<p>My dream school for the past 5 years has been columbia and has always been columbia. I have a 3.5 - 3.7 gpa. Thats a little lo, but i think its my extra activities and my essay that will get me in under early d. Im know for my contribution outside the classroom rather then pure scholastic ability. Cloumbia knows that there are a lot of scholastic students out there. Thats why they dont get accepted like they used to. Im in nhs, im an eagle scout, i am involved in medical research, i am in tcm (teaching the christian message). I teach liite kids about catholosisim. I was involved in the summer program for high school students at columbia, also nylf form on medicine and the national youth leadership confrince. Im in nshss. Have multiple leadership roles at school. Applying for early dessision in fall of 2011. The first person in my family to go to college. And i already have two essays, which my english teacher said is killer and unique. My sats are not going to get me in but im in the top 24% of my class so that could help me. Im also roman cathlic and italian if that will help me. So what are my chances.</p>
<p>You need to learn the Columbia app, they don’t require 2 standard essays…just a personal one and some short answers that deal with academic interests and why Columbia. I would also suggest working on your grammar and getting your grades up, as merely hoping that there is an abundance of “over-qualified scholars” is extremely naive. There are students with higher GPAs, SATs and class ranks than you that still have extraordinary ECs.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to discourage you, it just seems as if you don’t have a solid foundation for the college (and Columbia) application process. You will need to demonstrate why your ECs are important to you, because stating leadership here and there with no depth will not get you admitted. Also, top 24% and being Italian/Catholic will not help at all. Keep working and be sure to show your interest, and best of luck.</p>
<p>I don’t have bad grammer. Its just the texting that makes me mess up sometimes. Yes everyone has good grades. Its not as rare as you think. I know the app inside and out, i think a said that im working on the personal essay? Plus the interview is a strong factor for addmissions. Thanks for the post.</p>
<p>Everything that griffonr said is exactly right. I would say that Columbia is a reach for you. Your extracurriculars are competitive, but nothing amazing - and you need extracurriculars leaning toward amazing to get into Columbia without strong academics. What is your SAT score exactly? You said they won’t get you in, but how bad are they? You might want to consider retaking it for a stronger shot. And although your GPA is 3.5-3.7 (im assuming thats unweighted), what kind of courseload did you take your four years of high school? If it’s filled with rigorous AP and Honors classes, that’ll help you a bit; if it’s just your average regular classes, chances grow dimmer. </p>
<p>You’ve still got time to boost your app; utilize what little of it you have left.</p>
<p>reach. enough said.</p>
<p>I did not take any sat tests yet.</p>
<p>i think eagle scout is amazing. Not a lot of people have it. And Fenris,i guess you reached that conclusion only bassed on my gpa correct?</p>
<p>Columbia09, I think you are rationalizing away your low GPA and good-not-great ECs. I read in another post you were shooting for a 1790 on the SAT? That is not going to cut it, unless maybe you are a refugee from Darfur.</p>
<p>People get in with that score. Its rare but it does happen.</p>
<p>You have a very poor chance: the acceptance rate for people with your GPA and SAT is probably below 1%.</p>
<p>isn’t the interview NOT a strong factor in admissions? even my interviewers have said that…</p>
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<p>Indeed, the interview’s effect on admissions is negligible except in extreme cases in which the applicant messes up very badly.</p>
<p>No they are important, they can make you or break you. Why do they have them then if its not important.</p>
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<p>From College Confidential College Counselor Sally Rubenstone:</p>
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<p>They are primarily for the applicant to ask an alumnus about the school.</p>
<p>Your chances of attending Columbia are very, very slim.</p>
<p>I hope you have some safety schools.</p>
<p>Columbia: “My sats are not going to get me in but im in the top 24% of my class so that could help me”, your GPA, your ECs that are very similar to what other applicants have, and yes, your GPA.</p>
<p>also, you seem to be pretty disillusioned about the interviews and the general process as for applications as well. the GPA is pretty much at least 30-40 percent of your app, and with a 3.5-3.7, there’s no way columbia will take you unless you work on it; for the record, the people who have 3.5-3.7 and get in are probably people who have gone through tremendous adversity and/or are recruited for sports etc.</p>
<p>my statement still stands that you are a far cry.</p>
<p>I agree with what everyone else has said. Not to be super harsh, but… reality calls, and I think some safeties would be a good idea.</p>
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<p>clearly you don’t know what the word adversity means? i just received that in my visitors messages. Are you kidding me? So you’re saying you’ve gone though: A parents death just before finals and still being able to ace them, and get through the year with a 4.0 UW GPA? Brain surgery to remove cancer and come back to school with a 4.0 UW GPA? Go through a nasty divorce, roughed up my gangs, and moving 16 times over the course of middle/high school? </p>
<p>What have you done? You’ve DREAMED of going to Colombia and read “their” --correct spelling-- works but you have DONE nothing to ACHIEVE your dream. If you’re going to patronize me on my “chancing” you as well as giving you advice, along with the rest of the people here, then you shouldn’t be asking. Yes, it’s true there are people who have 3.5/3.7 that eventually are admitted to Columbia, but those are predominantly those who have parents that either went there, or made contributions; possibly recruited for sports, or even both. </p>
<p>What do you have to separates you from the rest? What do you have that is so exemplary that would make Colombia want you? Their professors have works that are read by college students, high school students, other professors and the like. You are not special because of it. That’s great that you love Columbia more than “anyone” rather than “anything,” but just because you love it, doesn’t necessarily mean you can have it/achieve it.</p>
<p>^ a bunch of typos: through* by*. with that said, i was at work. if you don’t like what people are telling you – which by the way is the truth as well as unbiased – then don’t be here. it’s that simple. if you’re just going to refute everyone who doesn’t think you’re going to get in/saying it’s a reach school, then don’t ask for our opinion. regardless of what you get on your SAT – be it 2400 – you’re still a long shot with a 3.5 GPA. Moreover, interviews are for you to ask the interviewer QUESTIONS. sure, if you come off as a good fit for them, they might put in a good word for you, but for the most part, admission is never reliant on an interview. Just because they are alumni doesn’t mean they are absolute judges over who gets offered admission or not. an interview’s significance isn’t even close to what legacy could do for an applicant. And even then, legacy wouldn’t get you into Columbia with a 3.5 GPA unless it spanned generations.</p>
<p>Ok I have to come clean. Im a sophomore at Columbia and I did get accepted with a 3.6 average and a 1790 sat 2 scores 650 and 570. My brother is affraid of not getting in because of you people and I showed him that you dont know what you talking about. He has the same grades as me. And no my parents did not go there or work for them. I went through all this to make a point to my brother. Im crazy I know, but try to be a little more supportive then just saying, o you have a 3.5 gpa your not getting in. You might have said it a little differently, but its still the same.</p>