My only aim in life: Become a Columbian

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Ok, the title was made just to grab attention; I am one of those people who aren't extremely crazy about the chances thing, but I just want to get an idea. So could you guess please chance me?</p>

<p>Columbia College of Arts and Science </p>

<p>UW GPA: 92.14 (~3.6 - 3.7), W GPA: 98.89
--- Slightly downward trend (95, 91.6, 90.6)
Class Rank (depending on WGPA): 15 out of 444
Fairly average/slightly competitive public school</p>

<p>SAT score (superscored): 2120; (scores for each 3 sitting) - 1990, 2010, 2120
SAT Subject Tests: Math II (750), Chem (700), Bio M (660)
AP: Will take about 11 by end of high school; 5s on three of them, and 3 on APUSH, and 4 on AP Comp Sci.</p>

<p>Senior Courseload: Most difficult (many people are taking similar ones this year though)
Awards: Regional and Local Science Fair, AP Scholar with Distinction, nothing else really...</p>

<p>ECS: Save Darfur Club (Officer), Science Fair (Treasurer), Model UN, FBLA, NHS, did some small research at local university (not big time awards or anything).
Volunteering: Library, Hospital, Teaching some kids in a third world country (~300 hours)</p>

<p>Job: none
Summer Activities: Going with family to other countries for vacation
Recommendations: All right/average.
Essay: I am spending some time on them, so maybe slightly above average but most likely average
Ethnicity: Asian
Weaknesses (I think): Little low SAT score and downward trend.</p>

<p>Does it look bad if I don't have any awards for Model UN and FBLA?
How much does Columbia focus on the subjective part of your application like essays, recommendations, personal qualities?
What are the requirements of Rabi scholars; do you think I can become one?
So honestly, what do you think of my chances?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>your standardized testing is on the lower side (as mentioned), but I think your courseload/ecs can give you a fair chance. good luck!</p>

<p>will you chance me too…</p>

3

<p>Thanks man, chanced you too. Bump… Anyone else.</p>

4

<p>It’s unreliable to the extent of being pointless to predict someone’s chance just based on stats alone. Like the majority of applicants you are academically qualified (your scores are on the lower tier but nevertheless decent enough). The only shortcoming may be that your ECs don’t come off as rigorous or particularly meaningful, which however you can offset by writing a great EC elaboration on the Common App.</p>

<p>“How much does Columbia focus on the subjective part of your application like essays, recommendations, personal qualities?”</p>

<p>Well, this is precisely the part that will make or break your application! But then, unlike with stats, it’s hard to assess your essays even if we have the chance to read them. My opinion is that you should look over your application in its entirety, meditate, and make an honest appraisal yourself. That’s probably your chance.</p>

5

<p>I sort of agree with you. But I also believe sometimes people can’t look at their profile/stats without any bias (for example, when I write an essay, sometimes when I think it is great, others don’t think so). Similarly, looking at my stats, I don’t know whether I have a decent chance or not. I know everyone has a chance but sometimes when it comes to these kind of colleges, it helps to ease your anxiety if you hear from others even when they might be dead wrong. </p>

<p>For my ECS, I don’t have any type of major leadership/major awards, so I can see why you are saying my ECs don’t come off as meaningful. For my Common App, I talked about past experiences; do you think it is wise to do something like this or simply focus on an EC in an essay?</p>

<p>And part of the reason why I made this chance thread was also because of the objective stats. I heard the first round for admissions is looking at test scores/GPA, and then subjective stuff like ECS/essays. Basically, I want to make it to the point where the Columbia admissions committee start to look at my ECs rather than completely reject me in the first round for my SAT/GPA (not that I would ever find out).</p>

<p>Thanks xxxamazexx. Any other responses will be appreciated.</p>

6

<p>Your sat scores are low for columbia… also I don’t see any real extra currics that tie together with your academic interests, wtvr they may be… I can’t sat because what do I know, but columbia isin’t happening… try NYU… yet i have a friend with higher sat and grades than you and was waitlisted at nyu so you never know…</p>

7

<p>Thanks. I am looking for financial aid, so I don’t think NYU is a really strong option for me because I heard it gives minimal aid. </p>

<p>And as for my ECs, I thought I came off as a person who was into science (science club + small research) and civic duties/volunteering (darfur club + volunteering). But I guess it would be clearer if I explained in my essay.</p>

<p>With my scores, I sort of figured it was low. But with that score will I still be seriously considered or will I be thrown aside with minimal consideration? Essentially, will I be considered (not favored) in the same pile as someone with a 2300+ SAT score?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

8

<p>Regardless of your score, you will be in that pile. A 2140 is competitive, but not good enough comparatively. The admissions process is weird though, e.g. (real story):</p>

<p>Friend 1: 2360, rejected to Columbia (and all other Ivies).</p>

<p>Friend 2: 2200, accepted to Cornell and Columbia, and he used his Cornell essay for Columbia. Even said “located in Ithaca, NY”!</p>

9

<p>“For my ECS, I don’t have any type of major leadership/major awards, so I can see why you are saying my ECs don’t come off as meaningful. For my Common App, I talked about past experiences; do you think it is wise to do something like this or simply focus on an EC in an essay?”</p>

<p>Space is limited, so I figure it would be wiser to focus on one EC. But if your ‘past experiences’ can be well synthesized to give a convincing & meaningful representation of yourself, then try it.</p>

<p>“I heard the first round for admissions is looking at test scores/GPA, and then subjective stuff like ECS/essays. Basically, I want to make it to the point where the Columbia admissions committee start to look at my ECs rather than completely reject me in the first round for my SAT/GPA (not that I would ever find out).”</p>

<p>The SAT scores of the middle 50% freshman at Columbia range from 2090 to 2340 ([College</a> Search - Columbia University - SAT®, AP®, CLEP®](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)). I don’t see you getting dismissed at the preliminary round (if there is one), but your score is not going to help you much either.</p>

<p>As to the competition with 2300+ scorers, such people can be casually rejected for the same reason why people with inferior scores like you are admitted. Your essays are in your hands.</p>

10

<p>My common app essay was about an experience I had and my extra curricular response was about doing some work at the lab. I figured elaborating on the stuff I did in the lab in my general Common App essay would not really add a new perspective to the EC, so I used an experience.</p>

<p>“I don’t see you getting dismissed at the preliminary round (if there is one), but your score is not going to help you much either.”</p>

<p>I have heard admissions representatives (not from Columbia, I think) and people on CC saying there is a certain threshold for SAT score to which it doesn’t matter anymore. I know I probably didn’t cross that threshold, but what do you score do you think is that threshold? </p>

<p>For the essay/short response, how does Columbia adcom look at them because after looking at their supplement, I think the only “personal qualities” they can draw from are from the Common App Essay? Most of the questions on their supplement are about what you read, which books you liked, etc?</p>

<p>Thanks xxxamazexxx, I will probably spend most of my remaining time from now to the deadline working on my essay/short responses.</p>

11

<p>I think the said threshold is around 2300. There may be some incentive in differentiating the 2200s and 2300s, but it doesn’t make sense to compare scores that are in the 2300-2400 range.</p>

<p>Well if I knew how the adcom at Columbia process the supplements I would be working FOR them instead of bidding for a chance :D. But it’s clear the supps have a narrowed focus on your intellectual drive and capacity. Be profound and intelligent here.</p>

12

<p>Wow, um sorry columbiafan. I didn’t even see your response until now (probably b/c everyone here is writing these huge paragraphs).</p>

<p>I am going to ask some typical CC question: was your friend 2 a URM? Did he/she show a lot of passion in those essays? What do you think got him in?</p>

<p>And lastly, based on your experience/opinion, where do you think I lie (similar potential situation as friend #2) or really low chances (b/c you said “A 2140 is competitive, but not good enough comparatively.”)? Sort of confused what you were trying to say about my prospects for acceptance.</p>

<p>Thanks xxxamazexxx, your advice has really helped me.</p>

13

<p>Friend 2 was Asian, and his essays were extremely bland, compared to Friend 1 who wrote a masterpiece. I don’t know what got him in, but he got it. It’s random at times, somehow the adcoms saw him in a different light. </p>

<p>And what I meant was that a 2140 is on the lower end of the scale compared with other serious Columnia candidates, but you still stand a very good chance. Think about it like this: once GPA is good and SAT is good, what’s left? Extracurriculars and essays. <this will make or break you, in my opinion.</p>

14

<p>Oh I’m sorry, 2120</p>

15

<p>Yeah that’s what I was thinking originally too. But after getting on CC and seeing some of these posts, I was thinking maybe a low or high SAT score would hurt or favor a person’s chances respectively. </p>

<p>Thanks columbiafan.</p>

16

<p>No problem. Just remember, your SAT score won’t make or break you.</p>