Columbia '14--Chance? Questions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Hi guys!</p>

<p>I plan to apply to Columbia early (decision) this fall, and I had a few questions.</p>

<li><p>Does anyone know if applying ED to Columbia increases the chances of admission? I’ve heard it said both ways but vaguely each time.</p></li>
<li><p>Would you consider it proper “etiquette” if I gave my admissions counselor a call and explained some of the reasons for my lower grades outside of the application?</p></li>
<li><p>What would you say my chances are?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Female, Caucasian, Polish</p>

<p>GPA: 3.65 UW
My high school doesn’t weigh GPAs, but I’ve taken EVERY AP/Honors/Advanced class that I have been offered, and my senior schedule for next year is very difficult. </p>

<p>CLASS RANK: 156/587 overall; 90/587 Honors; top 25%</p>

<p>ACT: 32 composite, 11 writing

  • Should I retake it? I think I have good chances at getting a 33/34.</p>

<p>SAT: I plan on taking it this fall.

  • What should I aim for?</p>

<p>AP: I got a 3 on the U.S. History last year, and I took the Statistics, Euro History, and will take the Language this year. I plan on getting a 5 on the Language, and then a 4 on Stats and Euro.</p>

<p>SAT IIs: I will take Literature, Math 2, and Chemistry this year.

  • What should I aim for? Columbia asks specifically for two SAT IIs!</p>

<p>ESSAYS: I’ll write very good essays. I love writing.</p>

<p>RECS: I’ll have excellent recommendations.</p>

<p>COCURRICULARS:

  • Editor-in-Chief of newspaper
  • Co-Captain of Student Congress team
  • participant on Varsity Speech/Debate team
  • inkTank Literary Council member (the Loft, [The</a> Loft Literary Center:](<a href=“http://www.loft.org%5DThe”>http://www.loft.org))
  • Polish Saturday School volunteer teacher & web designer
  • writer for literary journal
  • Student Ambassadors
  • Student Government
  • peer tutor</p>

<ul>
<li>work experience at autism camp</li>
<li>work experience in retail</li>
<li><p>80+ hours internship at fiction publishing company</p></li>
<li><p>published huge amount of short stories, poems, articles</p></li>
<li><p>self-published novel, 6th grade</p></li>
</ul>

<p>NOTES
My parents are immigrants from Europe, and I’m the first person to go to college in the U.S. My family honestly didn’t know how radically different the college application system is here until the beginning of junior year (there’s a much larger focus on grades/GPA/class rank in the US than there is in Poland). That’s one of the main reasons that I didn’t care completely about my grades freshman/sophomore year.</p>

<p>Every single one of my Bs is in a math/science class (I’m taking the toughest courses and doubled up on math this past year). No Cs. I want to major in Creative Writing, which is also the reason that Columbia is my top choice by a mile. How much do you think this will affect me?</p>

<p>My senior year schedule will yield, hopefully, a lot of As. I’m taking three English courses per trimester and have an internship scheduled, plus AP Art History (which I love!) and AP Government (which I love!).</p>

<p>Should I call my admissions counselor to talk? Or should I just let it go and hope for the best?</p>

<p>Thanks for any insight!</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>I would say no. If you’re able to be admitted ED, you have an equal shot of being admitted RD. ED means less applicants which means they spend more time on yours… your bright points shine more but your flaws also glare more.</p></li>
<li><p>By admissions counselor you mean the local admissions officer that will first be reading your application? If that’s the case, no. Sorry to say it, but its highly unlikely that they’ll care about your special situation (not caring about grades freshman/sophomore year) or even remember you when they read your application. If you think this is a really important point to stress, talk to your guidance counselor about it and have her write it in her rec for you.</p></li>
<li><p>Frankly, your GPA/rank is a little bit low, although don’t let that discourage you cause I made it in when people said mine was low. You have some standout ECs (autism camp, publishing, etc) and if you market them right on your application, who knows, you may have a decent shot. To improve your chances drastically, I’d say get at least a 2200 on the SAT and at least 700 on every SATII you take.</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>GPA is fine (Columbia doesn’t like bookworms anyway), but your class rank is waay too low!</p>

<p>As for SATs, you need to aim for at least 1400 - that’s gotta be a given. But to be certain you have a SOLID chance, you need at least a 1460.</p>

<p>Btw, Columbia undergrad isn’t all about writing or creative writing! Columbia does have a graduate MFA program especially for creative writing, but for undergrad, using that as an excuse for “B” math scores will not work. Sorry to sound harsh, but by being realistic, you’ll know where to improve.</p>

<p>gl!</p>

4

<p>Oh, Columbia doesn’t like bookworms? That must be why they have one of the largest libraries in the country, and ask you what you read for fun on your app! Man, everything is so clear now.</p>

<p>SAT 2s might as well be 700+. It would be better if you could do a math 2 SAT 2, since it shows that you are capable of doing the math/you are well-rounded.</p>

5

<p>a novel in 6th grade? please tell us more.</p>

<p>stats are on the low side. won’t keep you out but you will be fighting uphill.</p>

6

<p>drownergurl29, I’m taking Math 2 on June 6th. My goal is to get a 780+ because I can do the math. I just haven’t worked as hard as I should in the class.</p>

<p>zephyravatar, I’ve known that writing is my passion since sixth grade. I self-published a novel and have been writing ever since. I’m at work on my seventh full-sized manuscript now. I hope to complete it this summer and send in a part of it as my creative supplement to whichever schools accept one.</p>

<p>As for fighting uphill, don’t I know it. I just have this odd feeling that I can somehow DO this. </p>

<p>Any more advice on speaking with a counselor/chances when applying ED?</p>