chances, junior (suggestions)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey, I'm a junior in Westchester, NY. I love Columbia and plan on applying early decision in the fall, but feel I don't have a strong chance and want some direction for improvement...</p>

<p>GPA (weighted): 95
School does not rank, very competitive school
December SAT: 710 Writing, 670 CR, 630 Math= 2010 (signed up to retake in June, any suggestions to improve me score would be great, I plan on just doing a lot of practice, particularly in math, to boost my Math and CR scores up to 700, and I think my writing score could improve with a stronger essay)
SAT IIs: Bio (freshman year): 670
Retaking Bio and Lit, US History in May (I am in AP Bio and APUSH now)
Questions on SAT IIs: I am signed up for 3, but should I only do 2 in May? Columbia wants 3, Yale wants 3. Can I cancel 1 SAT II?
Taking ACT April 8th, plan on attaching ACT score along with SATs if it is high (32+)
Junior Courses:
APUSH, AP eng, AP Bio, pre-calc honors, pre-AP Spanish, Art, Science Research
Senior yr:
Science Research, AP Eng, AP Physics B, AP Calc AB, AP Art, Spanish 5 regular, AP Psych</p>

<p>Other/EC:
Strong artist, oil painting since I was 8 with the same art teacher. Last year won state-wide 2 Scholastic Art Awards, entered again this year, taken pre-college courses 2 years in a row at Parsons, Arts Students League, volunteer at a art museum, did a student docent program at a modern art museum and plan to do a full year program at the museum next year where we meet with artists and make our own exhibit, will be sending slides to Columbia of my artwork</p>

<p>Writer: 3 week Young Writers Conference last summer at Bard, 1 of 2 students elected in my grade to Young Writers Editing Day in December, another in March, entered scholastic competition, plan on my english teacher writing me a recommendation (she knows my writing etc.) In my school poetry club and literary magazine (probably will be a leader next year)</p>

<p>Last summer: 1 week precollege brown philosophy mind and matter course</p>

<p>Community service: Appalachian service project 2 years (1 week in june we go down to appalachia and repair houses), will go again this summer
Saferides in school, officer
Hours at museum
Volunteered at counselor at a children arts camp, 3 weeks
This summer want to work in a hospital or nursing home, perhaps with creative arts therapy, also joining STAR, leadership program for students against domestic violence</p>

<p>Track in freshman year, regular runner but not competitively anymore, run on my own time independently. Campus Congress freshman year.</p>

<p>Science Research 3 year psych project (very interested in psych and neuroscience) on eating disorders, beginning my data collection now, mentor at University of Minnesota, testing adults for ed symptoms and then testing their emotional reactivity to visual stimuli. will be entering competitions next year, stat analysis over the summer, this teacher is also my ap bio teacher and will write a good rec, has known me for awhile.</p>

<p>So. thats all I got. I know my numbers are low, and am thinking I should focus on them. I basically suck at standardized testing. is my GPA all right?</p>

2

<p>coinflip...your SATs r a bit low...either math or verbal should be at least over 700</p>

3

<p>even with the test scores you still stand a fairly good chance. </p>

<p>as for what you can do now.. take every part of the application seriously and present yourself the best you can.</p>

<p>keep those good grades up.</p>

4

<p>aww mann... columbia wants 3 SAT IIs?
now I have to take 3 instead of 2!</p>

5

<p>Westchester is going to be very competitive. Everyone wants to go to Columbia. That's going to work against you.</p>

6

<p>No, Columbia wants 2 SAT IIs. Sorry that was a typo.</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm not really sure what to do about the fact that I'm from Westchester... I can't really do anything about it.</p>

7

<p>Where in Westchester are you from? One of the wealthy areas, or a place like White Plains? I grew up in southeast Yonkers, and they seemed happy enough with me. I think you're right that Columbia gets flooded with applications from kids who live in the wealthy suburbs, though. I suspect all the Ivies do.</p>

8

<p>Yeah, I'm actually from a wealthy area. My school always has a lot of kids sending in apps. This year, I've heard, a lot of great, qualified kids have been rejected from Columbia. A good amount get into Cornell. </p>

<p>I'm just really upset about my SATs. I feel like my grades and ECs reflect my abilities well enough but the fact that I did so poorly on this one test... is jeopardizing my future. I plan on working as hard as I can for my june SAT and SAT IIs in may but still, I'm mortified.</p>

9

<p>The science research will help. Make sure you mention all the important things you have researched and perhaps send in a science abstract.</p>

<p>I applied for SEAS, and sent in a Science Abstract, a Piano Recording, two extra recommendations (one from my piano teacher of 8+years and one from the professor I did science research under), and a pamphlet I made describing the research that I did, which I handed out at an NIH Conference. </p>

<p>I was told by friends and adults to just send in anything even if they don't require/ask for it. So even though you may not be applying to SEAS, where a Science Abstract is stated as something you may send in, you may still want to send it in, even for CC.</p>

10

<p>Westchester is competitive, but a lot depends on your particular school, I think. I live in Westchester too, and my school usually gets a few kids in early (this year we were 2 for 2 early, including me). </p>

<p>I think it's okay that your scores aren't the greatest. I think they understand that not everyone is a great test taker. Just try hard for the next one and see what happens.</p>

<p>If you really are interested in Columbia, consider applying early. That could definitely help.</p>

11

<p>Thanks (congrats on getting in!). Yeah I am planning on applying early, and sending my science research paper and/abstrac (my project and paper will be done, (statistically analyzed) by the end of summer. it's like 99% of my own work too, my mentor basically just supplied the surveys I'm using. I'll be recruiting and analyzing etc.). I also plan on sending slides of my artwork. LoJT thanks for the input, I should def add recommendations from my sci rea teacher (I do AP Bio with her as well and it's one of my best classes) and from my art teacher I've had since I was 8.</p>

<p>And yes.... working hard at the SATs. I feel like I know the material but, especially for math, need to work on being efficient, quick and very careful to eliminate all those stupid mistakes.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
I think you're right that Columbia gets flooded with applications from kids who live in the wealthy suburbs, though. I suspect all the Ivies do.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, basically every single kid from Westchester, Great Neck, and all of the top NYC publics and privates applies to Columbia.</p>

13

<p>Yeah, I know I'm basically put at a big disadvantage due to where I live.On Saturday a high school around where I live is administering a Princeton Review practice SAT for 4 hours. I plan on going, taking it and seeing how I am doing right now (without much studying post my December test). Any thoughts on if Princeton Review scores are good estimates of college board SAT scores?</p>

14

<p>It isn't. They make it harder. They want you to score poorly, get scared, and pay them $1000 for their course.</p>

15

<p>Haha, yeah (predictable). I want to do it on my own, anyway, and my parents wouldn't pay for that. I did do tutoring prior to my 1st test and I feel lik it was too much focus on strategies as opposed to actually like learning the test very well. Whenever I wanted to do more or got worried my tutor was just like: you'll be fine. I guess I'm a little anal that she predicted I'd get a 2100+ on the test but in the end it's my performance, not hers'. Anyway, I plan on working hard to see how much I can pull it up and taking the ACT.</p>

<p>P.S. Next week I'm sitting in on a columbia psych undergrad class. i emailed the professor and she was really nice and said it's good that I am being proactive. it'll be great to sit in on. I'm also visiting colgate/cornell.</p>

<p>I'm still incredibly stressed out about my chances and... everything though (typical junior year). Thank you everyone for your comments.</p>

16

<p>not to discourage you but i had similar stats, higher sat sattii's and gpa, and maybe less "distinguished" EC's and i was flat out rejected. many people tell me that not applying early was my problem, but i just think that its because of all the people that apply almost all of them have the numbers to get in. not to say that you dont have as much of a chance as anyone else, but there really are no guarentees or "great" chances. Stick with your art to show your passion.</p>

17

<p>SEAS may be more forgiving for the test scores with the Science Research /etc. you have done. So if you're going for SEAS you still have a good chance.</p>

18

<p>Sry but LoJT, u r absolutely wrong. dreadlocktear has absolutely no chance at SEAS....they wont even consider anyone with a 630 on their math SAT and who hasnt even taken the Math SAT2. If you arent aware, SEAS has a higher average SAT than CC and their median SAT Math score is 740-800! There is no way they would consider anyone with a 630.</p>

19

<p>Yeah, I'm not into engineering/won't apply to SEAS. Math is not a strength of mine.</p>

20

<p>"Sry but LoJT, u r absolutely wrong. dreadlocktear has absolutely no chance at SEAS....they wont even consider anyone with a 630 on their math SAT and who hasnt even taken the Math SAT2. If you arent aware, SEAS has a higher average SAT than CC and their median SAT Math score is 740-800! There is no way they would consider anyone with a 630."</p>

<p>oh yeah. it's been an off day, sorry my bad. Anyway, the science research will still help for any college.</p>