<p>i was wondering if columbia places more emphasis on ecs and essays than on numbers</p>
<p>bump (10 characters).</p>
<p>No .</p>
<p>Unless we're talking about athletic recruits, or an ancestor who donated a building, or some other special category, it's the numbers that get you on the table at all these schools. If you are within a certain range, they will look seriously at your ecs and essays to see what makes you stand out and how you would fit in. It's at that point that each college takes a slightly different perspective, depending on what they are looking for, which is why someone who gets into Harvard does not necessarily get into Princeton, etc., and why someone with a 1500 might get in while someone with a 1600 does not.</p>
<p>I really hate when people are like "Oh well this and this school is so much better than Harvard, they care less about the numbers". LOL, I know you're not doing it, but sorry its just a gripe. All schools care basically about the same things, and if you hear a school doesn't care about the "numbers", that just means that their incoming classes have low SAT scores.</p>
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if you hear a school doesn't care about the "numbers", that just means that their incoming classes have low SAT scores.
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<p>Oh now we are dissing Juilliard are we :mad:</p>
<p>but after going through the board, this is what i understood that yes numbers do matter- obviously, but equally important are ecs and essays</p>
<p>all i can say about getting into any of the four schools be discussed in this thread is that it is truely impossible to define what any ivy league school wants in a candidate. </p>
<p>i'll provide to examples; both of which were at my school.</p>
<p>the girl that was ranked second in a class of 500, perfect ACT score, amazing extracurriculars (music, leadership, community service), 2 sport varsity athlete for 3 year (she wasnt recruited at all), prom queen, and overall one of the most amiable people you would meet. she did everything right in high school but didnt get into Harvard. fact of the matter is she wasn't even wait listed.</p>
<p>then on the other hand there was a girl who was ranked about 40ish, did extracurriculars nothing too dedicated, ran cross country, and did a few leadership activities. the one spectacular thing she had going was her dedicationto her local youth group activities holding leadership positions throughout high school on local and national levels. amazingly she got into columbia.</p>
<p>in no way were her extracurriculars, grades, or scores better than the first girl. the only conclusion i have been able to draw from the ivy league admissions process is that if you do something they want you to be dedicated to it through and through.</p>
<p>You can't compare Harvard to Columbia (no offense)</p>
<p>Of course admissions procedures at Julliard will be slightly different than other schools. I'm talking about regular Universities, not art schools or specialty schools.</p>
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the only conclusion i have been able to draw from the ivy league admissions process is that if you do something they want you to be dedicated to it through and through.
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<p>This is true. The key to your example, I believe, was that both students had the grades and scores to earn them consideration. The student who got into Columbia had national level leadership positions in a cause to which she appeared genuinely dedicated.</p>
<p>how can it be different? with the exception of specialized schools in the arts, techs, etc. all schools look for the well-rounded, interesting, stand-out student.</p>
<p>ex: i got into columbia and not hy...who knows why? maybe i presented myself differently in the columbia app? i was more passionate in the columbia essays?</p>
<p>ivyathlete, maybe the girl you provided in the example had a special hook like a URM, or legacy</p>
<p>Ok...I dont know who has been through this process but let me tell you what happens.</p>
<p>First, to dooit's comment- you can absolutely compare Columbia and Harvard. There are tons of students who get into Harvard and not into Columbia or Yale or Princeton. Each school has a different personality and they will only accept kids who fit that personality and will continue the reputation each individual school has. My best friend was accepted to Yale, waitlisted at Harvard, rejected at Columbia, accepted to Stanford, waitlisted at Penn and accepted to Cornell. Each school has a different personality. End of story.</p>
<p>The admissions process IS NOT RANDOM. I hate people saying this when they havent been through it. SAT scores are looked at once. If you are in the ballpark, they do not look at them again. GPA/rigor of coursework, essays and EC's are the most important aspects of any application. If you can show that you have done well in high school, have an advanced writing style and have dedicated yourself to 2 or 3 certain EC's, one can become an outstanding applicant. Admissions officers can in fact see who really wants to attend their school and who doesn't. </p>
<p>As for level of admissions difficulty, Columbia had a lower acceptance rate this year than Princeton and just over Yale and Harvard. To say that you cannot compare the school's admissions processes is ludicrous.</p>
<p>I think that there needs to be common sense on these boards. People on here need to understand that there is far more than numbers to an applicant. Students get into top colleges because they show a true and passionate demonstrated interest in the school and it shines through an application. Becoming more than a piece of paper is what all applicants should strive for.</p>
<p>-Jaug1
Columbia College, Class of 2009</p>
<p>"Becoming more than a piece of paper is what all applicants should strive for."</p>
<p>I can see why you got into Columbia...great line!</p>