Chances for Columbia + Others--Creative Writing

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>What I am looking for from you, reader, is my chances for getting into Columbia and other schools for creative writing. I am thinking I will also apply to: Rutgers, NYU, Cornell, UPenn, Yale & Princeton (far reaches I know), UChicago, Northwestern</p>

<p>I am a white female junior at a large public school in New Jersey. My GPA I don’t know exactly, but the last time I checked it was ~4.6 weighted. We don’t have class rankings or decile things; that’s the school’s policy unfortunately. I know that if they did rank I would be in the top 5% I guess and possibly higher. I have taken all honors/AP classes throughout high school, for example this year I am taking 5 APs (Bio, US History, Microeconomics, BC Calc, Lang & Comp) and am planning on taking the AP tests for psychology and macroeconomics too, and I am also taking 2 honors classes. I get A’s generally but not A+’s, but I think I can get 5’s on all or almost all the tests because I am good at testing. </p>

<p>Standardized testing:
-2340 SAT: 800 critical reading, 800 writing, 740 math. I’ll be taking it again in March to get a higher math score because usually that is my best section...anticipating/hoping for a superscore 2380 or higher.
-234 PSAT: 80 writing, 80 math, 74 critical reading. National Merit semifinalist and possibly finalist I think
-SAT II’s: 800 math II. I’ll be taking French & Lit & maybe biology in May, and will probably get above 700’s for each of them. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-Co-founded & vice president of the creative writing club at our school since freshman year
-Literary magazine, writer since freshman year, editor since sophomore year
-Newspaper, writer since freshman year, editorship next (senior) year
-French club, member since freshman year, secretary junior year, president next year
-Artist’s Pen (volunteering; we make cards for the elderly) secretary since sophomore year
-Forensics team member with little success at the competitions :( since freshman year
-French Honors Society since sophomore year (that’s the induction year); running for an officer position next year
-Joined NHS and SHS this year
-Key club since freshman year, might become publicist next year
-Mock trial since freshman year
-Girl scout since 1st grade! And proud of it. I’m well on my way to getting the gold award (the highest award) </p>

<p>My real passion is writing and language. On applications I will probably emphasize my role in the creative writing club, literary magazine, newspaper, etc. I really want to get into more writing contests to distinguish myself.
-1st place in a national writing competition
-Honorable mention in a national poetry competition
-Featured in a few regional writing compilations, nothing that impressive
-Published in Teen Ink & a few other places
I’ve made a vow to myself to get more of my work out there and submit it to magazines and contests. I just need to find the time. </p>

<p>My other main passion is language, specifically the French language.
-1st rank and 2nd rank in the Concours French competition freshman and sophomore year: statewide, which puts me in the top ~5 NJ French students. I will try to continue that in my junior year.
-A special designation from my French teacher that I don’t know too much about.
French has always been my best subject; it is really easy for me for some reason. I am learning Spanish on my own, too. My awards & accolades & whatnot are lacking, I know :(. I will work harder on them in the near future. </p>

<p>-Volunteered at the library for ~150 hours, anticipating ~300 hours by the time I’m done
-Also, volunteering for Girl Scouts, Artist’s Pen, Key Club
-I work at Kumon for 8 hours per week; it’s like a tutoring center
-One-week writing workshop at Susquehanna University last summer
-Online class in psychology at the local CC last summer
I am looking at some more selective writing workshops for this summer and will continue volunteering at the library & maybe the hospital and will take another class at the CC. </p>

<p>I REALLY want to go to Columbia, for their creative writing program probably, and because--what can I say?--I really love Columbia. I visited there and am in the process of watching some of their free online class lectures, which I may bring up in application essays...is that a good idea? </p>

<p>In general, what do you think? I mean, can I get into Columbia? If not, I think I could probably get into NYU or Rutgers, which are both OK with me. I won’t need financial aid. I know I can write really good application essays with my experience writing and all. My recommendation letters will probably be good but not outstanding, from my French and lit teachers. I will apply ED to Columbia next year and see what happens. If not Columbia, where do you (all) think I should apply? And any advice for me, especially from anyone who is also looking into creative writing? Sorry that this post is so long, but I have a tendency to write a lot.</p>

2

<p>Actually I think you have a really good chance.
The grades are great and the ECs are solid. If you can dig deeper on how the creative writing makes you who you are in the essays and that will be amazing.</p>

<p>I really love writing stories (and probs that will be what my essay is about) but I am not going to have it as my major.
Really glad to meet people with the same interests here XD.
Good luck on your applications and I hope you will get into Columbia.</p>

3

<p>I don’t believe in providing odds for admission (aka “chancing”), but I heartily endorse applying to Columbia ED. I suspect you will get in.</p>

4

<p>"If not Columbia, where do you (all) think I should apply? "</p>

<p>FWIW, my daughter who is a senior at Cornell recently told me that the best college course she’s taken so far was her creative writing class at Cornell. Though she also enjoyed the creative writing courses she took at Barnard, prior to transfer.</p>

5

<p>you have a great shot at columbia. good luck and keep doing what you like</p>

6

<p>Columbia is one of the only top schools with an actual Creative Writing major (versus a concentration within the English major). If you’re dead-set on majoring in CW, definitely consider applying ED. Princeton, NYU, Cornell and Penn have good English programs with creative writing opportunities, though Yale has had some complaints about a lack of CW opportunities. JHU is another great option, with really well-known CW workshops. </p>

<p>As for the accolades you’re looking for, here’s a post I made on another forum that may be helpful:

</p>

7

<p>I agree. Apply to Columbia ED. I think you just may get it. </p>

<p>Chance me?? My thread is “Final Chance Thread (Because I Know it Gets Annoying)”</p>

<p>Sent from my SPH-D700 using CC App</p>

8

<p>Just an update: after changing my mind about my first-choice college, I ended up applying to Princeton through their Early Action program and got in. I’ll be a freshman there next fall :). Thanks to everyone for your advice! And to people in the same boat that I was in, don’t rule out “far reach” schools like Columbia or Princeton, because you never know.</p>

9

<p>Wow! Congratulations!</p>