<p>I want to know are my chances good to get into Columbia. I am currently a Sophomore and these are the classes I took this year with my grades:
World History: sem.1- B sem.2- A
Chemistry: sem.1- C sem.2- B
Geomety: sem.1-B sem.2- A
Business: sem.1- B
Gym: sem.2- A
Adv. Engilish: sem.1- B sem.2- A
AVID(advanced, via, induvidual, determination) Sem.1- B sem.2- A
Spanish 2: sem.1- B sem.2- B
my GPA unwieghted is about a 3.5
I am on a leadership board, I play volleyball, track and field and also golfing.
I am working at a hostpital as an internship job, getting paid. ( I plan on entering the Medical Field)
my classes next year as a junior are:
Spanish 3
American Politcs: first sem. gym class: second sem.
Algebra 2/trig
U.S. history honors frist sem. psychology second sem.
AP language and comp.
AVID
Pysics honors.
I want to know if these class are good to take next year and if it's not then what other classes should I take to challange myself. Should I take more AP classes or is this enough?
I plan on playing the same sports and still being active in my leadership board too.
Can someone please tell me if I am on the right track to getting into Columbia and if i'm not can you tell me what I should change?
thanks very much !!</p>
<p>What’s AVID? What’s Leadership Board do?</p>
<p>I’d say your grades are OK, but you need a 3.8+ junior year, maybe an extra AP class. The internship is really good, and if you could get a recommendation from whoever you work for saying you’re both passionate and intelligent, that’ll go a long way.</p>
<p>How good are you at sports? Unless you’re quite good, or in a leadership position on your team, don’t think of them as big boons to your application - keep doing them if you enjoy them though.</p>
<p>If you come from an area that’s geographically underrepresented (i.e. flyover country), you’re also at an advantage - Columbia has geographical Affirmative Action in addition to the more common sorts. If you can combine that with demonstrated interest in “community” (as amorphous as it sounds, but medicine probably partially covers it), you’ve got a further edge.</p>
<p>But I’ll be blunt, Columbia right now is a reach.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say its a reach just yet (depending on your freshman year grades), but try to put more emphasis on AP classes junior year, and as Jacob J said, try to get a 3.8+ UW GPA in those classes. That will negate the grades you got this year and actually bring you A LOT close to getting into an ivy league. An upward trend is always awesome to see to a college, so try to improve. Try out Math + Science EC’s, and also try creating a club or 2. Getting into the NHS and becoming a National Merit Scholar are crucial if you want to become a “lock”. The internship is awesome, especially since you are just a sophmore. Does your school offer an accelerated / advanced program where you get a grade level above the norm? Most people at columbia take precalc in junior year, but that doesn’t really matter. The grades do. </p>
<p>Bottom Line:</p>
<p>Improve grades, improve courseload
Get more involved – more impressive EC’s needed
Volunteer Work in addition to hospital</p>
<p>there are many – and I mean MANY – kids applying to Columbia. Show them you’re better than the rest and that you’re willing to do anything. good luck</p>