC 5
Calc AB 5
European Hist 4
Us Hist 4
Spanish Lang 3
English Lang 4
US Gov 4
Human Geo 4
Physics B 5
Microeconomics 4</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
- Founded a state-wide economics club, into its third year now. I am president this year and the club is in around 15 schools.
- I competed in the Euro Challenge and was a finalist(4th place).
- Debate, top speaker at Harvard tournament. 4th in state.
- Participant in Siemens Research Tournament
- Did research with a bell labs scientist(He runs a small EC school, where i also teach kids and am a research assistant)
- School wind ensemble for 6 years.
- 4 years of Squash
- 3 years of cross country
- Lead my school economics club.</p>

<p><strong>My main interests are Math/ Economics/Finance, and most of the research and EC's I do is related to those.</strong></p>

<p>Job/Work Experience: Volunteer at a Columbia Graduate Lab(only high schooler there). Intern at an international wealth management firm.</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service:
- Teach kids math for few hours a week with the bell labs scientist.
- Tour guide at my school.
- In a mentorship program for middle schoolers in my school.(1 year participant, 1 year as leader)
- Student government.
- Peer leader in a school program(2 years).
- Part of food drives and gift drives at school</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): NJ
School Type: Small, competitive private
Gender:male
Income Bracket: 1%
Teacher Recommendation: Have asked two teachers that know me well.</p>

<p>Well thats about it. Let's try to make the go-to thread for 2018 columbia chancing, so please post your opinions and statistics! Good luck.</p>

2

<p>Def apply ED- you’re a great applicant and since you intern there you have an advantage</p>

3

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

4

<p>Your ECs are phenomenal, and I think you’ve got a pretty great chance–especially if you apply ED.</p>

<p>Here are my stats if anyone wants to chance: </p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>SAT: One sitting 2320 (800 CR, 760 M, 760 W, 9E) Not sure if sending.
ACT: One sitting 36C (35 E, 36 M, 36R, 35S, 12E)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 780 Chem, 750 Physics
Ranking: 5/414
GPA: UW 4.0, W. 4.46
AP: Chemistry (5), English Language (5), European History (5), Physics B (5), Psychology (5), United States History (5)
Senior Year: AP Microecon, AP Macroecon, AP BC Calculus, AP English Lit, AP US Gov, AP Comparative Gov, AP Physics C: Mech, AP Physics C: E&M, Honors Math Seminar III, required computer class.</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Student-Run International Math Competition (Co-Director)
Model UN: (Founder and President)
REACH Peer Helping: (President)
National Latin Honor Society: (President)
Scholars Bowl: (Captain)
Mu Alpha Theta: (Vice-President)
Latin Club: (Historianus)
National English Honor Society
National Science Honor Society
Rho Kappa History Honorary
AL Boys State Delegate</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience: Work ~12 hours a week at local brunch place
Work ~8 hours a week selling concessions at local park
~3 hours a week of paid tutoring (Geometry, AlgII/Trig, ACT)</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service-
Teach elementary school children math once a week after school</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): AL
School Type: Competitive Public
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~120,000
Teacher Recommendation: Teacher who writes stellar recommendations, along with a counselor who knows me very well. Should be 9+/10</p>

<p>Definitely won’t be applying ED, and would be a prospective Chemical Engineering major, if that helps at all.</p>

5

<p>I think both of you above have great shots at being accepted! Great test scores and EC’s! Hopefully I will see you there? (:</p>

<p>I’m looking forward to the application process (sort of) this fall! Also, I am Caucasian, so no URM hopes. I plan to apply ED.</p>

<p>Academics:
Class Rank: 8/~300
Unweighted GPA: 4.0 (all A’s so far!)
Weighted GPA: 4.9 (5 for honors and first semester of AP, 6 for second AP semester)
AP Courses:
Sophomore Year- World History: 5
Junior Year- US History: 4
Government/Politics: 5
Calculus AB: 5
Senior Year- Taking:
Statistics
Environmental Science
Calculus BC
European History</p>

<p>Testing history: (it is pretty bad)
SAT (Most nervous about): 2040, took only once, no studying, will take again
670 CR / 680 W / 690 M
Subject Tests:
US History- 720
Math II- 740</p>

<p>ACT: 30 (not even gonna take again, focusing on SAT)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars and awards: (Sorry if some aren’t really good, just writing down all I can think of):</p>

<p>Recipient of the Silver Congressional Youth Award
North Carolina Governor’s School
Young Scholars Program in Discrete Mathematics at Rutgers U
Varsity Cross Country, Swimming, and Lacrosse
Treasurer of Science Olympiad 2011
Principal Tubist in the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra for 7-8 years
Principal Tubist in the Charlotte Civic Orchestra for 2 years
Member of the Charlotte Tuba-Euphonium Society
Will be a part of the first (or one of the first) American orchestra(s) performing in Cuba in December
Member of NHS
Appointed to the school’s Principal’s Advisory Council
Member of MENSA (does this even matter?)
Junior Marshal
Trying to start a Young Democrats club
Going to join my town’s local youth council committee (hopefully that app gets accepted!)
Started a personal group with my mom and some of her church friends and we routinely sing and play tuba at retirement homes
400+ community service hours</p>

<p>Also, I’m a legacy. My dad got two master’s degrees and is currently working on his Ph. D there. My step mother also got a master’s degree there. So I’m hoping this, my EC’s, essay, GPA, and ED help override my bad test scores (not bad, just low for Columbia).</p>

<p>So, what do you guys think?</p>

6

<p>Cheezit, </p>

<p>I think you are a great match to Columbia. You have amazing statistics and legacy. I also was wondering the same think about Mensa! I feel like it should matter, but I’m not sure. Otherwise, I think you will be fine for Columbia.</p>

7

<p>The thing I’m worried about is my SAT. Hopefully that will go up in October. I’m hoping for at least a 2150, so the admissions officer will respect my application more I guess. But thank you for the kind words!</p>

8

<p>Okay, Cheezit, Evan, and Whiskey, you are all superb applicants. Seriously. But, so are the other 30,000 applicants. The majority of those applicants have the same- if not better- stats. I don’t mean this to be insulting or discourage you, but you have to know this. You have to show the admissions office what makes you special. What sets you apart from the other applicants? Show them with you essay and interview.</p>

9

<p>You are absolutely correct. However, I’m not liking the common app essay topics very much! I wish we could’ve had the option to pick our own topic like last year’s common app.</p>

10

<p>Husky, I agree with you… and Cheezit these common app topics are super annoying. As more of a general question, what do you guys think of my gpa(~3.75 uw)? I personally think it is fine because it is approximately straight A-'s, but many people here seem to think that is a little low. But what do you think colleges think?</p>

11

<p>whiskey1tango - You record impresses me. A 3.75 GPA might be considered low, but that could be a reflection of rampant grade inflation nationally and might not be representative of your high school. As long as you are in the top 10% of your class your application should not be negatively impacted.</p>

<p>Your SAT scores are great - the 730 in Physics might be a bit low, but that would definitely be considered splitting hairs.</p>

<p>Your classes reflect a broad spectrum of mastering rigorous and demanding subjects.</p>

<p>The best part of your record however, are your ECs. Your awards back up your academic accomplishments and support your status as a nationally recognized achiever. You are having an impact not only in your school, but in your community as well. Founding the state-wide economics club particularly grabs my attention - be sure your application describes the accomplishments of the organization and how it differs from your school-based econ club. Focus on specifics that make you unique and continue with your econ/finance/math theme.</p>

<p>The big hole in your description is the competitiveness of your high school. I assume since you are from NJ that it typically sends many graduates every year to highly selective colleges. If this is not the case, your chances will be hurt, possibly severely, in the areas of LOR, transcripts, GC relationships, and essay review.</p>

<p>I would say that you will be more competitive than the typicaly applicant to Columbia. Unfortunately, that only means a chance better than the standard 10% admission rate.</p>

12

<p>Whiskey- I, too, am a national circuit debater, so I understand and respect the weight of your Harvard victory-nice job! Just out of personal curiosity, did you win Lincoln Douglas or Public Forum?</p>

<p>I think your SAT is phenomenal, and your ECs are, well… also phenomenal. Your GPA is the one thing that people could consider low, but honestly, I don’t believe it to be that negatively impacting for your application. You obviously show a lot of class rigor, and that will benefit you.</p>

<p>Columbia is a reach for anyone, obviously, but I’ll phrase it like this: you don’t not have a chance at Columbia. Good luck!</p>

13

<p>Thanks for the kind words. Just to add, a 3.75 does not put me in the top 10%. I would however say that I am in the top quartile. The valedictorian has a 4.0 gpa, 4.4 weighted. I think te guidance counselors will say I am up there because I have taken the most challenging course load possible and am among the top smartest(their words), but have not had the best study practices to date haha.</p>

14

<p>Thanks. I’m not really a serious debater though. That was like my 6th tournament and I just got lucky haha. And it was public forum.</p>

15

<p>All three of you seem very qualified! I’m gonna add mine just for kicks.</p>

<p>Academics:
GPA 3.76 UW
GPA 4.44 W (6 B’s freshman year, no B’s other years)
Class Rank: 11/290 (Top 5%)</p>

<p>AP Courses: (Not allowed to take until Junior year)
Calculus AB - 4
Music Theory - 5
US History - 5</p>

<p>Schedule next year: AP French, AP Literature, Music Independent Study, AP Calculus BC, Advanced Problem Solving, AP Physics, AP Human geography</p>

<p>Standardized Tests:
SAT: 2320
Critical Reading: 750
Math: 800
Writing: 770
ACT: 36 Composite
English: 35
Math: 36
Reading: 36
Science: 36
(I may take subject tests, unsure as of now. They would be Math II, Literature, and then either US History or French)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars and Honors</p>

<p>Varsity Cross Country Captain, State Runner Ups 2011, Personal State Top 10
Varsity Indoor Track, Eastern Maine Champions 2011-2013, All Conference 2mile, 5th place at the state meet in the 2mile
Varsity Outdoor Track, Regional Team Champs, 3rd at State meet in 2mile</p>

<p>Students Ending Environmental Destruction, 80+ hours logged testing water for the Department of Environmental Protection
Math Team Scorer, 4 years
Academic Decathlon, State Gold Medalist in Essay Round, Silver Medalist in Music, Bronze Medalist in Math
French Club, Cofounder
Key Club, 200+ hours logged spending time talking to and performing for Alzheimer patients, many other volunteer opportunies</p>

<p>Orchestra, Principal Violist
All State Orchestra, 2nd Chair Violist (accepted 3 years)
Bangor Youth Symphony, Principal Violist, 2007-2012
District V Orchestra, Principal Violist
Member of High School Gifted and Talented Music Program
Formed Driftwood Duo, a string duet that played multiple engagements around the state</p>

<p>Sophomore Superintendent’s Excellence Award
National Merit Semi-finalist
Member, National Honor Society</p>

<p>Worked as an intern at city hall, 20 hours a week during the summer, redesigned city bus system, attended meetings, took calls etc.</p>

<p>I am planning to apply ED. I am white, male and from Maine. I’m not a legacy. And sadly, I’m not quite fast enough to be recruited for running. I will be undeclared, but I will send in the music supplement.</p>

16

<p>mrducky, you are extremely qualified. The only thing is the 6 B’s Freshman year. However, you improved- a lot-, which is good. Also, you NEED to take at least two SAT II subject tests (in different fields of study) in order to be considered in the Ivy League.</p>

17

<p>@Mrduckyfeet: Just for your information, AP Music Theory is worth 0 credits and gets you out of no prerequisites. I would highly recommend taking BC Calculus seriously (even if you get in ED, which is much before the AP test) and scoring a 5, which will help you in both credits and skipping Calculus I, which will bore you. The French and Physics are useful for credits and getting out of language requirement, but you have to do sufficiently well on French, and as I recall the AP test is surprisingly difficult.</p>

<p>My application was highly dependent on my musical ability, and I think writing about it with passion and providing an arts supplement was much more important than any awards or groups I played in (though they certainly backed up my claims). If music is the way you are structuring your application, definitely focus your personal statement on it, and if there is a classical arts supplement, make one (early, and of high recording quality and professionalism).</p>

18

<p>Wow. I’m really impressed by everyone’s stats here! I’m thinking about applying to both Columbia College and Barnard, but after looking at this post, I’m starting to think I might only have a chance at the latter college. . .</p>

<p>GPA:
3.92 UW
4.35 W</p>

<p>APs and Honors:
7 Honor Classes throughout HS
12 APs
AP World (5)
AP Euro (5)
AP Gov (5)
AP Psych (5)
AP English Lang (5)
AP US (5)
AP Macro/Micro
AP Bio
AP Calc AB
AP Art History
AP English Lit</p>

<p>ACT is a 34</p>

<p>ECs:
XC and track
Peer Tutor
National Honors Society
Coordinator at Cammy Can (charity organization)
VP at SEARCH Club (school club to help search for careers)
Volunteer at the Field Museum
Illini Girls State Delegate
Total Volunteer Hours 300+</p>

<p>Awards and Honors:
Honor Roll every semester
AP National Scholar
School Award for Psychology
Commended Volunteer Award through the Field Museum (very big deal)
National Honors Society</p>

<p>I’m an Assyrian-Italian female from Illinois
Parents’ income~170k</p>

<p>I feel like my ECs don’t quite match up to everyone else’s. . .thanks for any chances :)</p>

19

<p>@loveisnotlost - you will have completed 12 AP classes, but 10 of them are humanities. This is an extreme imbalance that will likely hurt you - especially since you do not have any foreign language listed (Columbia requires three years and “recommends” four years).</p>

<p>Also, I agree that your EC list seems to indicate that you aren’t involved much in your school or community outside the classroom. It similarly does not reflect leadership or the respect of your peers. This will definitely hurt your application.</p>

20

<p>I’ve taken 4 years of Spanish already (I took the high school ‘Spanish 1’ when I was in eighth grade). And maybe I should have added that I was varsity for xc and track my freshman year (between freshman and sophomore year I sustained a hip injury during training and required surgery. . .I went back to running but I’m not as fast)</p>

<p>In terms of leadership qualities. . .</p>

<p>Two years ago, my cousin was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. I help my aunt out about once every two weeks and I have done a lot of fundraising for my cousin’s charity. (‘Coordinator’ position–I set up awareness days for younger kids to learn about the genetic disease and awareness overall about special needs)</p>

<p>I also work at a preschool (I set up my own curriculum) and a restaurant, and I am a tutor (both volunteer and paid).</p>

<p>I guess what I’m trying to say is that I have qualified leadership experience and I am extremely involved outside the classroom–just not through high profile organizations! I’m not the capitan of the debate team (nor do I have time to be!) or state xc champion, but I do give back to the community in my own ways.</p>

<p>In terms of the obscene amounts of humanities classes, I do want to become a women’s-rights lawyer. . .it’s the same thing as someone who wants to be an engineer and taking 10 science and math AP classes. . .</p>

<p>But thank you for your comment, rmldad! I posted on this thread so I could hear some different opinions, so thanks. I just probably should have been more clear when I was listing all my qualifications!</p>