Do I have what it takes?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Or am I a typical applicant?</p>

<p>I'm a junior at a competitive school in the middleeast. (does that make me an URM? idk just wondering...) I'm planning to apply to Columbia a year from now...so any advice would be great! Tell me if you think I'm on the right track...</p>

<p>Rank: 15/120 (ya, I suck)
GPA: (avg of 4 yrs) 16/20 </p>

<p>Thats an A. I messed up freshman year and got a 14/B- so that got my average down a bit. Now I'm getting 17s (A+). Also, our school dosent weigh GPA so taking a rigorous courseload brings my grades down...colleges would take that into account.</p>

<p>SAT: 1850 June (I'm re-taking it in Dec. right now I'm getting 2000-2100 in practice tests. I'm aiming at 2200+)
SAT II: taking next year Maths IIC, Bio M and either world history or french</p>

<p>APs: Biology, European history, Macroeconomics, English language and composition
A-levels: English language and litreture, Economics, Buisness, Arabic, Maths.</p>

<p>I'm taking the 4 APs and 4 ASs and Arabic A2 this year. Next year, I'll be taking 4A2s (the second module of the A-level) and a couple more APs. Thats a total of 6 APs and 5 A-levels by graduation.</p>

<p>ECs:
-Head of biomonthly 50page school newspaper (10hs/ wk)
-University support prefect (this probably wont count so much)
-I interned at a publishing office in the summer where I translated childrens books from Arabic to English. I liked it so much that I'm still doing it. The office is a long drive from home tho so with school and all I mostly work from home.
- I volunteer every weekend at the local autism center. I just started a couple of months ago so I doubt by the time I apply I WONT be one of those people with 1000+ volunteer hours lol. But I guess it will still look good...right?
- I organized a couple of events in school including an international culture day, a Talent show, a "Brain Scratch" contest and a couple more events for the elementary grades.</p>

<p>So what do you think?
I feel like I'm a bit behind...
what more can I do to get in?</p>

2

<p>Need to raise the SATs, especially as an international. Wouldn't hurt to break into the top decile (10%) of your class, either. Otherwise, your chances of success are very unlikely.</p>

3

<p>Your chances are not good, unless a school is seeking Arabic speakers. But, even so, Columbia is a reach for you.</p>

4

<p>I'm working on my SAT scores and rank.
<em>sigh</em></p>

5

<p>Your SAT's need to be pulled up. But your EC's are good: and they seem to be the sort of thing that can produce a solid essay.</p>

<p>P.S. Columbia's not averse to internationals, as some on here make it appear: and your profile is pretty unique. I don't know too many people from the middle east. PM me if you'd like some advice! (I'm an international student too, or I was: just graduated)</p>