<p>Like the title says, I'm a Korean citizen who attended a regular Korean high school, none of this international school nonsense. I've had to study for all the TOEFL SATs APs etc. on my own, and it was tough ****:(</p>
<p>Anyhow, I was wondering if I had a shot at being admitted into Columbia's Engineering division through early decision? I apparently have only one chance, I want to make it count.</p>
<p>GPA: pretty close to 4 (rank, i dunno. they don't really care about the school scores here)
SAT: 2350
SATII: Chemistry, Math IC, Math IIC 800s (I'm going to take Physics and U.S. History,ugh, in october)
AP: Calculus BC, Physics B, Physics C, Chemistry 5's
IBT TOEFL: 120/120</p>
<p>*If I brag about having self-studied for all this during 4 months, do I get an advantage? Or will they see me as a impulsive risk taker?</p>
<p>EC
-Janitorial work in school all 3 terrible years (there's always at least one ****er daily that can't aim for the toilet bowl)
-Orchestra, 2nd in regional competition
-Varsity basketball (we never won a single match haha)
-A noticeable number of hours community service
-Class president 2 years, vice-president 1 year
-Typed books in braille for the blind at the Library for the Sight Impaired
-I get free shoes for throwing myself down stairs on a skateboard
-Etc.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure I can write some decent essays, and my teachers love me to death. I know it's not worth much to speculate, but any assisstance at all would put a smile on my face. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Why, thank you! So, are you implying that I should apply early decision? Careful now, if I'm rejected I'm going to make a visit to Australia with my chainsaw.</p>
<p>Oh, I also have to ask, I work as a tutor, cheating the parents of spoiled rich kids out of hundreds of dollars of cash every month. I also did dishes and served drinks during darker times. Do I also write down what I've done for money such as this, or is it volunteer work only?</p>
<p>Well I have started from dishes, went to waiter, to headwaiter, to barista, to head barista and barista trainer and then a different path altogether: sales person to salesperson-smashing-records, to getting pinched by the biggest company in the state, to smashing records there too, to becoming head salesperson, to become sales manager for one of the stores we run here and now I'm working as both sales and customer service supervisor.</p>
<p>Besides using that opportunity to have a nice little brag, I would definitely tell you to add any employment especially if you started at like 14 like I did. Employment added to the rest of the sum (ECs, academics, etc etc) makes you a bit more "worldy" etc Don't add the bit about cheating parents. Not good. :P</p>
<p>If you really think Columbia is for you, go for ED, bearing in mind that you have a decent chance anywhere really.</p>
<p>Finaid or not, I think he'll be alright with those stats.</p>
<p>I'm international (obviously) and I was accepted asking for finaid and also got into the absolutely awesome exclusive (haha not) Global Scholars program so I don't play loans either... So I'm guessing they really wanted me to attend...</p>
<p>samsung? how? if you want to know how much aid you can get tell me your approx family income after tax in American dollars? (or PM me that info)</p>
<p>you'll pardon the suspicion, but i smell a set-up. obviously your scores and stats are perfect, your tone of post sounds peppy and put-together, your activities paint a portrait of someone who is caring of others, but works insanely hard, shows maturity, and also knows how to have fun (skateboarding down staircases, eh?).</p>
<p>but... despite the fact that you can do a robin-hood routine of overcharging for tutoring, and rake in hundreds of dollars per month, you tell us you need to spend your spare time being a janitor? On its own, sure, it's at least consistent with the rest of your story. But really, you need multiple jobs, while in high school, while you study for a dozen tests that you get perfect scores on in the side?</p>
<p>Wait, I think I read this story before, maybe one written by Horatio Alger? Did you also save a kid who fell off a boat, who turned out to be the son of a rich guy who then rewarded you with material wealth?</p>
<p>pardon the skepticism, but either you're for real or you deserve props for pulling everyone's leg rather adroitly.</p>
<p>Denzera scares everyone on this board. In fact, some people may call this board his.</p>
<p>He lives a distinct online identity and protects the boards, uncovering conspiracies and destroying his opponents in flawless argument.</p>
<p>In his spare time, he lives for and on the streets. This is where he truly shines. In the backstreets of Harlem, he rules the underworld of selling drugs and pimpin'. Next time a Columbian is down, scream "Denzera" and the heavenly hosts from above shall dispel all your troubles - within and without.</p>
<p>haha, I can take this as a good sign, right?? your reply was really long and my beautiful eyes pretty much glazed over for the latter half of it, i'm sorry. to compensate, i will explain my unbelievable story of hardship and triumph. I've already graduated, and I took all the tests(SAT, AP, TOEFL) after graduation. I am doing the tutoring for money right now. i don't want to work dead end jobs when i don't need to. go to Pyeong Chang Dong, it's easy to get a job like my current one with an exceptional SAT score. As for the janitorial work, are you *<strong><em>ing insane?? Why would I do that in my spare time?? I had to do it for school, you are FORCED to. I just got unlucky in rock, paper, scissors and got the bathroom job(and i'm not talking about cleaning up pee, i'm talking about poo poo. as for the toilets, they're not seats, they're more like ceramic holes in the ground. the messes are EPIC). During high school, I was in school from 8:30 am to 11:00pm daily. yes it's awful, but that's how my country is, it's a *</em></strong>ed up place. i still love it to death though:)
Now are you going to ask me to make photocopies of everything, or are you going to actually give me the help I need? we don't have guidance counselors or whatever things you have in america, this is a solo job:(</p>
<p>healthy skepticism is something i can respect though, no hard feelings. vesalvay, so you meant that i wouldn't be getting 15k of aid but would have to have 15k paid by my family?? that would work out PERFECT:) that's a tad bit more than how much it costs to attend a private university in korea. i'm sure the extra money will be worth it!</p>