International Students!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Are you guys applying to SEAS or CC? Where do you come from? Has it helped or hurt you? i think it could help us to be honest but you can never actually know until decision day. anyway. Chance me and i'll chance you? :) </p>

<p>hey guys. I'm an international student who has applied to Columbia for Fall 2014. I'm looking at studying biology. I got 2160 in SAT I with a 770 in Math, 720 in CR and 670 in W. I'm not really proud of this score because I know that I can do way better than that. It's just that at our schools (mine is THE top school in the country. Fact, not bragging.), we focus in our senior year on Advanced Proficiency Exams (A'level) and SAT is just something we do on the side because we don't have enough time to dedicate to it. That aside (I hate making excuses), I got 790 in Biology M, 710 in Chemistry; for my O'levels that i submitted, I have distinctions in Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary Math, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Health and Physical Education, French, Normal Math, English Language and Technical Drawing. At Unit one Advanced level (doing unit two this year), i have distinctions in Pure Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Communication Studies. I filled up all ten spots on my common app activity page with activities that include hospital volunteer, ballet, cheerleading, senior prefect body and micro business owner (i make and sell cupcakes), i got great recommendations, I'd give my essays a 9 out of 10 and i'm a straight A student (we don't have a cumulative GPA). The only thing I'm REALLY worried about is my SAT 1 scores and then my friend from school also applied to Columbia and she's an American citizen by birth. Does she have an advantage on me? She's a great student as well and it would be so cool if we both got in. What are the odds that one or even two kids from a little Caribbean island in the same class will be accepted? Even if i don't get in, i guess i can just take a year off and apply next year. that way i'll have more time to devote to that 2400 with my other exams out of the way. I didn't apply to any safety schools because I don't truly want to attend them. I also applied to Yale, Brown and Rice.</p>

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<p>As an international student myself, you can’t imagine how much I would want those scores. Especially your SAT 1. Please don’t complain!
And, you know… admission is not based on your SAT score. Don’t worry about it. (:</p>

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<p>I am also an international student, from Germany to be specific. Your SAT score is okay compared to Columbia’s stats (mine are way lower) but I don’t think the score is what is going to make or break it. Columbia, however, is not entirely need-blind for international students, so that may put you at a disadvantage next to your friend if you plan on applying for financial aid.
You have as good a chance of getting in as everyone else. The problem simply is that there are far more intelligent and outstanding students than space available. If you are going to be rejected, it does not mean you were not good enough. There’s a HUGE portion of luck involved.</p>

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<p>There are many more factors that come to play when it comes to applying as an international student and i personally do not believe in luck. i get infuriated when someone brings that up as it mollifies accepted people’s accomplishment. as it is true there are limited spaces and the number of applicants that are outstanding is gargantuan, you can always do the best to put yourself forward. Columbia loves international students (+1), your sat score is within the range of 80% of accepted people, and they understand that it is much harder for us as it is a bias test. that being said, they accentuate you school grades, ECAS and your essays comparably. make sure those are good and you will hopefully, god willing, get in. good luck :)</p>

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<p>@UmeedAli I did not mean to mollify a student’s accomplishments ( funny that you say good luck though :smiley: ). I just think that, of course scores,awards,etc. are important factors for admission, but that there are many students who would do great at many of the competitive schools and deserve to go there. When everyone has amazing stats, the decision is kind of based on a gut feeling( there was a video about admissions at Amherst and he says just that). I get your point though and think it is accurate. In this context, I simply define luck differently. :)</p>