Hey there! Chance me for Columbia, please! I'd love to chance back, too!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Academic Stats:

GPA: 3.9 weighted, 4.0 unweighted (both on a 4.0 scale) Ranking: Top 10%; 3/60
Standardized Testing: SAT I: Math: 750 Writing: 750 Reading: 650
SAT II: Math I: 730 Math II: 750 Physics: 790
TOEFL: 113/120 (I’m an international student btw)

No APs; my school does not offer them; very few schools in my country do. (My school reported my course syllabus, so i think my colleges have an insight over the rigor of my school curriculum)

ECs:

1- 6 years Varsity Volleyball; Captain for 3 years in a row.
2- Founder of a community service NGO in my city, in which I’m a treasurer (2 yrs); we once raised 10k for a children’s cancer care centre, and collected and donated clothes to homeless people.
3- 2 yrs of volunteering/recruiting with a marathon NGO (office work, hospitality…). I am very organized, so office work is my thing.
4- Teacher’s assistant in my school’s Environment Club (2 yrs); I have around 70 hours or so. Our projects included making handbags from fabrics, and donating them, planting around campus and, buying plants for classes, holding cleaning campaigns (mostly shores), and raising awareness…
5- Been to 3 Model UN conferences; won best delegate in one, and position paper award in another. I also trained my school’s delegation on negotiation skills, diplomacy… across my junior year. (I attended a Harvard training session on negotiation but it’s not that big of a deal)
6- Founder of my school’s Student Council, and by default the first student body president.
7- Free SAT tutoring in my school (mostly in my senior year)

I frequently attend public speaking sessions in a club for a local university. I’ve also been to a science fair, and a public speaking competition, but I didn’t give them that much importance.

Essays:

I believe my personal statement is the best part of my application. It’s about how I overcame something in my life and did not let it stop me from doing what I love. My counselor teared up when he read it, and my best friends loved it.

My supplements show great passion for Columbia, and my field of study as well. I portrayed myself the best way I could, yet I was completely modest and frank.

My hobbies include reading sic-fi and cooking.

Recommendations:

I chose the teachers that absolutely love me, so I’m sure they recommended me just fine; My counselor also loves me.

Interview:

It was very friendly. It was more of a conversation than an interview (a formal one though). I was myself, also showed that I’m passionate about Columbia, and that it’s my first choice although I did not apply ED. I’m sure I do not have a bad report (rather a good one).

Financial Aid: Yes; lots of it.

While chancing, kindly note that my country does not have stellar resources, nor does my school, but I definitely made use of those I had access to (I’m sure my admissions officer knows that).

Also chance me for UChicago, Yale, Duke, Harvey Mudd, Harvard, and Williams

Thank you so much for your time!

2

You have an alright chance at all of them, but most are extremely unpredictable. I hope you have some safeties in mind. Good luck! Chance back?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1854384-chance-me-for-these-colleges-p1.html

3

“Reach” for all!
You need to add matches and safeties to your list!

4

Some detail please?

5

Your SAT while not bad is on the lower end for all the schools you listed. While your gpa looks good kids with the same gpa and higher SAT scores are going to apply and likely be rejected so given your scores. ECs are all typical of kids applying to those schools and won’t set you apart from other applicants. I’d say all are reaches. I agree with the above poster you should definitely look to add some safeties and even some matches to your list right now it would not be completely surprising if you applied and didn’t get into any of the schools you listed. You dont need to solely chase prestige you can get a great education even at a non top 20 school. I wish you the best of luck!

Chance back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1851091-chance-me-please.html#latest

6

Reach for all, since SAT is low and international competition is incredibly tough. You are competitive, but the schools you listed are reaches for almost everyone and there is nothing particularly striking in your EC’s/awards. Also, how is your WGPA lower than your UWGPA?

I agree with the others, find matches and safeties or you may be left without any acceptances come spring.

7

From your list of schools only Harvard and Yale are need blind for internationals. The rest are need aware, thus lowering your chances substantially.

Add the other need blind schools to your list: Amherst, MIT and Princeton.