Do I Have a Chance at Columbia? (Or Other Tough Schools)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I really want to go to Columbia University, but my grades and test scores aren't perfect. Is there still a chance I could get in? And, if you have the time, could you chance me for the other schools that I'm applying to?</p>

<p>**Schools I Am Applying To:</p>

<p><strong>Columbia University</strong>**
Stanford University (I don't think I can get in - my mom wants me to apply)
UCLA
Barnard College
Northwestern University
NYU
Boston University
University of Southern California</p>

<p>From California
Caucasian Female
Going into my senior year
Major Undeclared
Public High School*
Unsure of rank, but definitely in the top 10%</p>

<p>*I am unsure of how my high school ranks. I know it's not one of the top in the country, or even the state, but it's not completely terrible either.</p>

<p>Cumulative GPA (Freshman-Junior Year) - Weighted: 4.11 Unweighted: 3.94
Cumulative GPA (Not Counting Freshman Year) - Weighted: 4.16 Unweighted: 3.91</p>

<p>Freshman Year Courses:
Biology - A/A
Geometry - A/A
French 1 - A+/A
Concert Choir - A/A
PE - A-/A-
Honors English - A-/A-
Geography/Health - A/A
Musical Theater - A/A
Show Choir - A/A (Technically only counted as half a class)</p>

<p>Sophomore Year Courses:
AP European History - A/A-
French 2 - A-/A
Honors English - A/A
Algebra 2 - A-/A-
Dance 3 (Highest Level) - A/A
Jazz Choir (Higher Level Choir - must audition to be in) - A/A
Chemistry - B+/A
Musical Theater - A/A
Show Choir - A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year Courses:
Pre-Calculus - A/A-
AP Biology - B+/B
AP Language & Composition - A/A
French 3 - A/A-
Dance 4 (Highest Level) - A/A
Jazz Choir - A/A
AP US History - A/A
Musical Theater - A/A</p>

<p>*Note - Show Choir was no longer offered this year. I didn't intentionally quit.</p>

<p>Senior Year Courses:
AP Literature
AP Calculus
Dance 4 (Highest Level)
French 4 Honors
Jazz Choir
Musical Theater
AP Macroeconomics (1 semester)*
AP Government (1 semester)*</p>

<p>*I am taking these online due to a scheduling conflict, but through a program offered by my school, so I am told that they will appear normally on my transcript</p>

<p>I estimate that for senior year I will be able to keep up almost straight A's. I am worried that I may end up with a B in AP Macro because I am taking it online, and I'm also a bit concerned about AP Calc. However, I will work very hard to keep my grades up this year because I know that it will be important.</p>

<p>**Test Scores</p>

<p>SAT*:** 2010 (690 CR, 610 Math, 710 Writing)
*I plan to retake the SAT this fall. I didn't really study much the first time, and I hope to boost my math score.</p>

<p>ACT (with writing): 33
English - 36
Reading - 36
Math - 32
Science - 29
Combined English/Writing - 32
*May or may not retake this fall</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests:
Literature: 740
Biology E: 740
US History: 750</p>

<p>AP Tests
US History: 4
Language & Composition: 4
Biology: 4
European History: 4</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Dance - all four years (and before that), VERY involved with my studio
- I have taken about 8 weekly hour-long classes each year
- I have been a part of our company every year (except junior year, when it was not offered). The company performs small shows at retirement homes, etc
- I was a member of the competition dance team my junior year (not offered for senior year)
- I was a teacher's assistant (1 hr/week) freshman through junior year
- I was a teacher's apprentice (taught a class with supervision) second semester junior year
- Senior year I will have a paid job teaching two classes (involves choreographing and teaching a dance to each class for the recital)</p>

<p>Summer Theatre - all four years
- I have been in: Legally Blonde: The Musical (Chutney Wyndham & Ensemble), West Side Story (Pauline), Chicago (Ensemble), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Court Lady), and a featured dancer in 2 revues</p>

<p>Volunteer as a Program Aide for Girl Scout Day Camp - all four years (one week, 36 hrs/week)</p>

<p>Member of JV Golf Team for Sophomore and Junior year - allowed me to waiver out of PE and take dance</p>

<p>**I am Unsure How/Where to Include the Following on My Application:<a href="Please%20let%20me%20know%20if%20you%20have%20suggestions%20for%20where%20these%20things%20should%20go!">/b</a></p>

<p>This fall I will be choreographing (on my own) the school musical (Godspell)
Each year, jazz choir performs many Christmastime gigs at retirement homes and other places
I have choreographed several numbers for dance class at school</p>

<p>Roles I Have Had in School Musicals:
(Unsure where to include because it's a class)
Drood - ensemble Fiddler - ensemble
Little Women - Amy Oklahoma - featured dancer/quintet singer
White Christmas - featured dancer A Chorus Line - Val</p>

<p>Other Notes
I won an honorable mention in a town rotary club essay contest sophomore year.
My choreography has won small awards in the Reflections Contest.</p>

<p>Sorry this is so long! If you actually take the time to read it then thank you very much and I will try to read your chance threads too!</p>

2

<p>SAT is low for Columbia (they average around 2250). The 25th percentile there for math is a 700, so you REALLY need to bring that up. Your ACT fits nicely, and your composite is around the average.</p>

<p>Your extracurriculars are impressive as well.</p>

<p>Bring up the math, and I’d say you’ve got a good shot.</p>

3

<p>Thank you! I realize my math is low, but I’m hoping that if I study more this time I will be able to bring it up.</p>

4

<p>Even if you’re not too good at math, you could test answers and get a fair number right that you don’t actually know how to work out (obviously best for algebra).</p>

5

<p>Yeah, my problem for the SAT math was mostly the time. I think I was also just nervous though because I’d never taken it before and I hadn’t studied. If you look at my ACT math, though, it’s much higher, which I think will improve my chances.</p>

6

<p>I looked up Columbia’s 25-75 for ACT math, and it’s 31-35.</p>

7

<p>Yeah. I know I’m not on the high end of that, but at least I’m still within the range! Thanks for your input :)</p>

8

<p>I’m looking at Columbia as well and I’ve been in touch with undergraduate admissions, and the school certainly does look nice.</p>

9

<p>Stanford University - High Reach
UCLA - Match
Barnard College - Not familiar with it
Northwestern University - High match/low reach
NYU - Match
Boston University - Definitely in
University of Southern California - Match
Columbia - Reach</p>

<p>Your GPA and test scores (SAT needs to be raised a bit) are good. The only thing I’m unsure of is your EC’s. A lot of universities like to see your EC’s reflect your interests. The major thing you have on your list is dancing. That will help you out in UCLA and possibly NYU (depending on which school you apply to). It could go either way with Columbia, but it’s a reach for everyone. I don’t feel like you’d get into Stanford, though.</p>

<p>Hopefully this is helpful. I don’t mean to be rude, just constructive. I hope you get into Columbia or at the very least wait listed.</p>

10

<p>Thank you! I definitely don’t think I will get into Stanford either, haha. And in response about my EC’s - I’m not really sure what you mean, because dance is definitely my main interest, along with music, both of which are reflected in my class schedule and extracurriculars. So I think that, those being my interests, my EC’s do reflect that? Sorry, not meaning to be rude, just unclear on what you meant. And thank you again!!</p>

11

<p>I could be wrong, but it’s just that I never pegged Columbia as really a school for dancing. In addition to your interests, you have to keep in mind the interests of the school. For example, Stanford is big into research and technical stuff, NYU is big in business and different arts, and UCLA is big in the different arts (which is why I said it would help you in those last two universities).</p>

<p>Like I said, I could be wrong, but I just never pegged it for a big dance school.</p>

12

<p>Ohhh that makes more sense to me, and that’s actually very helpful. I didn’t include this in the original post because it didn’t seem relevant, but having a dance program at a school is very important to me, and I really want to continue as a double major or minor. I definitely don’t want to exclusively major in dance, but I’m unsure of what my other major would be so for now I think it’s best to remain undeclared. Columbia isn’t a big “dance school”, but they actually have a wonderful program with everything I was looking for, in addition to everything else that is obviously impressive about the school.</p>

13

<p>I think your a very competitive applicant. If you applied Early Decision for Columbia you would increse your chance a lot. I think you already know this but bring up your SAT and your ACT is really good. Your UW GPA is amazing but I would have brought my weighted GPA up but I don’t think that will hurt you too much. Just work on your SAT and apply early decision and if you do that I don’t know why they would deny you!</p>

14

<p>I don’t really understand why everyone is telling you to raise your SAT. You’re ACT seems good. If anything, I’d do go for raising the ACT if possible, because it seems like you’re better at that test. Ivie’s take one or the other right?</p>

15

<p>Yeah, they do. Thanks everyone for your input! :)</p>

16

<p>bumpity bump bump</p>