<p>Right now I'm ended my junior year in a competitive public new england high school. Despite it sounding cliche, Columbia has been my 'dream school' since I was very little and given the prestige and reputation of the Core along with their Political Science Department (hopefully my major), there isn't another school I would like to attend more. Given that, considering my grades are not really outstanding, what could I possibly do to a.) show my dedication/contribution to Columbia and b.) have an app. that stands out?</p>
<p>Rank: 18/460
SAT: Take in June...aiming for a 2000+
SAT II: Same deal, taking American His, should get around 760+
Four AP's by end of Senior Year (we don't offer too many)</p>
<p>Main Dedication:
Model UN - President & Chair 2006/2007</p>
<p>o Individual Best Delegate Silver Medal in Security Council (U-Mass Lowell), 2006
o 4th Best Overall Delegation for Tanzania (U-Mass Lowell), 2006
o Best School Delegation (Northeastern), 2006
o Individual Outstanding Delegate in Security Council for the United States of America (Northern Essex), 2007
o People?s Choice Award for Best Individual Delegate in Security Council ? chosen by the student-delegates for best delegate within the committee ? (Northern Essex), 2007
o Best Overall School Delegation, 2007
o Individual Best Delegate Gold Medal in Security Council (U-Mass Lowell), 2007</p>
<p>Few other Activities/Awards:</p>
<p>Varsity Field Hockey - grades 10, 11
o State Quarter-Finalists , 2007
State Semi-Finalists, 2006
FUTURES - Olympic Developmental Skills Program, grades 9-12</p>
<p>Student Voice - Vice President (Began school-wide recyling program)
SADD, Peer Outreach
National Honor Society
French Honor Society
Math Honor Society
English Honor Society
New England Region Outstanding Teen by Nextstep Mag.
Working two jobs during school-year
....many more, but those are the bigger ones</p>
<p>1) How's your GPA? How does the strength of your academic schedule compare to the most challenging available at your school?
2) Are there any subjects in which you've exhausted your school's resources? </p>
<p>If the answer to #2 is yes, go outside the school for additional expansion opportunities. For example, I finished my school's math curriculum my freshman year, I spent the next two years taking classes at Boston University and Harvard Extension School and stuff. If you've gone above-and-beyond the opportunities in your world in, say, history or english, it will stand out. It shows initiative and academic passion. Maybe you can take classes at a local university, maybe Stanford's Distance Learning Program will be good enrichment over the summer, maybe you engaged a teacher at your school for an independent study and went and researched something of interest to you. But go above and beyond the call of duty, that always stands out.</p>
<p>Here's another off-the-wall idea: visit the school for a tour on the weekend that Days on Campus is taking place. DoC is the weekend for admitted students when current students host them, there are a bunch of parties and events and a lot of students are out helping out and answering questions. Then, for your why-columbia blurb, mention that you "happened" to stop by during that weekend and saw X, Y and Z. If you're paying attention, you'll learn a ton about the school and find some really compelling (and honest!) reasons why you want to go to Columbia, specifically Columbia, and why no other school will quite do the same for you (i.e., it'll give you lots of answers to the question of 'why columbia, specifically?').</p>
<p>Those are some thoughts off the top of my head. You seem to have focused and achieved success in some extracurricular stuff. I'm not sure if any of that is academically-based, like it would be for (say) a science team or math team or history paper competition or what-have-you. But you've gotten recognition for stuff, which is pretty cool. Emphasize that, it makes you stand out. My suggestions are just additional ways.</p>
<p>Well my gpa is around a 4.28 (weighted...unweighted isn't known yet). I've taken all Honors (highest level aside from AP) and will have one of the most AP courseloads by the end of Senior Year. Unfortunately, my math grades have tended to be fairly low (B's throughout) althogh I have had straight A's other than that. I will have also taken almost all social studies/history classes offered, but there isn't a college/university where I could fit in additional classes, unfortunately. </p>
<p>Model UN is essentially a history/debate type organization, however I am not sure if that is really outstanding enough to really be noticed for it...</p>
<p>i'm talking night and summer stuff. I took multivariable calc in an evening class one evening a week for a semester, and linear algebra in a 4-day-a-week summer class over 8 weeks. these things get you noticed.</p>
<p>Most of us are familiar with MUN. It's better than nothing, and awards are good because it shows your skills relative to other people competing. any academic subject, though, where your school can offer the ability to distinguish yourself, will be a big asset the next 12 months. it may be too late for that, though, since your junior year's almost over.</p>
<p>also, just for grins... where in god's name could you possibly be in new england where there isn't a college or university within 10 minutes of you? do you live on top of mount washington?</p>
<p>anyway, I gave you my ideas. You seem like a good candidate in the first place. That's all you get, for free anyway :)</p>