<p>I am looking to transfer to Columbia and need some suggestions... </p>
<p>I currently have a 3.75 at UCSB in a double major of Business Economics with emphasis in Accounting and Political Science. I am applying for a Political Science major at Columbia. I also have internships with Deloitte, Wells Fargo and Wachovia. I am a researcher for a NSF 5 year project emphasized on the internets impact of social movements and political protests. I am also the head of University Misconduct in the Office of the Student Advocate. Those not familiar with this department, it helps students defend their cases when charged with violations i.e. cheating. It also helps mediate any situation that a student may have encountered with authorities at UCSB. I was also a part of a Political Science research team focused on the impacts of Facebook when it comes to political knowledge v political participation. There are other things I have done, but these are the main ones.</p>
<p>My high school GPA is a weighted 4.0 while taking 6 AP classes. My SAT is a 1980 (Math 720 Writing 680 Reading 580), SAT II BIO 790 and SAT II MATH 720. My ACT score is a 30.</p>
<p>Also, I am looking to take my next two quarters off to go for a self-discovery experience. I am going to be in a Global Peace Corps program known as Buddhist Immersion. Here I will be teaching English to children and monks who wish to become multilingual lectures across the globe. I will also be attending many mediation retreats and living in the monastery. </p>
<p>Knowing all that is above, should I retake the SAT? Would one suggest to take two quarters off or continue my education like most students do? Also, what chance do you think I have of getting in to Columbia?</p>
<p>You have just as good a chance as any transfer. Columbia looks for a variety of candidates each year, and you have some nice stats. Just make sure you know why you want to go to Columbia, and that you convey your reasons well. In other words, dig the Core.</p>
<p>That said, why is your reading score so low? Did you only take the SAT once?
I don’t know if you can retake the SAT. But I don’t think you have to if you have an explanation for the score, and good scores on other tests to show that you’re a smart kid. But yeah you need to say something about it, especially if you are applying to a reading-heavy school like CU.</p>
<p>If you want to transfer, best not to tell Columbia about taking time off. If you want to do the self-discovery thing, do it, and then apply to transfer. You won’t be able to take a leave of absence as a transfer student. Plus, your spiritual journey would probably good fodder for an essay. ; )</p>
<p>Thank you for the reply. My reading score is low due to a learning disability, however, I did not request extended time for the SAT by the deadline so I had to take it with everyone else with the same time limits. I feel the self-discovery thing will make for a unique essay, however, it will show that I have taken two quarters off, as will my transcript. What do you propose I do about that? Should I not take the time off and continue with school? Or, take the two quarters off and implement it in my essay? (which will show I have taken time off)</p>
<p>Make sure to find a way to tell them about the learning disability (I’m assuming dyslexia?). This is not a big deal, and will not hold you back. However, I wouldn’t frame it as “I missed the deadline for extended time and had to take it with everyone else,” but maybe something like “I’ve always been determined to overcome what others might consider limitations.” Wink.</p>
<p>I wasn’t clear in my last post. You are fine to take the time off and do some self-discovering. Just apply to Columbia after the trip. It doesn’t matter that you take that time off, or that they see it. You just can’t take off as a Columbia transfer.</p>
<p>I would take time off in between years, though, not between semesters. For instance, I know someone who did a year of school, took off, worked in New Orleans right after Katrina, and then transferred to UChicago. It is probably better to be around the credit amount for a sophomore or a junior, instead of in between.</p>
<p>In any case, call up admissions, I’m sure they could answer these sorts of questions better than me.</p>
I see that you got in to Columbia as a transfer, what did your profile look like before and where were you?
I have 108 quarter units already (90 is junior standing) and I am only in my first quarter as a sophomore. By time I finish this yr (If I don’t take time off) I will have 138 quarter units, will I lose a lot of my credits?
If you have any more suggestions it would be greatly appreciated, thanks for the response and take care!</p>
<p>1) Crappy. Lol.
2) Most likely; I’m assuming many of those are AP, for which Columbia is not so generous about awarding credit.
3) Admissions can help you out with question 2; I would call them up and ask them general questions about transferring credit. Don’t bother giving them your personal info.</p>
<p>The trick is to do poorly in high school and pick up the pace in college. No but seriously, as a transfer stats matter a lot less. The point is to make yourself as interesting a person as possible.</p>
<p>You must enter Columbia as either a sophomore or junior if you are a transfer. You must complete at least 4 semesters of courses at Columbia in order to graduate (that is either 60 or 64 credits–can’t remember which). So it does seem that you would lose a substantial number of credits.</p>