I know I'm being hyper; I know these types of threads won't change a thing...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>but do I have a decent shot at Columbia? Probably ED - I love the school (though I'm aware that things may change as I see more colleges).</p>

<p>I'm posting this at the risk of ****ing off the good folks of the Columbia forum, but I am currently gripped by college-obsessive-itis...</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Race: Biracial (black/white)
GPA: 3.9 UW; 4.6 W
Class Rank: 8/100
SAT I: 650 M, 790 CR, 770 W; 2210 composite
SAT II: Yet to take. Going to take Latin, Literature and Math II
Economic bracket: Will not be applying for FA</p>

<p>Notes on curriculum:
I've taken all AP classes during Junior year; all classes during senior year will be AP; I've taken 6 courses each semester all throughout high school, while the normal course load is 5 per semester (take two foreign languages, spanish and latin)</p>

<p>*EC's: *
•Editor-in-chief of newspaper (member for four years)
•Editor of literary magazine (member for four years)
•Member of Varsity debate team
•President of Political Action Club
•Founding member of Spanish club
•Baseball (10 years total, 1 year JV, 1 year Varsity)
•Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (2 years)
•Muy Thai (2 years)</p>

<p>*Interests, focuses: *
Creative writing (mainly poetry), Journalism</p>

<p>*Summer: *
•3-week credit-earning creative writing program at Rhodes College (Grade: A)
•Accepted into and attending the University of Iowa Young Writer's Studio
*Undergraduate credited courses at Temple U in Philosophy and Literature
•Internships at two different local newspapers; paying job at newspaper
•Internship at WHYY (Philadelphia's radio/TV branch of National Public Radio)
•Job as a server at a local diner (3 years straight).</p>

<p>*Essays: *
One about how being biracial but looking white has affected how I approach people and communicate with people, and how that has sparked my interest in journalism/writing; one that is stream-of-consciousness about my passions, my daily life, my goals. Can only submit one, I know.</p>

<p>Teacher Recs:
Will be strong. One from English teacher. Getting one from my math teacher, which, if it is very good, will hopefully counter that damn SAT math section score.</p>

<p>Any opinions? Your welcome, also, to tell me to "shove it and go elsewhere with the stupid chance thread."</p>

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<p>hum… columbia is a very diverse ivy from what i hear… </p>

<p>you look like you have a good shot… but you never know…</p>

3

<p>As the father of a member of the class of '13, I’d say you have a good chance. Keep up the great work!</p>

4

<p>looks good. quite unique, stats are good enough. ED should be a yes :)</p>

5

<p>you will get in ED.</p>

<p>just don’t write a horrible essay.</p>

6

<p>You’ll definitely get in ED.</p>

<p>Taking all AP courses? And here I thought taking 3 in one year was bad…good luck with all the exams</p>

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<p>oh, and kid, dont say youre biracial, just say black on the application. itll help. seriously, i have a few friends here who did that kind of thing.</p>

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<p>Thanks. Completely admit that I’m digging for assurance, ha. </p>

<p>rjv - At my school, some AP classes don’t require that you take the exam. So thankfully, I’m not taking 11-12 AP exams, ha.</p>

<p>r3volut1on - one of my essays is about being biracial, so that probably wouldn’t work out too well.</p>

<p>is being biracial not considered being a URM?</p>

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<p>I love you Shelley. I must ask–are you expressing a death wish at the end of “Adonais” or the desire to transcend the bounds of human consciousness while yet alive? You acknowledge that the sword can’t be consumed before (temporally + spatially) the sheath, yet nonetheless seem skeptical of that avowal. Explain yourself sir! And not with a string of similes, no matter how wonderfully it would resonate with your twin theories of love and poetry! TYIA.</p>

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<p>“Explain yourself, sir!”</p>

<p>Musil<em>the</em>Muse, if you love me so dearly then you ought to understand that a man of virtuous soul commands not, nor obeys. :)</p>

<p>Anyone think my Math score on the SAT I will be a problem?</p>

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<p>“is being biracial not considered a URM?”</p>

<p>“Think my Math score on the SAT I will be a problem?”</p>

<p>Bump to these two questions. sorry :o</p>

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<p>You have a really good shot. Impressive. I think you’re in, especially ED.</p>

<p>By the way, I got accepted into Iowa Young Writers’ Studio too! What session are you attending?</p>

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<p>Your resume looks great. Being biracial does not necessarily qualify you as a URM*— there are a ton of biracial Asian/whites for instance, but being half black will make you a URM, so you’ve got that going for you.</p>

<p>As for essays:

Columbia will probably not turn their nose up at a stream-of-consciousness essay, but be wary. Lots of people try to write like this, so if you’re going to go with it instead of the other essay, make sure that you’re talking about things that ONLY YOU could talk about, i.e., what makes you “unique”. (I know, I hate that word too, but it’s true.) In other words, if your writing style isn’t going to be spectacularly unique — and these days it’s very hard to write a college essay in a style that isn’t going to be used by at least a thousand other people — make sure the content is.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

14

<p>Your resume is really looking good for ED, but if you want to make it better, why don’t you just retake the SAT. Chances are (if you study) that you’ll get higher on the Math. Columbia (and I think most universities) take the combined scores on each section - NOT a total score from one sitting. So, if you happen to get like a 740 on the Math but screw up and get a 600 on the Reading and Writing, those sections won’t count because you already have amazing scores on those sections from before. So, with the (hypothetical) 740 in Math, you’d have a 2300 to rub in those admission reviewers’ faces (JK, I love Columbia, it’s my dream school.)</p>

<p>But, honestly, your resume is fantastic and I highly doubt the Math section will end up ruining your chances especially as a prospective (I’m assuming) journalism major. So, if you don’t want to spend another load of cash for another SAT, don’t worry about it, you’re fine.</p>

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<p>Oh, and regarding r3volut1on’s comment: Is it really okay to do that? I know all about the affirmative action thing and I have considered doing that, especially because they ask “Pick which race you most AFFILIATE with yourself,” not the one you actually are. However, I don’t know how much that ruins my credibility.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the comments, everyone. </p>

<p>Hatoyama: my essay was written at first in a stream-of-consciousness style, but I revised it a number of times and gave it a different structure. That, I think, makes it a bit different from the standard stream-of-consciousness piece. But if the form isn’t unique, the content is: there are many details and events described that only I could have had. It’s all fairly irrelevant, because by the time I apply, my essays are bound to have changed, haha. Thanks again for the help.</p>

<p>Is the general consensus that I ought to take the SAT I again, though I’d probably have to send two scores rather than a single sitting? </p>

<p>If so, my standardized testing schedule will be as follows:</p>

<p>June - SAT II: Math II, Latin
October - SAT I
November - SAT II: Literature </p>

<p>A little hectic, but not too crazy.</p>

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<p>I would take the ACT before taking the SAT a second time. Some folks are more oriented toward the ACT format, and thus score “better” on the ACT. You may score 34+, in which case the SAT becomes irrelevant.</p>

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<p>well i don’t know you look good but so does everyone else.</p>

<p>essay will easily be the most important thing so if you write an honest essay you can’t go wrong.</p>

<p>also only put down your longest (most years served) or most involved ECs don’t drown them in every little thing you’ve done.</p>

<p>edit: ah yes i do love stream-of-consciousness style haha. that’s how i wrote mine, but like you i toned it down a bit so it wasn’t quite so “catcher in the rye”</p>