<p>
[quote]
On Monday afternoon, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions sent out the much-awaited admission packages that had been causing sleepless nights for more than 22,000 hopefuls from across the country and the world. </p>
<p>Columbia College received a total of 19,116 applications, a 5.7 percent increase from last years numbers, and admitted only 1,660. The overall admit rate of 8.7 percent is the lowest ever in the Colleges history.
<p>I think the next paragraph is just as important:
[quote]
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science experienced a similar surge in the number of applications received, admitting 609 students out of a pool of 3,463, for an admit rate of 17.6 percent. The combined admit rate for CC and SEAS was 10 percent.
<p>Isn't the combined admit rate still the same as last years? 10%. I bet this year they're going to focus heavily on Columbia College's admit rate to better the school's overall image.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Isn't the combined admit rate still the same as last years? 10%. I bet this year they're going to focus heavily on Columbia College's admit rate to better the school's overall image.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It dropped from 10.6 to 10.0. CC was 9.1 and SEAS was 18.6.</p>
<p>I don't know who "they" are who're going to try to "better the school's overall image" but the Spectator always 'headlines' CC, mostly because the school itself never really combined statistics until recently. And believe me, bettering Columbia's image is far from the top of Spectator's agenda...</p>
<p>Today, us alums got the decisions for the people we interviewed. I've talked to a few friends who also interview, and all of us were really surprised at the results. Tough competition this year!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I want to start doing ARC interviews next year. I look forward to it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's definitely enjoyable. There are a lot of amazing kids out there. And everyone's different.</p>
<p>What's annoying is the fact that they don't pre-screen applicants (I don't know how feasible it would be timing-wise for the adcoms to arrange that). They only interview 50 or 60% or the applicants, and it's a waste of alums' time to be interviewing kids who have absolutely no chance at getting in. Also, I've gotten less tolerant of people who haven't done their homework about Columbia.</p>
<p>The admissions crunch might be easing up by then, since demographically the college-applying aged population is going to start trending downward from what I've heard.</p>
<p>While the number of applicants might be heading down for the class of 2015, it will be just as difficult as this year because the peak year is projected to be the class of 2013 followed by a gradual--not dramatic--decline.</p>
<p>The acceptance rate for CC regular decision was 6%, which is just craaaaaaaaaaazy. I don't know how much harder it can get from here. Wish the kids applying next year regular decision looots of luck. Geez, nothing is guaranteed anymore.</p>
<p>I would call 33% increase a radical difference. For example, it's 800 instead of 600 (200 more), 1,600 instead of 1,200 (400 more), 2,400 instead of 1,800 (600 more).</p>
<p>or 120 instead of 90, or even 40 instead of 30. Depends on how you look at it.</p>
<p>EDIT
actually those percentages mean nothing anyways, it's a difference in numbers, taken out of different-sized applicant pools. 2% of the freshman pool might be more like 20% of the transfer applicant pool. :-).</p>
<p>I would call 33% increase a radical difference. For example, it's 800 instead of 600 (200 more), 1,600 instead of 1,200 (400 more), 2,400 instead of 1,800 (600 more).</p>
<p>I didn't think about it when I wrote it and just tossed out some numbers. Realistically it would be something more like 6% to 7%. Regular decision is effing tough either way. But either way good luck to your son/daughter. I'd be stoked to get in next year.</p>
<p>Hey. So there are more chances of getting in by applying Early-Decision right?</p>
<p>I really want to go to Columbia University forever now and was so bummed to hear the acceptance rates decreasing end that the peak is for Class of 2013 (which I am a part of)</p>
<p>I am applying early-decision and am really hoping it makes a difference.
Does anyone know for sure?</p>