Columbia Regular Decision...AM I IN?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>I know I should've put this in the "What Are My Chances?" section but I thought maybe you guys would have more knowledge.</p>

<p>Lets see.......</p>

<p>2240 New SAT I (750 V 760 M 730 W)
790 US History SAT II
760 Math SAT II</p>

<p>Biology AP- 5
US History AP- 5</p>

<p>Taking 3 AP classes senior year (English AP, Economics AP, Calculus BC AP)</p>

<p>Our small high school does not offer that many AP classes...basically freshmen and sophmore do not have any AP classes available to them. I took the hardest courses that were offered to me.</p>

<p>U/W GPA 3.996 (Only 1 B in my entire HS career and it was in freshmen year, straight A's both sophmore and junior year)
Weighted 4.225
Weighted (10-12) 4.38
Weighted (11) 4.67</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Debate Team- 4 years (Captain jr Year, President sn year). Awards at many tournaments. Also, unlike many other schools, our school doesnt have a debate team coach so I pretty much taught all the novices (some of whom are pretty successful) and handled all the administrative issues. All my success has also been attained without a coach. I plan to write about this in my essay.</p>

<p>Junior Statesmen of America- 2 years (a member since it was created my junior year). Leadership position guaranteed, either vice president or speaker of house/senate senior year.</p>

<p>Socio-Political Activist League- 3 years (a member since it was created my sophmore year). Vice president senior year. We hold mock elections at school, organize protests, ect.</p>

<p>Student Representative on Student Site Council senior year. We meet once a week. This is where the school decides where it allocates its' funds.</p>

<p>Internship at Xceive (Start-Up Company) for 4 weeks. 8 hours each day. Helped them complete numerous projects like writing for their website, powerpoint presentations, analyzing their statistics and making graphs, ect.</p>

<p>Some other ECs like jv football for a year, numerous community service clubs for a year each, but nothing significant.</p>

<p>My essay will be very good but my letters of rec might not be spectacular.</p>

<p>Hahaha as you can see my ECs are geared towards a legal/political profession....and columbia is the best!</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>Oh yeah some backround information, I go to school in California, I am an asian male, I was born in Beijing, China and came to the US when I was 5. Still a citizen of China though.</p>

<p>I know three languages, Chinese (fluent in speaking and listening, but dont really know how to read/write. thats why I didnt take the SAT II), English, and Spanish (Learned in HS).</p>

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<p>This is a generalized statement: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO TELL IF A REGULAR DECISION CANDIDATE HAS A CHANCE, BECAUSE MOST APPLICANTS TO COLUMBIA HAVE A 'CHANCE'!!!</p>

<p>Please read that statement a few times. As an EARLY decision candidate I'd say you have a decent, but only decent, shot. Regular decision you're competing with literally thousands of applicants who have IDENTICAL resumees. So regular decision? I'd bank on your getting rejected. And here's why:</p>

<p>The fact that you are an asian male is NOT an advantage. It is a HUGE DISADVANTAGE. </p>

<p>Your internship is the best qualification on your resumee. Speech/Debate is also good but only good if you are nationally ranked. In all honesty, everything else isn't that impressive. At least 2,000 other kids will have the same scores, if not better. The fact that your letters of rec might not be good is also a HUGE disadvantage. Ivy Leagues really really rely on those letters of rec. Sorry, kid, I wouldn't expect you to get in Regular Decision. MAYBE Early.</p>

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<p>I think the post ^ is overly critical. I personally think you're in if you apply early, almost no doubt. And for regular, you have a damn good shot. I'd be very surprised if you were rejected; you have an excellent academic record.</p>

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<p>HAhaha what do you consider as "Nationally Ranked." Does this mean breaking at the NFL? Because the NFL nationals have pretty questionable judging when compared to large ToC bid tournaments (which I have placed at, and I am planning to place at a few more the first half of senior year)</p>

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<p>Btw, are you a student at Columbia layla?</p>

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<p>I'm not a student, I'm doing research at Columbia for the summer (but I have a Columbia e-mail address and ID! haha). I'm looking to transfer.</p>

<p>I think prc618 is being way, way too optimistic. There will be applicants with perfect SAT scores, who are valedictorians, and have great recommendations and will STILL get rejected.</p>

<p>prc618, of 18,000 people who apply to Columbia every year, you have to assume that at LEAST 50% of them have really "excellent" academic records. Be serious: high school is easy. It isn't difficult to take all AP classes and get straight A's. Recommendations and Essay are by far the MOST important aspects of the application, because everyone already has excellent academic records. BreakOrDeath88 even SAID he probably won't have great recommendations! If he doesn't have good recommendations he will not likely get in. Almost definitely not. </p>

<p>BreakorDeath, as long as you have done reeaaallly well at Speech and Debate tournaments, then it's an advantageous extracurricular. I would still be very concerned about your recommendations. </p>

<p>And you mentioned 'questionable judging' in the NFL--SO ARE College Admissions. College Admissions are completely subjective. Your scores and grades may look good to some, but it means absolutely nothing. Your race is going to hurt you, not help you, and even mediocre letters of recommendation are enough to get you rejected. If you're real serious about getting in, I'd say apply early decision, somehow highlight that internship, and somehow get sparkling letters of recommendation.</p>

<p>You ought to check out the threads about those who got rejected. You'll see some 'excellent academic records' in there, also.</p>

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<p>My letters of rec arent going to be mediocre, they're just not going to be spectacular. Both the teachers im going to have write the letters know that i am a good, smart student and one of them probably likes me the most out of anyone in the class (I participate a lot in in-class discussions). And I'm also going to be getting our debate advisor to write a rec telling about my leadership skills, teaching novices, ect. BUT I dont talk to my teachers that much at all outside of school and I dont think they know me THAT well.</p>

<p>But anyways, thanks for the advice layla!</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

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<p>You can still talk to your teachers outside of class. You want them to know you well. That's an important part of the recommendation. It's also a way to survive in tough classes in college (meeting with teachers) and will show Columbia that you take initiative and talk to your teachers.</p>

<p>My opinion is that you're between what layla and prc said. You have a chance. Do your app well. Will you be going for a bit higher score on the SAT? You don't have to, but it would help. Write a good main essay, and be honest and enthusiastic in the "why Columbia" essay. Will you be getting advice on the main essay? I suggest you do. If you know an English teacher or history teacher or counselor or parent. . . that you know gives good advice, then get it. You should also read general app essay advice at the carleton college, connecticut college, and other websites, and from small books.</p>

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<p>You know, you can also have other letters of recommendation. Do you have any sort of mentor, perhaps an adult friend who is a professor at some college/university, etc? Added letters of recommendation aren't a bad idea, as long as you don't go overboard. (I'm talking like, one extra letter!)</p>

<p>But I agree with the above post, get to know these teachers.</p>

<p>And one more thing, it may help to post your essay on here once you're through with it to get some outside opinions.</p>

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<p>Okay....but the essay topics for Columbia aren't out yet right?</p>

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<p>And to jono, no I won't be going for a high SAT I score. And yes I will be getting advice from people on the essay topic, but only for grammatical and organizational issues. I want to try to make the essay as personal as I can (content-wise).</p>

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<p>Oh, do you think I ought to get my boss for the 4 weeks I interned to write a type of evaluation/letter of rec thing? He's not a professor but he can write about the projects I did and stuff...</p>

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<p>I think Columbia's essay requirements are the same as the Common Application. There are a few short answers for Fu Foundation.</p>

<p>And yes, get that internship boss to write a letter, but only if it's going to be great.</p>

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<p>Last year's short-answer topics were:</p>

<p>Limiting yourself to the space provided, briefly describe which single activity/interest listed represents your most meaningful commitment and why.</p>

<p>List and describe your activities, including jobs, during the past two summers.</p>

<p>Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why.</p>

<p>For applicants to Fu, please tell us what attracts you specifically to the study of engineering.</p>

<p>And the essay:</p>

<p>Write an essay which conveys to the reader a sense of who you are. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, experiences which have shaped your life, the circumstances of your upbringing, your most meaningful intellectual achievement, the way you see the world -- the people in it, events great and small, everyday life -- or any personal theme which appeals to your imagination.</p>

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<p>The app for college is basically:</p>

<p>1) main essay: write whatever you want
2) why Columbia
3) what newspapers and magazines do you read regularly
4) what assigned books in the past year have you most enjoyed
5) what UNassigned books have you read in the past year
6) what films, performances, exhibits, festivals, etc. have you most enjoyed in the past year
7) what is your most meaningful (to you) extracurricular activity
8) what did you do in your past two summers</p>

<p>That's what YOU have to write on your app, along with some sections on activities and jobs and awards</p>

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<p>3) what newspapers and magazines do you read regularly
4) what assigned books in the past year have you most enjoyed
5) what UNassigned books have you read in the past year
6) what films, performances, exhibits, festivals, etc. have you most enjoyed in the past year</p>

<p>Wow all these questions about literature.</p>

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<p>6 isn't literature. . . I think 6 is kind of testing you for culture and social life</p>

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<p>And make sure not to mention that you read CC posts frequently LOL</p>

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<p>LOL atu23...touche.</p>

<p>I almost forgot about those short answer questions. Just try not to intentionally seem like an elitist when you fill those out, answer them honestly. I'd suggest you start to read a newpaper or two pretty regularly. See, theres a question about what you have done over the past two summers, you can include your internship in that (It was in the summer right?)! "Why Columbia" is important. Keep in mind that almost everyone says something about New York City or the Core Curriculum. Maybe you should try to visit the school, stay there for a day or two and try to get a feel for why you want to be there.</p>

<p>About all the questions being about literature...Columbia's known for its core curriculum which requires even engineers to take many literature/arts/humanities courses. So that should come as no surprise.</p>