Chances +)

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>So Columbia has been my dream school since I first became conscience of it, and now I'm wondering what your guys' opinions are of my chances to be accepted!
(I'm due to apply this fall, and I intend to do early application for Columbia.)</p>

<p>+Academics:
Projected class rank: 2~ out of 700+
Projected graduating weighted GPA: 4.47
Projected graduating unweighted GPA: 3.99</p>

<p>+Standardized Testing:
ACT with writing score: 34 (9)
SAT composite: 2150
SAT II: 780 Math 2, 770 US History, 720 Chemistry, 690 Biology
AP: 4 Art History, 5 Calculus AB, 5 US History</p>

<p>+Sports:
Began swimming April 2010, participated in three teams including a USS team and high school team</p>

<p>+Employment:
Certified and working lifeguard as of Summer 2011</p>

<p>+Extracurriculars:
California Scholarship Federation membership throughout high school
American Cancer Society: 20 hours of community service
Boy Scouts of America: active since 1st grade, 300 hours of community service, numerous leadership positions (approximately 3 years of active and main leadership positions), led 250 man-hour project at local animal shelter, Eagle Scout with multiple palms (distinctions)
Science Bowl team member: will be participating in science bowls in November and February
[[Joining Junior States of America club this upcoming year (political debate club)]]</p>

<p>+Classes:
Freshman: Honors Biology, Freshman English, Algebra 2, P.E., Health/ Social Studies, Spanish 2
Sophomore: Honors Chemistry, Advanced Sophomore English, Pre-Calculus, P.E., Modern World History, Spanish 3
Junior: Honors Physics, Honors American Literature, AP Calculus AB, AP Art History, AP US History, Spanish 4
To be taken Senior year: AP Environmental Science, British Literature, AP Calculus BC, Photography, Government/ Economics, AP Spanish
--All of these classes have been the hardest available course at my school for that level except British Literature in my upcoming Senior year. Pre-Calculus was my only B+, the rest were in the A spectrum.</p>

<p>+Student Background (for what it's worth):
Half Irish, half Portuguese (Hispanic)
Catholic household, personal apatheistic views
Bisexual/ gender neutral
Middle class (financial aid will be extensive)</p>

<p>I'm interested in pursuing an education in political science/ government. Schoolwise, I'm also applying to Yale, Harvard, Georgetown, Duke and Princeton. Ambitious! I know. </p>

<p>If I forgot something, I'll include it in a comment later!</p>

<p>Questions are welcome!</p>

2

<p>Pretty good chances. Obviously Columbia is a very selective school, but your stats are up to par with those of accepted students, and you have great ECs (eagle scout in particular is very impressive). I don’t think you should send your SAT 1 scores in, though.</p>

3

<p>I think you stand a decent chance at Columbia, remember to work really hard on your essay. I also recommend to not send in your SAT Biology scores and Chemistry, since there kinda low. I noticed you are applying to all Ivy League schools or top tier schools, thats pretty ambitious. Have you considered applying to UVA, UT Austin, or U Michigan?</p>

4

<p>Columbia is an especially difficult school to chance. I was accepted to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and UPenn but wait-listed from Columbia. </p>

<p>My personal opinion is to not submit your SAT scores, and to really show your passion and strengths in the application because I don’t see any clear distinctions in what you mentioned.</p>

<p>Also the person above is right, you don’t need to attend an ivy league schools and you are being VERY ambitious. But hey you can’t win if you don’t play (:</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

5

<p>I know people with equal stats but worse ECs that got in, so I think you have a very good chance, even though it is Columbia :)</p>

6

<p>Not sure about Columbia, but many schools and organizations do not consider an individual from Portuguese to be Hispanic (Sounds a little ridiculous I know). You should double check this and plan accordingly.</p>

7

<p>@Commodore15 What is a good target SAT score for Columbia?</p>

<p>@SeattleBulldog I’m aware I need to start looking for “safety” schools or less super competitive. Regarding SAT IIs, what would you consider the cutoff score for acceptable?</p>

<p>@tehewiki My friend was in a similar situation as you, and she is now going to Yale this fall. Congratulations! Also, what’s your opinion on a cutoff SAT score?</p>

<p>@moonman676 That is promising! Hahah</p>

<p>@GreyWolf Yeah, I know some may not consider it Hispanic. Thanks for the input! I’ll definitely look into it.</p>

8

<p>Don’t submit SAT, only ACT. Good luck</p>

<p>Sent from my iPhone 4 using CC app</p>

9

<p>For any ivy league anything above a 2250 but for Columbia specifically I would say 2300+ to be on the same level as some of the better applicants. I had a 2380 >:( i should have taken them again but I was too lazy. Anyways Princeton has always been my dream school so I’m okay with it (:</p>

10

<p>It’s my understanding that they require that you send all your test scores. How is it possible then to not send them?</p>

11

<p>The ACT and SAT are organized by two different companies, so you can send one but not the other. The ACT with writing is enough for most schools (pretty sure all the schools on your list). Some schools require you to send all your SAT scores if you do send them, so you wouldn’t be able to send your SAT IIs to those schools unless you were ok with sending the SAT I score as well.</p>

12

<p>Just send the SAT scores as well so you can submit your SAT II scores. And obviously submit your ACT score. Honestly, I don’t know why people make it seem so imperative to not send a decent SAT score (if it was sub 2000, I would say differently). Although it’s not quite up to par, the admission committee will only use the higher ACT score for admission. And either way, both scores show you’re competent enough for another thorough look at the rest of your application.</p>

13

<p>Are schools honest in saying that they only look at your best score (between the ACT and SAT)? Any definite answers?</p>

<p>And new readers feel free to still chance!</p>

14

<p>I contacted Stanford, Harvard, and Rice and asked whether they use both scores or only the highest scores. All schools stated that they “will see both your SAT and ACT scores, and generally give students the benefit of the doubt.” (quote from Rice admission officer). Stanford and Harvard had similar responses. I honestly believe that unless your SAT scores don’t show ivy proficiency (sub 2000, unless you’re relying completely on your SAT scores for acceptance) you’ll be fine sending both scores.</p>

<p>Personally, I have a 2150 SAT with good subject test scores and a 34 ACT and plan on sending all my scores. I think it will avoid any confusion or problems I might face only sending one. I’m pretty sure my SAT scores will actually be on the transcript my school send over…</p>

<p>So I would personally send all your scores if you’re sending SAT subject test scores. But you are free to do whatever you feel most confident with. Good luck with the whole process :)</p>

15

<p>@salsapenguin That’s promising! Thanks for passing on your research/information! Good luck to you, too! +)</p>

16

<p>Don’t submit SAT, only ACT. Good luck</p>

<p>Sent from my iPhone 4 using CC app</p>

17

<p>Closing old thread.</p>