Chances for Columbia??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>I've put Columbia on my list as a BIG reach! My class rank and GPA will hurt me, but with my resume, coupled with good recommendations and hopefully good essays, could I have a shot? I'd love to go here! I'm interested in Columbia's style of teaching.</p>

<p>Stats:
Ethnicity: Vietnamese female
SAT I: 2300 (Reading: 740, Math: 760, Writing: 800)
SAT II's: Taking Math2 and Lit in October
ACT: Taking in Sept to try to offset rank/GPA
Rank: 67/599 (11%)
Weighted GPA: 5.266 on 6 scale
Unweighted GPA: 3.5 on 4 scale
AP score of 4 on English Composition and Chemistry</p>

<p>ECs:
Senior class president
Junior class VP
Red Cross VP
Student Council member since 9th grade
Red Cross Club member since 9th grade
Debate team competitor since 9th grade
NHS and Spanish National Honor Society</p>

<p>2006-2007 Greater Houston Area's Youth Service Committee Board
I and 7 other board members organized service projects for Houston's high school Red Cross clubs to participate in. Sponsored by Houston's RC chapter, we promoted health awareness and volunteerism through projects like RC orientations, Mass CPR trainings, and fundraisers for measles vaccinations. (etc.)
(5 hrs/wk)</p>

<p>I'm a teacher's assistant at a non-profit Vietnamese language and culture school. I teach second-graders for 3 hrs every Sunday.</p>

<p>I have 250+ volunteer hours through these ECs, Habitat for Humanity, and volunteering at the hospital and food bank.</p>

<p>I work for an OB/GYN doctor 10 hrs/wk doing insurance billing.</p>

<p>I mentor a pediatrician 4 hrs/wk in a Scientific Research class at school. I will be forming a science project through my observations.</p>

<p>Awards:
National Forensic League's Award of Excellence for 217 pts (honor society for debate that keeps track of wins)
National Merit Commended (209)
Academic Excellence 3 years
School Leadership Special Award 06-07 and 07-08
YES award for 250+ volunteer hours</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

2

<p>sat is great (though it will not raise your chances considerably), gpa is a killer. you have some varied EC interest, and some good involvement in scientific and medical fields, senior class pres helps, the rank does not. You have a chance for sure, albeit it is big reach.</p>

3

<p>92% of Columbia students were in the top 10% of their respective HS classes...good luck.</p>

4

<p>don't bother taking the ACT. It won't say anything that your SAT doesn't already scream. Seriously, it's a waste of your time and money. Focus those elsewhere.</p>

<p>I had a 3.3 unweighted GPA and got into columbia, and kicked butt there. Mine is a long and unusual story, but it does happen. a 3.5 UW will raise eyebrows, but the rest of your profile can convince them otherwise.</p>