NOT a "chance me" thread -- just need some advice.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Hey, everyone. I'm going to be a senior this fall and will be applying to Columbia University (the College) ED. It's my dream school and I've been thinking about attending nonstop ever since summer started (which, I'll admit, is probably not good for cushioning the blow when I receive my rejection). I've read from several sources that something Columbia really loves in an applicant is passion, which I believe I have a lot of. That being said, I'm not sure how well that shows through my extra-curricular activities because I've tried for leadership positions and not achieved them and most of what shows my passion is what I do in my spare time, away from school (i.e. you can't exactly put the label of an award or club on it). I guess I'll list what I do have and if you guys could please give me some advice on how to show my passions on my application, it'd be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this.</p>

<p>I'm a 16 year-old Pakistani girl and I attend a large, relatively competitive public school in Texas.
GPA: 3.9/4 (UW); 5.51/6 (W)
Rank: 17/597</p>

<p>(the reason my GPA/rank are so low is because in my freshman/sophomore years I took electives like journalism and orchestra and swim team throughout high school that were regular and not AP/honors and then I got a couple of 89s in my sophomore year because of personal issues -- not sure how relevant that info is.)</p>

<p>SAT: 2290 (might retake)
SAT IIs: (taking this fall before applying; plan on taking Lit, Math 2, Bio)</p>

<p>APs: World History (4); APUSH, Psych, Bio, English Lang. (hopefully all 5s); Art, English Lit., Calc BC, Gov't, Econ, Physics C (senior year)</p>

<p>ECs:
4 years Varsity swim team - TISCA and regional finals qualifier 2 years
10 years USA year-round swimming with local club team; Texas age group state champs placed top 3
2 years extensive triathlon training during off-season for high school swimming; placed 3rd in Texas High Schools mixed relay triathlon
orchestra freshman year but quit after being in orchestra for 4 years because I preferred independent pursuit of music (and teacher wasn't the greatest) so violin for 6 years, guitar (self-taught) for 3 years
Track/Field before high school; quit in high school to focus on swimming (irrelevant?) but won my district in the mile, 4 by 4 relay, 800m, 400m and have continued running outside of school extensively (mile at around 5:10 now)
Internship with local businessman during his campaign running for the Democratic House of Reps. nomination for our district (junior year)
internship/volunteer at local Memorial Herman hospital in the radiology department (summer before junior year)
National Art Honor Society and National English Honor Society (2 yrs so far - art and writing are two huge passions of mine; I carry a notebook with me wherever I go and some pencils to sketch and/or write)
I thought it would be useless to join a multitude of other clubs which I have no interest in as my friends were doing just to make myself look good on college apps, but that may have hurt me now. I'm not sure. Either way, I don't regret it.
I placed 1st in my region for this journalism UIL competition (feature story writing/editorial writing)
Model UN (hoping this, along with the campaign internship, shows my passion for politics and political activism)
I might send in an art or creative writing supplement, especially since -- if I am accepted -- I plan on double majoring in Creative Writing and either Neuroscience and Behavior, PoliSci, or Econ, so I thought it'd be helpful.</p>

<p>I truly believe, after researching dozens of colleges, that Columbia is a great fit for me with its Core and the fantastic Creative Writing program (among other things). I'm visiting the campus later this summer. So I guess after that excruciatingly long "resume" of my life, I just really need some advice on how to present myself on my app and how to let my passion for the school itself as well as other things shine through. Also, am I a competitive candidate for admissions?</p>

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<p>OP, I commented on your other thread. My additional advice? Do not believe anything that foolish poster dannytanner told you. There is NO statistical formula for getting into Columbia, or for “chancing” you. That was complete HOGWASH!!! Don’t be gullible.</p>

<p>Advice? You need to be the best student you can be without seeking some magical formula for admissions, because there isn’t one. Beyond that, what more can we tell you??? Students for many many years have gotten into Columbia without the dubious “help” of CC. It is because the only way to be competitive is to be – in the context of your school – the best, most ambitious student you are capable of being. Someone who works to her full capacity and takes advantage, to the full extent of her talent and interest level, of the opportunities available. Get the best scores YOU can, get the best recs YOU can, and write the best essays YOU can. That is it. </p>

<p>We cannot chance you. At some point you need to depend upon your own judgment. If Columbia is your dream school, and you have worked to make yourself the best applicant YOU can be, well…apply. We cannot tell you whether you will or will not get in. And what we say does not matter. If you are serious about Columbia work to your full capacity and apply!!! OK?</p>

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<p>Swing is 100% correct. I can tell you from our own experience that our D focused on all the requirements for each college she applied to but she/we never followed nor knew there was a “sercet formula,” to follow. She happened to be a dedicated, well-rounded student who happened to catch the eye of an admissions officer. To be honest, she and we were sure she wouldn’t be accepted because of the sheer numbers stacked against her. When we went to our campus tour and looked around at the 100+ other students that were there on an average weekday(the largest crowd of students for any tour we took) we thought to ourselves, “geesh, only about 7 or 8 of these kids are getting in . . .” </p>

<p>We didn’t even know CC or any site like it existed; it wasn’t until she received a “Likely” that we came here on the suggestion of one of her friends to verify if they were legit.</p>

<p>I can honestly say that if we had found CC before the application process it might have changed her approach to her essays(probably for the worse) and most certainly would’ve added way more stress to the already stressful first-half of her senior year.</p>

<p>My advice is to take Swing’s advice and keep your head down and go to work on being the best you can be and stay off of CC until March of next year.</p>

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<p>To both of the above posters, thanks a lot. I got pretty freaked out when the person on the other thread said what they said. You’re right, I just have to show the passion that I have through the essays. Before coming on here, I had the mentality that if I write fantastic essays that I knew I was capable of writing, I’d have a shot. I think what happened was that I got caught up in the results thread on here and thought that what I have to offer isn’t good enough, but now I believe it is. I’m not going to join any clubs to impress colleges, just continue to do what I love and have faith in myself and the hard work that I’ve put in. Thanks again.</p>

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<p>Don’t get freaked out. Just continue to believe in yourself and be the very best student and PERSON you can be. Allow who you are intellectually and personally to shine in the application as a whole. There is no formula. Do not look for one. Any one who offers you one is a FRAUD! Just continue to be the best YOU can be. That is all we can say, except…GOOD LUCK!!!</p>

<p>If my little one had come onto this site while she was in the process of applying to Columbia, oh…dear! Thank goodness she did not. Once she told me about the site I read it and, though some of it is useful, I found a profound amount of really unbelievable nonsense. Especially about college applications. I mean, the idea of high school students chancing other high school students? It is ridiculous, and harmful!!!</p>

<p>Ignore this. Enjoy high school. Work your hardest. Believe in yourself. And go with YOUR gut. Your instincts about what you should do – as expressed in your last post – are absolutely SPOT ON!!!</p>

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<p>I’m a current Columbia student (class of ‘14) and I’m working on starting a company that provides application and essay counseling/advice, but I’m trying to freelance my services a bit before diving in. I’m planning on offering one on one skype conferences to evaluate candidates’ essays or applications/supplements. Contact me at <a href=“mailto:rcm2140@columbia.edu”>rcm2140@columbia.edu</a> for more info!</p>

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<p>I think your stats and ECs look great. Joining a bunch of clubs like your friends are doing won’t actually help you and would actually water down the extracurriculars that you’re actually passionately involved in. So don’t worry about that part, I applaud you for sticking to what you care about and not what people think colleges care about.</p>

<p>From what you posted here, your extracurriculars show your depth and passion for competitive swimming, political activism, and writing (and I’m glad to see these are real and not for colleges). I say that you highlight these in your essays. Stick with the integrity you’ve had thus far and write with your own TRUE passion. Colleges will see the real you and regardless of whether or not you get in (because these posters are all right, none of us can really KNOW or accurately chance you since we could only do this subjectively and we’re not admissions officers) you’ll have no regrets. :slight_smile: But, for what it’s worth, I think that you do have a shot and you have your writing experience going for you when you submit your essays.</p>

<p>So stay confident, put your best foot forward, and see where it takes you! :D</p>