Columbia ED Chance Me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

ED Columbia School of Engineering
Grade: Senior
Ethnicity: Asian
Intended Major: Applied Mathematics and Physics
Also want to study European history, philosophy, economics, political science.

I attend a pretty decent school in an affluent district near Boston, MA.
School Size: 2200ish
Class size: 571

GPA: Unweighted 3.976/4 Weighted 4.896/5 (Our school doesn’t give rankings but I think at least top 10)
ACT Score: 36 (36 English, 36 Math, 36 Reading, 34 Science, 9/12 Writing)
SAT IIs (800 Math II, 800 World History, 800 Chemistry, 800 Physics, 800 US History)
PSAT 1520

Basically took all honors level classes
Junior Year APs: AP US History (5) AP Physics (5) AP Chinese (5) AP Calc BC (5)
Current APs: (AP European History, AP Literature, AP Chemistry, AP Psychology, AP Chemistry)
Since I finished Calc in Junior Year, currently taking Multivariable Calculus at Harvard Extension

ECs:
Math Team: Captain, won few local awards. 2015 AMC 10A Distinguished Honor Roll. 2017 AMC 12A Honor Roll.
Science Team: Co-Captain of Science Bowl
Massachusetts Science Olympiad: Astronomy 1st Place, Game On 2nd Place
Test Engineering Aptitude Mathematics Science Massachusetts First Place
Envirothon MA 4th Place
Science Bowl Northeast Division Top 8
Model United Nations: Regional Awards. Officer.
Interned for an Astronomy Lab at Boston University over the summer.
PSAT National Merit Semifinalist
Outdoor Track JV one season
Badminton Club

Volunteer.
Administrative Intern at Chinese School (perform administrative tasks for largest Chinese Language school in Greater Boston Area. 4 hours Sunday afternoon) (11th, 12th)
Middle School Math Team (Coached local middle school math club for MATHCOUNTS) (10th)
Tutor (Helping a Chinese foreign student in America improve her English) (12th)

2

Your stats are great, obviously, but I think your ECs are a little unfocused overall. If your major is math/engineering, I see a lot of different things that may not make sense to someone like me without seeing your essays and whatnot. For example, you list stuff like badminton, track, environmental competitions, astronomy ECs, model UN, and then you have a few math related stuff (which is good). I think you need a better focus and good essays to stand out, even though what you already have is pretty impressive.

3

There is nothing wrong at all with having a well rounded group of activities – there are plenty of STEM activities and it is perfectly fine (if not a positive) to have other interests. You are certainly a viable candidate with great academic stats. IMO chancing at a school with an admission rate of 6% is a folly, but applying ED should help your chances. Good luck.

4

The purpose of ED is to apply to the school that you would love to get into. If that’s columbia, go for it.Your stats are amazing obviously, so you will have a shot wherever you apply. No point seeking some validation from people online. At this stage of the game, there’s not much you could do (and that’s not a bad thing! Be proud!) So yes, you have a shot at Columbia. And that’s about as definitive of an answer any one can give you