How can I improve my chances for Columbia?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everyone,

I am currently a sophomore who has been thinking about college lately.

During middle school, I was extremely lazy and put no effort into my school work. Freshman year was when I began to try a little bit and it worked out well. This year was an even better school year and I now have my eyes set on Columbia University.

Unfortunately, though, I do not have the credentials that most people on this site have. I ask anyone with some knowledge on Columbia’s admissions how I can improve my chances. I know that I currently have no chance, but wanted to know if I could ever be admitted by making improvements this and next year.

8th Grade GPA (WILL go on my high school transcript): 81.5/100
There was no weight.

9th Grade GPA: 94/100 (My 8th grade teachers did not recommend me for any honors classes, so no weight)

10th Grade GPA: 95-96 depending on how I do at the end of the year. I took 4 honors classes and my weighted average this year would be 99-100.

There are only a few AP classes in my school. I will be taking all IB classes and be a full IB diploma candidate. Next year, I will be taking:

IB (0.1% weighting): English Lit 1 HL, History of the Americas 1 SL, Spanish 1 SL, Theory of Knowlege, Physics 1 SL, Bio 1 HL, Design Technology HL

Regular: Algebra 2/Trig, Gym, Reseach 11 (.06% weighting)

Senior Year:

These are the classes I will likely be taking.

IB: English 2 HL, Economics SL, Math Methods 1 SL, Spanish 2 SL, TOK 2, Physics 2 HL, Bio 2 HL, Design Tech 2 HL

Regular: Research 12

ECs:
-School newspaper (staff writer last year now chief news reporter. I want to be editor in chief during my senior year)
-Future engineers club (May have a leadership position next year)
-Computer science club

I have a few science and journalism awards. I intend to join the following honor societies if I am allowed:
-NHS
-Lambda Iota Tau (English Honor Society)
-History Honor Society
-Science Honor Society
-Technology Honor Society

I intend to join more clubs next year. I will also make an effort to get more service hours as well because I currently have about 30 hours.

-I am currently on the varsity badminton team and will stay on it for the duration of high school.
-Trying out for the swimming and cross country teams next year.

I did not do very well on the PSAT, but will study over the summer.

Let me know how I can improve my application and if I still have some chance at Columbia. Thank you and I apologize for the length of this post.

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Bump

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Do what you love. Don’t do things just to get into a certain school, or else you will be disappointed with the outcome.

G’luck.

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Thank you @StanfordSwag ! I know that I should not change who I am for a school. I have been pursuing my passion of science for a year now.

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Do you care to elaborate in which particular field of Science you are interested in?

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@StanfordSwag I am passionate about environmental science. Environmental science came easily to me in freshman year, so I thought that it would be a good research area. I conducted my first project this year and won third place in the environmental science category in an ISEF recognized fair. I have been thinking about taking IB Environmental Systems, but I was told that it is not a very rigorous science course that is aimed for students completing the IB diploma, but not particularly interested in the sciences. Also, I have been in contact with an associate professor of Environmental Engineering at Columbia University. He runs a research lab and I have been trying to get in, though age restrictions will likely prevent me from participating this year.

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Sounds great!

Definitely mention all of that in your essays.

Best of luck at getting into Columbia!

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You mention that you didn’t do well on the PSAT. You don’t mention how well or poorly that is. It’s pretty much impossible to assess your chances at Columbia without some idea of your standardized testing. This is an important piece of data.

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You sound like you need to chill. 8th grade doesn’t matter, and there is no helping being apologetic on a forum about your own achievements. You need character development more than you need having good grades

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@collegeguy97 Okay, thank you for your input. I will definitely take my lack of character into consideration.

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I see you are ( or will be taking) IB classes. My High School is a College Prep school so I don’t have any familairty with IB classes, only AP and Dual Enrollment. But keep working hard the next two years but don’t forget to have fun at the same time. Take advice from a fellow upperclassman, keep your grades during junior year high since its the year that will count the most. Also check Columbia’s Admissions site for specific admissions details for your major and try to at least meet or even exceed thier reqirements. Hope this helps!

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@TruAlpha Thank you! I have not thought about checking Columbia’s admission requirements.

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Admitted to Columbia via likely this year. I think you are doing great so far; try to really emphasize on the environmental science part by partaking in more research and relavent extracurriculars. Also do remember to cultivate good relationships with your teachers, since they will be the ones writing your reference letters two years later. Best of luck!

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You have good ECs and have done well in honors classes. 8th grade grades mean nothing, I don’t know why those grades are on your transcript but when a college sees all As in HS years they shouldn’t hold that against you at all. You have a good shot but just note Columbia can be tough to get into so have a backup plan just in case. I’d do ED (early decision) if it’s truly your top choice to maximize your odds, but you probably need some research of other places your applying before making that decision. Good luck and don’t let anyone’s bs lack of character comments get to you (–as if the college process wasn’t stressful enough without the addition of random insults thrown into the mix)!

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Without test scores - ACT or SAT (or at least PSAT), this thread is meaningless. No one can say how near or how far the poster is from admission to Columbia, or any other Ivy, without these objective measures.

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@FuzzyPeaches22 Thank you so much! It’s a definite that I will be writing my essay on environmental science and likely my IB extended essay (if that matters at all). I also plan to join the Environmental Activist Club. Thank you for your support!

@Heisenbergk Thank you! I’ve been hesitant to apply ED to an expensive school like Columbia because I’m not sure my parents would want to pay. And don’t worry, I know how obnoxiously rude some people on this forum can be and I really do not take any of their comments to heart.

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Colleges, Columbia included, value progress in terms of grades/GPA–meaning that a few subpar middle school and freshman year grades won’t hurt you. My school does send certain middle school grades (I took classes that were high-school level), so I would check with your guidance counselor to see if those grades will be submitted.

You have a good array of ECs, and it would be great if you can find a way to integrate them (i.e. maybe expand the science section of your paper and encourage your CS/engineering friends to get involved). Seeing that environmental science and journalism seem to be your main passions, I would actively pursue them throughout the next year and apply for as many awards/competitions as you can. If you’re interested in writing, there are several competitions worth checking out (Scholastic Art and Writing, NCTE, etc.).

If you haven’t already, check out Columbia’s Science Honors Program! I don’t know much about it (I’m sure there are CC threads for more info) but I know it’s selective and adcoms look favorably upon it. Out of my two friends who attended the program, one was accepted ED and the other deferred (later accepted)–which I’ve heard is common among other members of the program.

If you get your standardized testing in line and expand on your ECs, I think you have a fair shot! Also thank you for your kind comment on my thread :slight_smile: It seems too often that these posts get more bitter commentary than constructive criticism!

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@trfox7 Thank you very much. The middle school grades being submitted are high school level classes that I, being the student I was at the time, probably shouldn’t have taken because they seriously hurt my GPA. One of these classes, as you probably know being a New Yorker, was Living Environment. I was a lazy student who got by without doing hw and found a way to get an 85 on the regents. I hope to compensate this grade by getting a 7 on the IB test (the equivalent of a 5 on an AP test). I have already redeemed my low Spanish 2 grade by getting a 97 overall last year. The newspaper in my school is very large and I am starting to prove my worth by writing consistently excellent articles each issue. My problem is that I have very little power or say in what goes on. I have been trying to push for more environmental articles as well as more publicity for the science students. Regardless, I will submit some articles to the contests you have listed. Lastly, I am going to look more into the Columbia Honors Program. Thank you again!

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I think it is good that your grades are trending towards improvement- highly selective colleges love that. I also think that you might want to try to do something more unique with your ECs to stand out from the crowd. Chance me back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1768919-ivies-nescacs-georgetown-will-chance-back.html#latest

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It’s hard to tell without standardized test scores. I wouldn’t worry about your 8th grade GPA. You’re only a sophomore so I would just enjoy school and work hard. You will have plenty of time to worry about college when you are a junior! Keep working hard and I’m sure you will be fine :slight_smile: