Lost Cause?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>My stats... obviously Columbia is a reach school- but is it worthless for me to apply? </p>

<p>Stats...</p>

<p>High School: New HS, alumni not very goal oriented.... 5-10 " excellent " students in each class... does not rank.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.4-3.5 [low science gradeS early in sophomore year... increasing improvement since then, changed track to gear towards journalism)</p>

<p>Past Courses: All honors, 3 APs including psychology, environmental, and english. received all 4's. Orchestra & Spanish all four years.</p>

<p>Currently taking:
AP Calc
AP Lit
AP Spanish
AP US Gov.
Computer class (grad req.)
Orchestra
Law/Philosophy</p>

<p>SAT:
1900 in March. Taking October- goal 2200</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
Spanish 600
World 610
Math IC 620 <strong>taking lit, spanish w/ listening, and math again in Nov</strong></p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
very very active in school: debate, newspaper, student ambassadors, science club, political club, honor societies in math foreign language, school television news show, student government, and more!!
note** started clubs in 9th grade, or have been in an officer role all 4 years- didn't join just for colllege, love what I do.**
-Over 900 hrs of community service (soup kitchens, etc.)
-Interned at a national news organization</p>

<p>etc. etc. that is the basic outline.</p>

<p>I would like to be a journalism major/ gov. and politics...</p>

<p>Thank you :)</p>

2

<p>dont give up, you'd never know your results until you apply .</p>

3

<p>Thank you Kiria. That is my life motto, often times I've applied to internships/scholarships and doubted myself- but come out succesful, or at least a little wiser. </p>

<p>Thank you for your confidence :)</p>

4

<p>good luck to you, not to give you too much confidence but some people I knew had worse stats and still got in so.. hang in there.</p>

5

<p>Lynda- thank you for that information. As of now all I can do is really improve my testing scores (working on it!...) I truly appreciate your feedback. I take everything w/ a grain of salt :)</p>

6

<p>It is pretty much worthless for you to apply. It isn't so much that your stats are on the low side (they're low but not horrible), but that you want to be a journalism major. Columbia looks for people that have specific reasons for applying and who are familiar with the school, and wanting to major in something that doesn't exist isn't going to cut it.</p>

7

<p>On the application, you could play up the fact that you are anxious to contribute to some of the school's publications such as The Spectator.</p>

8

<p>Columbia2002:
you are correct, it is pretty pointless if i want to be a journalism major. but- that is not my only interest in life. i am applying to many schools that do not offer journalism as journalists are not required in any form to have a degree in that field, only experience. columbia has such wonderful and strong programs in other areas, that i am more likely to pass up a B.A. in a weak journalism school for a strong degree from Columbia.</p>

<p>That said, applying to columbia (provided my numbers go up), I would most likely apply as a political science major. </p>

<p>Any thoughts on this?</p>

9

<p>ColumbiaMom: Thank you- that is a great way to combine my various interests!</p>

10

<p>btw ed or RD? because those are the stats that you'll be going with if you apply ED(not saying they are impossible or anything).</p>

11

<p>You don't need to choose a major, but you could show an interest in poli sci. Make sure that you present yourself as open-minded and interested in learning for the sake of learning, not just on the way to a career as a journalist.</p>

12

<p>Lynda: RD... any thoughts on that?</p>

13

<p>Columbia2002: Thank you for your comments. I will be sure to incorporate those thoughts into my application!</p>