Columbia Class of 2022 ED Results

[mxrxsxa]

The day is almost here guys!! Results will be posted on December 14th at 7:00 PM EST. Please don’t post here unless it’s an actual decision. Remember, whether you get rejected, deferred, or even accepted does not define you as a person! Good luck everyone!

Just remove the “a” in the bold, size, and color of your decision.

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted[/color][/size]**
[aB][asize=4][acolor=#FFA500]Decision: Deferred[/color][/size]**
[aB][asize=4][acolor=#FF0000]Decision: Rejected[/color][/size]**

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown):
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
Weighted GPA:
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load:
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities:
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1:
Teacher Rec #2:
Counselor Rec:
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?:
Intended Major:
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
School Type:
Ethnicity:
Gender:
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

General Comments:

[mooseyellow]

Decision: Deferred - CC

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1600 (800M/750CRW & 700M/ 800CRW)
ACT (breakdown): -
SAT II: 740 Spanish, 750 US History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.68
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/~350
AP (place score in parenthesis): -
IB (place score in parenthesis): Math SL (6)
Senior Year Course Load: AP BC Calculus, AP Physics C, IB English HL, IB History HL, IB Psychology HL, IB Spanish VI SL, Theory of Knowledge
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Placed in some regional/ national essay contests, National Merit Commended

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
International Nonprofit (regional board member, club president)
Model UN (board member and conference leadership position)
County Young Democrats (founder, pres)
National Democratic Org (national position)
Student Government (pres, county congress member)
Volleyball

Job/Work Experience:
Gubernatorial internship (11-12)
Coordinated campaign internship (11)

Volunteer/Community service:
Organized voter registration drives at school- this was the focus of my why major essay (11-12)

Summer Activities: see job/work

Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App (5/10, about politics/ race/ community but I’m not sure if it says enough about me)
Why Columbia? (8/10, about the activist environment, professors, and core)
Why Major? (10/10, very specific about obama/voter registration/ polisci)
Lists (7/10, I didn’t curate them or anything- I actually kept track of my entertainment for a year lol)

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 11th history teacher, didn’t read
Teacher Rec #2: 11th/12th psych teacher, didn’t read but apparently it was good
Counselor Rec: Didn’t read, but she loves me
Additional Rec: n/a
Interview: n/a

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: Political Science-Statistics
State (if domestic applicant): non-competitive part of a competitive state
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Poor public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: ~100k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): an aunt went to sipa? lol

Reflection

Strengths: Scores, grades, rigor of course load, spike in politics
Weaknesses: Lack of major awards, essays, don’t know what my recs say
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Mediocre essays plus I’m not from an area with a lot of applicants
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to a small state school so far! I’ve applied to some other state schools and USC.

General Comments:
I’m pretty sad. Columbia has been my dream school since forever and now I have basically no chance at getting in

*note: this was prewritten to avoid bias! (except for general comments)

[AcademiaSavvy]

.

[dogsandteslas]

Decision: Deferred

I applied to SEAS:
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1570 (790 M/780 CRW)
ACT (breakdown): 36
SAT II: 800 Math II, 760 Bio
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.62
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 99% (no rank)
AP (place score in parenthesis): Environmental Science (5), US History (5), Physics C (5), BC Calculus (5), Chinese (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit and Composition, AP Statistics, AP Biology, Java, AP French, Economics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semifinalist

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Science Team (mentor), Orchestra/Band (assistant principal flute), Math Team

Job/Work Experience: two internships- one at MIT Mechanical Engineering lab and another at a hospital lab, assistant teacher at a learning center

Volunteer/Community service: assistant teacher at Chinese School

Summer Activities: two internships (see above)

Essays
Common App: 8, a personal story about a challenge- I was proud of it but it didn’t really show my passions
Why Columbia: 7, I talked a lot about why I liked Columbia, but it may have been a bit generic
Why Major: 7, kind of unsure about my major, so not much passion probably
Lists: 8, I was honest with my lists

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 7, math teacher, supposedly writes good recs (didn’t read)
Teacher Rec #2: 8, history teacher, liked me (didn’t read)
Counselor Rec: 8 likes me but has a lot of students (didn’t read)
Additional Rec: n/a
Interview: 8, with a recent graduate who asked me some weird questions, and the interview ended early, I think because he had somewhere to go. Overall, it went well, despite being a bit short

Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: financial engineering
State (if domestic applicant): MA
School Type: public, 450 in graduating class, relatively wealthy
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: female
Income Bracket: > 100k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none really

Reflection

Strengths: grades and test scores were probably my strengths, as well as my course load (though I did have a B in the first term grade report, so i’m not sure what effect that had), and I was pretty proud of my personal essay
Weaknesses: my why Columbia and why major essay probably could’ve been better, and looking now my extracurriculars seem a bit weak, both in terms of leadership/volunteering
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: my lack of compelling extracurriculars and/or they wanted to see more grades
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: deferred at MIT (not surprised)

General comments:
Deferred, so I still have another shot! Columbia was really my #1, and it’s been hard to write meaningful supplements for other schools, but I guess I have to do that now. I’ll probably send in a rec from a professor I did an internship with, and a letter of continued interest. Trying to stay hopeful.

[mcpruden13]

Decision: Accepted

AS A SWIMMING/ATHLETE RECRUIT

(I know this may be controversial but I thought it may be helpful for other athletes to see what it takes. I was given an academic likely letter in October after committing to apply ED and submitting my application. The coaches were clear throughout the process that I do still need to have good scores etc and it’s not all riding on athletics. Even for non-athletes this shows that especially at an Ivy, athletes don’t just get tunneled in we have to work hard too
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1480 (but didn’t submit this was going to take it again but then decided my ACT was fine)
ACT (breakdown): 35 composite (34 Science, 36 math, 35/35 on the two English/writing parts)
SAT II: 770 Math 2, 760 Chem, 770 USH
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.13
Weighted GPA: 4.48
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/112
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chem, Euro, APUSH (all 5’s); Lit, Calc BC, American government, Stats (all this year so not taken exam yet)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Stats, AP Calc BC, AP government, AP Lit, Spanish 4, Honors physics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National merit semifinalist

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Job/Work Experience: lifeguarded probably 25 hours a week over summer and babysit probably once or twice a month during school year and give swim lessons
Volunteer/Community service: Key Club, etc I think like 150 hours total by now (project chair for our yearly swimathon fundraiser)
Summer Activities: swimming, lifeguarding
Essays (rating 1-10, details): I loved my common app essay probably like a 9; wrote about my struggles with anxiety and how I’ve used journaling and how I’m usually a very science person but I’ve found solace in this English side that I didn’t think I had
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: Chem teacher (had home for 2 year fave person ever) I did well in the class but had to work hard for it and he knew that and definitely appreciated and recognized my work so prob 8 bc he’s a weird guy so I’m not sure if his writing would be as passionate and convey the message if that makes sense haha
Teacher Rec #2: my APUSH teacher who loved me haha I had an A+ in his class and he’s just a weird guy and very energetic and wild and it was a reatxlass so honestly probably like a 9/10 rec
Counselor Rec:my college counselor and I are literally best friends like even after I was done applying I still go in to her office just to chat

Interview: I think it went well idk I did it over Skype so it was just weird

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: chemistry with women’s and gender studies minor
State (if domestic applicant): North Carolina
School Type: small private school
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Income Bracket: middle middle class (one of four siblings one of which is currently in college and the other already graduated and both my parents teach, one only part time, but I think a school can tell my parents value education haha like I’m at a private school in financial aid there and my dad teaches even though he has a law degree and my mom has a PhD)

Why you think you were accepted: honestly I think I was a very strong contender in general like I would have been in the running without my swimming support but that put it over the edge and made it for sure
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: only applied here

[handep]

Decision: Deferred

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1520 superscore (800M, 720 E/W)
ACT (breakdown): 35 (36 E, 36M, 34R, 34S, 9Essay)
SAT II: 770 Math ii, 770 bio, 720 world, 700 chem, 680 spanish, 660 math i
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): not sure exactly but my three year on a hundred point scale is a 98.67
Weighted GPA: no weighing in my school
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top ten… school doesn’t rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): 5 Euro (self-studied), 4 Bio (self-studied), 4 Calc AB (self-studied)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: Accelerated Calc, Accelerated Spanish, English, Physics, Religion, American History
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): nope

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Speech and Debate (captain for two years), Science olympiad (vice president for two years), Envirothon (president), Spanish Club (vice president), Computer Tech Club (secretary), Religious discussion group
Job/Work Experience: Self-started tutoring company, also working at a franchise tutoring company
Volunteer/Community service: Boy Scouts (also EC… SPL, OA, etc. – working on Eagle), Volunteer tutoring in inner-city
Summer Activities: Work and volunteer (see above), drivers ed, Boys State
Essays (rating 1-10, details): take with a grain of salt bc I tend to be hard on myself

• Common App: 7/10… talked about my volunteer tutoring from a socially conscious perspective and the insight i learned about inequality
• Columbia Lists: 8/10 BS’ed these a bit but I think they had character and originality to some extent
• Why Columbia: 7.5/10 a bit bland but straightforward and honest
• Major: 8.25/10 tried to tie my ECs around my major… maybe it came off as forced?
  Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): (didn’t read these it’s all speculation)

Teacher Rec #1: 11/10 – math teacher, columbia grad, dude loves me, I love him
Teacher Rec #2: 8/10 – language teacher, liked my a lot and I volunteered to tutor Spanish for her, and she said she’d put in a good word for me
Counselor Rec: 7.5/10 – probably nothing crazy but on the info sheet on what they should include I feel I came out as a very academic and ambitious person
Additional Rec: n/a
Interview: 8/10 – chatted for an hour about theoretical physics and Columbia… he said he’d put in a good word for me and semed really laid-back

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yup (no way I’m shelling out $70k a year)
Intended Major: Econ/Math
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Catholic
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male (cis)
Income Bracket: Upper mid class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): n/a… if anything I have negative hooks

Reflection

Strengths: scores, ECs
Weaknesses: essays, I’m white
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I’m not a pansexual cello player from Idaho
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Nowhere yet

General Comments: I gave it my all… and I’m not giving up. Deferal ain’t stopping me. Process is a bit unfair in my opinion but it’s out of my control. Congrats to the ppl who got in you guys deserved it way more than me! To my fellow deferees, hang in there: maybe the admissions gods will give us a second look. To those rejected, don’t be too hard on yourself, the college process is a crapshoot, a crapshoot that plays big favorites.

Yours truly,

handep

[Xuxuss]

Decision: Accepted

Objective: Columbia College
SAT I (breakdown): 1450 (720 english 730 math / will probably go up to 1520+ tomorow)
ACT (breakdown): Nope
SAT II: 750 math 2 740 physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 96.4/100
Weighted GPA: none
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/120
AP (place score in parenthesis): none
IB (place score in parenthesis): nope
Senior Year Course Load: There are no electives in Brazil, so my courseload was regular I guess
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Lots of regional awards and important honors
TOEFL: 111

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): I basically created and ran 5 different impactful projects in my community and school. Besides, I created the “club culture” at my school and now we have debate, mock trials, astronomy, anti-bullying group, and many others all because of me.
Job/Work Experience: I worked in the production and editing of documentaries that depicted the situation of my city in various aspects of it, including drugs, polution, kidnapping and a lot of other topics.
Volunteer/Community service: A lot. Volunteer in a school at a favela for 4 years. Lots of environmental work. A lot of LGBTQ+ activism in one of the cities that kills the most LGBTQ+ people in Brazil. Youth Ambassador for the Government and the UN.
Summer Activities: Yale Young Global Scholars, gorvernmental conferences, UN conferences…
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 10/10. My essays did a great job in depcting all my dificulties and all the hard work I have done to make my community better,
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): I think all of them were great. I have known all the teachers that wrote them for 3 years and they like me a lot.

Teacher Rec #1: Geography teacher. Totally loved me. Helped me in a lot of projects, specially with fundraising and putting them in the news. He knows of my hard work.
Teacher Rec #2: Physics. Knows me only from class, but I love his class and I was very participative. I think it was good.
Counselor Rec: She just adores me. I’m class leader for 3 years and we have weekly meetings, so she knows about EVERYTHING I have done in the past 3 years and I bet she put everything on that letter.
Additional Rec: History teacher. Helped me a lot in founding the clubs. Knows about most things I have done. Excellent writer (he writes awesome chronicles and poems, besides, he’s also a lawyer). Probably a great rec.
Interview: I was nervous, but we had a lot in common so it was nice.

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yep. I needed a lot of it.
Intended Major: Political Science and Econ
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Brazil
School Type: Private (with a merit based scholarship)
Ethnicity: White/Latino
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: around 45k a year
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I have done a lot of impact in my community and I was able to depict it very well. I don’t have anything astouding besides that. But I think they liked me the most because of my activism and how far that got me.

Reflection

Strengths: Essays, recs, GPA (by far the best in my school’s history, which is probably on my counselor rec)
Weaknesses: Scores
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I still don’t know
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Just Columbia

General Comments: Scores doesn’t matter I guess lol

[spooky2018]

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1590 (800 M, 790 R, one try)
ACT (breakdown): Didn’t take
SAT II: 800s on Chem, Physics, Math II, US History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.77 or something, pretty high relative to other people at my school, most recent people with like 4.7-4.8 in the past few years went to like Harvard and Princeton
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/45 or so. School doesn’t rank, but top of class and my counselor said schools would be able to tell
AP (place score in parenthesis): 5s on APUSH in 10; French, BC Calc, Chem, and English Lang in 11
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics, AP Stats, AP English IV, Humanities Honors class (taken in conjunction with English), AP Econ, Multivariate Calc
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National merit and some EC stuff, local stuff

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Quiz bowl captain, was probably strongest EC. Some national accomplishments (highest individual scorer at a national event), two state championships, discussed in some essays briefly. Science Olympiad on national qualifier team and placed 24th at Nationals in an event. MUN president and a minor award. Stuco all 4 years. Some math club stuff but didn’t mention it. XC and track runner, was captain of state championship winning team with some state level accomplishments but in a slow state so not good enough to be recruited, injuries during track.
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community service: Minor stuff that is required for a course at school and random key club stuff
Summer Activities: Two college math classes over the summer (Diff Eq and Discrete) at local college (A’s in both), XC practice, nothing too special
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App: Wrote about being harassed while running for wearing short shorts and used it to discuss gender roles. Decently well-written but nothing too outstanding. I feel like it was very Columbia (mix of social justice issues and kind of intellectual stuff) but was alright. Probably didn’t help or hurt a ton except could be a good fit for Columbia, realistically probably only slightly above average compared to applicant pool.
Lists: Some were probably just typical, my reading list was good as I read a lot of literature for quiz bowl/fun. Some of favorite books from outside of school were by authors of favorite books from school which I think might’ve looked good.
Why Columbia: Talked about quiz bowl some and how I like learning and tied it into the Core, kind of basic but effective and reemphasized quiz bowl which was my best EC.
Major: Discussed math and was well-written and sort of interesting I think, but kind of basic in how I just talked about how I like math for its abstract ideas so.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: AP English teacher from Junior year who likes me a lot, also sponsor for quiz bowl. She is a good writer and I did well in her class which is probably the hardest class at our school. Probably wrote a pretty strong recommendation like 8/10
Teacher Rec #2: Math teacher who I’ve had for four years, probably not as strong but applying as a math major so it made sense and she could speak to ability and passion for math. Realistically probably didn’t help much but didn’t hurt and backed up that I was interested in math 6/10 but wouldn’t hurt
Counselor Rec: We have a good counselor who knows me sort of well, not a super great relationship but again a good enough rec. Probably reemphasized academic accomplishments
Additional Rec: n/a
Interview: Went alright, kind of stumbled on some questions but don’t think I looked crazy. My interviewer was chill and said there was only one other applicant from my city, and that she wasn’t looking to really critique applicants because she likes seeing people from our city go to Columbia

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Math
State (if domestic applicant): LA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private, small, mostly upper-class, pretty strong
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Upper Class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): non-competitive state? not super hook but helps

Reflection

Strengths: Very good academics (test scores and GPA) even compared to peers. Non-competitive state. Pretty good EC accomplishments in quiz bowl, running, and other things.
Weaknesses: No hooks, not much service, no work experience (wanted to get a job over the summer but didn’t)
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Good academics. Knew a lot about the feel of the school and tailored application to that. Tied EC’s like quiz bowl to show why I liked Columbia and why I would be a good fit, which I think helped.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: ED so nowhere else

General Comments: Was worried because I didn’t have any super good EC’s or awards or anything (like ISEF or USAMO or something), and no hooks, so felt like I kind of fell into the typical above average kid category. I think really liking Columbia and being a good fit for it, as well as tailoring my application (like my common app essay) to emphasize this, was important. Went pretty hard on supplement essays. I think these things plus very good academics (high GPA relative to school, almost perfect test scores) plus applicant from Louisiana (not competitive state) plus ED was enough to get me in. Good luck to everyone who didn’t get in on other applications and the RD round, you’ll be fine in the end. Congrats to everyone else who got in!

[bpnyc195]

Decision: Accepted (CC)

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1570 (800 Math, 770 Eng)
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 780 Chem, 770 Latin, 760 Bio M
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.95
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calc AB, Eng Lit, Macro, Micro 5s, Stat 3 (Self studied micro, macro, stat) (Stat sucked but it was enough to get me AP Scholar with Distinction)
Senior Year Course Load: Multi calc, AP Bio, AP Latin, English, Theology, Business and Financial Accounting
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
So none of these are “major,” but this is what I put for “Honors” in the Common App:
Russian Music at Carnegie Hall
National Latin Exam, Highest Honors for 3/3 years
National Merit Semifinalist (PSAT 1510)

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Journal of Opinion (Editor in Chief)
Math Team (President)
Classical Music Society (President)
Economics Society
PF Debate
Job/Work Experience:
Intern at cancer research center, 50 hrs/wk for two full summers
Weekly visit to same cancer research center during the school year
Volunteer/Community service:
Founded, organized, and taught free debate camp for Harlem middle schoolers
Tutoring, paid and volunteer, in school and out (4 hours per week or so)
Summer Activities: See Job/Work Experience
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 7 to 9
Columbia’s lists are sort of punishing to the admissions readers, so I sharply reduced the number of items I had (to 5 or 6) and wrote short descriptions. I think this made me stand out from other applicants.
I wrote my Why Columbia and Why [Field] the week before, so my writing definitely could have been more polished.
Common App essay was the one thing I was really proud of–had worked on it the entire summer. Google Docs tells you how much time you spent on a given doc: 150 hours, and that’s not counting me handwriting, editing, talking over it with friends, etc.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): 9 to 10
From Latin teacher (all 4 grades) and Math teacher (freshman and senior, and math team moderator all 4 years). I’ve had stellar grades and I do peer tutoring in both subjects, plus math team president.
Counselor load is smaller than most, and she’s really diligent/devoted to students.
Additional rec (9) from the supervisor at the research summer with whom I’d worked since the winter of sophomore year.
Interview: 10. Absolutely great. Interviewer was married to a school alum and had talked about me with one of my teachers a few days before. Interviewer is also friends with my homeroom teacher this year. Great chat, went for 45 mins or so. Started at Columbia but covered everything from social media’s ills to why orphan diseases are important

Other
I submitted a research abstract and a music supplement.

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes.
Intended Major: Biology
State (if domestic applicant): NY. I live so close that if I look in the right direction from my roof on a clear day I can see campus.
School type: Private, Catholic (see: theology). 100% scholarship to all students by rigorous admissions process (1200 applicants for 140 spots in the grade).
Ethnicity and gender: Asian male lol
Income Bracket: ??? And: too personal for CC
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Lived in Harlem, did many Harlem-oriented extracurriculars.

Strengths: Grades and extracurriculars were good, in my opinion. Did most of my activities all 4 years.
Weaknesses: Essays. I really wish I had more time.

General Comments: I didn’t have anything crazy (Intel, USAMO, Olympiad, etc). If you do things you like, get good grades, and so forth, you’ve got a shot.

[radavocado]

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
ACT (breakdown): Took it twice, got a 31 both times. Super-scored to a 32. Best scores per category: Essay: 11, English: 35, Reading: 34, Science: 30, Math: 28.
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): around 3.7, not entirely sure
Weighted GPA: 4.0 (BUT had a 4.4 gpa my first quarter of senior year, which I did not factor into that)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
AP (place score in parenthesis): European history (4), literature (4), US history (4)
Senior Year Course Load: Honors writing, AP Spanish, AP art history, marine biology, precalculus
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Spanish honors society, 1st place prose writing award (from school), AP scholar

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Vegan club (co-founder and co-president), art club (co-president), played water polo for three years (club and school), spoken word poetry (performed at local high schools, fairly large venues in my city, and small open-mics), bodyboarding, art/photography (submitted a portfolio)
Job/Work Experience: n/a
Volunteer/Community service: I had a school-mandated quota, so I did whatever I could to fulfill it. I ended up doing quite a lot of random odd-end things, from teaching elementary kids to make crafts to doing unpaid editing work for my father’s company.
Summer Activities: Mostly traveling. I visited Tokyo in the summer of 2017 and Spain/France in 2016. This ended up giving me very interesting material for the ‘exhibits/lectures’ etc. part of my supplementals
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 10. I put my heart and soul into this, as I am applying as a creative writing major. It focused on my experiences both as a transgender man and as the son of a Mexican immigrant.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): 8-9/10
Teacher Rec #1: AP Literature teacher. Our class was about 10 people, so he really got a chance to analyze my work. I LOVED the material in this class but was admittedly I was a bit quiet during discussions (as I knew few people in that class, which was mostly seniors). However I very proud of my papers. shrug Could be anywhere from 7-9/10
Teacher Rec #2: Biology teacher. I LOVED this class. I put a lot of work into it, and was rewarded with glowing comments from her. Although I don’t naturally gravitate towards sciences, it just turns out that I really love biology. 9/10
Counselor Rec: I was close with my counselor and upfront about my experiences. She really helped me through the whole application process and was exceedingly supportive. 9/10.
Interview: I really enjoyed my interview, despite my interviewer and I not sharing a similar major. She seemed very interested in my experiences being transgender and was polite, so I was open with her in return. Eventually I brought up the prospect of studying abroad and she told me about her experience researching in a self-sustainable dome built by a cult. She gave me some running tips. It was quite interesting and easygoing, that’s for sure.

Other:
Applied for Financial Aid?: Nope
Intended Major: Creative writing
State (if domestic applicant): California
School Type: College prep, private, very prestigious
Ethnicity: Chicano (Mexican-American), applied as latino/hispanic
Gender: Male (trans)
Income Bracket: upper class
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): As I’ve stated earlier, I am both chicano (Mexican-American) and transgender.

Reflection:
Strengths: Anything with writing. My supplementals and essay were off the hook, not to brag.
Weaknesses: Although a 31/32 ACT and a 4.0 GPA is certainly nothing to cry about, it definitely did not make me feel confident when it came time to submit my apps.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Because I put the work in! :") Sweat and tears.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: n/a, I applied ED and withdrew all other applications before getting their decisions

General Comments: Look, I’m far from superhuman. Like most of the population, I never volunteered in a classroom in Ghana, never founded a start-up or what have you. I had a really rough time being closeted and transgender in high school and they understood that. They were interested in my story, and that’s essentially what my acceptance was. An acceptance of my story.

[1984ad]

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): -
ACT (breakdown): 34C (36E, 36M, 35R, 29S)
SAT II: 760 USH
Unweighted GPA: 98
Weighted GPA: 102
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2/320, top 1%
AP (place score in parenthesis): World (5), Psych (5), Physics (4), USH (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): -
Senior Year Course Load: AP Gov, AP Bio, AP Calc BC, AP Lit, Anatomy, French V
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Only National Merit Semifinalist in my school

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Founder and president of a refugee resettlement organization through my school, Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer, tutor for refugee children, part of an online politics publication, President of NHS, Varsity Captain of Quiz bowl, Math League, also wrote down 2 hobbies (writing fiction and learning languages)
Summer Activities: Interned at a government human rights agency, competitive position that I think really helped
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 10/10. Probably some of the strongest parts of my application. In my common app, I reflected on how shaving my head made me uncomfortable but also more willing to push the envelope in the world around me. My lists hopefully conveyed me as someone who likes to read but also someone with personality since I added a sentence explaining why I liked things after each line. My Why Columbia essay compared qualities I liked in the school to campus locations. My Why Major essay reflected on my mixed religious upbringing. I also wrote another mini-essay in the additional info section about my synesthesia!

Teacher Rec #1: World history teacher was probably 9/10 because she’s basically famous for writing extremely heartfelt and personal letters and I’ve always been very close with her.
Teacher Rec #2: My English teacher’s might’ve been 8/10 because I didn’t know her as well but we still had a great relationship. She said she usually uses a template but didn’t use one when she wrote my letter!
Counselor Rec: She’s new but we love each other! It was probably a generic letter though since most counselor recs are like that, so maybe like a 6/10 lol?
Additional Rec: -
Interview: Went well! Did it with a senior over Skype who took a more formal question-response approach rather than a conversational one, which I was fine with.

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: Polisci/Human Rights
State (if domestic applicant): NY (upstate)
Country (if international applicant): -
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Less than 50k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): My parents are refugees, and I tied a lot of my passion for civil rights into my own background.

Reflection

Strengths: Scores, ECs, recs, ESSAYS
Weaknesses: I didn’t have anything overwhelmingly weak that I was worried about, but I did worry about seeming bland or run-of-the-mill more than anything else.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I had high scores, good recs, and really planned out my essays so they conveyed my personality well! It took me legit months to write them lol
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Already accepted at UB, but I’ll be withdrawing other EA apps soon

General Comments: i still feel like im dreaming!!! #ROAR2022

[bagelboy]

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
ACT (breakdown): 33C (36E, 34R, 31M, 32S)
SAT II: didn’t submit
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9875
Weighted GPA: 4.5
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/118
AP (place score in parenthesis): World History (3) US History (4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Comparative Politics, AP Physics, AP European History, AP Calculus AB, Russian II, Advanced Senior Band, PE
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Hispanic Recognition

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Job/Work Experience: Feminist Club (Co-Founder & Co-President), NHS (member), Debate (member), Wind Ensemble (first chair flute), Band Program (Secretary), Global Civics TA
Volunteer/Community service: 80+ hours
Summer Activities: two week program at Brown University (2016), three week program at UChicago (2017)
Essays (rating 1-10, details): I had such a big problem getting through the essays at first but eventually got to the crux of it when I sat myself down and reflected deeply about what I wanted. I got some of the best writing I’ve ever produced out of those two prompts and learned how to write about myself. My “Why Columbia?” essay focused on the core and my personal connection to it and greater society. My major essay focused on my literature classes throughout high school and my love for English, Literature, and writing. I used my personal statement to talk about my Mexican culture and how it has rejected me but I have recently found my place in it and my ability to fully embrace it even with all its flaws. Connected it to Gloria Anzaldua, feminism, and the cultural barrier created by growing up in the US. The lists were all concise and needed heavy editing but I made sure to keep all parts that were important/had the largest influence on me as a person. (Also shouted out Solange, SZA, and Lorde a few times in the lists). 9.5/10
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): 10/10
Teacher Rec #1: Written by my juniors year Honors Physics teacher. We didn’t talk all too much but I really liked her class and I think she liked having me as a student because I would get the content and help others. We talked a few times about what I would be reading and once had a whole conversation about what TV we liked to watch. The day after the election she sympathized and write a “sad usa : (“ on the paper I was working on. Ended both semesters of her class with at least an A if not an A+. 10/10
Teacher Rec #2: Written by my junior year Honors American Literature teacher. She enjoyed having me in class (I assume) and we get along very well. I would always speak up in class about perspectives and injustices reflected in texts and trying to dive deep into the central question of the text. Ended both semesters of her class with at least an A if not an A+. 10/10
Counselor Rec: Written by my advisor who was also my freshman year English teacher. We get along very well and I stop by to just talk with him and another friend a few times a week. Used the word “precocious” to describe me the very first week of school and has talked to me often about what I’m reading and other current issues 10/10.
Additional Rec: The Global Civics teacher I TA for wrote me one after my college counselor asked her to and she did (they both went to Columbia). My college counselor said it was the kindest/best letter she had ever seen anyone write for another person. 10/10
Interview: Over the phone with a current senior in France. I think it went really well. I made sure to ask really good questions and to answer all questions as fully as I could.

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: English/Comparative Literature
State (if domestic applicant): IL
School Type: Public Charter
Ethnicity: Latino/Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~100,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first generation, Latino/Hispanic

Reflection

Strengths: Rec letters, Scores, GPA, Rank, Essays
Weaknesses: Awards/Recognitions
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think I was accepted because of my strong academic profile, my writing abilities, and how I used the given space to paint as accurate and complete picture of me as possible. I didn’t realize it when I was writing the supplements but I included everything I truly wanted to say.

General Comments: None of this is supposed to come off as bragging/gloating so apologies if it does. I am over the moon happy about not having to worry about other apps and that I’ll be in my dream city at my dream school. This still feels unreal!

[macktheknife]

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1500. 780M 720R+W
ACT (breakdown): 29, didn’t submit
SAT II: didn’t take any
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.993
Weighted GPA: n/a
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 17/200
AP (place score in parenthesis): psych (4) ush (4) lang (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Euro, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, Physics 101, Political Science 101 [American government]
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): lol

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): black student union (secretary), society of professional hispanic engineers (secretary), LOTS of family responsibilities, spend a lot of my free time making art (pencil, ink, paint, digital)
Job/Work Experience: waitress for a year. clerical intern at an office at a university for a summer. REU intern in psychology department.
Volunteer/Community service: none LOL. i mean if running around town babysitting for cheap and watching peoples gardens counts, then sure.
Summer Activities: all the jobs listed above were done during the summer. family responsibilities
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
common app 9: emotional, true. described my experience with culture shock and self-consciousness. good imagery
columbia supps 7.5: i thought it was amazing until i realized later that it was not that unique.
why columbia 8: described how the core would benefit me greatly, threw in two sentences about my love for nyc and its opportunities
why major 7.5: talked about influential psychologist elizabeth loftus. look her up. love that lady
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: (social studies) 8.5 he is a popular teacher for letters of rec so im not expecting too much
Teacher Rec #2: (math) didn’t read it. but he told me i had a great work ethic to me once. did really well in his class.
Counselor Rec: didn’t read it. i filled out a resume type form for her. it was probably typical.
Additional Rec: n/a
Interview: n/a thank god

Other: Questbridge finalist. ninth circuit court contest finalist.

Applied for Financial Aid?: LMFAO
Intended Major: psychology or political science
State (if domestic applicant): WA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: small, rural, public
Ethnicity: asian BUT mongolian… i wonder if that counted.
Gender: female
Income Bracket: 23k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none (this is what scared me the most)

Reflection: omg

Strengths: SAT I, research/work experience. essays… sorta.
Weaknesses: needs more APs or SAT IIs. more involved in ECs
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

General Comments: ranked columbia but didn’t match. cried. couldn’t bring myself to be motivated over the next few weeks. made myself believe i already got rejected. opened ED results. “CONGRATULATIONS”. i’m so happy. this whole process has been extremely stressful. i cant WAIT to move to nyc.
as a low-income student, i’m just so glad to have been accepted to a school that has amazing financial aid

[jackiemiller]

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1560 (790 math, 770 reading, 21 essay)
ACT (breakdown): n/a
SAT II: 790 math II, 770 US history
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 5.3
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/580
AP (place score in parenthesis): chem (5), calc AB (5), lang (5), compsci principles (5), psych (5), us history (4), world history (5), euro (5), bio (4), human geo (5), enviro (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: ap lit, ap art history, ap calc BC, ap physics, aice travel and tourism, ap macro, ap gov
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): DECA state champ, State Chinese award, national merit, national ap scholar, good AMC score lol

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
girls who code (founder and president)
nhs (president)
math team (VP)
DECA (district event head)
academic team

Job/Work Experience:
worked at a medical engineering startup
tutoring for $$

Volunteer/Community service:
held 10 donation drives and 15 community involvement events for NHS
tutor after school at local middle school
visiting a nearby nursing home every weekend and teaching them how to use technology lol

Summer Activities:
…nothing lol. I worked at the startup during one summer.

Essays (rating 1-10, details):
common app: 7.5/10. It was about how i was such an outspoken kid and how i overcame shyness by reverting to my childhood. It was cute but nothing breathtaking.
why columbia: 8/10. I wrote it really creatively but didn’t answer the prompt very well lol.
why major: 9/10. I had really specific stuff about my job and talked about my plans for the future.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details:
Teacher Rec #1: 9/10 from my business teacher who i’m pretty close with
Teacher Rec #2: 7/10 from my calc teacher. It was really nice but nothing breathtaking.
Counselor Rec: im not really sure, i didn’t know her well (oops)
Additional Rec: 10/10 from my boss at my job at the biomedical firm (he went OFF)
Interview: didn’t have one

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: no
Intended Major: biomedical engineering
State (if domestic applicant): FL
Country (if international applicant): US
School Type: large public
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Income Bracket: 200k+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none unless you count being a girl in engineering

Reflection

Strengths: grades, scores, recs, a really pronounced voice in my essays, my internship
Weaknesses: zero hooks, no crazy science awards or really insane EC’s
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I honestly have no idea, but a lot of it is definitely my strong grades and scores. I also think the fact that I’m a leader in most of my EC’s helped.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I didn’t hear back from anywhere else

General Comments: I’m still kind of shocked at getting in, but I’m not gonna question it.

[miahandrew]

Decision: Accepted

Objective: Columbia College
ACT (breakdown): English: 35, Math: 32, Reading: 32, Science: 31 (Superscore: 33, Highest Composite: 32)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/204
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Gov (2, Didn’t send), AP Language (3, Didn’t send)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Literature, AP Physics, AP US History, Accounting, College Success, Spanish IV, Psychology

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Leo Club (President Junior and Senior Year), Youth Leadership Association (VP Junior Year, President Senior Year), Student Health Council (Sophomore Rep, Vice President Junior Year), Student Council (President Senior Year), National Honor Society (President Senior Year), Rotary Youth Interact Club (President Junior and Senior Year), Youth in Government (President of the Senate Junior and Senior Year)
Job/Work Experience: The Spot On Main (Local Coffee Shop), Concessions for Soccer and Basketball Programs, Refereeing Youth Soccer League
Volunteer/Community service: 300-500 Hours, Camp Counselor for The iBELIEVE Foundation, Tons of local events
Summer Activities: The iBELIEVE Foundation Summer Camp & Counseling (3 summers as camper, 1 so far as Counselor), Camp Horseshoe Leadership Seminar, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, New York University Precollege Program, Asian American Journalist Association JCamp, Buckeye State Leadership Academy, Yale Young Global Scholars Beijing (February)
Essays (rating 1-10, details): All 9s/10s, Worked on for months and edited and revised with AP English Teacher

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 10 - AP Gov/NHS Advisor
Teacher Rec #2: 8 - APUSH/YLA Advisor
Teacher Rec #3: 8 - Spanish IV
Counselor Rec: 8 (Never got to see it)
Interview: Wasn’t Available

Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes, Received full need
Intended Major: Financial Economics
State (if domestic applicant): Ohio
School Type: Public (800 Students)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Just above $100,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

Reflection
Strengths: Keeping summers very busy, Leadership Positions in most clubs, Diverse Application
Weaknesses: ACT Score, Could have taken 3 more APs
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Every part of my application was strong
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted into OSU & Pitt

General Comments: So excited! #Roar2022

[tapdiva]

Decision: Accepted

General Comments: I am purposely reluctant to post my profile as to how I got in. I spent HOURS scouring over this website, and there were some times when it made me feel confident but most of the time convinced me that I would not get in. The biggest piece of advice I can give (forgive me if this is too cliche) is to BE YOU. The college that is best for you will accept you for who you are not just as a student but as a person. I was very honest in my responses to the Columbia supplements, and didn’t put anything on there that people who know me well would be surprised by. So if you don’t get accepted here, you will at the school that is truly meant to be. Again I am sorry I am being cliche but please take this advice seriously and don’t obsess over this website and creating a persona that you think will get you accepted. Be true to yourself on your college apps and you are sure to be successful. Feel free to personally message me with app questions!

[bluefrenchhorn]

Decision: Rejected

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1560 (800 M, 760 R superscore); 1550 (800M, 750 R single sitting)
ACT (breakdown): 33 superscore, didn’t send
SAT II: N/A (regrets for days)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.96
Weighted GPA: 4.57
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/500 ish
AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geography 5, Bio 4, World History 4, Seminar 4, Chem 4, US History 4, Calc AB 5, Lang 4, Stat 4, Music Theory 3, Research 3
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: All AP except for good ole band; Euro, Lit, Calc BC, Physics I, Gov., Macro, band, Comp. Sci, Psych and Art History
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
National Merit commended scholar, national AP scholar

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): NHS (president), Mu Alpha Theta (president), Tri-M (president), Beta (secretary), Band and Marching Band (President, was principal clarinet cries slightly and section leader), all county (9th-12th) and all state, shadowed doctor at hospital
Job/Work Experience: tutor 2 kids in math
Volunteer/Community service: hospital, guidance office, pretty much anywhere and everywhere with clubs
Summer Activities: binging shows and food, volunteering at the hospital
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 5, I’m not the best writer unfortunately, but I tried:/

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 7, lit teacher I’ve known for 3 years, one of my favorite teachers but likely not her favorite student

Teacher Rec #2: 8, history teacher I’ve known for 2 years, she gets me and understands my love for the humanities

Counselor Rec: 5, probably generic, sweet woman though
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: Biochem (god knows why)
State (if domestic applicant): FL
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: public
Ethnicity: asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: low
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths: probably my sat score, and course rigor (?)
Weaknesses: ESSAYS fo sho, no sat II (even though they say it doesn’t hurt you, I feel like maybe it could’ve improved my application) awards (nothing quite exceptional), the whole application felt generic
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I guess it just wasn’t that special, I mean in a sea of such outstanding candidates my stats and mediocre essay just didn’t wow them, sad times
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: still waiting

General Comments: I was sad for sure when I found out, but I joked around with the way I told people so it hid my depression and it kinda cheered me up. Going through this website was an emotional roller coaster for me, some days I’d be positive and hopeful and the next, I’d want to jump off the nearest bridge. I know those who were accepted deserve it, so at least I have that going for me and congratulations to those who got in! I hope you guys lead incredibly fulfilled lives and as for the rest of us, we will dust off the rejection and rebound. I’ll get in where I deserve to get in and I’ll be fine with that, even though it’s not Columbia.

[student0418]

Decision: Accepted

Objective: Columbia College
SAT I (breakdown): 1580, 790 math and reading
ACT (breakdown): 35, 35 math, 36 reading, 35 English, 35 science
SAT II: NONE
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.67
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): We don’t rank at our school, but I would say top 10, so top 2%
AP (place score in parenthesis): Human Geography 5, US Government 3, World History 4, Calc BC 5, US History 5, Language and Composition 5
IB (place score in parenthesis): NONE
Senior Year Course Load: AP Macro and Micro Economics, Calculus 3, Linear Algebra, Band 3, AP Lit and Composition, Living On Your Own, Advanced Physics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NONE

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Chess Club (President and Co-Founder), Track and Field (Letter all four years, Captain Junior and Senior), Cross Country (Captain Junior and Senior), National Honor Society (Treasurer), Band (Low Brass Section Leader, Junior and Senior)
Job/Work Experience: Junior Ranger (3 years, worked in local ecology, building and maintaining trail ecosystems for recreational use in the community), Noodles (3 years, 10-15 hours per week)
Volunteer/Community service: Co-Teacher for I Have A Dream Program (helping low-income students achieve college and high school success, Junior and Senior), St. Baldricks Speaker and Shavee
(Organization that raises money for childhood cancer through head-shaving events. Spoke at multiple regional events and raised over $3000 in donations.)
Summer Activities: Volunteered at 3 camps for childhood cancer patients and their siblings
Essays (rating 1-10, details):

Common App (8/10, I wrote about PASTA and how it related to my brother’s cancer and my journey as an individual, using pasta as reference points for key moments in my life and family)

Why Columbia (9/10, Talked about love for the night and how staying up late is an obsession. Tied into how Columbia fosters that desire to stay up late and pursue that extra book, paper, math problem etc…)

Major (7/10, Talked about my brother cancer with my biology teacher and how they’ve inspired me to want to pursue plant-based medical biology)

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teachers (9/10, One was from previously mentioned Biology Teacher, other was Lang and Lit teacher who pushed me harder than ever before, made me the writer I am today, talked with her every week)

Counselor (6-7/10, We don’t talk much but he knows who I am and I’ve used him to network alot of my volunteer work ie I Have A Dream, so that helped)

Interview: Pretty Average 7/10, Was super nervous and conversation was pretty standard, nothing extraordinary. She was a young graduate and was blunt about the rigor and true challenges I would face, which was refreshing to not be kept in the dark, very informative.

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: YES
Intended Major: BIOLOGY
State (if domestic applicant): COLORADO
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: PUBLIC (500 in my class, 2000 total)
Ethnicity: CAUCASIAN
Gender: MALE
Income Bracket: UPPER MIDDLE CLASS, 100,00+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): My familial struggles with cancer

Reflection

Strengths: ESSAYS AND LETTERS OF REC, GRADES HELP ALSO, TEST SCORES
Weaknesses: NO STRONG HOOK, NO AP SCIENCE CLASSES, NO SAT II, LACK OF LEADERSHIP FRESH AND SOPH YEARS
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My essays pulled weight. I will say it once, TAKE A RISK, for my pasta essay, everyone told me I was crazy, but I think it made the difference. In all my other acceptance letters, they all referenced that essay and wrote handwritten notes lauding it. SO TAKE A RISK, put yourself out there, I strongly believe it a crapshoot and there is no rhythm or reason to these decisions. BUT I AM SO HAPPY TO BE A COLUMBIA STUDENT AND BE ENROLLED
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: University of Colorado, Willamette, Lewis and Clark

General Comments: To whoever is reading this, there is no definitive way to tell yes or no, please don’t stress about it, I said it before, but your stats do not matter at a certain point, it is about fit and risk-taking. SO I ADVISE, BE DIFFERENT, BE RISKY. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME!!

CALV

[CSem2022]

Rejected
Objective: Columbia University: College of Arts and Sciences

SAT I (breakdown): N/A

ACT (breakdown): 31 Superscore (27 English, 31 Reading, 30 Math, 34 Science)

SAT II: N/A

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 86.26%

Weighted GPA: 92.28%

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 98/245

AP (place score in parenthesis): DID NOT TAKE AP EXAMS: AP Environmental, AP Macroeconomics, AP English Language & Composition

IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A

Senior Year Course Load: AP Studio Art 2D, AP Physics I, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, Gym 4, Honors Literature of the Individual, Honors Engineering Design and Development, and Honors Enviornmental Sustainability

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Varsity Scholar, High Honor Roll, Bourloug Scholar at Rutgers University’s World Food Prize, Various National, Regional, State, and County Awards from Horse Shows, Millville Mind Mash 5th Annual Academic Competition- 2nd Place Team, and Stockton University Math Competition- 3rd Place Team

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):

-Equestrianisim (Individual Rider/ Training Level Rider through the USEA)
-Paw Hill Dog Show (Founder/ Organizer)
-Research (Intern/ Lab Tech)
-4H Barn Ratz Club (President/ Historian)
-Key Club International (Welcoming Advisor)
-Math Club (Vice President)
-Academic Team

Job/Work Experience: Working student at the barn.

Volunteer/Community service: All found in extracurriculars

Summer Activities: Competing my horse across the nation, organize/ hosted dog shows, service trip in Ecuador, interned/ lab tech for professor from Stockton University

Essays (rating 1-10, details): 10; Talked about my dog show I organized/hosted at my house.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): 8.5 Overall

Teacher Rec #1 (rating 1-10, details): 9; English I Teacher.

Teacher Rec #2 (rating 1-10, details): 8; AP Language and Composition Teacher.

Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details): 7.

Additional Rec (if any) (rating 1-10, details): 10; Stockton University professor that I interned/ was a lab tech for summer 2017.

Interview (if any) (rating 1-10, details): N/A - Never contacted by the office of undergraduate admissions.

Other:
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes

Intended Major: Statistics

State (if domestic applicant): NJ

Country (if international applicant): N/A

School Type: Public/ Magnet

Ethnicity: Hispanic/ Latino; White

Gender: M

Income Bracket: $70,000- $80,000

Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First Generation, URM, Student with Learning Disability (Dyslexia), Equestrian (sport)

Reflections:
Strengths: ACT, Course Load, Extracurricular Activites, Essays, Leadership, etc…
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: GPA; Interest was not demonstrated in application.

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Seton Hall University (Accepted), Rider University (Accepted), Lehigh University (Waitlisted) Northeastern University (Waitlisted), Boston College (Rejected), Temple University (Rejected), Pepperdine University (Rejected), Fordham University (Rejected), University Pennsylvania (Rejected), Columbia University (Rejected).

-Most schools that I got rejected from do not superscore ACT which is a huge factor in this application process for me.

General Comments (if any): N/A

[margoking]

Hey, thanks for posting your recs. If you don’t mind answering, are AP scores heavily weighed in the admissions process? Did you take any SAT subject tests? How well did you score? (if you don’t mind answering of course) I didn’t do too well on my AP tests, I got a 2 for calc ab (rip), 4 for bio and 3 for English lang. I’m planning to only send in my 4 in bio bc I’m making my passion for language study the focal point of my application and it would look bad if I barely passed the lang test