How much emphasis on extra-curriculars, etc?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>I am a distraught high school junior, and Columbia is my first choice school. I'm one of those people who've always loved learning, but my parents didn't control my every move to help me get into an Ivy League school; my motivation was all my own. Therefore, in my freshman year it was my first year in public school and I was very misguided and ended up taking all the wrong classes, which has therefore screwed up my track. Also, I went to an inner city school for 9th and 10th grade (where it was UNHEARD of for someone to take AP's before 11th grade) but have moved since and am now in a MUCH MORE academically inclined environment. HOWEVER, I am very involved in extra-curricular things. How much can devoted and interesting extra-curriculars make up for an academic lull?</p>

<p>My stats are as follows...</p>

<p>Freshman:
Math 1
Spanish 1
Biology
English 9 honors
Global History 9 honors
Parenting (bleh, I know. It was the only elective I could take)
Cooking (^ditto)</p>

<p>Sophomore:
advanced Journalism
English 10 honors
Global History II, 10 honors
Math 2 (I took the math A regents in Jan.)
Spanish 2
Chemistry
Studio Art</p>

<p>Junior:
AP Art History
AP English 11
AP US History
AP Biology
Spanish 3
Math B</p>

<p>My unweighted GPA so far is around a 93.
I got an SAT equivalent of 1980 (without taking any classes or anything) on my PSATs and am waiting for the results of my first SAT from March. </p>

<p>I've been dancing 4 days a week throughout high school, since sophomore year I've been layout and world news editor of the school newspaper, I'm on the staff of two major Darfur and Anti-Genocide movements, have headed information sessions and lobby meetings and campaigns for these organizations. Sophomore year I organized a HUGE benefit concert and raised almost 7,000$ for aid in Darfur. I've run my local chapters of the organizations since sophomore year, and also been working a part-time job all this year. </p>

<p>Can my activism and involvement make up for my average grades?</p>

2

<p>Forgot to mention:</p>

<p>Last summer I attended the Girls Leadership Workshop at the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill and two years in a row I’ve gotten into Brown University’s summer course program. (I couldn’t go last year because it interfered with GLW, but I’m going this year!)</p>

3

<p>Oh, and I’m in NHS!</p>

4

<p>Hi newyorkgirl!</p>

<p>Don’t worry, Columbia is looking for the whole package, rather than just specific stats. It sounds like you are a leader at school and have really shown a passion for certain activities. Academics are all relative to the opportunities that your school provides. As long as you have taken full advantage of what was offered to you, you should be ok. Your grades certainly won’t discount you from consideration. If you’re particularly worried about explaining why you had to take some classes, just have your counselor include that in his or her letter. Just keep up your dedication to your activities and keep working hard in school, and don’t stress too much! Columbia wants students of all backgrounds and they’re pretty good at seeing students’ potential based on what’s been available to them.</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

5

<p>Understand the concept of a “holistic” evaluation process: there is no set weight apportioned to extracurricular activities or whatever else. Some admitted students are natural go-getters who are always involved; others, like me, value their sleep and just participate in a handful of ECs that are dear to them, because they are dear to them. Same thing with grades and courses; I didn’t take a single AP, for instance, though I pushed myself academically in other ways.</p>

6

<p>Make sure your counselor explains the situation of your school…average number of APs, etc. Good regional officers usually do their job and try to find out about your school anyway.</p>