@969028 I totally understand! Although I never received an opportunity to interview, I feel I am at a disadvantage because I was never able to make a favorable impression outside of my application. Anyhow it’s important to remember what every one of Columbia’s emails/admissions officers/students have told us repeatedly: that admissions is a holistic process! And because of that I doubt any one factor will determine the decision alone.
@columbhiroller 820!? That’s crazy! I hope that you’re that 1/820 this year!
@soph1112 I think that you and I are very similar! haha… I feel like I’ve seen every inch of the CU websites that don’t require a CUID or SSOL account!
I didn’t even know there were interviews until I read this thread (starting in December). I think you have to apply to it though? Hope it doesn’t affect you too negatively, from what I heard the interviews are a very small factor.
@columbhiroller Though the tests are of course the same, the courses themselves are taught by different teachers with different difficulty. Also, some schools limit the AP classes offered. I think that they’re talking about classes without standardized tests (AP and IB).
@dr0wning according to the Columbia website an applicant’s contact info is sent to interviewers in their area, and then the student may be contacted. I know interviews aren’t really important and the system is flawed, but I’m just worried that by me not replying to the offer, it makes me look bad and this may have been reported to the admissions. idk man I am very type A and anxious and paranoid
@PilotKhyle The difficulty of teachers can exceed the difficulty of the AP/IB course, though. For example, I’ve heard that non-AP/IB courses at my school are not particularly difficult. However, at a neighboring public magnet school (ranked 13th nationally) all the courses are difficult, even before AP and IB really hits. Supposedly the teachers say that (school name) is on a whole different level in terms of difficulty and general craziness. However, that last part is anecdotal and I wouldn’t really be surprised if the account was greatly exaggerated (like “omg my classes are SO hard you just don’t understand!!!”) to boost that person’s ego.
I was also never contacted for an interview and I have been searching my inbox consistently.
Hey everybody! I wasn’t sure whether or not to join in on the convo but I finally decided to because I need ppl to freak out with bc…FOUR MORE DAYS cries. I’ve applied as an English lit major and I’m from NC!
Not trying to turn this into a chance thread or anything, but does anyone here have <3.9 UW GPA that doesn’t have amazing, national-winner ECs? Like, is 3.6-3.9 considered “low”? (lol I included a range because I don’t want to give out my actual GPA).
@969028 it is totally optional and has no bearing on the outcome. Also, someone I know involved in the process told me that they’re told that if you don’t hear back to call them and the interviewer has the phone number of the applicant. The interviewer didn’t bother so its not your fault. DONT WORRY!! STAY POSITIVE!!
@greysanatomy3113 WAIT you’re saying I never even had to respond to the interview request in the first place??? you may have just saved my life
@969028 I ams saying that the interviewer did not do their job bc they were supposed to call you first and they didn’t but also the interview really has no weight in the process, IT IS OPTIONAL. It will have no effect on your application so don’t freak out haha
@dr0wning All I really know is that test scores/GPA are not everything. I looked at a results thread from Class of 2019 ED, and there were kids with 4.0s and 36 on the ACT and were rejected, while there were kids will lower GPAs and say, a 29 or 30 on the ACT, who were accepted. My EC’s are not fantastic either, but I think my essays were pretty good.
Also, from reading the results thread, it seems as if it is not necessarily advantageous to have an EC list that is a mile long. Rather, a few solid ECs should suffice 
(I’ve been analyzing my application nonstop lol)
For those like me who are pessimistic, have you started working on your Regular Decision apps yet?
@columbhiroller @dr0wning yeah like my school only offers like 8 APs
i’ve been analyzing my application nonstop as well! It’s just that I’ve seen people in the CO’19 ED thread say “my relatively low GPA/SAT” in reference to their 3.8 UW and 2250, so I get a bit scared. I just want to know if that really is considered relatively low. Of course there are kids with lower GPAs and SATs/ACTs but they’re closer to being the exception than the rule.
@cl938803 where in NC are you from?
@IAmLying Yes, I have. At least for Cornell. Also, I really need to start working on applications to safety schools.
@dr0wning I have a 3.8 uw gpa (i go to an extremely difficult school though, consider that I am second in my class). However, I have two national math olympics gold medals and i am also part of the team that represents my country (argentina) in the wsdc.
I’ve finished all of my RD school essays (8 schools + UCs) except for one. Since the deadline for most of them are 1/1 and ED/EA decisions are usually around mid-December, there’s not a lot of time to work on RD applications after finding out if you’ve been deferred/rejected.
@cindytufts I’m in awe, seriously. That’s an awesome award/EC! I asked about people who don’t have national-winner kind of ECs, though. Is everyone else here that amazing?
@ThePedestrian Is it common for students at your school to self-study APs due to the lack of AP classes?