@RedLobster42 I saw it on some Columbia or Barnard newspaper or blog. Fu got less applicants than CC.
For us transfers, what does everyone think is the order of importance of GPA, ECs, LORs, essays, tests and character/values/personality?
@blackwidow22
I am of the opinion that for ivy admissions, your GPA and test scores are essentially prerequisites to being considered seriously (incredible, out of the world hooks notwithstanding).
For example, a low SAT score typically means that you will NOT be accepted but by NO MEANS does a 2400 (or 1600 in this new scale) make you any better than a student with a 2200. For AP scores, it really depends. Even a 3 is usually not considered a great score and at top schools translates to little if any credit.
The objective factors above now taken into account, I think extracurriculars are the first and foremost important factor in admissions for top schools. They expect you to have a great GPA and test scores but also expect you to be highly involved and spend your free time productively. The question you should ask yourself is, between two nearly identical students as far as GPA and test scores go, how do you discriminate between the two? Well, the student who has excellent grades and is highly involved extracurricularly will be favored.
Recommendation letters are also highly important, in my opinion. Most recommendations that I have seen are extremely lukewarm. The professors or high school teachers barely know the student but felt obligated to help them and write them a letter. Now, excellent letters from instructors who know the student well give a classroom-level insight on the student and what they are like off of the application.
Lastly, on personality, I think personality goes into the category of “you turned them off” during the application process. Many students simply lack the perspective to write essays and personal statements without sounding pompous, self-entitled or otherwise unlikable. The personality you convey in your personal statements is therefore subjectively important. Have you ever met people whose likable personalities color the things they say or do? What about people who you believe have negative personalities?
@RedLobster42 I did Comp. Engineering.
4.0 from CC w/ 30 ACT and NASA internships.
@blsUCtransfer I’m applying for civil.
3.7 from a New England school w/ 35 ACT and internships as well. Best of luck! I really hope they take in more people than last year.
@RedLobster42 How many did they take last year?
@StrawberryIceTea Last year 2,300 applied and about 100 were accepted. I don’t know the exact numbers but admissions told me last year that they expected yield to increase so a lot of people were placed on the waiting list. It also varies from year to year. In 2014, 1,700 applied but in 2013 2,100 applied.
@StrawberryIceTea I am also applying for economics, best of luck!
I’m thinking of applying for next year (for Fall 2017, junior year). I read on the website that they recommend transferring as a sophomore because it’s hard completing the requirements in 2 years. What do you guys think?
Oh shoot didn’t see this, currently a double major for Applied Mathematics & Statistics and Business.
Hoping to really focus on Financial Economics with a concentration in statistics. Quite honestly seeing that the transfer rate is 5% maybe less not even expecting anything.
Hi everyone!
Ah! I didn’t know about this group but I also send in an application! I think you are all great students, and everyone has a good shot at getting in! ^.^
I know it’s late but could anyone chance me please? Thank you!!
School: UC Davis (I’m from the Bay Area…)
I’m currently a freshman so if I were to be admitted I’d enter as a second year/sophomore
College GPA: 3.9-4.0 (Part of Dean’s List)
College Major: English Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing
HS GPA: I think overall it was like 3.7-3.8, but I was in the top 7%
SAT/ACT Scores: 25 ACT, no SAT…
APs: 3 for AP Calc AB, 3 for Psychology, 3 for English Lit, and 4 for Gov
Significant ECs: Umm I volunteer on a weekly basis, I’m also part of Photo Club (board member) and Ballroom Dance Team
Hooks: Latina/Arab, underprivileged family, went through hardships because my father had cancer…
Umm I love writing, and have been published twice in the past year (two poems published in a teen literary magazine, and I also published my flash fiction in an international literary magazine in Canada, and that magazine had an international competition and I won third prize in the flash fiction category). I also participated a national competition (based in the Bay Area) and won first prize in the “nonfiction” category. I was very recently offered to do an internship in Europe for a publishing company, but I’m not sure if I’m going yet because of the money LOL…
Good luck to everyone by the way! You are all very bright!
Super nervous about transfer, probably an R anyways LOL
Current School: USC
Current year: Sophomore
Will attend as Junior
Current GPA: 3.83 (probably 3.87 after this semester). I got a little concerned about 3.63 on my first semester tho.
Major: History, Economics
Applied: History, East Asian Studies
High School GPA: International School, I have no idea how they calculate that. But I got straight As and A-s in junior and senior years
SAT: CR: 630 W:640 M:800 (Probably my weakest, but for junior does it matter so much?)
SAT II:Chem 760 Math II:790
TOEFL: 114 (R:30 L:28 S:29 W:27)
AP: Chem 5 Macro-E 5 Micro-E 5 Cal BC 5 (Didn’t have too many chances for AP)
I think I have solid activities and volunteer works in college, probably not the sassiest essays tho.
Hey @KevinHY:
I think it’s great that you’re attending an academically well-regarded school!
I wouldn’t worry about your first semester GPA, Columbia understands that freshmen may have trouble adjusting their first year. What matters now is that you have a high GPA, and believe me, they’ll see how great it is that you improved your grades, it shows you can handle college-level work.
I think being an East Asian Studies Major will be a boost since there’s not too many of those majors out there…
You said you have extracurriculars? What are your passions, and how do they relate to your essay/activities?
Also, can you chance me please? ^.^ Thanks!!
Current School: NESCAC school
Current year: Freshman
Will attend as Sophomore
Current GPA: 3.88 (Dean’s list)
Major: German Studies, Philosophy, Creative Writing
High School GPA: 3.3 (Best private school in DC taking AP courses, but still)
SAT: CR: 800 W:670 M:790 (handwriting deficit that I mentioned affected my essay)
SAT II:Chem 790 US History: 720 Math 2: 760
AP: Chem 5 Cal BC 5 Physics C 5 US History 5
High school wasn’t great, downward trend, hopefully passionate essays and better recommendations will make a difference. Good luck to all you guys!
Hi everyone! Glad to join the transfer party. Could anyone chance me, please?
Current School: Smith College (#14 liberal arts)
Year: Freshman (will attend as sophomore)
College GPA: 3.98
Midterm: 4.0
Major: Art History (applying to Columbia’s combined art history and visual arts major)
HS GPA: 3.65 weighted (international school)
ACT: 33
Extracurriculars: Started my own global fashion company last year (wrote about this in my essays), Paid intern at a curatorial agency (worked on famous design/art events under well-known curators), Personal assistant to the CEO of a famous fashion brand, 200 level certified yoga instructor (teaching at my college), TEDxAmherst design/outreach/branding coordinator, House social event coordinator (for my dorm), HS dance captain, National art honor society Vice President, Layout editor for school magazine, HS intern for a interior design firm, Fashion chair for arts charity organization
Highs: College GPA, entrepreneurship, other extra currics, compelling reason to transfer (Smith doesn’t allow me to double major in art his & visual), speaks/learning 6 languages
Lows: Asian, 6/10 classes are intro, HS gpa, test score
Thank you! 
thanks for cheering my up! I think you have great college status, it’s impressive for literature majors to have a GPA above 3.9. Your extracurricular activities are particularity intriguing, and they all seemed pretty attracting. The only thing I thought might drag your chances a bit would be your Standardized tests. I’m not so sure how AOs evaluates tests for rising sophomores tho. Also, I forgot, is SATII required for Columbia?
Hope you the best anyways.
@PrincessMorales . Me and my friend founded this Japanese student exchange support group JESS and we helped a lot of exchange students accommodating to life in America. other than that, I started a English-Japanese language corner helped helped some of the students who are about to take their language requirement tests.
In leisure time, I am a school columnist who wrote about soccer news (transfer rumors, team managements, and their financial analysis).
@KevinHY Thanks for your input!
Yeah, I think your extracurricular activities are great too!
JESS sounds really interesting!
I wish you luck, my friend! You’ve got this!
@trzofpatriarchy:
Woah! You have a very impressive application.
I think you are really passionate about art and fashion, and I think it really shows through your internship and you founding your very own company.
I’m no admissions officer, but I say you have a very likely chance of getting into Columbia. Your high school grades are a little on the low side, but I’d be very surprised if Columbia doesn’t say yes to you, especially since you made up for it with your high college GPA.
Could you chance me please? Thanks, girl!
Thank you! I certainly hope admissions will feel the same.
Yeah, my HS GPA is definitely a bit low. *Intended to say UNweighted (which would make me equivalent to an A- student)
As for your application, you definitely meet the standards of academic excellence in your HS and college GPA, and it seems like your achievements in writing will make for a strong application. Your ACT score is little bit low, but I wouldn’t be discouraged by this since colleges typically use the ACT to determine how well you do in college-- which you did, and for when they release their final admissions score reports.
Would you mind sharing your Why Transfer essay and supplements? And where else are you applying?