Chances ED to the College

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>White Kansan Male
Public School of about 2000</p>

<p>Stats</p>

<p>GPA 4.69 Weighted
3.95 Unweighted
All A's except first semester freshman English, and fall semester of Calculus BC.</p>

<p>(I did precalc during the summer before my freshman year so i could skip ahead into BC. I received A's for that course from the University of Missouri: Columbia.)
I took Latin I extracurricularly (is that a word?) my sophomore year because it wouldn't fit into my schedule.
Given my blocks being filled with Band and debate all four years, I have otherwise maxed out all possible departments from my school with the exception of a couple science IIs. (Bio and physics)</p>

<p>Notable courses I have taken/will be taking
Euro History AP (4)
US History AP (5)
Chem 2
Gov't AP
Mico/Macro Econ AP
English 12 AP
Calc BC AP (5)
(Will be taking a night course in Spanish my senior year at Johnson County Community College. Scheduling reasons.)</p>

<p>Rank: 12 out of ~450 (top 5%)</p>

<p>ACT: 35
SAT: 2180, 770m, 740cr, 680w
i plan on retaking the SAT, and i still need to take SAT IIs (gah i'm behind on that!)
PSAT 219 (hopefully NMF)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars</p>

<p>School Based
*Band *- Marching Band drum major for 2 years. This is the highest leadership position possible in a band program. Awesome rec letter from director/
Top Jazz band senior year. Lettered for last two years.</p>

<p>*Debate/forensics *- Competed on the Varsity level for sophomore and junior year. Took first in a few tournaments. Competed on the national circut for a few tournaments. 8th at state.
Went to NFL nationals in student Congress. </p>

<p>*Freshman Mentor Program *- I work with freshman at my high school in both academic and social areas. 2 years</p>

<p>Political
*Kansas Young Democrats *- Founding President. Will have events this fall for voter registration and fund raising for area congressional candidates</p>

<p>*Boys' State of Kansas *- Ran for Governor. (lost by 5 votes!)</p>

<p>*Boys' Nation *- Qualified to be one of 98 to meet at Boys' Nation in D.C. later this summer. Bill Clinton went to Boys' Nation and met (then) President Kennedy. Terrific learning experience. I really look forward to it.</p>

<p>Will be active volunteering for campaigns this fall.</p>

<p>Service</p>

<p>200+ volunteer hours working at a hospital. Work in the Admitting department. Checking in preregistered patients, and taking them to rooms. Received Presidential Service Award.</p>

<p>*National Honor Society *- Head of several committees. A very active service organization. We host rock concerts, events for young kids, and general fundraisers. All profits is for charity.</p>

<p>Started an elementary Debate club program. Very basic as of yet.</p>

<p>No sports, unless you count debate.</p>

<p>I am working at a law firm for a paid internship this summer for a few weeks. Besides that, no work experience.</p>

<p>"Hook"</p>

<p>I love politics. Most of my time is spent reading news/books. Because of this, I can expect excellent rec letters from government and history teachers. I want to major in Poli Sci. </p>

<p>Also, I am fairly liberal, Kansas is not. I plan on doing some pretty cool event type things early this fall for the national and state general elections. This will hopefully stir up some media attention. But I can't really plan that.</p>

<p>I feel like my interview will be very good. Thanks to debate (yay pretty speaking!), and my passion for what I want to study.</p>

2

<p>I think you have a pretty good chance, your 'hook' is not a hook at all, it's an interest (still positive). a hook is like winning or second place at a national level debate tournament or starting a non-profit that was quite successful, you don't need a hook to get in, i think you're a good profile and fit.</p>

3

<p>Thanks. And columbia has a good government/int. relats. dept?</p>

4

<p>"And columbia has a good government/int. relats. dept?"</p>

<p>without a doubt, one of the best if not the best place to study international politics. The poli sci dept is very stong, the school is very internationally oriented (in terms of students, profs, research and outlook), and columbia has the world leaders forum every september where columbia takes advantage of its name and location and gets heads of state to pay a visit to columbia during the UN meet each year. Last year we had 5-8 heads of state in one week, and others trickle in during the year. Even if they might be no more interesting to listen to than anyone else, it reflects columbia's direction and it gets everyone talking and debating, freshman year i was shell-shocked. Last year columbia hosted The Economist debates in the spring, with kofi speaking among others.</p>

5

<p>How does Georgetown compare? I have always heard Georgetown is the go to place for poli sci. Though it makes sense that an Ivy also specializes in gov't, and is likely better.</p>

6

<p>"I have always heard Georgetown is the go to place for poli sci."</p>

<p>gtown is great, they're a top poli sci school too, for international politics I'd still give columbia the edge, but it's a small difference. hyps, penn too all have great poli sci depts, but specifically for international politics I really give columbia an edge; tufts is up there for int. politics. I think the quality of student would be marginally better at an ivy/stanford. but all these are minor, for politics no doors will be closed at any of these institutions, the poli sci depts at all the schools i listed are top notch, think about where you want to spend your four undergrad years (people, culture, location). One a side note, while he never mentions this, Obama completed his undergrad at columbia college, majoring in poli sci with a concentration in IR. even more irrelevant: John mccain's daughter graduated from columbia this year</p>

7

<p>nahh she graduated in 07, not 08. Your point stands nonetheless.</p>

8

<p>thanks conficoll. </p>

<p>I have never really thought about Tufts.</p>

<p>So perhaps, ED to Columbia. And then RD Georgetown, Tufts, and all the rest. I probably shold visit Columbia before I put myself into a binding situation. I have visited Georgetown, and I loved it. </p>

<p>Oh here's a good question. What are the internship oppurtunities like for Columbia versus Georgetown? Does it even matter that Georgetown is in DC because I will be taking a semester/year of for the internship wherever I go to school?</p>

9

<p>What are the internship oppurtunities like for Columbia versus Georgetown? Does it even matter that Georgetown is in DC because I will be taking a semester/year of for the internship wherever I go to school?</p>

<p>The good thing is Georgetown and Columbia are both in big cities, and you'll have plenty of internship opportunities. Given your interests, you may find more meaningful government-related stuff in DC, but that doesn't mean it lacks in New York at all. The great thing about New York and DC is that you can find your niche as well as combine your interests: work at a think tank, for example, or the economics research branch of a wall street firm, or the earth institute @ Columbia which is doing tremendous work in the developing world. The sky's the limit, really.</p>

<p>That was a vague answer because I'm not sure what kind of internship you'd be looking for. COuld you be more specific?</p>

10

<p>That's a great answer all to itself. Thanks</p>

<p>When I envision an internship that would be great for me it is working in the office of a senator or government official. Perhaps on a campaign. An NGO or non-profit is interesting, but I really like the beltway side of things. That sort of makes it seem like I should preference Georgetown. But that brings up my previous inquiry: If I have to take time off for an internship, does it really matter where I cam coming from?</p>

<p>For example, I go to Columbia. My sophmore year I get an internship at Sen. Clinton's senate office in D.C. I would take off a semester or two to work there right? Or maybe during the summer, but whatever. So being from New York doesn't hurt me because I will be living in D.C. for that internship anyway.</p>

<p>On the flip side, same scenario. I take time off from Georgetown. My only benefit is that I can maybe stay in my cheap dorm instead of renting an appartment. Or is it possible to intern on the Hill and stay a full time student at Georgetown?</p>

<p>Perhaps being in D.C. to begin with helps me get an internship position in the first place. Altough, if I were hiring people to work for me I would more seriously consider people from an Ivy. (Or a better school)</p>

<p>or... I am delusional and nobody takes time off for an internship, which makes my question worthless. :)</p>

<p>Hey thanks cerberus for the insight and advice.</p>

11

<p>it is working in the office of a senator or government official. Perhaps on a campaign. An NGO or non-profit is interesting, but I really like the beltway side of things. </p>

<p>Well New York has more weird non-profits than one could count :). THat said, it really does emphasise the corporate side of things more than people would care to see. New York's about hte business, and the business of politics (BUT we do have the UN)--but you'll find a broader range of politically oriented organizations in DC</p>

<p>That sort of makes it seem like I should preference Georgetown. But that brings up my previous inquiry: If I have to take time off for an internship, does it really matter where I cam coming from?</p>

<p>Umm not really, Georgetown is a terrific school, and as far as I'm concerned although being from the Ivy League has a certain ring to it, it doesn't guarantee you a position anywhere. You need to work for it, and sell yourself. If you take time off, it won't matter where you're from unless, like you rightly said, you can stay in your cheap dorm. But knowing Columbia, they'll make you leave housing if you take time off, and you're not guaranteed housing when you return. Don't know about G-town.</p>

<p>On the flip side, same scenario. I take time off from Georgetown. My only benefit is that I can maybe stay in my cheap dorm instead of renting an appartment. Or is it possible to intern on the Hill and stay a full time student at Georgetown?</p>

<p>I know plenty of students who take classes at Columbia and work on Wall Street/Christie's/whatever as interns. It's definitely doable, but you'll need to organize your life and workload accordingly.</p>

<p>Perhaps being in D.C. to begin with helps me get an internship position in the first place. Altough, if I were hiring people to work for me I would more seriously consider people from an Ivy. (Or a better school)</p>

<p>Nahhh...not reallly. The Ivy is a plus, sure--but just being from a DC school isn't necessarily going to get you preference.Columbia's a very politically active school, and lots of students get summer internships in DC and end up working there. </p>

<p>My point is you'll be fine in the internship department wherever you go. You'll need to look at other factors: environment, academics, social life, etc. to make your decision</p>

12

<p>"Nahhh...not reallly. The Ivy is a plus, sure--but just being from a DC school isn't necessarily going to get you preference.Columbia's a very politically active school, and lots of students get summer internships in DC and end up working there."</p>

<p>agreed, it really won't make much of a difference, I have three very good friends, two are class of '09 and one is class of '11. class of '09 #1 (studying econ-math) worked with president bush's economics advisers during his sophomore year summer, class of '09 #2 (anthro+poli sci) worked for an internationally oriented think tank in DC, and class of '11 is working under a congressman in dc this summer. the class of '09 kids are very smart, and the class of '11 kids is bright and well liked, but I don't know whether or not he's highly qualified. opportunities are abound.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for the help Conficoll and cerberus.</p>

<p>It seems like both places are very well regarded for the area of study I am pursuing. I guess I am leaning Columbia because it is slightly higher regarded, and the academics are more challenging. That and I love the sound of the CC. </p>

<p>But, Georgetown is a close second, and easier to get into. I am glad I am in such a situation where I have to great schools that fit well.</p>

<p>Now to get in...</p>

14

<p>having gone to school in DC and now being a student at columbia, i can tell you that there is no difference in getting internships between NYC and DC. while i interned for congress during my year in DC before i transferred to columbia, it was a huge drag and i wish i waited to intern during the summer instead of the school year so i could have given more time and attention to it. </p>

<p>since the best time to intern is the summer, it doesnt really matter where you go to school, columb or gtown. both schools will circulate a similar list of job opps for the summer and both schools have stellar reps. </p>

<p>the only real difference is finding a place to live in DC/NY if you dont go to school there. in DC, george washington u. has great, relatively cheap, summer dorms for rent, and a lot of the fraternity houses are desperate to rent out their extra beds as well. </p>

<p>but all this is fairly speculative, as you have to get in first, and contrary to your previous post, neither school (georgetown in included) is very easy to get into. (gtowns 20% admit rate is deceptive b/c its pool is comprised of mostly hyp backups, so the competition is just as intense). </p>

<p>that said, gtown doesnt reward you for applying early. its actually harder to get in early action, and almot all applicants are deferred. in fact, unless you are a shoe-in and gtown is your first choice, i would apply there RD because EA students are not eligible for the wait-list.</p>

15

<p>You're definitely above average, and have a decent chance. However, there could be problems in the EC's. A interest is not a hook. Having a special interest/belief will help, but not that much. Also, do you have other interests / activities that you commit some time to? I see you have band/volunteering, but what can you contribute to Columbia? Will you be able to impact columbia w/ ur love for politics, your ideas, beliefs, skills, and show leadership? However, this is just a minor thing. The key thing is that you're passionate for what you do, and commited.</p>

16

<p>Preference is not a verb.</p>

17

<p>ivyalum</p>

<p>gah I know. sorry. It's from debate. We slaughter the english language...</p>

<p>ex. the judge should preference the offense to the perm on the k because it is evaluated first given the neg's FW. </p>

<p>or something like that.</p>