Could I get into Columbia? CHANCES :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey guys
This is what I should have by the time I'm a senior (rising junior now):</p>

<p>Asian Female, PA, not-so-great public school :/</p>

<p>UW GPA: 4.0
W GPA: 4.95
Rank: 2/571</p>

<p>SAT: 760 CR, 800 M, 780 W (2340 Composite)</p>

<p>SAT2: 800 Math 2, 770 Chemistry, 780 USH</p>

<p>Freshman year:
-Honors Biology: A
-Honors English 9: A+
-Honors Alg. 2: A+
-Honors Precalc: A+
-Honors Western Civilization (History): A+
-Intro to Computer Programming: A+
-Spanish 2: A+
-Health/Gym: A+/A+</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
-Honors Geometry: A+
-AP Calc BC: A+
-Honors U.S. History: A+
-Honors Chemistry: A+
-Honors English 10: A
-Spanish 3: A+
-Health/Gym: A+/A+</p>

<p>Junior Year:
-AP Chemistry: A
-Honors Physics: A+
-AP Statistics: A+
-AP U.S. History: A+
-AP English 11: A+
-Spanish 4: A+
-College to take Calc 3: A+</p>

<p>Senior Year Classes:
-AP English 12: A+
-AP Physics: A
-AP Spanish: A+
-AP Psychology: A+
-AP Microeconomics: A+
-Honors Human Anatomy: A+
-College to take Linear Alg: A+</p>

<p>ECs:
-varsity swimmer, (co-capt.) 4 years
-summer swimming, 6 years
-science olympiad (capt.), 4 years
-ARML (american regions math league) (Section leader), 4 years
-piano, 12 years
-student council rep, 4 years
-debate team, 3 years
-math team, (capt.) 3 years
-newspaper (Editor) 4 years
-art club, 2 years</p>

<p>Awards:
-Science Olympiad - 1st in Anatomy, 2nd in Ecology regional level
3rd in Ecology, 5th in Anatomy state level
-ARML - highest achieving female, team won the national championships 2 years in a row
-Swimming - most diligent swimmer award, i hold 4 team records for my summer team
-Piano - lots of national and state awards and recognition
-NMSF
-$3,000 Scholarship Winner to Cedar Crest College for Outstanding Mathematics
-Lehigh University Math Contest Fifth Place Individual
-Art displayed in Bethlehem’s Cultural Arts and Education Center</p>

<p>Community Service:
-300+ hours at Hospital
-50 hours choir piano acccompaniment
-100+ hours teacher's aide for chinese school
-100+ hours summer swim team timer</p>

<p>Work:
-MATHCOUNTS teacher at community college
-Private swim coach</p>

<p>Essays should be unique, Interview should go well, but no hooks :(</p>

<p>Give me an honest opinion, guys!</p>

2

<p>Well, your scores look fine. </p>

<p>But just wondering, how can you guarantee that you’ll get an A+ in all of your future AP classes? You’ve only taken one so far (you’re starting junior year September 2010 right?), and that can’t really compare to the stress of taking 4/5 AP classes in a year.</p>

<p>The thing I would advise you on with your essay is to show a passion for a particular activity. Sure, you do a lot of extracurriculars and you have an excellent balance of math, science, work, and sports, but its hard to tell what you really enjoy. Do you love swimming more than anything? Or is it science? Whatever it may be, even if it’s just sitting around watching pokemon, you should show in your essay a specific passion and how it benefits/teaches you and those around you.</p>

3

<p>You’re right; I can’t guarantee A+'s, but that’s what I’m expecting. At the very least, they will be A’s because my older friends all say that the AP classes are jokes (my school is not that great).</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>