Columbia-Reject...but now I can shoot for Brown!

Colleges & Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Hi everyone…I was just rejected from Columbia on Thursday…woot. It is actually pretty depressing and I hope no one has to go through the process of being rejected by their first choice AND ED school. However, it DOES give me the opportunity to attend Brown, which to be honest, I think is a better fit for me. </p>

<p>The question is though…am I a good fit for Brown? Please let me know!</p>

<p>Asian Female
Fairly competitive high school in CT (sends 5-8 kids to Ivies and top schools every year)
SAT: 2220 R-670, M-750, W-800
SAT II: Chemistry-790, Latin-660, Chinese-800, Math II - 700 (self-reported only Chem and Math II, but I sent in all of them via CollegeBoard)
GPA: 4.286 weighted - 4.43 first marking period of senior year?Although they wouldn’t see it…ugh
Class size: approximately 300
AP Scores: AP Stat-5, AP Lang & Comp-5, APUSH-5, AP Chem-4
Current APs: AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Latin, AP Bio, AP Calc BC</p>

<p>Achievements</p>

<p>National Merit Scholarship Commended
AP Scholar with Honors
National Latin Examination
“Maxima Cum Laude” (silver) 9th grade
“Summa Cum Laude” (gold) 10, 11
St. Lawrence University Book Award for Community Service
Headmaster’s List (GPA of 4.00+) for all semesters so far
National Honor Society - President, 12
National Latin Honor Society -Founder, President,11,12
Modern Musical Masters: National Music Honor Society - Secretary, 11,12
Mu Alpha Theta: National Math Honor Society 11,12
National Science Honor Society 12
Wind Ensemble First Chair & Section Leader - 12</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Biology Club - Founder, President, 10, 11, 12
Student Representative Council - First Vice President,9, 10, 11, 12
Drama Club - House Manager & Program Designer, 11, 12
Annual Battle of the Houses -Captain, 10, 11, 12
Annual Earth Day Celebration - Chairman & Founder,11, 12
Class Office of 2010 - Class Treasurer, 9, 10
Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra - Principal Flautist, 9, 10, 11, 12
Prospect (school newspaper) - Staff Writer, 9, 10
JV Volleyball - 9,10
Track and Field - 9</p>

<p>Community Service</p>

<p>*Vitas Hospice Care
Office administrative volunteer; 10, 11, 12
~200 hours
*The Perch (school store)
Cashier, bagger (bagging bagels and muffins), 9, 10, 11, 12
~50 hours
Random Tutoring Hours for Honor Societies
~20ish</p>

<p>Summer Experience
National Student Leadership Conference, Medicine and Health Care, Washington DC, 2008
Research internship in Immunology Department, Yale University, 2009</p>

<p>I have not written my essays…and I do not know yet what to write. HOWEVER, my common app essay will be about my name and how it defines me…not very enlightening and has already been labeled as a failure by Columbia…so we’ll see how that goes. The Brown supplement is really difficult! </p>

<p>THANKS EVERYONE! :)</p>

2

<p>wait, “Columbia-Reject…but now I can shoot for Brown! Brown ED Chance for 2014!” you went ed columbia and brown?</p>

3

<p>Shoot…it’s supposed to see RD haha…ugh got in habit of typing ED.
Please no hate posts just cuz I went for Columbia instead? It was my parents’ choice anyway haha</p>

4

<p>First, tell me why you think Columbia rejected you (not deferred you). You have good scores and all. (besides their low acceptance rate) Then, explain why you think Brown is a better fit. What do you bring to Brown?</p>

5

<p>Your essay has not been labeled as failure by Columbia. You have no idea why Columbia rejected you. They could have loved your essay, it could have been the reason why they agonized over your application but decided to deny you in spite of your wonderful essay. </p>

<p>Maybe your essay was a problem. Find new, objective readers to look at it. But don’t assume that because Columbia did not accept you, you wrote a crummy essay.</p>

6

<p>Limabeans-Everyone at my school to applied had legacy except for me - one got accepted, everyone else was deferred…and their scores weren’t necessarily better than mine either, and to be honest I kind of considered myself to be more competitive than any of them (I’m usually a very humble person haha just saying…But in retrospect I have NO idea why Columbia rejected me other than the fact that I was the only one who applied for financial aid and who does not legacy or connections. I cannot think of another reason, but I had written to Columbia hoping they might give me a definite answer so that I can understand. And trust me, I have been asking myself :“WHY AM I NOT EVEN DEFERRED” for two days now. I honestly cannot think of any reasons…</p>

<p>This morning I was actually kind of thinking about it. I remember visiting Columbia and my reaction was like “oh wow this is a spectacular school, everything’s awesome, amazing curriculum and it’s NYC!” when I came home to tell my mom. However, when I came home from Brown, I remember just how much I WANTED to go to Brown, because everyone’s happy and they pursued their own education. Plus it’s a very liberal school, which is what I would prefer (Columbia is obviously very liberal as well). I think it’s kind of meant to be that Columbia rejected me? I have actually just made peace with it this morning as I tried to remember Brown and the differences in my reactions after I visited both schools in the same week. I think I actually DO belong at Brown, because my first reaction was not “Wow what a great school” but “OMG I MUST GO HERE I AM IN LOVE”. I think instincts should be trusted…and the only reason why I applied for Columbia because for the longest time I thought that’s where I belonged. But looking back, I think it’s really okay that I’m rejected, and the lesson to be learned here is that I’m not a failure of an applicant…but Columbia gave me a chance to pursue where I truly belong.</p>

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<p>^IceFire, I really admire your reflection and your ability to not get so down on yourself. Brown is truly an awesome school, and it may be a better fit for you. Do your best, and apply to several safety schools as well!</p>

<p>As for your essay, maybe that was why you were rejected but maybe not. I wrote a truly average essay, and I was thankfully accepted, so even I am not sure how big of a role essays play or not. I think your topic is unique and potentially amusing though :slight_smile: Feel free to PM me it and I will give you my critiques.</p>

<p>As for your chances at Brown, I would say pretty high actually! What is your UW GPA and your class rank? Your CR score is a little low, but hey mine was only 20 points higher than yours! </p>

<p>One concern- Your EC’s are decent, but they do not stand out in anyway. Seems too balanced out. I personally feel that EC’s should all be pointed in one direction to convey your PASSION to colleges, which I do not see in you at the moment.</p>

<p>Anyways, you have around a 40% chance at Brown. Maybe higher, maybe a little lower. Good luck!</p>

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<p>I am sorry you were rejected. I can honestly say it was there loss. You seem like a great fit for Colombia. Sadly, this dumbass in my nutrition class (completely anal & talks a lot of smack) got accepted. Like we’ve all said, Ivy Leagues are unpredictable.
I say apply to Yale. It’s in your area. Brown is a good choice, though. It’s my first choice.
Dartmouth? Princeton? Give it a go.</p>

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<p>Rivercourts- Your comment made me laugh haha. Don’t good things always happen to people who don’t seem to deserve it? I think I might apply to Yale, perhaps not Dartmouth and Princeton since I don’t have time to do so many applications, but I think life from now onwards will be more waiting than disappointment :)</p>

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<p>It takes like 20 minutes to do an application. Probably worth applying to a larger number of schools. If I hadn’t applied to a lot of schools in no way would I have had the success in admissions that I did.</p>

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<p>I still say apply to Dartmouth because they do not have any extra essays for the supplement. Its just submit & go! Now, Princeton are being big peeves & requiring an essay over “What you have done during the summer?” That’s a little ridiculous. I know, I know we are suppose to sound “unique.” But unlike most of the robotic geniuses on here, I did not go to Africa and save thousands of starving children and I did not save an albino whale in alaska. I went to Hawaii (would be selfish to describe what a luxurious time I had on the island) and lost 67 pounds. YEAH! Not much to go with that, right, right?</p>

<p>My first choice is Brown. It has such an innovative writing program that I am completely enthralled with the entire department! I have a feeling I’m going to be crap-shoted because even though my GPA is Ivy worthy and I’m number 5 in my class (of 443) I have a 22 composite ACT score. BLOWS! Standardized testing = the devil/or diablo</p>