Hello CC,
I am just a sophomore, but I’ve become very interested in Columbia University and wanted to know if I had any potential chances for admittance to Columbia. Before, I share my stats, I’d like to mention one thing. I underwent the biggest transformation in my life during the summer between 8th and 9th grade. After two tragic events, one being my recognition that I had serious behavioral and social issues when I got cut from the basketball team and the other was when I had cyber-bullied a helpless individual and I recognized that I was a truly bad person heading down a dark path, I changed. This change made me not only a better student, but a better person. When reading my stats, you’ll likely notice a huge difference between my grades from 8th grade to freshman year. Also, I have two 8th grade classes that will be on my high school transcript, so that is something to keep in mind. Without the sufficient 8th grade GPA to be recommended into the Pre-IB (honors) courses, I will not have Calc BC by senior year, which is something that also troubles me. The good part about this perfect storm of low grades and regular classes is that I will have a very strong upward trend by senior year. I’m not sure how much admissions officers at Columbia value an upward trend, but it is something that makes me somewhat unique compared to all of the other applicants with perfect scores throughout middle school and high school. Also, I’ve been working hard to improve my PSAT score. It’s horrible and I think that with practice, I can drastically improve. After all, l have the time. Well, there you have it an here are my scores.
Unweighted GPA (4.0 Scale)
-8th Grade: 2.67
-9th Grade: 3.9
-Overall: 3.63
Explore Exam (Practice ACT):
-English: 13
-Math: 17
-Reading: 13
-Science: 18
-Composite: 15
Now I’m sure why (I’m guessing this is the SuperScore), but the final score shows a 21. I don’t know how I could have a score of 21 if didn’t score above a 20 on any section! Maybe someone can describe this for me because it is really strange.
PSAT
-CR: 43
-Math: 47
-Writing: 47
-Total: 137 (I believe this would the equivalent of a 1370 on the real SAT…yikes)
SAT II: I haven’t taken any SAT II’s yet, but I plan on taking at least two in science, maybe three. I might take Math I or Math II if I could find a way to learn that material and maybe even some SAT II’s in history.
8th grade:
Spanish 2: B-
Living Environment (Bio): B-
9th grade:
Career and Financial Management (Required): B+
Earth Science: A
English: A
Global History 1: A+
Algebra I: A-
Spanish 3: A
Studio Art: A-
10th Grade (so far):
Chemistry Pre-IB: A
English 10 Pre-IB: A+
Geometry: A
Global History 2 Pre-IB: A+
Health: A+
Digital Photography: A
Science Research 1: A
Spanish 4: A+
TV Journalism: A
I intend on being an IB diploma candidate.
ECs
I don’t have much yet, but I’ve been in the process of getting more.
-2 years in the school paper. I was a staff writer my first year and now I am a chief reporter. (Wooh!)
-1 year of student council which I hated it and won’t be continuing.
-I just started these clubs this year: Future Engineers’ Club and Computer Science Club
Research
-My group has been working with my town’s planning board and Cornell University Cooperative Extension to find the source of pollutants to a tributary lake leading into a large river. We’ve been using GIS software to map the lake and the area around it. We’re going to one of the best science fairs in New York this May.
-I’ll be applying to a few research programs for this upcoming summer.
Awards (This is pathetic)
-One of my articles won bronze for the best sports feature award at the Empire State Student Press Association’s High School Journalism Convention
-Two nominations at the Long Island Press Student Journalism Awards. .
Important Events
- I attended Hofstra’s University Student Press Day
- I attended the Columbia University Student Journalism Fall Conference
- I presented my science research project at my district’s Board of Education Meeting
- I met and I am currently working in coalition with members of my town’s planning board on my research project.
Tell me what you think. I’m really uncertain as to where I rank among my peers, and I was hoping some of you guys could help me out. Thanks!