Not exactly a "Chance Me," but somewhat (Columbia University)

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p><em>I also posted this in the Columbia forum but didn't get any responses so hopefully I will here</em></p>

<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)</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>-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)
-Also planning on joining my school's Secular Student Alliance next year because it's something I'm really interested in</p>

<p>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>I am going to be honest with you. You present diversity, which is good. Although your G.P.A. isn’t sound, although rather good, it helps. You have some decent E.C.s, you seem committed - going to the swim. I know how it is with good athletes - coaches nor parents like you risking injury. What I see lacking from the information you provided is Volunteer work, which you really need. Columbia is a quality school, it roughly has 8000 current undergraduates. That means that - not everyone makes the cut. Many kids with higher G.P.A.s and higher class rankings, have been rejected - so you have to prove that you are better than everyone else. I am going to be blunt, not to burst your dream school or anything, because I don’t personally know you, but based on what I read your just another average student trying to get in. </p>

<p>Another note, be confident in everything that you do, and when you go to write those essays be confident in the decisions that you have made and the things that you have done. You can’t undo the past. Best of Luck to you.</p>

<p>Honest -</p>

<p>4% Accepted
57% Considering
39% Rejected</p>

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<p>Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the two internships were actually volunteer things. I have almost 200 hours of volunteer work.
How is my acceptance chance only 4% when the ED acceptance rate for the past few years has been around 20%? Just curious.</p>

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<p>Oh, good with the volunteer! The Acceptance rate score I gave isn’t based on the school. It’s based on with your credentials what are your chances of getting ACCEPTED submitting what you have. I really don’t know how to explain it but I throw in the wait list portion too, so cut that in half and add it to your total. So roughly 32% chance of being accepted…since the wait list is pretty much a 50/50 shot at getting in. I’m no expert so…take it with a grain of salt. :)</p>

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<p>Dannytanner, what are you talking about??? You have no idea what her chances are of getting into Columbia. NO ONE DOES!!! The admit rate for the most recent admissions cycle was 7.4%. You have no credibility on this statistical mumbo jumbo! OP, ignore dannytanner’s ABSURD statistics, they MEAN NOTHING!!!</p>

<p>OP, please do not join just a bunch of ECs to impress colleges. They won’t be impressed. How do you show passion? By HAVING passion! You invest your time and energy in things that really matter to you. You write about them in essays. There are no formulas for getting into a school like Columbia. But be sure you are taking your school’s most rigorous courses; be invested in things that matter TO YOU!! You do NOT need to retake your SAT I, by the way, it is fine. With your SAT II’s, you want to get 700s on them, if possible.</p>

<p>At this point you should be talking to your high school guidance counselor and your parents. People who actually know you! And NOT to anonymous posters on CC! Also, go to the Columbia website and look at the school’s discussion of holistic admissions, it will tell you more than anyone here can!</p>

<p>Most importantly, you need to come up with a list of reach, match, and safety schools (admissions and financial aid safety schools), and not pin all your hopes on Columbia. Not because you CAN’T get in, but because the odds are against EVERYONE, given the difficulty of admissions.</p>

<p>Also, Columbia’s supplement has several essays (this is in addition to your Common App. essay). Several kids on CC who got into Columbia have said HOW HARD and HOW LONG they worked on the Columbia supplement, because they know that ESSAYS MATTER!!!</p>

<p>Someone on the Columbia forum will get to you sooner or later. The holiday is coming and people are just busy.</p>

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<p>Lol dannytanner is probably 16. You wish you had the stats suppeeps has.</p>