Chances ED as a legacy? Does ED help?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Hey everyone! I know I am definitely not as impressive as the average ivy applicant, but how much of a shot do you think I have if I apply early decision? I have a grandfather who went to Columbia too... does that help? </p>

<p>Does applying ED help at Columbia? How much? I know it matters much more/less at certain schools. Thanks guys! I'll chance back! Just PM me or post a link. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.83
ACT: 31 (35E, 31M, 30R, 28S)... I will retake twice in the fall
SAT2s: NEED to retake... I've only taken one and I got a 670... I plan to take math2 and history and on practice tests I am getting low to mid 700s</p>

<p>I've taken all the toughest courses at my school plus a few AP courses online. There was only one other junior this year who took as many APs as me at my high school and I have by far the most rigorous schedule next year. </p>

<p>I was ranked 10th out of 300ish at the end of sophomore year but this has probably changed. Maybe it went up because I had a tough schedule... but then again it could have dropped a bit because my grades weren't as high as they had been. </p>

<p>EMPLOYMENT
Assistant Manager at a Barn (10 hours a week school year and summer)
Worked at a shop last summer 40 hours a week
Internship at Insurance Company
Worked at insurance company for a month each summer
Dog Walking 400 hours a year</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE
(this is probably a strong point of mine, but unfortunately I've heard it isn't important in college admissions... oh well, I enjoy it!)
Community Service Leader- I lead at least 2 projects a year (so far 300 hours)
Assistant Chair of a community project right now (35 hours to date)
85 hours of school/community projects
some other stuff...</p>

<p>OTHER ACTIVITIES
Senior Leader (25 chosen out of 300 students in my class)
Rotary Club Rep for my school
Literature Club (one of 4 founders)
English Tutor
SADD
NHS
Tennis (co-captain)
Cross Country (freshman year only)
Horseback riding (8 hours a week... I was a member of USPC until sophomore year and I compete)</p>

<p>AWARDS
(not a strong point)
High Honor roll each semester
A few elected leadership positions
Academic Letter
I was a winner in some math competition
I was a rep for some program at my school</p>

<p>There are some other things, but I think I covered most things... I just didn't go very in depth obviously above. </p>

<p>Let me know what you think. Be honest. I can take it. Promise. =)</p>

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<p>If you were accepted… you’d be on the low end of students who got in through academics primarily. But that said… you are still qualified to attend Columbia. I don’t know how much weight is given to legacies, but without it, I doubt you’d have much of a chance. (and legacies count most for parents… grandparents still count but to a much lesser extent…). </p>

<p>Some advice I always give people who go to other schools is Quality over Quantity and showing your strengths through doing well in a relatively challenging amount of classes and doing well on the SAT II’s. I went to a high school ranked in the top 50 by U.S. News and so my school classes were exceedingly difficult… but we were well prepared for the AP and SAT II tests. For example… most people who got B’s in classes still got 800’s on respective SAT II’s. Therefore taking so many A.P.'s is not necessarily a strength and your class ranking for your UW GPA seems a bit too high… says something about the competition at your school. (My school had 43 valedictorians… so anyone with 1 B was ranked 45…).</p>

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<p>Thanks… what do you mean about my class ranking seeming too high for my unweighted GPA? Is that a bad thing or a good thing? I know that those numbers are correct by the way. MY GPA at the end of freshman year was a 3.96 out of 4. At the end of sophomore year it was a 3.92, and at the end of junior year it was a 3.83. But while my UW GPA dropped, my weighted went up and I was taking more challenging courses. I could be wrong, but I think you were trying to tell me not to take too many APs in order not to risk doing badly… but I got 5s on all of my exams. </p>

<p>Sorry, I’m just a little confused. I think you are totally right on about Columbia being a long shot… but I’m not sure I understood the rest of your comments.</p>

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<p>anyone ???</p>

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<p>Hey… sorry for being unclear. I meant that at many top ranked schools, a GPA of 3.92 would put your class ranking near the triple digits… but at your school, if a 3.92 puts you near the top of your class… that shows colleges that your high school is not that competitive. Also… your SAT II scores are a bit low compared to your school ranking and grades. The transcript is the single most important document considered for admission to the large majority of colleges… but bear in mind it’s tempered by your SAT II, ACT, and SAT I scores. Like if you are a valedictorian at some school but have like a 2100 on the SAT I and 750 on the SAT II Math 2C, but somebody else has 5 B’s but 2300+ and an 800, that shows how much more competitive their school is and Columbia will view the 5 B’s person as more academically promising. Hopefully the amount of AP’s you took junior year was a crazy amount (somebody at my school took 9 A.P.'s junior year - killed their GPA but they ‘did’ relatively well considering how many they took and the amount of time going to outside classes, etc.). The average number of A.P.'s taken at my school for junior year is ~4 and I’d imagine for most Columbia students it’s about the same… just bear that in mind. Anyway, good luck :)</p>

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<p>Thanks… that definitely cleared things up. We only have 300 kids in my grade though, so 10 isn’t that impressive… and at my school the grading is pretty tough. So I don’t think that there are any kids without at least one B. My SAT2 scores are very low which will hold me back… but I also got that 670 early on sophomore year… so I expect to do much better taking SAT2s as a senior.</p>

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<p>I know people with lower stats who’ve applied ED as legacy students and gotten in. </p>

<p>So, the chances are in your favor. Work on those test scores, develop your EC’s, write an impassioned essay, and, well, you’ll probably get in.</p>

<p>Applying ED helps a lot.</p>

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<p>Thanks! I still think it’s pretty out of reach though. I am concerned that if I apply ED to Columbia I still won’t get in and I will have “wasted” my ED. I feel like maybe if I use it someplace else where I have a more realistic shot I’ll be able to get into a better school. But I love love love Columbia!!! I hate the admissions process. :)</p>