How does Columbia go about these things?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>I understand that GPA, rank, and courseload are very important factors in top university admissions.</p>

<p>I have taken the toughest course load that my school, one of the most competitive schools in the state (though it boasts itself to be number 1) and one that sends many kids to top schools, offers (10 AP, 6 Honors + a course at JHU over the summer) - but with the school ranking comes the competitiveness of the students. I have a few B's sprinkled throughout my transcript (including at least 2 in my junior year), and though at another school I would easily be ranked higher with my 3.7-3.8 UW/4.2-4.2-4.3 W GPA, I may fall out of even the top 5% here. I moved after my 8th grade year, and then again after my freshman year, from much easier schoosl, but I doubt they will really care.</p>

<p>My extracurriculars are really strong, with lots of leadership/awards/commitment (not to be vain, seriously) and my recommendations will be equally good just because I know the teachers, and my counselor, really well. My standardized test scores are okay, 2200+ SAT super scored, hopefully nearing 2300 after my next one. I hope my essays will be really strong- I really do love to write, and am having trouble narrowing down topics rather than figuring out what to write about, actually.</p>

<p>With all that in consideration, do you think the low rank and GPA will be too detrimental for me to seriously consider schools like Columbia and other schools of that caliber?</p>

<p>How do colleges go through the admission process? Do they do it in steps where their first screening is up-to-par academic achievements like GPA and test scores, and then after their first elimination, they go into the subjective categories like EC's and essays? Or do they look holistically from the beginning and just throw away applications as they go? (It really does sound like a game show, doesn't it? haha)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Ps. Most of my B's are in science classes, but I want to go into Law and major in economics. Will it help on my application to declare my major and let them know that I don't suck at things that will affect me in college?</p>

<p>Oh and hahaha, I was just interviewed for something for the New York Times and the interviewer asked me where I wanted to go and I said "columbia." Hopefully someone from columbia reads that!</p>

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<p>a few Bs is nothing… especially if they were in tough classes. </p>

<p>and you don’t have a low rank. “low” would be like outside of the top 10%. and if your school is really that tough, then Columbia will know when they see your school profile. </p>

<p>yoiu didn’t post any specifics, but from everything you said you seem to be an Ivy-caliber student. nobody can guarantee that you’ll get in, but you definitely have a shot.</p>

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<p>ah, thank you! It’s hard judging what schools look at when on any particular week day, you see kids crying over their 2250+ SAT scores because it’s way too low for their standards at my school. We’ll see.</p>

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<p>I had worse grades that yours. I got in. Granted, I’m black, but that’s not THAT huge of a bonus, I’m assuming. I believe they really are holistic; I don’t think it’s so much about qualifying or disqualifying on the basis of numbers, and more about evaluating what kind of student the applicant would be. You sound like you’d be a good student. Nothing’s guaranteed, obviously, but I think you’ve got a fine shot. I think I had one B junior year, and much worse grades soph/fresh, and <em>barely</em> a 3.7 UW GPA, if that.</p>

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<p>don’t worry about it. If you’re academically qualified, they’ll see it. I got in with a ~3.7 and not even making the top 20% of my class GPA wise…</p>

<p>If you’re getting Bs in hard classes, that’s fine… especially if they’re classes that are graded strictly (i.e. I got a B in AP Euro, 5 on the exam)</p>

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<p>yeah, I got a B in AP bio but a 5 on AP test - but I took honors at a different school.
and a B in spanish 2, but I took spanish 1 at a different school. </p>

<p>and then this year, a B in honors physics because I’ve never been so bad at a subject.
still trying to figure out where I stand on spanish 3 and ap chem.</p>

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<p>I think it really depends. I’ve seen USAMO/IcHo silver medalists form my magnet HS get deferred and rejected. </p>

<p>On the other hand, if you go to a magnet hs, i can pretty much guarantee you’ll ace the work here.</p>