Decision: Rejected
Major: Political Science
SAT I (Comp, Essay, CR, M, CW): 1430 superscore (700 reading, 730 math) perfect score on essay
ACT (Comp, Essay, Eng, Math, Read, Sci):
SAT II (Type, Score):N/A
Weighted GPA (out of ??): 4.1 out of 4
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.87
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis):
APUSH (4), AP Gov (5), AP Statistics (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP English Literature & Composition, AP Calculus AB, French, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, ChamberSingers (highest ranking choir in school)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar? (I don’t really know what to put for this…I’ve been on the Thespian Honor roll, but my school doesn’t have its own honor roll, etc.)
Subjective:
Extracurriculars: Historian of Thespian Troupe, wrote one-act play about LGBT+ individuals in community (the play went to the Michigan Thespian Festival and the International Thespian Festival), Student Council, NHS Executive Board, Executive board member of Kids’ Food Basket (local food pantry dedicated to helping kids get food to eat at home after school. I helped launch their farm this summer-we now grow our own produce.), GSA (I founded the Gender-Sexuality Alliance at my school)
Job/Work Experience: I work full-time at a grocery store during the summer and part-time during the school year.
Volunteer/Community service: Kids’ Food Basket (see “extracurriculars”)
Other Summer Activities: Concert Photography-I’ve photographed artists including Paul McCartney, Tegan and Sara, Alabama Shakes, The Weeknd, Janelle Monáe, Travis Scott, St. Vincent, Florence + The Machine, and Post Malone. I am published.
Essays:
- Why Columbia- Wrote about how much I LOVE the Columbia core curriculum-it exposes me to so many different subjects. Also mentioned my appreciation of the Political Science-Statistics major specifically, as well as the culture of Columbia/NYC itself. I’m really big into art and music, so studying in a place like Columbia would be an adventure for me.
- Why Columbia College - I focused on how much I love politics, especially the law and the Constitution itself. I wrote about my love for improving conditions for women, LGBT+ individuals, and other minorities. I also discussed my internship with the Michigan state representative and how it strengthened my interest in running for office.
Teacher Recommendations:
Counselor Rec:
- APUSH teacher - 10/10…she is my biggest cheerleader and she’s said multiple times that I am the best writer she’s ever had in class.
- AP Government teacher - 10/10…I learned everything I know about the government from him. We get along really well.
- AP Stats teacher/NHS advisor- 8/10…We don’t know each other very well, but he knows about my involvement with the community.
Other:
I have a close family friend that works in admissions for Columbia Engineering who wrote me a letter of recommendation.
State (if domestic applicant): Michigan
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: middle class (single parent)
Extenuating Circumstances:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): not any that I can think of
Why you think you were accepted/not accepted and general comments: Obviously my SAT and GPA. I don’t even know why I tried at this point…I’m a really cultural person- I love so many things besides my career path, and I thought Columbia would be the place for me.