<p>Hi all!</p>
<p>I've never done a chance-me before, I guess enough worrying will make you try anything. I recognize that you guys are not admissions counselors to Columbia and they have the last word, but I just want to know if you think I'm a qualified applicant and have a decent shot. I'm applying regular decision for the Fall of 2011.</p>
<p>My super-scored ACT composite is a 31.
subscores:</p>
<p>English: 30
Combined English/Writing: 30
(essay 10/12)
Reading: 35
Math: 28
Science: 33</p>
<p>My SAT is a 2090.</p>
<p>CR: 770
M: 610
W: 710</p>
<p>Subject tests:</p>
<p>Literature: 760</p>
<p>(I am going to take Math level 2 on the December 4th date)</p>
<p>GPA unweighted: 4.0
Rank: 1st out of 500</p>
<p>I am enrolled in the gifted curriculum at my school which means that I take every honors, AP, and College in High School course offered at my school.
In addition this year I began taking an online A.P. Art History course to supplement my high school's curriculum as sometimes I find it not as challenging as I would like it to be.</p>
<p>I am from Southeastern Ohio and I live in Appalachia. Most students from my high school will go to a state school, the local community college or a trade school after graduation, although last year we had a student who was accepted to Harvard and is currently attending Stanford.</p>
<p>I have a lot of extra curricular activities as well. I think my most significant ones are in the performing arts. I am extremely passionate about classical singing and in addition to Columbia I am applying to several conservatory-level music schools. I am attracted to Columbia more than the conservatory route though because Columbia has a conservatory-level program in a liberal arts school with a legendary core.</p>
<p>I take voice lessons in Pittsburgh (one hour away from the small town where I live) and am a member of the 2010-2011 OMEA All-State choir.
I have participated OMEA's Solo and Ensemble and large-group competitions for the past three years and will participate again this school year.
I am a member of three choirs at my school, the A Capella Choir, Jazz Choir, and Women's Ensemble. Freshman year I was the section leader of Concert Choir (entry-level choir at our school) and last year I sang in our school's Advanced Choir, which no longer exists.
I also do a high school apprenticeship program with the Pittsburgh Opera.
I am the vice president of the choir, drama club, and International Thespian Society branch at my school and have participated in numerous Drama Club and Thespian productions.
I also play piano, saxophone, and clarinet and I am a member of the Jazz Band, Clarinet Choir, Marching and Concert Band at my school. </p>
<p>In addition to voice though, I also really love to dance.
I have danced at Carnegie Performing Arts Center in Carnegie, PA for the past five years and currently am a part-time teacher there. I am a member of the company and have performed in many full-length ballets with CPAC most notably Swan Lake, in which I played the leading role of Odette in 2009.
I also attended Cincinnati Ballet's Summer dance intensive in 2009 and used to take classes at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre school in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>I would say my third passion though is history.
I really enjoy American History and government especially.
Last spring I went to the Close-Up Academy in D.C., a week-long intensive study of government. I also was my high school's American Legion Buckeye Girls State Delegate in 2010 and was recently nominated for the Daughters of the American Revolution American History award.
Last year I received the University of Rochester's Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass award for Social Justice for outstanding high school students.
Also last year, I won second place in the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest.</p>
<p>I am the secretary of my class and also secretary of the Beta Club (an academic and community service club) and a two-year member of the National Honors Society (my school only allows Juniors to apply).</p>
<p>I have over 200 hours of community service including shadowing at the hospital, cantoring for my church and choreographing for my high school's musical productions and assisting choreography for Carnegie Performing Arts Center and a community theatre company. I also assistant-taught in the past for community service at CPAC but now I get paid for my teaching.</p>
<p>Last year I ran track though I am not really athletic so I don't think my track abilities will get me into Columbia.</p>
<p>My teachers have an open policy about letters of recommendation and I have seen all three of my letters and they are outstanding. I haven't received my guidance counselor's recommendation yet but I think she will write a good letter too.</p>
<p>I know my SAT/ACT is a little bit low, but I'm hoping that my extra curricular activities/class rank/ letters of recommendation and unique situation will interest the admissions committee.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading and/or chancing me. I wanted to make this more than just the list of abilities that is seen so often and paint an accurate-enough depiction of all of the multiple facets, I apologize if it was way too long!</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Sophie</p>
good luck!</p>