International Student ED (Chance?)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey everyone!
I'm an international student from Singapore on the A level track, and am wondering how good my chances are in getting to Columbia. Any comments? </p>

<p>Here's my profile:</p>

<p>Prospective major: International Relations or Earth Studies</p>

<p>SAT I (took this twice since I ruined my first essay 6/12 WHAT A DISASTER.) </p>

<p>CR: 710 M: 690 W: 720 T: 2120
CR: 770 M: 760 W: 790 T: 2320 </p>

<p>I'm on the A level track so I take subjects with different levels. H1 is the intermediate and H2 has twice as much content. H3 papers vary but are a more difficult module. The number of units is fixed and I'm taking the maximum possible. My grades from last year are below too. The C and D are really not representative of the actual A level standard which is much lower (my predicted grades are all As) but does Admissions know/take this into account? </p>

<p>H1 General Paper (English) - there's only H1 for this A
H2 Chemistry A
H2 Biology C
H2 Geography D
H2 Math A
H3 Geography (individual research paper on chosen topic) </p>

<p>EC:
Guitar ensemble Sectional Leader (F to S year)
Subjectif new media club President (J to Senior year)
2nd Victoria Model United Nations Secretary-General & Head of Organising Committee
Youth delegate to the 16th Conference of the Parties at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun 2010</p>

<p>I've participated in several other current affairs-related competitions and MUNs, as well as organized several events for my school. </p>

<p>Am I on track? Thanks!</p>

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<p>BUMP! (anyone here?)</p>

3

<p>just out of curiosity why in the class of 2013 sub-forum ?</p>

4

<p>Great to see another guitar player :wink: anyways, your sat’s are great but whats your gpa? its hard to evaluate you without it. Your EC’s seem very focused and show commitment. But honestly, NOBODY has a “good chance”. judging by your sat’s and Ec’s i’d say you have an above average chance, but i think you need to give us a little more info.</p>

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<p>We don’t have GPAs in Singapore. But my ranking is on average above 85% of my cohort in the last semester exam (not very good I know). Some admissions officers I spoke to say they’ll look at my predicted grades for the A levels more than my high school curriculum (which is seriously deflated) and those mocks are in 5 weeks!</p>

<p>Oh and I took my SAT IIs after I posted this: 800 Math II and 800 Chemistry.</p>

<p>Might I have forgotten to mention that I’m a contributing student writer to the local newspaper? Since I was 10, if I might add:)</p>

6

<p>well, the SAT II are as good as they get. but if you are around the top 15% in rank, then its going to hurt you a little, sorry. I mean, its definitely not impossible, but i know that usually you want to be at least top 10%. Maybe you could just focus really hard on academics and raise your rank to 10%? Im sure that your chances will definitely increase with a higher rank. Also, that student writer EC is great but not terribly impressive. Have you won any kind of writing awards of competitions? Im sure that would really make you stand out! One last thing though: If your an international student applying for aid, it reduces your chances :frowning: Although columbia’s somewhat need blind for U.S students, international students aren’t given as much wiggle room unless your in dire need of aid.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the tip. I’m definitely cramming in the books now.</p>