ED Chances for SEAS

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I’m looking to apply ED to SEAS and I love the idea of the core as well as the school itself and its surroundings. I really hope to get in early and not have to worry about apps anymore, so would you guys please give realistic comments on whether or not I have a chance.</p>

<p>Background: I’m an Asian Canadian going to a relatively prestigious international school in Taipei, Taiwan. Not legacy, and obviously not applying for financial aid to decrease my chances.</p>

<p>GPA: UW: 3.85 Weighted: 4.27
School doesn’t rank
I take the hardest schedule possible at my school.
Courses in senior year: AP French, AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, AP Economics, AP English, Honors Biology (it’s odd taking this now, but I opted to take chem and physics before this)</p>

<p>SAT1: 2170 (CR: 690 M: 780 W: 700 Essay: 10)
SAT2s: Math Level 2: 800 Chem: 740 Mandarin w/ Listening: 800</p>

<p>APs: AP Computer Science A (5) AP Computer Science AB (5) APUSH (5) AP Chem (5)</p>

<p>ECs:
Orphanage Club, 4 years (a community service club where I’ve spent 200+ hours doing various things including visiting orphanages and taking care of orphans, helped set up annual winter parties for local disadvantaged children, helped make packages of food, clothing, and other household supplies and then mailed them to needy families in Taiwan, organized and priced items for Rummage sales of clothing and books and other items donated to OC for fundraising, and was also in charge of designing, keeping an inventory of, and selling sweatshirts for fundraising as well)
French Honor Society, 3 years, Treasurer
Student Government, 3 years
Varsity Debate and Impromptu Speaking
MUN
Volunteered to teach English to disadvantaged children sponsored by the Pearl S Buck organization last summer
Interned at the local Deloitte & Touche (accounting firm) office this summer, did some stuff on international tax</p>

<p>I know that my stats should be pretty high, but most of the ECs listed here with the exception of my community service activities are quite common, since there’s not a whole lot of ECs we can do in Taiwan. Realistically, how high are my chances to get in ED? Would I have a chance as long as I write really good essays?</p>

<p>Also, I noticed that the online app asks you to list 3 majors that you have an interest in. Does this affect your application at all? (i.e. does listing popular majors decrease your chances etc...)</p>

2

<p>ok couple of things: firstly replace the mandarin sat II with another SATII (french/phy/bio/lit?), an 800 is great but the worldwide average score is 760, so an 800 is close to meaningless. also a higher chem score won't hurt, people don't realize that average scores for SAT2s are much higher than for the SAT 1. your sat 1 is fine. your ECs are nothing great, 200 hours for your main activity ends up being less than two hours every school week over four years. That's is not a very serious commitment, focus on what you did rather than the time spent. I think seas for you is not impossible ED, but it's a reach, because your academics aren't spectacular and your ECs are mediocre.</p>

<p>Also people will probably think that your job at deloitte wasn't something you earned or learnt a great deal from, there are a lot of HS kids, who's parents get them summer jobs at financial firms, and they don't do s**t, heck it's like that for some underclassmen in college. </p>

<p>pick 3 majors that you are most interested in and more importantly fit closest with your strengths and demonstrated abilities in the app, good luck.</p>

3

<p>Taipei American School?</p>

<p>Anyway, I don't really see any science/ math related extracurricular activities.
However, your GPA and SAT 1 are in the range, but you're an Asian male. I think Canadians are considered international applicants (I'm not sure), so you'll be competing against other Asian academic powerhouses.</p>