I Want to Go to Columbia! Do I Have a Chance?

<p>I'm currently a sophomore in high school. I want to double major in political science and economics at Columbia. This is my current academic achievement:</p>

<p>I've had a 4.0 since 7th grade, as well as the highest average since 7th grade. I've had all A's in the first semester of 10th grade(I currently have A's for this current quarter so far as well). My GPA for this past semester is 4.31(not averaging previous years) because of the AP/honors classes I've taken this year. I plan on taking all the AP/honors classes offered at my school. </p>

<p>My extracurriculars include, but aren't limited to(I'm excluding some minor ones):</p>

<p>-Band, in which I've been 1st chair flute since 9th grade, participating in three honor bands so far, one of which I got first chair in, and another 3rd in symphonic band(the highest out of the three at the college). I hope to become section leader next year.
-MUN, in which I received best delegate at a conference in 9th and 10th grade(one for each year), and in 10th grade, my delegation(UK) receives 1st place best delegation. I was placed in the leadership team at the end of 9th grade based on my MUN advisor's observation of my leadership qualities. I hope to become my MUN club's Secretary General senior year.
-Track team, which I recently started this year. I'm not very athletic and don't predict on standing out. I run the 800.
-Key Club, in which I've done since 9th grade and plan on running for a leadership position next year.
-LIGHT, which is my school's leadership and spiritual development club(I go to a private Christian school) for 9th and 10th graders. I started in 10th grade.
-Boy Scouts, in which I am ranked at Life and intend on receiving Eagle by the end of my high school career.
-I'm the 10th grade class president</p>

<p>I have been recently invited to join Bridge Builders and was on of the two sophomores at my school selected to attend the HOBY leadership conference. I volunteer at my city's humane shelter as well as the Salvation Army. I intend to volunteer at a hospital for the summer as well as apply for jobs. I also am applying for summer program at Cornell, and I hope to apply to Columbia's summer program before senior year.</p>

<p>I received many awards, one of them is the Best in Show award at my school's art exhibit. I was the first freshman to receive it. </p>

<p>I hope to join my school's National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society,Mu Alpha Theta club, SGA, and maybe a few other clubs I can't think of at the top of my head.</p>

<p>I took the ACT ninth-grade and received a 24. I know this isn't high, but I intend to at least get a 32 by the end of junior year. I also took the SAT, but I forgot my score. I'm taking both again at the end of the school year.</p>

<p>What else do I need to do to get in reach schools like my dream uni, Columbia? What are my chances? I know 10th grade is a little too early to know for sure, but I want to know if I'm heading in the right direction and what to do further.</p>

<p>I'm thinking about other schools like NYU, Cornell, UCLA, Stanford, Harvard, Georgetown, Yale, and Princeton, as well. I won't apply to all, but I want to know which would be best for my chances.</p>

<p>Thank you guys so much!</p>

<p>calm down.</p>

<ol>
<li>Really good SAT1 or ACT scores. 32 is not IVY caliber.</li>
<li>Take plenty of APs and get atleast 5s in 5 APS</li>
<li>Two to three SAt2 subject tests with scores as close to 800 as possible.</li>
<li>Best essays.</li>
<li>Better recommendation letters.
I think your ECs are fine.</li>
</ol>

<p>Your chances look good. You need to keep your grades up and get higher scores on you SAT and ACT, but for a tenth grader you are heading in the right direction for going ivy. Just remember that you are just like every other highly qualified person applying there though and you need to find a way to stand out.</p>

<p>Ahaha, Wally, I just scanned over a book about getting into a college and felt underachieved, so I freaked about a bit. </p>

<p>Fatherofm, what would be an Ivy caliber ACT score? I thought 32 was enough… I love to write essays, so I don’t think I’ll have too much of a problem with that. I plan on taking 3 SAT II tests, one probably being Spanish.</p>

<p>My teachers love me and know my drive and work ethic, so I don’t think they’ll write bad recommendation letters…</p>

<p>NikiKae, I really want to start a local nonprofit organization that provides education to develop cognitive ability in pre-kindergarten students. I just don’t know how yet. One of my teachers has been really successful at starting businesses, so I’m gonna get help from him.</p>

<p>If you think ACT 32 is enough that is fine. But when it comes to IVYs such as Columbia sometimes even 36 is not enough. Sadly, that is the reality.</p>