Chances (yeah yeah i know)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Stats:
Graduation year: 2009
School Type: Public but sends tons of grads to top schools
GPA: UW around 3.7, W around 4.5
Class Rank: School doesn't disclose to colleges, but should be top 5%, maybe 10%
SAT: M 760 CR 750 W 800 (11 Essay) 2310 total
SAT 2: Math IIC 800, World History 770, Physics 740, Chem 720
AP: Euro 5, Calc AB 5, Eng Lang 4 (might rescore)
Awards: Should get my state's scholar, AP scholar, national merit semi at least (PSAT 226), National Latin Exam gold medalist
ECs:
JSA member
VP chess club (i know, i'm hardcore)
Fencing (high school)
Squad captain 2 years probably team captain this year, best in weapon award 2 years, most improved award last year, won soph state championship last year, won district championship this year, bronze medalist at this year's state championship, local paper athlete of the week/first team all area, state paper third team all state
Fencing (USFA)
"B" national classification (second highest), won/medal many local tournaments, medal at sectional championship, medal at nationals (team event), consist competitor in national championships/junior olympics (always make top 64)</p>

<p>Work:
Legal department of major engineering firm for last three summers (can get awesome rec)
May do some malaria research this summer</p>

<p>Community Service:
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL</p>

<p>Hooks: bilingual/first generation american? (parents russian), possible recruited athlete (talking to coach but columbia's really competitive in fencing (as in, most kids go to world cups and such))</p>

<p>Weirdnesses in transcript: Withdraw passing Latin this year, Math is the only subject (other than one science class (chem) and one english class) I haven't gotten A's in (B geometry, C+ precalc (i know), B+ AB Calc) but i get my highest standardized test scores in math </p>

<p>If you've taken the time to read this, you are a better man than I. Thank you and chance away!</p>

<p>Edit- One weirdness I forgot to mention: I'm getting a rec from my AP English teacher, who's brilliant, but going to write about how lazy though gifted I am and how she thinks I'll "flourish" (read: get my act together) in college. She says the fact that I'm getting this rec from her as opposed to a teacher who's class I destroyed (got a B in AP English) shows "character." Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>you're on the right track. except for LOLOLOLOLOLO part. you should have something that makes you unique, when compared with other successful applicants.</p>

3

<p>"One weirdness I forgot to mention: I'm getting a rec from my AP English teacher, who's brilliant, but going to write about how lazy though gifted I am and how she thinks I'll "flourish" (read: get my act together) in college. She says the fact that I'm getting this rec from her as opposed to a teacher who's class I destroyed (got a B in AP English) shows "character." Thoughts?"</p>

<p>no, being lazy is the opposite of showing character, this is stupid idea, we're all smart, gifted here. Under-performance for no reason sets off the alarm on an application. It's worse if you get a lazy B than a hard earned B. a hard earned B could show character. The whole argument of 'I could have done it, I would have done it, but i didn't put in the effort [or some equally damaging excuse]' is in direct opposition to what you're trying to show them on an application.</p>

<p>otherwise if you get recruited you're in, if you don't you have a shot, i'd drop the english rec if i were you, unless the teacher has something particularly meaningful (and positive) about your qualities of, say, contributing to class, astute analysis, creative questioning etc etc.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
"One weirdness I forgot to mention: I'm getting a rec from my AP English teacher, who's brilliant, but going to write about how lazy though gifted I am and how she thinks I'll "flourish" (read: get my act together) in college. She says the fact that I'm getting this rec from her as opposed to a teacher who's class I destroyed (got a B in AP English) shows "character." Thoughts?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Having this rec would be really really bad. Can't you find a teacher to say good things about you? It's a terrible LOR for someone to say you're a lazy underachiever who hasn't reached his potential. There are plenty of smart and hard-working kids for Columbia to take, and they don't need to take chances on some lazy kid.</p>

5

<p>I never thought the response to the rec would be so overwhelmingly positive.
Seriously though, maybe I should give a little more background, because when she proposed it, it sounded like a reasonable idea. Basically, when I was in her class I performed very well in the classroom (discussion, in class projects/presentations, etc) but never did any homework. And that's the gist of what she's going to write. She's a very intelligent woman (teaches college also) and claims she has been on admissions committees and knows what they want to see. According to her, in a rec from someone who's class I owned "it's obvious what the teacher is going to write."
However, I did have some doubts in the vein of what you guys have already said, and you've confirmed them. I'll really have to think about it. If you guys have any more input on this (or anything else for that matter) I'd really appreciate it. Also, would applying ED significantly increase my chances?</p>

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<p>"Also, would applying ED significantly increase my chances?"</p>

<p>substantially.</p>

7

<p>"According to her, in a rec from someone who's class I owned "it's obvious what the teacher is going to write.""</p>

<p>dangerous. I wouldn't risk it. </p>

<p>I heart the CU fencing team. I'm a fan of your resume too. You've got just enough imperfections to show you're human. I had a D in Hindi in my HS transcript, I know I sound like I'm proud of it but I'm not, but everything else was halfway decent.</p>

8

<p>If you can get George K.'s support I think you're in, so I'd recommend focusing on that. If Columbia is your first choice and you are willing to commit on attending if accepted you should make that clear to him.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the responses guys. I've made it pretty clear to George that Columbia's my first choice and that I'll apply ED. Just curious: sherpa and cerberus, are you fencers?</p>

10

<p>Parent of two fencers, including one currently in the college app process.</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
no, being lazy is the opposite of showing character, this is stupid idea, we're all smart, gifted here. Under-performance for no reason sets off the alarm on an application. It's worse if you get a lazy B than a hard earned B. a hard earned B could show character. The whole argument of 'I could have done it, I would have done it, but i didn't put in the effort [or some equally damaging excuse]' is in direct opposition to what you're trying to show them on an application.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I completely agree. Getting a recomendation of this type is not what you want colleges to see. Overall, I think you have good EC's and good SAT's, but your GPA and courseload are slightly below that of the average Columbia applicant. Honestly, I think get the athletic recruitment and applying ED are your best bets to get in. Otherwise, you still have pretty favorable chances. </p>

<p>I fence, though I'm not as impressive as you. :-)</p>

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<p>"One weirdness I forgot to mention: I'm getting a rec from my AP English teacher, who's brilliant, but going to write about how lazy though gifted I am and how she thinks I'll "flourish" (read: get my act together) in college. She says the fact that I'm getting this rec from her as opposed to a teacher who's class I destroyed (got a B in AP English) shows "character." Thoughts?"</p>

<p>Agree with everyone else: Bad idea! No, you don't want to be a cookie-cutter applicant, but you want to be seen as a serious student. Yes, you're allowed to have a life, and yes, you're allowed to be the kind of student who slips up every once in a while. But being the student who slacks off and rides by on natural intelligence isn't appealing. </p>

<p>Otherwise, the only thing holding you back is the GPA. The C may hurt you. Pursue your options as a recruited athlete.</p>

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<p>Nah, i'm not a fencer, but lots of close friends were</p>

14

<p>Haha, my friend is obsessed with arby n' the chief: he actually does that when he's talking.</p>