Help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

I am a high school junior and feeling a little bit hopeless. My dream school is Columbia but that seems unrealistic. Here’s why:
I don’t have good tests scores
I have no amazing awards
I have no recognizable leadership roles
There’s nothing really special about me that will make me stand out to selective colleges. It seems like time is running out for me to show long term commitment to an organization or whatnot if I were to sign up now. It also seems too late to sign up for a club and become a leader in it. I feel stuck. What do I do?

The things I have been doing are:
Piano 8 years (although I’m mediocre at it)
Organ 4 years (also mediocre)
Church musician 2 years
TedxYouth@Salem social media director 0.5 years
4.0 GPA with all IB courses
I’m also an African American female
that’s it.

It seems like I’ve done a lot but in reality, looking at that list, I haven’t done a lot.

I guess what I’m asking is whether I should still keep aiming for Columbia even though the chances are probably less than 1% or what I should do to enhance my application. Sorry for the really dreary post, but this is how I’ve been feeling for the past few months.

2

All the Ivy’s are a shot in the dark, sorry to say. My son has the same grades and courses, high ACT score, involved but nothing spectacular. Maybe the schools will recognize how hard he worked to get where he is now due to his learning disabilities. Crossing our fingers too.
I understand the essays are what matter. If you wrote something about you that resonated and made you stand out. Make sure you apply to some safe schools too. There are many good schools that are not Ivy that can provide a great education and it’s what the student does to make that happen also.

3

Self doubt? You would totally fit in here.
But seriously, apply. I don’t care what your test scores are. If you apply, you have a chance and if Columbia is your dream school, then there is no reason to avoid any chance to apply.

Though since you’re a junior, you have time to get your test scores up if they’re really bothering you. And most people get those leadership roles during their senior year so don’t sweat that too much.

4

Better pray for that AA.