<p>I'm a male attending public school in Michigan and i just finished my junior year. </p>
<p>SAT (first try):</p>
<p>Reading: 720
Math: 630
Writing: 540</p>
<p>ACT (again, first try): 29</p>
<p>I intend to retake in October to raise my writing (and possibly math) scores. </p>
<p>GPA: 3.803 unweighted, our school doesn't weight GPAs or rank. </p>
<p>ECs:
Freshman football
Freshman/sophomore lacrosse
(Not active) member of FCCLA (future leaders) and SADD (two years)
Mission trip to Arizona through my church
Mission trip to Mexico through my church
Worked for PIRGIM (Public Interest Research Group In Michigan), and evironmental organization
Volunteering twice a week @ two hours a time at U of M hospital</p>
<p>APs:
US History: 4
Government: expecting a 5
Literature and Comp: Self studied, probably no less than a 2
Going to take AP English Lit next year, and i plan to self study Psych and Spanish (took it for 4 years, nearly fluent)</p>
<p>I plan to take some subject tests in the fall too. </p>
<p>Schools I'm looking at:
NYU
UofM
Pepperdine
UC Santa Barbara
Boston College
Tufts
Fordham
Columbia (clearly a reach)</p>
<p>I'd say NYU is a pretty decent chance if you raise your SAT scores...Columbia is crazy hard and I know people with 2200s that were crying (not literally) b/c they wouldn't have a chance at Columbia now...Yeah..it's that bada**. But NYU looks pretty good.</p>
<p>I just visited NYU, BC, Tufts, and Columbia last week. I really liked Columbia the best not just because of its academics, but because of its location in NYC. </p>
<p>Is there anything i can do with my app to get it on par for columbia?</p>
<p>It's been said before, but you want to be competitive for Columbia, you need to raise your test scores. What I would do at this point is pick a test -- ACT with writing or SAT. You do not need to take both. Focus on one of them and do well on it; it's got little to do with how smart you are, but how you prepare for the test. Pick the one you feel more comfortable taking, or the one you know you can do better on. You can take a prep course, but you don't HAVE to. So yes, my advice: pick a test, get a prep book or two, and study away. Saves you both time and money.</p>
<p>You also have to submit two SAT IIs for Columbia. If you're applying to the college, any two will do. Pick the subjects you're strongest in. If you're applying to the engineering school, you should take a math and either physics/chem.</p>
<p>Your GPA says that you are a strong student. Your AP scores don't really count against you, but yours are good. There will be a place on the application to for them and you don't need an official report from the College Board. You should take the most rigorous curriculum available at your school. Even if you aren't going into science or math, an AP class in it will be helpful. However, don't take AP classes if you don't think you can take the courseload and will end up getting C's -- talk to your counselor to make sure. </p>
<p>As for extra-curriculars, as long as you are dedicated to them and enjoying being in them, then it's fine. You should not join an activity for the sole purpose of beefing your resume, but if you're looking for suggestions I'd get involved with something with your preferred area of study (it looks like you're into history and poli sci, perhaps debate club, if your school offers it?)</p>