Could I have hope?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>During the end of my sophmore and through my junior year my father was deported because he was technically an illegal immigrant. I had to see him in jail for 2 months for just trying to keep food on the table for us. He is still gone and we don't anticipate him to have paperwork done until i graduate. Since then, my mom and my 2 brothers have moved to a smaller apartment and our income has been cut to about 30,000 a year. My mom has taken a lot more load and that meant i had to take care of my brothers significantly b/c i was the oldest. I also got a hardship license at the age of 15 b/c my mom needed me to drive. However, despite the circumstances I've managed to get my head straight during Jr. Year despite the circumstances and responsibilities and get a 4.18 and 4.4 both semesters. Here's my resume</p>

<p>3.8 weighted GPA (I go to Plano one of the hardest school districts in Texas)
33 ACT
1860 SAT (I know its bad but prep costs lots of money )
4 years top orchestra
4 years All Region Violin
2 years All state Violinist
2 Years principal violinist in North Texas Youth Orchestra
Secretary and President of Orchestra (senior yr)
200 + hrs of volunteer service
Big Brother and Big Sisters volunteer
Church Praise Band for 9th and 10th grade, Church Orchestra Director 11th and 12th
2 jobs during highschool yrs (umpire and cashier)
SAT II:
US history: 780 French: 750 World History: 700
I have taken 9 AP courses and have progressively done better
Also JV baseball for one year</p>

<p>I want to go into something like international relations/affairs.</p>

<p>ANY REMOTE CHANCE AT ALL?</p>

2

<p>

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<p>Yes.</p>

<p>10char</p>

3

<p>wow bro, I respect you. That is straight up URM + overcoming great difficulties.</p>

<p>Btw, I have a few friends that go to Plano, so I like you even more.</p>

<p>Realistically, I would even go as far to say that you have a decent (above average, if not well above average) chance of getting in, if you continue to push yourself the hardest and really let yourself shine through on your college application. Good luck man</p>

4

<p>Hey thanks for the input (: I really appreciate it</p>

5

<p>^Unfortunately OP is a ORM. But you still have a good chance. If you really want to go to Columbia, apply ED. I don’t see a reason why they won’t admit you (unless you are an international applicant applying for FA).</p>

6

<p>You can get in anywhere you want, even with lower SAT scores. I know a guy at Columbia who made 1650/2400; you’re obviously smart, talented, involved, and have proven yourself. </p>

<p>Congrats on that, and congrats on your likely admittance :-)</p>

7

<p>ignoring the SAT score you have a GREAT ACT score which is more than average… along with that all that you have been through really makes you a strong candidate for any college…</p>

8

<p>^yeah the SAT doesn’t matter your act is more than sufficient</p>

9

<p>wow this is so helpful! i just joined and really would like your input on my chances on getting into columbia. I applied RD. basically i’ve had family issues since the 6th grade, my parents have thrown me back and forth between them like i’m a football. when i turned 18 my mom threw me out and i’m legally homeless. she made 8,000 a year with 3 kids and my dad is unempoloyed and gave her only 456 a month in child support. i dont have any tax returns because i never really had enough money to do file for one. im with a friend temporarily and am waiting to get into a shelter, but they’re so packed its highly unlikely. i’m a persian american, i speak fluent farsi and german, i’m a zoroastrian and female. my mom didnt finish high school and my dad got a bachelors, but im an independent now so they’re information isn’t really important anymore.</p>

<p>-i’ve taken 1 AP freshman year, 1 sophomore, 5 junior and 7 senior. I made one B in calc in junior year and 2 B’s for my mid year grades this year, 1 in calc and one in bio. other than that alll my grades have been As. there are 857 people in my senior class and im top 2%.
-29 on Act, no SAT, 640 on Sat subject math and 700 on Sat reading. i’m not very good in standardized testing at all.
-have the maximum amount of community service hours i can put on my transcripts (they can only count 99 per year) so i have 396 recorded but over 500 in reality, something i’ll probably note in my resume
-positions i’ve had over the course of high school: co-president of youth in government, legislative advisor of youth in goverment and advisior of junior yig, president of south asians middle easterns of america ( i opened it at my school), president of mock trial club( opened it at my school), president of national english honor society (opened it at my school), vice president of german honor society, secretary of writing club, president of young democrats. also head debater in debate club, in model UN for four years, and math honor society, science honor society, social studies honor society, national honor society, and of course english honor society
-in youth in goverment i’ve been the only person in the history of florida yig to have my bill place high on the docket for four years, reach the cabinet in three, and have my bill signed by the governor and to be presented to governor scott
-i was selected to attend girl state and my bill passed and was sent to governor crist for review ( only 300 girls in florida are chosen to attend girl state which is an all paid 10 day trip to tallahassee and you are immersed in florida politics)
-i am in the center for international studies magnet program. i’ve hosted int’l students, have run events like middle eastern night, volunteer in committees for these events, on the CIS newsletter staff
-was on the yearbook staff for three years and was editor of freshman section and editor of junior section
-awards: top ten student award freshman and sophmore year, portuguese award, future ambassador award, 3rd in poetry contest in county

  • volunteered for homeless shelter mostly, relay for life, hospital, and tutoring at school, sending supplies to poor children in Iran
    -worked for a year at a fast food place because my mom was in serious financial trouble, we had to move to an apartment in an extremely poor area to a low income apartment
    -i have primary immunodeficiency which i noted in my application, i get sick very often because of low white blood celll count, so i have to manage that and everything else
    -got into a car accident at end of junior year and ended up missing a quarter of school, but stayed on track and managed to just get one B in calc
    -i want to go into law and am hoping to become a senator one day, so i try to immerse myself in as many government/law related clubs as possible, hence youth in government and mock trial
  • my columbia essay was unique, i can explain it if anyone wants to know?</p>

<p>please please give me your input, it would be greatly appreciated!!! i’m sooo nervous, i feel like i should have applied early decision, but i was worried about Financial Aid. if i do get in, i’ll have everything paid for, whether i was with my mom, or homeless ( since she made 8000 a year and i make 0). please give me any tips or ideas or what you think. thank you so much!</p>

10

<p>“… i feel like i should have applied early decision, but i was worried about Financial Aid.”</p>

<p>What exactly was your worry?</p>

11

<p>^ lol? </p>

<p>Some students feel like they are not very well off financially, and so do not want to bind to a certain school, which limits their financial aid choices. If they apply regular, and if they get accepted to a few schools, they will be able to compare packages and glean the best deal</p>

12

<p>yes exactly. as i’ve shown you, i’m verrry poor, and if something happened after i got into columbia ED and i didnt get enough aid, well i’d be screwed. so what do you guys think about my credentials?</p>

13

<p>“i’m verrry poor, and if something happened after i got into columbia ED and i didnt get enough aid, well i’d be screwed.”</p>

<p>Since you’re very poor, what could happen? ED acceptance comes with your amount of aid; if it’s enough, you accept the offer, if not you decline and apply RD elsewhere. Since you’re very poor, you would need a full ride in order to accept the offer. This is all assuming that Columbia is your number one choice, that you don’t care about comparing offers; it’s either enough or it’s not.</p>

<p>This is clearly meant for others, since yours is a done deal. :)</p>

14

<p>well, unfortunately i didnt :frowning: i know i should have know, and i regret it A LOT, but theres nothing i can do :c do you think i have a good chance of being accepted or not really? i really would appreciate opinions on my credentials and such :)</p>