<p>One of my friends got into Columbia University. Thing is, he was a pothead for 2 years and never took an Honors/AP class until Senior year. However, he got a 2180 on his SAT and had a good amount of ECs. Still, his rank/GPA is awful by CC/Ivy League standards.</p>
<p>Still, between the romanticized version of Ivy League people here in C, and the fact that many super smart kids do not even get in them, I have no idea how he got in. Very happy about him, though.</p>
<p>Discuss.</p>
<p>Recruited athlete maybe?
Legacy?
Super rich with celebrities/industry giants as parents?</p>
<p>I think even super-awesome essays or a “great” personality couldn’t save him from not taking any advanced classes for most of high schools. And the SAT score isn’t even that great…</p>
<p>None of that. Just your normal middle class kid. He said he was the first of his family to get accepted to an Ivy League school so no legacy. No sports. Just 2 years of debate (and no, no fancy 1st place prizes). Not famous either.</p>
<p>He does have a cool personality, and I do not know about his essays.</p>
<p>I’m still confused :(</p>
<p>probably his cool personality</p>
<p>The admission process is a mystery. My guess is that the adcoms saw something in him, maybe through his essays, that you’re overlooking.</p>