<p>I'm applying Early Decision to Columbia University and after hearing the grades of other people at my school, I'm scared about whether or not I will get in.</p>
<p>White Male
4.125 GPA
5 AP classes between sophomore and junior years (four 5s and a 4)
4 AP classes senior years
2290 SAT
800 Math 2 and 800 World History SAT subject tests
Co-captain of a varsity sport (I'm not going to play in college)
Vice president of school chapter of German Honor Society
Member of Math and National Honor Societies
~50 hours a year of community service each of the last 6 years through the same oranization
Went to two highly regarded summer programs (Michigan Math & Science Scholars, Virginia Aerospace Science & Technology Scholars)
I'm in the Fairfax County Public School system, which doesn't report class rank.</p>
<p>I'm really worried about my chances, so any comments and/or advice would be helpful.</p>
<p>I’m also applying to Princeton, MIT, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin-Madison, Penn, and Tulane EA. Chancing those too would be awesome.</p>
<p>what is your unweighted GPA?</p>
<p>OK, you certainly have a shot. You have to understand, no one can tell you if you will get into Penn, MIT, Princeton, or Columbia. These schools have such a low admissions rate (because they have such high yields), that even students with 3.95 UW, all AP’s, 2380 SAT and on the verge of curing cancer cannot be told they are in for sure. OK, maybe if they are close to curing cancer. But what we can tell you is that you have as good a chance as anyone based on your information. After that, it is more or less a lottery. But you are not wasting your time/money applying so good luck! I would only add that while I know it is nerve racking when you have your heart set on a school, try and prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for a negative answer, or even a deferral. I don’t say that because I don’t think you will get in, but because it is exactly what I said, a lottery at your level. There are just 10x as many kids with your kind of credentials as there are slots. So it isn’t a negative statement about you, and you have to believe that because it is true. Of course you might get in and this is all so much blather, but I really hope you are prepared to accept another outcome. There are some really great schools besides the Ivies.</p>
<p>As far as the other schools, you should get in no problem. Tulane should offer you a spot in the Honors Program, the Presidential Merit Scholarship ($25,000 last year) and you would have a good shot at the Deans Honor Scholarship, which is full tuition. That requires an additional application. I know a lot about Tulane, so if you have any questions about it, let me know. But obviously your first choice is Columbia, and I wish you good fortune with that. It is, of course, a great school.</p>
<p>Much will depend on rank, your school will give colleges enough info to know where you rank. For any real shot at Columbia, Princeton, MIT, you need to be very close to top of class.</p>