Columbia University or Barnard College?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi,

I’m having trouble deciding if I should apply early decision to Columbia University or Barnard College. I was originally planning on ED to Columbia and if i don’t get in, then RD to Barnard but I’m afraid that if I use my ED on Columbia, I won’t be admitted to Barnard RD. I am planning on majoring in Neuroscience in the pre-med track. Let me tell you about myself and then you can help me decide what the best option is? I would probably prefer to go to columbia bc it is a better school, but I think id also be very happy at barnard.

GPA: 4.1 (weighted). I’m not sure what it is unweighted, but I know it is above 3.7 because I got Highest Honors Award and that means your unweighted GPA is above 3.7.
I’ve taken some CPA classes, many honors classes, and 3 AP classes through out my high school years. I am also part of this special science class called Science Research Honors where we do a lot of research, presentations of our research at competitions, and have internships at university labs during the summer. I think that is one of the things that makes me stand out from many kids. In my high school years, I have taken a total of 9 science classes.
I also have around 12 college credits already because of my science research class.

SAT: superscore 2030
CR: 630
Math: 690
Writing: 710

SAT math level 2: 620
SAT bio: taking the test this weekend

I am a very good tennis player but I am not looking to be recruited because it will take a lot of time and i want to focus on my major. But tennis is definitely my biggest extracurricular. I have been playing since i was 4, i play around 2 hours every single day of the year, was first singles player on varsity all four years, won my county tournament (junior year), got all-county, got Athlete of the Week, etc.

I also have worked at a Columbia lab during my past 2 summers doing research. I’m hoping I can get a good recommendation letter from the professor of the lab that can increase my chances of getting into Columbia (or Barnard).

Also, my sister went to Barnard College so that is legacy i think to both colleges? (but i heard it doesn’t count if I apply RD?)
My mom has been working at Columbia for the past 17 years but she doesn’t have a very high position. She’s a research associate in a lab.
My dad worked there for 8 years doing his post-doc

So my extracurriculars are-- tennis (in school and out of school), research at neuroscience lab, presenting my research at competitions, teaching tennis to kids, starting the book club, member of multicultural club,

A drawback that i feel really stands out in my transcript. I got a C+ in algebra 2 honors and I feel like that looks REALLLLY bad. But all my other grades are good.

Do you think I have a chance at columbia if i make my essay and supplements really good?

Let me know if I left anything out.

2

PLEASEEEE HELPP!!! I’m very stressed and need to start the early decision application for one of them!!!

3

You likely have no chance at Columbia because of your test scores (average is 2200+). I would do Barnard, but even then you are facing an uphill battle.

4

Barnard

5

Yes, of the two, Barnard is the better option. Your gpa and test scores give you almost no chance at Columbia. Barnard will be a stretch but if your essays and recs are solid you have a little bit of an edge with your sibling legacy (means zero at Columbia btw) and mom who works at Columbia. Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

6

Thanks guys. But I’ve been researching many threads and I noticed that there are many people who get rejected with 2200+ SATs and with an insane amount of APs and yet there were some who had around 1900s on SATs and not that many APs and got accepted

7

Nearly all of them are URM and some are recruited athletes. If you are not either of those, then your chances with those scores are practically 0. Also, a C+ kind of puts it out of the question as well.

8

Hi!
Reading this is so strange to me because I am in the same exact position as you! I was planning to apply ED Columbia but my second ACT score did not come out as I had planned, so I’m applying to Barnard ED now. I have a parent whose a research scientist at Columbia. Both schools are amazing but they’re very different although Barnard’s relationship with Columbia gives you opportunity to study there, so I would really do your research on both to make sure you know everything (I definitely did a lot haha)! Your odds are better at Barnard, but if you’re not as interested in Barnard, it might not be the best for you to apply ED if you get in. From what I know, Barnard puts a decent emphasis of your transcript. As an athlete, I was given a walk-on position so it doesn’t help me really. If you have any questions or want to talk feel free to reach out!