<p>I have heard a lot of different things from different people about how hard it is to get in to Columbia and other schools of its caliber. I just want to get a better idea of what my chances are. Here's what I have to offer:
I got a 2320 on the SAT and I'm a National Merit Semifinalist. I've taken all honors core classes all four years, and maintained a 3.9 unweighted GPA.
I play alto saxophone in the top concert band at my school, and I have been 1st chair in the top jazz band since my sophomore year. I also made 1st chair in All-State Jazz Band last year, as a junior. I sing in the top choir at my school as well. And I play guitar and have taught private lessons for two years.
I play in a funk/rock/rap band with some friends, and we won the battle of the bands at our school last year. Do colleges even care about that?
I'm in National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society.
I run varsity track, long distance.</p>
<p>I'm thinking about double-majoring in music and something in liberal arts. I don't exactly know what sort of career I want to go into, but I know I love music, and I know I don't want my hard work and talent in academics to go to waste.
My top choices are Columbia, Yale, Princeton, Vanderbilt, Cornell, and Johns Hopkins. I also plan on applying to George Mason as a safety. </p>
<p>Any tips? and any idea what my chances are of getting into these schools?</p>
<p>Musician</p>
<p>Here’s the thing. Many of the schools you’re applying to have admissions % of <10%. The others (with the exception of George Mason) Have Admissions % of <20%. Unfortunately, they reject more highly qualified students than they accept.</p>
<p>With your grades and scores – this is exactly the category of schools you should be looking to for acceptance.</p>
<p>Add to this your exceptional accomplishments musically, (yes, first seat in a state wide band is something colleges care about, it shows both dedication and talent) and I’d think that you have a much better than average chance of acceptance at any one of them.</p>
<p>You really can’t have done anything more than you have.</p>
<p>I think you may want to expand your list – think about other highly rated schools. Duke, Northwestern, Wash U, Chicago. I assume they all have music majors, but don’t really know. Maybe find a few schools in the next tier down as near safeties.</p>
<p>Bottom line – for pretty much any school in the US – your chances are as good as anyone’s and better than most.</p>
<p>Thanks zephyr15. I appreciate your thoughtful response! That’s basically what I was hoping to hear.
The reason I would apply to George Mason as a safety instead of schools that are a little harder to get into is that I live really close to Mason. If I got in there, and nowhere else, I would go there and live at my house for a semester, and then transfer to a better school.</p>
<p>It’s good thinking – you need at least one school that is a true safety. In choosing one, you might as well look for some other advantage (such as living at home).</p>
<p>Let me share some other thoughts about safety schools – look for schools that have significant merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Also, if you can find schools that have Early Action, apply to a couple – it’s always nice to get in somewhere in December. Though not a true safety school for anyone, maybe Tulane? They’re pretty generous with merit money, no application fee, and their app is less onerous than most.</p>