@schoolgirl98 Yeah, Columbia core would make me go through a 5th year too. I think I have a better chance getting into Barnard too. Fingers crossed we both get in!
@WordSmithNY What are your stats? If you don’t mind me asking
A student from my community college got into Columbia last year, a brilliant guy! I’m applying to the School of Engineering as a junior.
@WordSmithNY I’m super excited for Princeton’s first transfer class in almost 30 years in Fall of 2018! I was very fortunate to land an internship at their Plasma Physics Lab and will be living on their campus for the entire Spring semester. Will give me the chance to bother the heck outta them 
<3
@schoolgirl98 Here they are!
Current Major at 4-year university: English, concentration in professional writing (ironic, since I just realized I had a typo in my first post, lol)
Current GPA: 3.9 (President’s List, Dean’s List–for some reason I thought you needed a 4.0 for this)
Old SAT: 1800 (no plans to retake it)
High school GPA: unweighted 3.8, 5th in my graduating class
ECs:
-4 internships, social media marketer, public relations, 2 editorial
-I also work as a nanny, so that takes up most of my free time
-Finished a book and in the process of querying for an agent
-Struggled with anxiety after high school and spent time in therapy, which is why my list is so short, though I’m not sure if I’ll mention that
I’m not close with any of my professors, so my recommendations/academic evaluations will probably be generic.Essays will definitely be the strongest component.
Overall, a borderline candidate, though I come from a tiny town and I’m a multi-ethnic minority, so that might play in my favor (somewhat conflicted about that). We’ll see how it goes. I’m mostly applying out of curiosity. Swarthmore is my top choice. I would have applied there when I was in high school, but I had no idea the place existed, lol!
@WordSmithNY nice!! I’m also applying to UPenn 
Columbia has a swim test??? I can swim but that sounds so random where did you hear about that??
@Shoumei Here’s the link: http://perec.columbia.edu/content/columbia-college-swim-test-requirement
A friend of a friend goes to Cornell and had to take a swim test and said that most Ivies require it, so I Googled and…yep. It’s a requirement. If you can’t swim, you have to take a beginner’s swim test. I’ll keep Columbia on my Common App for now, but I’ll probably wind up just applying to Barnard. I think I have a good shot of getting in there. Columbia and UPenn and Princeton are curiosity applications. Like I said, Swarthmore’s my top choice, but Barnard might be a close second. The only hangup I have is that it’s a women’s college, but most people say it doesn’t feel like that since it’s in the city.
@Chivih Swim test is a common requirement from Ivies. Cornell, MIT, Dartmouth… Yeah, they basically force you, unless you can get a waiver. You won’t get your diploma if you don’t do it. I think everyone should know how to swim, but to require it for graduation as an ACADEMIC institution is ridiculous. I have no idea when this started or when.
Oh, and apparently Swarthmore requires a swim test. I guess I’m crossing that one off the list too. Sigh.
@WordSmithNY That’s so lame :((( Is there any way you can get a waiver somehow?
That’s so strange. I’m really surprised this isn’t talked about more.
I mean, I can’t swim and have always wanted swimming lessons lmao so for me it actually adds to the experience.
Still super weird.
@Shoumei Idk. They say you can get one if you had a traumatic experience with water (which I did), and my mom works at a hospital, so I could probably get one of her friends to sign off on it, but it just seems more trouble than it’s worth.
@Chivih I actually want to learn to swim too, lol. I just can’t imagine actually learning it in that type of setting. I’m also surprised it is more widely known/discussed. Strange, indeed.
College: University of Southern California
Major: Cognitive Science
College GPA: 4.0
ECs: Several groups related to my major, a few fun things
SAT: 1570
High school GPA: 3.7 UW
Extras:
I am applying for Sophomore transfer
Also applying to: Brown, Harvard, Yale, Duke, CMU
Just watched some “Columbia Move In Day” vlogs and I gotta say it’s got me really excited for Columbia. I hope I get in!
It seems like the school is really helpful with getting you settled and keeping things organized and moving! At least for freshmen 
not sure what it’s like for us transfers.
Oooh those move-in days videos will kill ya’ </3 @Shoumei I did the same thing for some of the universities I applied to and it got me super excited and anxious. A blend of the two, one part of me hated it, but I couldn’t get enough of it.
@AGoodFloridian Right now it’s 100% can’t get enough of it for me, even with the anxiety :)) hopefully it stays that way, but I’m visiting campus in a couple weeks which will probably elevate all my emotions a million times. Have you gotten the opportunity to visit?
School Applying: Business
College: Purdue University (Honors)
Major: Business Undecided
Year: Freshman
GPA: 3.94
Classes:
Microeconomics Honors A-
The Evolution of Ideas (Required Honors Course) A
Applied Calculus I A
Introduction to Management A+
The Nature of Physics A
Elementary Psychology A
Awards:
Dean’s List
Semester Honors
Work Experience (Hook):
Vector Marketing- marketing division of CUTCO Cutlery, a line of luxury kitchen knives, cookware, utensils, and accessories, founded in Philadelphia
- Assistant Manager (Future Branch Manager- my office will open and run Summer of 2018) -Assisted in generating $300,000 in revenue during the four-month summer period (a 20% increase from the previous year) by leading the sales staff and managing office operations -Worked directly with the District Manager to train and mentor new sales reps via strategy sessions and programs -Facilitated manager’s largest annual training seminar; supervised team of 25 sales representatives -Certified Field Trainer- Field-trained 12 sales representatives possessing various degrees of prior experience -Participated in recruitment operations by fielding calls from new applicants, facilitating interviews, and following-up with new sales recruits
- Field Sales Leader -Generated $24,581 in independent revenue via direct, in-home presentations to customers ($385 average order) -Sold $11,179 on First Campaign (January-April) -Scheduled sales presentations with 81 prospective clients and generated 178 customer referrals -Sold, on appointment basis, CUTCO products to 65 new customers (81% closing ratio)
Pennsylvania State Representative Intern
-Assisted Representative Quinn with organizational and legislative duties
-Researched and presented on House Bill 1582 (providing aid to small local businesses)
High School: Central Bucks East (Pennsylvania Public High school)
High School GPA: 3.84 (Weighted)
SAT Score: 1380 (New)
710- Math
670- Reading
8/8- Essay
AP’s:
US History 5
Micro Economics 4
English Language and Composition 4
Statistics 4
Computer Science 3
High School EC’s:
Central Bucks High School East Football (Grades 9-12)
National Honor Society (Grades 11-12)
Central Bucks Orchestra - Cello (Grades 4-12)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Grades 10-12)
Athletes Helping Athletes (Grades 10-12)
Key Club (Grades 11-12)
MiniTHON (Grade 12)
Leadership:
President - National Honor Society
Captain - Central Bucks High School East Varsity Football
Officer - Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Games and Recreational Coordinator for Missions Trip to Montreal
Captain - Relay For Life
Fundraising Committee Member - MiniTHON
Achievements and Awards:
Spanish Excellence Award
Central Bucks High School East Patriot Award - Trust
Sterling Limo Defensive Player of The Week for two weeks
Three Year Varsity Football Letter
AP Scholar
Extra:
White Male
Upper Middle Class
Pennsylvania Resident
Economics
College: Community College in California
GPA: 3.90
Honors Program
PTK Honors Society
President - Accounting Society
Founder & President - campus organization providing low-income students with clothes for interviews
Campus founder & Volunteer - IRS “V.I.T.A”
Team Leader - USC Leadership Program for transfer students
Volunteer for non-profit
Internship at Morgan Stanley
Rec. Letters from Accounting (chair acct. & finance) and Econ professors
Good Personal Statement
Good Additional Info/Circumstances
Race: White
Gender: Male
Income 200k+
father nearly passed away from diabetic ketoacidosis so I attended community college for two years to stay close to him.
Any thoughts on my chances?
Major: Economics
College: University of Missouri
Major: Finance
Year: Freshman
GPA: 4.0
High School GPA: 4.5/ 4.0
ACT: 33
Rank: 7/360
AP’s: Five 5’s and three 4’s
EC’s and Leadership:
National Honor Society (11-12)
Science National Honor Society (11-12)
Varsity Golf (10-12)
Investment Group (Freshman)
Honors Program (Freshman)
Mentor in the Freshman Mentor Program (11-12)
Executive Board/ Academic Chair for my fraternity (Freshman)
Awards:
Dean’s List
Three Year Varsity Golf Letter
National AP Scholar
I’m not sure if there’s any specific format for posting, so I’m just going to copy the previous post.
College:
T40 University
Major: Finance and Management (Switching to Economics this upcoming semester)
Year: Sophomore
GPA: 3.96
Courses: Calc I, II and III,
High School (unsure if this criterion is as important for sophomores):
GPA: 4.35/4
High school doesn’t use ranking system
4 APs
ACT: 34 (will be retaking in February and attempt to get a 36 to bolster my chances)
ECs and Leadership (weakest component of my application; will build upon this early next semester, specifically in terms of leadership):
Student Investment Group
Financial Management Association
Economics Society
Will join more organizations next semester
Awards:
Dean’s List (every semester)
National AP Scholar
There are also a plethora of family and personal issues in the past and some that have persisted; my mom became severely ill as of last semester and my dad has cardiovascular issues. My mom was a severe alcoholic during my childhood and it gravely affected me. I had to switch schools and move out with my father. I’m unsure how to present this in the additional info portion of an application. Has anyone previously done this and have any tips on how to not sound as if you’re seeking pity, but come off as genuine and sincere.
I am resolute to go into Investment Banking, so here are the schools I will be applying to: NYU, Harvard, UPenn, Emory, UMichigan, UChicago, Dartmouth, Yale, Boston College, UVA, Cornell, Duke, UCBerkeley, and some safeties that may be lesser ranked than my current school, but have finance programs that present greater opportunities. This list is highly excessive in terms of the quantity of schools I’m applying to (which I still may add to), but I’m going all in.
I got waitlisted from Columbia last year. Does this increase my chances, decrease it, or won’t affect it?