Chances to Columbia, U Mich, Stanford, and U Chicago. Will chance back!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey I’m just a junior in high school but right now I would like to know where I would stand for each of these colleges. Columbia is really my dream college and I am especially interested in where you guys would think I stand for this college.

GPA (out of 4.0): UW: 3.96 W: idk
ACT: 34
PSAT: 215

Intended Major: Finance

Courses: I am taking 7 IB coursed this year and the next, this is the most rigorous course load available at my school

Teacher Recommendations: Math and Chemistry teachers love me

Awards: Expecting National Merit Semifinalist (got above usual state cutoff)

ECs (very interested in finance btw):

  • Won The Stock Market Game (3rd out of 2300 portfolios)
  • Made nationals for Euro Challenge (business comp.)
  • Made DECA states last year and this year, hoping to get nationals this year (another business competition)
  • Unpaid Interned and conducted financial research at a New York Firm over the summer
  • Paid Intern at a solar company throughout the year
  • Conducted Basic medical research at the University of Toledo for one summer
  • I currently manage and help out with sales and many other operations in my dad’s company
  • I also invest in stocks through my father’s portfolio
  • DECA 10-11
  • HOSA 10-11
  • MHS 11 (going to continue these clubs in 12th as well)
  • Founder/President of Debate Club
  • Founder/President of FBLA (DECA is closing down this year)
  • President of Red Cross Club
  • Math Tutor in my school
  • Created a Non-Profit Organization (tutoring program, profits go towards the temple)
  • Co-created another Non-Profit Organization with my friend (book collection program for the poor)
  • President of school’s Habitat for Humanity Chapter
  • Volunteered at Henry Ford health systems
  • Organized and Managed two blood drives

Other Info:
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: M
State: MI
Hooks: none

2

Outstanding application. I’d say low match at michigan, high match at Columbia and U Chicago, and low reach at stanford

3

Michigan- match
Columbia- low reach
Chicago- high match
Stanford- reach

4

Columbia: Low Reach
Stanford: Low Reach
U Chicago: High Match
Michigan: Low Match

I would add some more matches and safeties since Columbia, Stanford, and UChicago are all very competitive and University of Michigan has been very unpredictable with their admissions. Kids who were accepted into Harvard, Duke, and other colleges were deferred from EA whereas others with much lower stats were accepted. I’m not saying its definitely yeild protection, but either way I’d add some options to be better prepared.

Overall you have a great application though! Good luck

5

u have too many extracurricular activities they will not all be helpful
state the ec u are actually interested in

6

You are aware that neither Stanford or Columbia offer Business-Finance at the undergrad level correct?

With that said I personally feel your ECs aren’t well-rounded enough to stand a GREAT chance at those schools. Specifically I see:

Wayy too many business/economics related ECs.

Book collection program (which is the first really cool EC I see btw)

Tutor / Tutoring organization.

Debate club

Habitat for Humanity
Red Cross / health

The last two kinda overlap because they both focus on big major non-profits.
So you got basically 5 different types of ECs.

You’ll be in Michigan 100% since you are in state but remember indian gets lumped together with east asian in college admissions so it’ll hurt your chances at those super selective universities.

I think you should try to diversify that EC list. Try to get a foreign language club / activity; a sport; a student govt position, etc.

7

I think you’ll get into 1-2 of Stanford, Columbia, Chicago
Then you’re in at UMich.

8

@bomerr‌ So it doesn’t help if your ECs are focused in one area then? How diversified would your EC list have to be, cuz I did JV tennis for 10 and 11 and I am trying for Varsity tennis in my senior year.

@go4harvard‌ I’m interested particularly in the NPOs (I’m trying to launch a microfinancing NPO atm) and I’m interested in the internships.

9

@columbia2020
More well-rounded, more chance IMO

I would definitely add tennis to your EC list if you have not send in your application yet.

10

Great GPA and your ACT is above average for most of the schools you listed. Your ECs are absolutely stellar, and I would advise you to study for the SAT 2s since most selective college either require them or “recommend” them.

I think Stanford will be a mid-reach since the school itself is crazy selective and competitive, but you do have a chance. you’re a sure-go for Umich and Columbia will likely be a low-mid reach (essays matter). Chicago will probably be a match/low match.
Chance back?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1731814-final-chances-rd-williams-hamilton-ivies-and-nyu-stern-will-chance-back.html#latest

11

@Ghentsphenze‌ if you take the ACT I thought you didn’t need to send in the SAT 2s

@bomerr‌ where would you say I sorta stand for Columbia, U Chicago, and Stanford?

12

@columbia2020 You are correct. once you take the ACT, colleges no longer “require SAT 1 and 2 SAT IIs”, but nonetheless colleges “(strongly) recommends” SAT 2s.

13

Excellent application. Honestly that ACT score looks really nice and the PSAT should ensure you some sort of title (Semifinalist, Finalist, Commended, etc). Your awards and EC’s are what really stand out. However I’d like to point out Columbia is extremely difficult to get into, they reject thousands of highly qualified applicants every year. Not to mention it’s a prestigious Ivy League therefore it’s basically a reach for anyone no matter how highly qualified you are.

You’re basically in University of Michigan. UChicago, Stanford, and Columbia I’d like to say you would get into at least one of those colleges.

14

I think if you apply ED to Columbia you have a fantastic chance

15

@minnesotan456‌ I’m going to apply ED to Columbia but I don’t think it makes much of a difference from RD.
Thanks for chancing me tho!

16

Overall, your ECs are good but some look like they were definitely done to put on a college app. Although some of them are still absolutely awesome. Your GPA is good and your ACT score is great. I don’t know if you’re american Indian or India-Indian but I’ll assume you’re american Indian for this.

Columbia: Reach
U Mich: Match
Stanford: Reach
U Chicago: High Match/Low Reach

Awesome stuff, I hope you get in!

17

So many people here underestimate Chicago admissions. Chicago, Stanford, and Columbia are reaches for everyone.

I don’t see a problem with focused ECs, however nowhere in your ECs do I see a passion for learning. (Although I’m being a little of a hypocrite) Universities are first and foremost academic institutions. Believe it or not, they want students, then entrepreneurs/doctors/blah. Therefore, GPA is important, which is good for you. But you also need to show that you do learn outside of the classroom.

18

@Woandering‌ what would you classify as a couple of examples of learning outside the classroom?

19

@columbia2020‌

Perhaps “learning” is a little strong, but academic activities such as participating in economics seminars/summer programs, yearbook, MOOCs, publications. Since your main thing is Finance, you might want to look into more economics activities that you can do (not FBLA or DECA). Economics as in the study of distributing limited resources rather than economics as in how to make money.

20

@Woandering‌ ok so this year I’ve gone to a couple business and economics camps that are separate from my school. Would this count as outside learning then?