Is Columbia a lost cause?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm genuinely interested in Columbia University and New York University. I am in love with Columbia, but would definitely settle for NYU if Columbia proves to be a lost cause. If I apply to Columbia, I think ED will be my only shot. If I apply to NYU ED, I think I am fairly safe. If I apply to Columbia ED and get rejected, I think I have a good chance of getting into NYU RD anyways. I need help determining whether or not Columbia ED is a waste of an opportunity to increase my chances at NYU.</p>

<p>New Jersey Blue-Ribbon Public School
GPA: 3.7 weighted (will have straight A's the beginning of senior year, if that does anything...)
PSAT: V 80 M 56 W 66 (96th percentile)
SATI Scores: 2110 CR 680 M 640 W 790 (Perfect MC, 10 Essay)
SATII Scores: US History 710, will take Literature and/or Math IC (700+ anticipated)
AP Tests: Language and Composition 4, Biology 3, US History 5</p>

<p>Extracurricular Interests</p>

<p>Academic</p>

<p>• 2002-2004 - member on National Champion FIRST Robotics Team #25 – Raider Robotics - 10-15 hours per week
Freshman Year: Head of Scouting
Sophomore Year: Lead Robot Driver, Head of Scouting, Webmaster
1st Place – NJ Regional, Duel on the Delaware, Ramp Riot, Pennsylvania Area Robotics Challenge, Brunswick Eruption
2nd Place – National Championships (Atlanta, GA), Chesapeake Regional Judges Award (Annapolis, MD)
• 2004-2005 - member on FIRST Robotics Team #1257 – Parallel Universe – 10-15 hours per week
Junior Year: Head of Scouting
• 2004-Current - President/Founder of the Student Medical Association – 2 hours per week
• 2004-Current - member of Future Business Leaders of America – 2 hours per week
Junior Year: Webmaster, Received Top Honors in the Technology Concepts competition at the North-Central Regional
• 2002-Current - Staff Writer for “The Banner”, a student-written and published newspaper – 1 hour per week
• 2005 - PSAT/NMSQT Commended Student
• 2005-Current - Member of the North Brunswick Township High School National Honors Society
• 2005 - Poem "Portrait of a Nation" selected for publication in a Live Poets Society of NJ yearly anthology</p>

<p>Community/Volunteer</p>

<p>• Summer 2004 - 90+ hours of community service running a “Lego Camp” at a local church for middle school students
• Spring 2005 - 5+ hours of community service at Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen</p>

<p>Employment</p>

<p>• 2001-2004 - Summer employment at an Internist/Infectious Disease Specialist’s Office – 40 hours per week
• 2004-Current - Creator/Owner/Operator of a browser-based massive multiplayer online roleplaying game, entitled Cru’en’tus, written in HTML and PHP – 5-10 hours per week</p>

<p>Also of Interest</p>

<p>• Father is a donating alumnus of NYU
• Brother attends NYU Graduate School
• Essays will be outstanding
• Recs will be outstanding</p>

<p>Thank you to all who reply!</p>

2

<p>i feel the same way about myself...(and the whole columbia/nyu thing)
i'm really not sure about the admission thought-process so all i can say is, best of luck to you!</p>

3

<p>if you want to be an engineer, heres a secret</p>

<p>if you go to fordham and major in engineering, you actually go to columbia school of engineering, and get a degree from there</p>

<p>just a back-door wya into columbia, but wont work for non-engineers</p>

4

<p>You would get into NYU RD if you are applying to Arts and Sciences. However, your weighted GPA is, for a lack of better diction, horrendous (what's your rank?). Your SAT is low for Columbia. But know that Columbia is one of the most selective universities in the US (up there with HYPS)... You can ED Columbia if you want...</p>

5

<p>but, habdragon08, who wants to go to college in the Bronx?</p>

6

<p>Just wondering, what is your class rank? If it is high, then your GPA may be fine. If you love Columbia, then I would say that you should apply Early Decision. Under early decision, statistically, more students are accepted than Regular Decision, so that could be to your advantage. I think that your SAT Score may be fine for Columbia Early Decision. 2 students from my high school last year applied to Columbia ED with Sats in the low 1300s, and were accepted. Make sure that your essay is clearly written, and that it expresses who you are.</p>

7

<p>We don't really rank in my school, but I'd imagine I'm in the top 15% or so. My GPA is definitely a little on the low side.</p>

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

<p>Would I be okay for NYU CAS RD?</p>

8

<p>I think you are totally ok NYU CAS RD.</p>

9

<p>I think you're decent for NYU CAS RD, not definite, but a match, however I honestly don't think you have a shot at columbia ED or RD with a 3.7 weighted and a 1320 CR+M score. So since NYU is definitely not a safety for you, my advice would be to apply NYU ED, then you will have a great chance and at a school you really want to go to, as opposed to the potential of being rejected from your two top schools. Of course, you have to follow your heart, and if you really, really want a shot at Columbia, go for it, but go into it without expectations. Good Luck, and either way you're at a great school.</p>

10

<p>I agree with coolbars, I would ED NYU. Columbia is going to be very tough, unless you can get the ACT at 33+.</p>