Chances at Columbia?

<p>College GPA: 3.9
HS GPA: 3.8 UW
SAT: 2200 - 790 (CR) 670 (Math) 740 (W) 12 (Essay)
SAT II: 720 (US Hist) 620 (Math 1) 710 (Lit)</p>

<p>-Gender: Male
-Ethnicity: Puerto Rican</p>

<p>-Recommendations: Stellar. I was told by two professors that their recommendations would be glowing. (History and Music Theory professors.) Also sending in supplementary recommendation from music director/conductor of the Maryland Symphony.</p>

<p>-Statement: Very strong. I want a broader approach to my musical/intellectual education and have already exhausted my options at USC, as I have finished every undergraduate orchestral conducting and theory class offered here. I need more rigorous courses in said areas and want more interdisciplinary options. Very few music electives available.</p>

<p>ECs</p>

<p>-Cello. Played solo concerti with professional symphony orchestra and other various groups. Will send recording.
-State ranked choir Bassist in Arizona.
-President and Founder of my school's music club.
-Vice President of Literature club
-Secretary of Political Action Club
-Selected for LGBT leadership retreat, Univ. Southern California</p>

<p>Why aren't you, like, at the Coliseum now with all the rest of your classmates? </p>

<p>If you write an essay saying that you've "already exhausted my options at USC," then that's going to look rather arrogant. USC is a well-respected university and no freshman has exhausted all his options. So I'd tone it down and make it more about Columbia being a better fit for you, allowing you to challenge yourself more, having more of what you want, etc. You're saying the same thing, but just tone down the rhetoric.</p>

<p>Eh, I'm not really into football <em>grins</em></p>

<p>In terms of what is offered for undergraduates interested in orchestral conducting, I literally have taken every available class. The few music electives offered are just silly and unrelated to my interests (though still remotely entertaining) and Columbia offers the most delightful electives! It also inspires an intellectual approach to music that is dead here.</p>

<p>Fine. That's all well and good. Make it clear with specifics. Just stay away from language that'll make you seem arrogant -- talk about what great opportunities you'll have at CU, not how you've done everything there is to be done at 'SC.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Eh, I'm not really into football <em>grins</em>

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Go to listen to the band (since you're so into music) ... or to be with your friends ... or to see the Song Girls ... or to see Tommy Trojan ... whatever.</p>