Is this impressive enough for Columbia University?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

As the title says, basically. I’m currently a junior in my high school year, and I’ve been preparing for the LONGEST time to hopefully be accepted to an Ivy League school. My parents say Harvard, but I find Columbia to be the Ivy AND university that best suits me! I know I still have a way to go, but I would appreciate it if someone would tell me where I could improve, what to add, and tell me how I’m doing so far !

I have not taken the SAT yet, but I will be taking it soon. I’m studying a lot for it, so I hope to do well.

I am taking (and have taken) the most difficult and most rigorous courses my school can offer, and have done quite decently in them. I am not the top student, but I am in the top 4% so far. Out of a 5.0 scale, my GPA so far is 4.5.

As for AP classes, I haven’t done well on my exams in sophomore year (2 AP exams), but and certainly going to do better junior year since I have a grasp and feel of what the exams are like. Even though I can cancel my bad scores from being sent, I have a feeling I should still send them to show my honesty. (Do AP exams really matter in the admissions, though?)

Of course, I plan to polish my junior year academically.

In my extra-curriculars, my main shining point is Taekwondo. I do play cello as well.

When I say Taekwondo is my shining point, I mean it. It is my passion, and I love it with my entire being. I’ve been doing it for 11 years so far, and I don’t plan to stop. I’ve expressed a talent and hardworking wit in this sport, and I’ve incorporated Taekwondo into many aspects.

  • I've won the 2013, 2014, and 2015 National USA Taekwondo Championships.
  • I have been my Taekwondo studio's Demonstration Team Leader for 2 years now (My master chose me to lead after his son graduated high school to lead), and we've won many gold medals at State and Nationals.
  • I am a certified referee, judge, and coach by the U.S Olympic Committee.
  • I am also a certified instructor, and am currently a 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo, Gumdo, and Nunchuks, which indicated that I am a master of my arts.
  • Besides being a national champion for 3 years straight, I have also taken my skill in Taekwondo to teach. I teach for my master whenever he is ill so he doesn't have to close the studio, and the students don't have to miss class. I volunteer to instruct class whenever I have free time, and coach students at tournaments and support them whenever I can.
  • I know many kids get picked on, and don't know how to defend themselves. A lot of these kids can't afford martial arts lessons, thus leaving them helpless. I decided to go to my local church to set up a time for me for when I can teach children Taekwondo. Gradually, my "mini-studio" became bigger, and it was pure awesome-ness to watch these children to go from scrawny little things to children who can decently defend themselves. I loved watching everyone improve! After this program, I decided to volunteer at another church, and decided to teach refugees Taekwondo. A lot of these kids couldn't speak English well, as they were from different countries. As I taught them, I patiently taught them English as well. I've been teaching these refugees for 2 years so far, and it's great!

With cello, I am not as strong at it and I am with Taekwondo. I started lessons quite late. I began lessons at the end of 8th grade, and was desperate yet determined to somehow make it into the varsity orchestra at my school. I’m not quite sure how, but I made it. I went from low to high in 3 months, and made it into my school’s varsity orchestra. After making varsity, I decided to use cello as a calm, mental relief from my studies and a break from Taekwondo. I enjoyed it, is the point. In my freshman year, I made 5th chair in All-Region, and received a 1+ rating (and gold medal) at UIL All-State. In the summer, I decided to begin performing at a church every Sunday for elders and even children just to spread some music into their lives. Sophomore year, I made 1st chair All-Region, and was the soloist. I made a 1+ rating again at UIL All-State. I continue to perform for people at the church. I still haven’t made All-State, but maybe I will this year, maybe I won’t.

I take Latin at school, and I actually really love it! It’s probably my most favorite class. I’ve made straight, high A’s every year and perfect scores on the final exams. I am president of the Latin Club (Junior Classical League), and have been since freshman year. I am also in National Latin Honors Society. With Latin, I decided to make a mentoring group to help students who are struggling. For example, I would help a peer out with Latin, English, and Chemistry since those were my strengths. We would study SAT together. I still run the mentoring group.

Speaking of foreign languages, I speak English, Korean, and German. I believe Latin also counts. I am currently studying French, and hope to be close to fluent at the end of junior year. I am also aiming to receive the Foreign Language Award my school gives to the student who has flourished in their foreign language class and has shown exceptional skill in foreign languages.

I’m planning to join the Art Club this year, as I also love art. I’ve taken studio art last year, and am taking Painting this year. I’m proud to say, that I am actually quite good at art (my strength is realism, to be specific). I’m joining just for enjoyment. I have also posted my art on Facebook, and I’ve heard colleges do look at your Facebook accounts, so I hope they at least get a glimpse of my art.

I went to Eugene Osadchy’s cello camp, UNT Debate Camp, and most importantly so far, the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. I studied bioethics, and received a letter of recommendation from the professor who taught it. I plan to attend this Girls State Leadership camp and a Harvard/Columbia camp soon. I am also going to get an internship soon.

That’s pretty much all I have so far, I would love to hear some feedback. It IS a lot of information, I hope someone can give me tips! Thank you!

2

What’s your unweighted gpa?

3

It’s a 3.9

4

Yes you are an excellent candidate so far. Your scores where they should be based on columbia’s common data set (which can be googled for more info) and you have a strong ec with your taekwondoe which you seem genuinely passionate about unlike people who do things just to put on an application. If you get your sats in the middle 50% range and put work into your essays you should have no problem, good luck!

5

Thank you! Besides my taekwondo, are my other ec’s useless? Just a thought!

6

No! All ec’s with meaning behind them are significant. Things put down just to fill in a line on an app are useless, 5 meaningful ec’s trump 20 that meet once a month.

7

As for AP exam scores, are they considered within admission? Should I keep my bad scores on the application to show my honesty? I’m not sure whether to cancel those scores or not…

8

How many did you take and how many are under 4?

9

I’ve only taken 2 so far, and both of them are under 4. I’ve gotten A’s in the AP classes though. I’m taking 5 AP classes this year though, and I know how to properly prepare for them, and am confident in receiving 4’s and higher. If I do well on these exams, will they outshine the 2 low scores? And like I asked, I’m wondering if the exams are even a part of the admissions process. Aren’t the exams simply taken to receive college credit?

10

Personally I would report them, if you don’t the colleges will assume it was bad anyway. That’s my opinion on it (I’m no expert) but I never heard of if hurting! And keep in mind no one on this site can tell you anything definitive, I’m just telling you what I think as a fresh pair of eyes and knowing columbia’s admission stats. The only person who can accept or reject you is an admissions officer!

11

Alright, thank you! Would you say I need to worry about any more ec’s? Aside from more camps/internships, would you think my ec’s are enough? Of course, I plan on continuing them and shaping them to becoming more refined, but I feel that I should focus more on studying academically, rather than practicing crazily on my cello just to make All-State. What would you think?

12

Tbh I’m not a fan of that. Too many ec’s looks like you’re trying to hard. I’d say build upon the ones you already have (:

13

Wow. Nice ec’s (coming from someone who also has a black belt). Fantastic demonstration of current passion and demonstrated success in taekwondo is unique. The cello is good (but a lot of people have that kind of success so in my opinion that won’t make you stick out too much more). I agree that you should not start padding your resume as you have two areas that you are already very interested in. With good test scores and an essay that focuses on your passion for taekwondo, I gotta believe you have a high shot of getting into Columbia (low reach in my opinion if you are not lying to us).

14

Thank you! And no, I am very anxious into knowing, with my current accomplishments, if I even have a chance at making it into Columbia or other Ivies. I’ve had many people putting me down and telling me I can’t do it solely because of my ethnicity and little mistakes. If you don’t mind me asking, what do you mean by “low reach”?

15

A low reach is a scale we use on this forum to give people their opinions on how difficult the school will be to get into.

It goes like this (from easiest to hardest):

Safety
Low Match
Match
High Match
Low Reach
Reach
High Reach
(Crapshoot - Ivies)

For most people, the Ivies are reaches, high reaches, and crapshoots (aka they are good enough to get in but are the typical applicant). I believe you have something that makes you stand out (regardless of your ethnicity) and you incorporate elements of passion, work, and service to make one really amazing extracurricular. My opinion that you are a low reach means that while it will still be hard to get in (just like everyone else), I believe that if you write a great essay and get good grades and test scores, you have a better chance than a lot of people.

16

Good luck with that :slight_smile: I don’t believe Columbia’s CDS are publically accessible.

To the original poster. Your classroom performance and EC’s are fine. Without SAT/ACT scores, nobody can really give you better direction.

At this point, it is what it is in terms of your EC’s; as a junior if you start layering on the EC’s, it will be very obvious that you are trying to pad. You seem like you have dedication to your EC’s, which really is the most important thing.

Going forward, the game plan really needs to be on maintaining and enhancing your GPA, nailing your SAT scores, and writing some outstanding essays.

No, but AP scores carry little to no weight in the admissions process; they are primarily used for credit and/or placement. Having said that, I would strive to do well on this year’s exams, as lot’s of A’s in the classes, but low scores on the exams will raise the question of grade inflation at your school.

Moot point; Columbia is a “low reach” for nobody. With an admissions rate of only 6%, Columbia will be a crapshoot for everybody except Malia Obama.

17

I see, it makes a lot more sense now. I’m rather new here. Thanks for the help, everyone! With my ec’s, would you say that’s enough? I don’t really want to do anything more with the cello except play in the top orchestra and small competitions. Mostly wanting to focus on the SAT.

In other words, should I just focus on my studies and SAT this year?

I’m really appreciative of this feedback, I’m really anxious about my chances, since applying for colleges is coming soon…

18

Focus on that and making sure your essay highlights taekwondo. I disagree a bit that it is a crapshoot for everyone. It is for 99% of applicants. But I believe you actually have something that makes you special. There aren’t many people who can say they are a 4th degree black belt and even more impressive, a 3-time defending USA National Taekwondo Champion. I’m sorry, that is unique and makes you stand out, along with the service and work experience along with it. Apply ED and I think you have a good shot.

19

It sounds like you are a rising junior, so you will be applying in 2016 for admission in the fall of 2017. Is that correct?

You mention being the 2013, 2014 and 2015 National Taekwondo Champion. Are you on the National team (senior or junior)? Have you competed internationally? Will you be competing for a spot on the 2016 Olympic team? Those are all things that could give you a boost.

CTY will not help your application. It shows motivation to learn, but nothing else. A letter is unlikely to help. A supplemental letter from a taekwondo coach/master who has known you for a long time and who can speak to your work ethic would be more useful. Harvard/Columbia camps are expensive and non-competitive, and won’t be of much use, either. I’d personally save my money and time, and focus on internships and activities related to your core ECs.

20

Thank you, this is really helpful. Basically, I should center my resume and essays on Taekwondo, cello, and… I’m not sure what else?

My teacher told me that mentioning how late I started in cello and still managing to get into the top orchestra and being 1st chair soloist in the the region demonstrates how I can quickly adapt to something and shows that I am a passionate, hardworker. I’m not exactly sure though. (My cello teacher says she has no idea how I pulled it off.)

Should I mention life problems in the essay as well, and how I didn’t let them stop me from doing what I’ve done? Ex, constant racism towards me, family telling me I’ll never have a good future, the death of my grandfather (he was the only supporter that believed I could achieve things and it absolutely broke me when he died, because I had no one left to give me support.) My parents are leaving this entirely on me, and aren’t that supportive, my mother even told me “The only reason we’re letting you do these things is so that I can tell others that my daughter attends an Ivy school. But you probably won’t even get in, a kid like you.” It’s stressful. All my relatives are extremely racist towards me (I am mixed), and my mother’s side of the family despise that.

I don’t want to sound whiny or pitiful, but my school counselor recommends I add those into my essays, to give them a, idk, “sad” touch? I’m pretty sure other students have it worse than me though, so I’m a bit skeptical.

I just really want to get into Columbia, so I can prove everyone wrong and show them I’m not a failure. It’s my dream school, and once I apply to it, I don’t want it to be a ‘dream’ school, I want it to be the school I’m attending. Wow I sound really whiny, I just really, really want to get into Columbia. So much anxiety.