<p>I'm a junior now, and I'm looking at a few colleges. My grades aren't great(3.7 cum. weighted average), but I have about 900 hours of community service(and around 800 hours of school activities), I've started 2 of my own businesses, and my dad is a CC alum. My SATs aren't too great either. While I haven't taken the real SAT yet, on the PSAT I got a 187 and on the practice tests I took, I got scores around that number(1800-1900). I'm really trying to bring my grades up to the A level and I'll do everything I can to get straight A's (at least for the first two months) in all of my classes senior year. Is it worth my trouble even thinking about an ivy league?</p>
<p>Even as a legacy, unless you're a URM, in which case it's still unlikely, you'll need much better scores than that.</p>
<p>yea ur gpa is weak and ur SATs r low...legacy can only do so much....and the fact that you found it fitting to mention your 2 supposed businesses after community service makes me wonder how significant those are. There's no harm in "thinking" about an ivy league, i just wouldnt get my hopes up too high if i were you.</p>
<p>Always dream big.. Don't listen to what people say. While they may be speaking form experience and all, there shouldn't be anything stopping you from getting your head up and applying to your dream schools. I am not being critical of s snack and Shraf, I just think you have as good a chance as anybody. So study up!</p>
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Always dream big.. Don't listen to what people say. While they may be speaking form experience and all, there shouldn't be anything stopping you from getting your head up and applying to your dream schools.
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<p>It's OK to have a dream school. It's not OK to put the blinders on and think that you have a good chance at getting into your dream school while you're not taking the time to find a school that's a good fit for you that you can likely get into.</p>
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I just think you have as good a chance as anybody. So study up!
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<p>You CANNOT be serious about this statement. This is clearly "nice-talk." If you REALLY mean what you just wrote -- do you really believe OP has as good a chance as someone with a 3.9 / 2300 / Intel Finalist / USAMO Qualifier?</p>
<p>well OP hasn't posted his other stats, so why play numbers game?</p>
<p>Hwy don't you try General Studies ?</p>
<p>Some people are claiming that Columbia General Studies is exactly same degree as Columbia College degree</p>
<p>Well, actually, his other stats in my opinion, seems pretty good don't you think? 800 community service, started his own businesses, his dad is a legacy, and guess what, he's only a junior and he has until December to improve his grade. So why are you saying cannot seriously get into Columbia? Of course, he might want to consider other options as well, but he was merely asking for chance statement. Ye ye, his SAT might not be great, but his hooks (however "nice-talk" it might be) aren't bad at all. Who knows, he might get 2400 on November SAT perchance, get his gpa raised after AP tests, do some summer research, and do Columbia alums proud. Purely subjective, so don't flame me about it.</p>
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well OP hasn't posted his other stats, so why play numbers game?
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<p>You're playing a numbers game. You've not only evaluated OP's chances; you've also declared that the OP's chances are as good as any other applicant's chances.</p>
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So why are you saying cannot seriously get into Columbia?
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<p>So why are you misreading and/or failing to comprehend my post? I said that YOU cannot be serious in YOUR assertion that OP's chances are just as good as any other applicant's chances.</p>
<p>Poxpox, you can't get into GS when you're graduating from high school. You might in an extremely rare case but this doesn't look like one.</p>
<p>Well apply early for one. In addition your GPA may hurt, however if you get 2100+ SATs and 700+ SATII's, that will more than validate your GPA. I would say try to get up to a 3.85 W and your ECs are pretty good. If you dont get your SAT above 1900 though, people are right your chances are low. If you get 2100 you are pretty competitive, anything above 2250 I would say you are at 50/50. Don't give up hope!</p>
<p>3.7 Weighted? Ouch.</p>
<p>well columbia2002 have it your way, looks like the linguistic equivocation (which is a subjective thing) is never gonna let us agree on this. When I said numbers game, I meant that we judge people by gpa and SAT score, which can be improved in pretty short term. Also, I didn't even specify what exact percent chance he had, I merely mentioned that his chance was as good as any. Btw somebody make poxpox shut his mouth, he's been going around saying GS is same as CC in number of threads.</p>
<p>Wait....I'm hearing that this guy has a very low chance. I strongly doubt it. A legacy admit at my school got in with a 3.9 Weighted early. So his GPA is in range if he can get it up to around that level. However, this legacy had a strong ACT score, 35. If this scares you, I also know a legacy admitted at Penn engineering early with a 3.9 and 2190 SAT (600 in reading) If the OP can get around a 3.9 and a 2250+ SAT, I'd rate his chances at 50%+. Also, how does the OP's school weight? If your school adds anymore than a point and a half to AP's, maybe he is in trouble. However if it's only like half a point he's in range. I would say this. Go SAT tutor crazy and get a 2250+. Also, your ECs will make up for a less than perfect GPA. If you can't get to a 3.8 by the end of junior year, it may behoove you to apply regular and get that 3.9, but indicate that it is clearly your first choice school. Also, what math classes are you taking this year? This is pretty important if you wish to go SEAS.</p>
<p>Bad news- my school weights up a point for honors and AP(a full point).
I just took the SAT iic math and SAT2 chemistry, and I think I did <em>very</em> well on them, so hopefully that will help. My courseload is pretty much like this for all of my HS:</p>
<p>Frosh year
Hon Bio - B-
English(honors not offered, but higher level) - B-
Hon Geometry - C- HORRIBLE teacher(nobody got good grades in her class)
Social studies(honors not offered, but higher level) - B-
Hon Spanish - B+
Orchestra - A
Intro comp programming - A+</p>
<p>Soph year:
Hon Alg 2 - B-
Hon English - C+ (again, horrible teacher here)
Hon American History - B- (however, I had the hardest teacher in my school. He's probably going to write one of my letters of recommendation though, and he liked me a lot. He's also the best writer, and teacher in the entire school(no exaggeration))
Hon Spanish - B-
Orchestra - A
Independent CS study - A(no A+ is allotted for this)</p>
<p>Junior Year(projected):
AP Calc AB - B to B+ range. Learned a lot in this class, and another rec. might come from this teacher. Probably will get a 5 on AP exam.
AP Chemistry - B- to B range. Probably will get a 3 or 4 on AP exam
Honors Physics - Unfortunately C/C+ range, mostly because this teacher took a leave of absense for about a month and is now here about 2/3 of the time
Honors English 1st semester - A-
Honors English 2nd semester - A-
Honors Social studies 1st semester - A-
Honors Social studies 2nd semester - A-
Orchestra - A
Chinese(no honors offered) - B to B+ range</p>
<p>Senior year courses:
3rd semester college calc.
AP Physics C
Honors English 1st and 2nd semester
AP Psychology
Chinese 2(again, no honors offered)</p>
<p>As you can see, I'm really trying to ramp my grades up. No dobut they aren't superb at the moment, but I'm going to work my ass off the first two months of senior year to get straight As.</p>
<p>^^^ ye i've been getting pwned trying to defend your chance, so you better do well :)</p>
<p>Quick question - Since I'm a legacy, do I get an interview onsite at Columbia? I remember reading this somewhere, but I can't find where (if) it says it on the Columbia website.</p>
<p>Not only are your grades less than stellar, but your penchant for making excuses for your performance is quite troubling. You think you're the only one who has horrible teachers? Heck no.</p>
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I merely mentioned that his chance was as good as any.
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<p>No, they just aren't as good as any. There will probably be 15,000 applicants who don't have a transcript filled with C's and B-'s.</p>
<p>Mikes,</p>
<p>You aren't guaranteed for an interview.</p>
<p>I know I'm not guaranteed an interview, but is it <em>possible</em> to get an interview on campus for being a legacy? I know all applicants have the option to get an alumni interview, but I was under the impression that legacy students could, at the very least, have a chance at getting an on campus interview. Is this impression correct?</p>