<p>Okay so my gpa is a 4.1 weighted out of five and class rank is 120/380.
My SAT score is a 560 critical reading, 650 math, 690 writing.</p>
<p>I took AP psychology last year, and this year (senior year) am taking AP world, AP English, and AP Environmental science. </p>
<p>For out of school activities: I have around 20 hours of volunteering at an old person Russian day care. I am a member of steering committee grades 9-12. I have two years of the school newspaper, and then one year of arts and entertainment editor, and then another year of editor in chief. I spend most of my time doing that. I am also a member of the micro finance club. I also work at my fathers software company, and had a brief internship at my towns superintendents office.</p>
<p>I really need a reality check, and for someone to please help me and tell me what my chances are at Columbia, and if not Columbia I could really use some suggestions. It would be so appreciated!
I became interested in Columbia when I went to their CSPA journalism conference in March, and I just fell in love. Do I have any chance at any Ivy League? Please help.</p>
<p>Most kids have near perfect GPAs and are in the top 5%, have near perfect SATs, and dazzling ECs. Unless you have a very compelling story that will wow the adcoms, you have a very very low chance of acceptance. But then again, I’m not the adcom, so you never know. It doesn’t hurt to go ahead and apply cause you never know, but I’m just letting you know that you’re chances are minuscule to none.</p>
<p>Does Columbia usually accept 60 or 80 or 100 people per year from your high school? Or is it more likely to accept one or two–or even none–of the very top students from your school?</p>
<p>The answer to that question will let you know whether you have much of a shot.</p>
<p>Thanks for honestly asking for “a reality check”. While Deterrance correctly says that “stats are not all that matters”, in reality, they matter for a GREAT DEAL. Your class rank and current SATs do not make you a viable candidate for any college with an under 20% admit rate. However, I’d say if you apply yourself, you’ll have a good variety of choices come April of your senior year. Good luck.</p>
<p>Don’t be discouraged from applying by all the negative vibers here. I was admitted in 1980 though in the bottom third of my HS class. My college counselor strongly discouraged me from applying. I applied anyway as Columbia was my 2nd choice and I was a legacy. I met the admissions director & got drunk with him and my dad after the Penn football game. Don’t know if that helped. Probably what got me in was being recruited for crew. I was relatively no good but there were 8 crew recruit slots that year and it was use em or lose em, as I subsequently learned. Are you an athlete? I think even 30 years on that’s the best hook, unless your relatives donate buildings.</p>
<p>My point is, don’t sell yourself short, and be skeptical when people tell you you’ll fail at something you really really want to do. This applies to life in general, not just college admissions. GL to you. See you at the alumni reception in 6 years or so.</p>
<p>sorry man, unless your a “super-hooked” applicant. Like ranked nationally #1 in a sport, or your parents donated millions of dollars, or you’re a celebrity, etc. you have pretty much a 0% shot. If the people with 2300 SAT and 3 subject tests over 750, and amazing ECs are being rejected, I definitely can not see you being accepted.</p>
<p>Sounds like you had a fun time in high school, did a lot of well rounded extra curriculars and have maintained a more than above average GPA- so you should be proud of that. </p>
<p>However- Ivys accept within the top 10% of your class (unless you come from a super duper tiny high school, like class of 50 kids) and your other two SAT scores need to range in the 700s if one of them is in the 500s. So, I would say- no. You will likely not get accepted. But if you have the time, apply anyway- no harm except for the $80 fee. =)</p>
<p>The other thing worth noting is that the only leadership post I see you have is Ed in Chief. This is not a rarity nor astonishing to admissions people. If you wanted your ECs to shine, you would need a lot more substantial work in leadership, not just being a member of something, or spending time volunteering at another (think BIGGER- start a movement, own a company…etc). If you were interested in journalism, on the other hand, this EC does add credence to your personal statement story perhaps, but keep in mind that CU doesn’t have an undergrad journalism degree.</p>