<p>I am a freshman in high school and am starting to get apprehensive about college acceptance and which college I attend. I am now displaced in Bethesda Maryland after Hurricane Katrina went through my home in New Orleans (talk about an essay). My first choice for a college that I'd want to go to is Columbia. My father went there, it is an amazing Ivy League school, and would open up a lot of opportunities for me. All bull aside, it is one of the most respectable universities in the world (not that you didn't already know that). I guess it should be my number one goal for the next few years. So is there any advice that should be given for a kid starting high school and wanting to go to Columbia? So far, I have only had about one quarter of school with pretty good grades (B+ to A+ with some discrepancies in some classes). I know I have to have a high GPA, SAT, and many extracurricular activities and achievements. I am striving for at least an A- average throughout high school, decent SAT scores, and many extracurricular activities. Please inform me on Columbia, things I should take advantage of, etc. </p>
<p>Thanks, </p>
<p>Ethan</p>
<p>1st off...its good that you're worrying about college at such a young age. For the "many" extracurricular activites...don't fall into that trap. Do EC's that interest you, not because you want to impress Columbia. Do what you enjoy, not what makes you seem like someone you aren't. Just try to get involved in your school as well as try new things to see where you want to go in life. By experiencing new things you'll figure out what path (major) you want to ride and thus can narrow your interests down and start doing research, or internships and gain experience. But remember, don't do anything just to impress a college. Do it because YOU want to do it. Life lesson...do something because YOU want to do it :). It'll get you places. Its called confidence. Okay enough life advice. lol. I'd say for now worry about your GPA and getting involved, but don't worry about colleges and the such. Sometime during sophmore year look into the SAT's...you'll want to do well on the PSATs. GL</p>
<p>Yes, I know that I should do what I want to do. I am not just going to join football and baseball to impress Columbia. I am talking about EC's that I enjoy and am interested in. I should join some clubs that I like, write a lot, do ultimate frisbee, basketball, chess, play more guitar, etc. English and Science are my favorite subjects...Anyway, I am just worried about how hard it will be to get in. How high does my GPA have to be? Will the fact that my dad went to Columbia have an influence even if he didn't donate money? Can I take standardized tests as many times as I want to get a decent score? Will the colleges see every test I take, or just the ones I show them(the highest score)? Do I have to get involved in Student Council? Getting into Columbia almost seems like an impossibility. It seems like it would be one of those colleges that they show high school kids desperately trying to get into and waiting for the acceptance letter and hopefully the BIG package in the mail. Will Columbia take into account my religion (Jewish) and geographical residence (upbringing in New Orleans)? There are so many factors that worry me. I want to go to the school so badly, but almost think of it as a dream and not something that can actually happen. I know many Juniors in high school that have 3.9's but aren't thinking about going to any high-calibur colleges. They are mostly thinking about going to regular schools, and Columbia is not a regualr school. Maybe I don't have enough confidence and am just insecure about it all. If I want to go to Columbia, I just have to bust my ass and go. But with colleges getting continuously more difficult to get into, will I even have a chance? Will I be in the 10% from all of the applicants that gets in? Out of all of the transcripts, I'm sure I won't have near the highest GPA, best SAT score, etc. But will I be unique in some way? How hard is it? Am I Ivy League material, or just an average kid being unrealistically optimistic about my future?</p>
<p>"Am I Ivy League material, or just an average kid being unrealistically optimistic about my future?"</p>
<p>I think it's too early to make that assumption, fall of freshman year. Just do your best in school, take challenging classes, have fun, and all of that good stuff. Trust in your own abilities and don't stress so much about something that's years in the future. Just do the common sense stuff and you'll be fine.</p>