My parents are afraid of NYC.

Colleges & Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Could someone please chance me? I would love to go to Columbia, but the only roadblock is convincing my parents that I can take care of myself in NYC. They think it's not the best idea to send an undergrad into NYC. </p>

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<p>SAT: 2170ish...i have to double check but it's in that ballpark
SAT IIs: spanish 700, us history 700, math II 700
very competitive public school in a suburb of Dallas
"white"...whatever. My parents are Middle-Eastern.
Muslim female.</p>

<p>resume:
WORK EXPERIENCE
August 2007-present
6 hrs/week Arabic School of Dallas
· Kindergarten level Arabic teacher</p>

<p>SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
3 hrs/week Amnesty International<br>
Co-President, Plano West chapter (12th--appointed), Member (11th)
· Liaison between Plano West chapter and Dallas student chapter
· Posted human rights facts on daily announcements</p>

<p>3 hrs/week Shalom Salaam Social Movement
Founder, Plano West chapter (12th)
· Congregate Christian, Jewish, and Muslim students for recreational group activities
· Represent Muslim community</p>

<p>2 hr/week Muslim Student Association
Senior President, Plano West chapter (12th)
· Currently organizing first annual Plano Ramadan public student iftar</p>

<p>COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
June 2007-present
5 hrs/week, year-round Lebanese American Youth Leadership (LAYL)
Founder and Co-President
· Contacted over sixty humanitarian groups and banks to propose teamwork
· Planning “Project Lebanon 2008”, a summer trip to Lebanon to work with needy
· Created website for LAYL</p>

<p>October 2006-present<br>
3 hr/week, year-round Shalom Salaam Social Movement
Texas Representative
· Worked as liaison between mosques, synagogues, and churches in Dallas
· Exchanged ideas with Harvard’s Shalom Salaam chapter for group activities
· Organized activities in the North Texas area, such as hikes and picnics</p>

<p>August 2007-present Islamic Institute of Learning in the Metroplex (IILM) Youth Group
Vice President
· Lead and plan religious activities for Muslim youth and interfaith projects</p>

<p>HONORS AND AWARDS
11th First Prize at Plano ISD District Fair
Special Award presented by the Meteorological Society of Texas at Regional Fair
· “Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful, Year III”: A third-year study of acid rain in the North Texas region</p>

<p>National Merit Commended Achievement</p>

<p>10th Third Prize at Plano ISD District Fair
Honorable Mention at Regional Fair
· “Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful, Year II”: A second-year study of acid rain in the North Texas region (continuation from 8th grade study)</p>

<p>Commended award for poem, “Untied, United”, by Arab American Institute’s Spirit of Gibran Contest</p>

<p>Third Prize for essay, “The Final Trickle of No Rights,” sponsored by HAMSA Hands Across the Middle East Support Alliance (HAMSA)</p>

<p>9th First prize in Microbiology at Shepton High School Annual Science Fair
· A study of halobacterium salinarium’s response to a variety of light pulses</p>

<p>SUMMER ACTIVITIES
11th Traveled to London, Paris, and Athens
· Visited modern political and historical sites, including Buckingham Palace, Arc de Triomphe, site of Princess Diana’s death, and the Acropolis</p>

<p>Self-studied beginner’s French
· Put skills to practice in entire stay in Paris</p>

<p>10th Student Peace Action Network Conference in Detroit, Michigan
· Traveled on a fully paid scholarship based on achievement
· Discussed political issues and brainstormed student involvement methods</p>

<p>9th Traveled to Lebanon
· Visited historical Roman ruins
· Observed political strain and an assassination in July</p>

<p>SKILLS, TALENTS &
ACHIEVEMENTS Foreign Languages
· Fluent and literate in Arabic
· Currently self-studying conversational Hebrew and continuing French grammar</p>

<p>Music
· Nine years of piano
· Participated in two annual multicultural talent shows, singing in Arabic</p>

<p>Composition
· Currently writing nonfiction memoir titled “Salt in the Wound”</p>

<hr>

<p>thinking of studying international affiars. thoughts? :)</p>

2

<p>Where else would they send you if not NYC? Since NYC has one of the (if not THE) lowest crime rates among big cities, that automatically knocks out a heckuva lot of good schools</p>

3

<p>I cannot assess your “chances” for admission. I am sure several people will do that for you, though.</p>

<p>However, I do strongly suggest that you and your parents try to visit campus so they can see for themselves. I imagine their fears would be readily addressed and, hopefully, reduced. My husband and I are very, very comfortable with our daughter attending Barnard and feel she is safer there than she would be on many other college campuses. Before enrolling at Barnard, we had visited NYC several times and she has always been comfortable in the city and we were assured of her ability to handle herself. Hopefully, you and your parents will get a chance to assess for yourselves your own “comfort” level.</p>

<p>Another “plus” for you might be the active Muslim community on campus. For some perspective on this, perhaps you would want to share a this article from the Columbia Spectator with your parents:</p>

<p><a href=“Homepage - Columbia Daily Spectator”>Homepage - Columbia Daily Spectator;

<p>Best to you in your college search!</p>

4

<p>

[quote]
I would love to go to Columbia, but the only roadblock is convincing my parents that I can take care of myself in NYC. <a href=“emphasis%20mine”>/quote</a></p>

<p>THE ONLY ROADBLOCK? Um, there’s something called an 8% admissions rate.</p>

5

<p>oh come now, it’s totally like 8.9%, that changes everything :P</p>

6

<p>If you get in, have your parents visit with you and tour the neighborhood. they’ll be impressed by how safe it makes you feel. reminder: the fact that there are so many people wandering around, especially at night, means you are SAFER. Almost nothing bad goes down when there are bystanders and witnesses. 10-15 years ago, the streets were a lot quieter at night, and that meant more crime.</p>

7

<p>haha, i guess there was a loophole there. YES admission rate is a huge factor, but i was really focusing on (hypothetically) convincing my parents after i get in. </p>

<p>my dad lived in NYC for 2 years in the mid 1980’s and has visited only twice since (second visit was 2 years ago). he used to pass by morningside heights on his way to work in the morning and had definately made it clear to me that it’s not the most impressive neighborhood in the city. he said, however, that it’s gone through much improvement after visiting it a couple of years ago. </p>

<p>“honey, let me just tell you it’s significantly different from where you live now”.</p>

<p>it’s not that my parents don’t trust me…i mean i could potentially end up in houston or d.c. next year. it’s JUST NYC!</p>

8

<p>most people here agree that morningside is a great great area, lots to do, restaurants to eat at, lots of convenience stores and stores selling different things in general, parks on either side, river close by, subway stop practically on campus, close to but not engulfed by the hustle and bustle of the city, safe, pretty, economically stimulated. so it’s clear it’s a good area, and we’re here and attest that it’s safe. It makes sense to atleast apply, if you get in do come here with your parents for a visit, it should help modify their views. nyc 80’s was pretty bad, i would have gone elsewhere had i got in back then. Unless you want to apply ED, which makes it more of an issue to convince them, but trust me the neighborhood is not a factor for anyone, the only complaint is ‘it’s too close to the city and people form cliques and go into the city to hang out seperately’ - i don’t think this is a problem or even happens to the extent that people exaggerate here.</p>

9

<p>That’s weird because DC is not nearly as safe as NYC…</p>

10

<p>Johnny, I agree.</p>

<p>It’s just that “nyc is completely different”. I’m applying anyways and <em>hopefully</em> I’m crossing my fingers to get in. Is it really a crapshoot at this point? I honestly don’t know what to expect when April rolls around.</p>

11

<p>Even during quiet times, I’ve walked or my friends have walked up and down broadway. </p>

<p>Hold your head up high and walk like you’re on a mission and people won’t bother you. It has a lot to do with self-confidence and projection. </p>

<p>Then again, I’ve never even remotely felt unsafe in NYC, not even in Harlem (shock! horror!)</p>

<p>The same practices you undertake walking the city you live probably apply here as well. Your parents need a slight reality check, but that’s okay. Good luck.</p>

12

<p>Haha, I live in a city where you can’t get anywhere without a car. To the grocery store? Car. School? Car. Friend’s house? Car. That’s why we’re so FAT. We just never use our feet.</p>

<p>I do kinda compare NYC to Beirut; I’ve spent some summers there and definately like the city feel to it. I’ve learned general walking-through-traffic rules as well. </p>

<p>IMO, I’ll probably survive :)</p>

13

<p>You guys want to do me a favor and chance me while your’e at this? :)</p>

14

<p>Your SAT IIs are low.</p>

<p>You seem to have spent your time well.</p>

<p>You are a URM.</p>

<p>Your SAT I’s are good.</p>

<p>You have a 59.43 chance of acceptance.</p>

<p>Seriously what did you want? - with 8.9 percent acceptance, there is no way anyone can you give you a reliable ‘chancing.’</p>

15

<p>fhimas88888888 is apply for transfer.</p>