I got wait listed at Columbia Engineering this year and am playing around with the idea of reapplying for ED, but there are a couple of things that have me a bit confused.
For one thing I’ve decided to go with Architecture instead of Engineering and I’m not sure what impact that change will have. I had a 1550 SAT 1, 770/750 SAT 2s and 2Cs on my last years report. The Cs have always freaked me out but there isn’t much to do about that. I could take SAT 2 again. Personally I think the weakest part of my application was my application. As an international student I had no idea what I was doing, very little counselling and basically spent all year running around like a headless chicken. I do think a better essay and supplements would majorly improve my application. I have enough debating experience (with accolades and titles) to act as a good extracurricular, tonnes of charity work and I’m cautiously optimistic about my ability to put together a reasonably good art portfolio.
My biggest worry though is that I majorly screwed up the A-level CIEs (Cambridge International Exams) I gave this month. I’m planning to retake them in October but I’m not sure if I’ll be expected to send in the scores for these exams. Personally, I’d much rather not. I’m not sure what else I should be doing to offset the Cs on the transcript. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Also if I reapply will they end up reviewing my previous application along with it? Will they even know that I’ve applied and been wait listed?
Do you need financial aid? The international pool of students requesting aid is massive with a lower admissions rate.
Did you apply to other colleges? What was the outcome?
Are you “ivy only” focussed or are you willing to consider our many other excellent universities that are not as internationally known?
edited because there is always at least one typo
Good questions above.
Yes, they will know you applied last year. Your name will still be in their system. Your old app would not be considered. As far as “offsetting” the Cs, you can’t. You can retake your exams, why not? And of course, if you do better and reapply, you would send in updated scores. You can take the gap year and do really good things. Get a job, and continue to pursue your interests in a meaningful way. Volunteer. Show that you put the gap year to good use instead of not doing much of anything.
The acceptance rate at Columbia is less than ten percent. Even less than that for internationals. They are taking the creme de la creme of international kids. Is that you? If not, you might be spinning your wheels.
Why Columbia? You run the same risk again next year. Why not apply to a broader range of schools? You know there is a NACAC list that was published last week. It lists all the colleges with openings for this fall. There are quite a few really excellent colleges. If your goal is USA or bust, that might be the way to do it.
Here is what I would do in your shoes. I would take the gap year and work a lot. I would earn as much money as possible and then I would take another gap year and go all over the world. Then I would apply to colleges that I had a good shot of getting into. Take advantage of your youth.