my chances at columbia?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>going to be junior. bleh.. columbia is the only school im interested in. my grades are average though. can any of you tell me how do i look for getting in?? please be mean only if its honest!</p>

<p>MY PLANS:
going majoring in architecture.
i know how to use cad already took 1 year of it.
early decision seas?</p>

<p>academics
-average 96-98 unweighted, weighted 102+
-ap world 3 i thought it would be a 4
-sat 2 - chem-canceled world-550
-psat fresh 1800s soph 1700s
-band- 2 years so far
- in addition to hurting my chances im an asian male xp</p>

<p>acomplishments
-won a few competitions
-medal design for olympiad
-tournaments in ping-pong, tennis, volleyball</p>

<p>extracurriculers
-tennis- 1st singles
-volunteer on most saturdays to a non-profit organization
-part of a church, do community things</p>

<p>going to take 2 aps in junior year, 3 sat 2s
-ap bio and ap american
-sat 2, math 2c, bio, american</p>

<p>questions.
how are my chances so far? (poor/decent)
should i be applying to seas instead of college?
would enrolling in their summer hs program give me a better chance?
what matters more AP or SAT IIs?
what is the sat score range for someone like me? (~2200?)
how badly does the 3 in ap world hurt me?
do college now classes help me in any way?
my regents grades are horrible because i never studied. matter?
most importantly.. whats the best thing for me to do now for improving my chances?</p>

<p>thanks in advance for those who help.</p>

2

<p>I had no idea I would write this much. I'm sorry.</p>

<p>--</p>

<p>First of all, I'm going to apply to Columbia for architecture as well, so good luck to us both... although you seem to be a sophomore. Regardless...</p>

<p>Why would you consider SEAS if you'll be majoring in architecture? Does SEAS even have an architectural department? If you are that into engineering, look into the joint program that allows you to graduate with 2 degrees in 5 years (someone correct me if I'm wrong as I've not researched this extensively).</p>

<p>Your standardized testing scores are definitely low, especially for an Asian. You're expected to at least perform excellently on these tests, so start studying for the ones you haven't taken yet. On the bright side, architecture students don't need as high a score listing as other students, since we're, for the most part, designers and artists and academic skills are just not that important.</p>

<p>CAD skills do not help you with architecture (don't feel indignant, I took CAD, too). However, the ability to model in 3D (e.g. Google Sketchup) will help you in the long run, as your designs can be pondered more thoroughly and therefore will be more successful.</p>

<p>The thing about architecture is that you -NEED- background or you look small (like me) in comparison to all the crazy fanatics who have been interning at their fathers' firms since they were seven. You need some background not only to demonstrate your passion (or whatever) but also to sharpen your talent so your portfolio can stand out when the time comes. Consider calling local architects to ask if they would accept an intern. If you don't draw, start keeping a sketchbook so you get used to both technical and other types of drawings (contour, perspective, etc). This will also help you with design. You don't have to be good at it (in fact, too acute a sense in drawing might flatten one's sense of design and hinder dynamics in the 3D environment <em>cough</em>Graves<em>cough</em>), but you need the ability to convey what the hell you're actually thinking about without limiting yourself with a monitor. As my professor put it, "in this industry, drawing's like talking. Can't do without it."</p>

<p>Start considering some basic design projects, too. Get a roll of tracing paper and make a library or something.</p>

<p>I would get rid of the 3 in AP World History unless you follow it up with a string of 5s that show your ability to deal with a variety of subjects. It is important to look well-rounded because architecture, inherently, is a well-rounded field. One needs to be knowledgeable of mathematics, physics, various types of engineering, art, history of art, ecology, culture... the list goes on. I would suggest taking a few of the easier AP tests just to show off your ability to understand the world from multiple perspectives. The economics, for example. It is also imperative that you have mastered a basic level of physics; if you can't take it at your school this year, study it on your own.</p>

<p>I am not familiar with Columbia's summer program, but I assure you that Cornell Summer College for Architecture remains the best architecture summer program in the country, possibly in the world (I may be biased as I'm sitting in my Cornell dorm right now typing this). It simply gives you new eyes, eyes necessary for an architect--or any designer at all. If you ED Columbia, Cornell Summer College can only be a huge plus. It is a bit expensive, but I'm sure you'd pay the money to get into your dream college.</p>

<p>Lastly, I'd like to congratulate you on selecting architecture. It is an exciting era to enter architecture. Since deconstructivism died out (sort of), we've been in this floating ground with literally endless possibilities created by the kind of technology we have and will develop. I mean, affordable virtual reality will around in a decade or two. Life as an architect will be amazing--we will create wonders never imagined by Imhotep, Bramante or even Frank Lloyd Wright. What's more, architecture will finally be consequential. As ecology enters our mindset, architecture will be the primary way by which we reduce energy consumption and better the world. Be excited and fascinated and all that because all this prospect, all this future available to this most fundamental art, is truly amazing.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
columbia is the only school im interested in.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I stopped reading at this point. You don't have a clue -- you're a year away from this process, your credentials are lukewarm at best, you erroneously think that you can major in architecture at SEAS, and then have the audacity to declare that Columbia is the <em>ONLY</em> school that you're interested in. Wow.</p>

4

<p>I decided to continue the chance thread instead of creating a new one.</p>

<p>I'm a Chinese applicant. Neither of my parents went to college, and they moved to America from China about 20 years ago.</p>

<p>SAT V: 680<br>
SAT M: 800<br>
SAT W: 780<br>
SAT Subject Test in US History: 750
AP European History: 5<br>
AP US History: 5<br>
AP Calculus AB: 5<br>
AP Chemistry: 4<br>
AP Eng Lang: 4</p>

<p>My GPA is 3.94 and with the exception of Latin 3 Honors I've taken the hardest courseload at my school.<br>
I don't have a specific major in mind but I'm thinking of something related to math/science, and I might minor in Classics or something like that; these are just vague guesses.</p>

<p>My only work experience is a job from 3:00-5:00 two days a week tutoring 1st-3rd graders on reading.
By my senior year I will have 146 hours of community service.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars/Honors
Latin: 10,11,12
2006 State convention: (here are my achievements on "academic contests")
2nd place Roman life
2nd place mottoes
3rd place grammar
3rd place reading comprehension
1st place certamen (team jeopardy, only latin)
National Convention 2006:
6th place certamen
6th place roman life level 2
8th place grammar
9th place reading comprehension
9th place classical art
2007 state convention:
1st place certamen
1st place essay contest
1st place roman life
2nd place derivatives
2nd place mottoes
2nd place reading comprehension
2nd place grammar
2nd place sight latin reading
3rd place vocab</p>

<p>I also got 2 perfects on National Latin Exams in 9th and 10th grade, and I got a gold (39/40 questions) on the Latin Prose test. I am currently the senior senator for our school's Latin club. Since I specialize in Roman daily life, you could say that I'm the state's high school Roman life expert.</p>

<p>Chess:
9th grade: Junior Varsity
10th grade: 2nd place regionals, 8th place state
11th grade: 2nd place regionals, 2nd place state. Also we had a regionals speed chess tournament, and we got 2nd. There was also a state chess "pentathlon" and I got 4th individually.
I was also nominated "All Star Board #3" by the regional director.
Throughout the 3 years I have been involved in chess, my rating went from 1046 to 1354, which is actually quite an accomplishment in itself. I was also our school's "speed chess champion" for 2 years.</p>

<p>Math:
I need to contact someone from my 10th grade team, because I didn't keep track of my achievements, except being on the 6th place team in the National Association for Testing math contest (I, along with 3 others, represented my state)
11th grade: Math is Cool regionals: 1st place team
fall classic (state): 2nd place team
Math is Cool masters (state): 2nd place team. At Math is Cool Masters I was 4th in state in speed math.
Northwest Math Championship: 3rd place team
6th place in National Assessment of Testing Math Contest in 2006
Mu Alpha Theta ciphering contest: 17th place out of 114.</p>

<p>9th grade: won state-wide essay contest.</p>

<p>Other Things:
I was a member of the National Honor Society in 11th grade, and in 12th grade I plan to be more involved, even though I don't have an official leadership role. Frankly, our school's NHS sucks. The previous president and vp of NHS got into Harvard and Dartmouth respectively, but they really didn't do much. There's no sense of community or mission in our school's NHS. With that in mind, I plan to propose and follow through on several changes to my school's NHS. Right now people call NHS a joke.</p>

<p>So, even though I have a lot of achievements, I pretty much have no leadership whatsoever. I was only involved in 3 things too, and that concerns me. I think I can get a great recommendation from one of my math teachers, but I rarely talk to my counselor, and he really knows very little about me.</p>

<p>Also, I've taken Mandarin classes in middle school. I tried to continue taking Mandarin, but my high school didn't offer it. There was an after-school program at my school that offered Mandarin but I couldn't take it because I had chess on the same day. I then asked the principal to consider reviving the Chinese class at Garfield but was unsuccessful. I attended Chinese school for one semester outside of school, but the curriculum there did not suit my age. In my spare time I listen to audio tapes that teach Mandarin. I'm almost done with all 3 levels (90 half-hour lessons total). I will also attend a two-week Chinese "camp" at a local university this summer. I hope that this shows the initiative I have that I can contribute to the University.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Do you think I have something that would stand out from the rest of the crowd? Also, do you think I should retake the SAT I because my verbal score is 100 points below the rest. I didn't post all SAT II scores because I've taken only one. I plan to get 800's on Latin and Math Level 2.</p>

<p>Right now Columbia is not my #1 school; U. Chicago is. I'm quite sure I can get into U. Chicago but it would be nice to have a backup if I change my mind.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

5

<p>You're welcome!</p>

<p>Dont hijack!</p>

6

<p>to the OP - your test scores just don't look like that of a typical columbia student. one aberration is one thing, but 550s on SAT2s, 3's on AP exams, and 1800s on SAT1s are not the typical profile that I saw getting admitted.</p>

<p>The rest of you: make your own threads.</p>