Hi, I just want to know if you believe I have any chance of being admitted to Columbia for engineering.
I’m a female, hispanic, and no financial aid needed.
SAT score is 1450, 770 math and 680 reading/writing.
IB predicted is 39, with 6 in all my HLs which are physics, chemistry, and english literature.
1 good letter of recommendation from math teacher (bad writer but likes me a lot), two very good letters of recommendation from physics teacher and counselor.
I can’t really measure how well my essays are, I believe they are well written, creative, and personal but that’s all I can say.
ECs are good, three honor societies, community service involving STEM, tutoring, a consistent sport not offered at Columbia, etc.
I know my stats aren’t too promising for Columbia, but I would like to know if I at least have a shot.
If you’re an international student, no chance. That’s not because your scores or ECs are bad, but it’s because there’s less spots and usually with international students top institutions are need-sensitive, not need blind.
If you’re within the US, you have a chance. But that chance is very, very low. You’d be below the 25th percentile in terms of SAT. Your predicted score should be above a 40 if you’re reaching for IBs, but a 39 isn’t anything to drastically ruin your chances.
Without a lot of awards or research publications in the STEM field, it will be extremely hard to gain entry into Columbia. That’s just how it is over there; they like to see a demonstrated interest beyond just the typical honors societies and volunteering.
My biggest concern is that you noted “no financial aid needed.” Columbia does look at applications “holistically,” and there’s a lot of speculation that this means the more income your family has, the better your application’s ECs and scores should be. It’s hard to afford SAT tutors and get that 1550+ when your family income is low, but its easier to get good scores with a higher family income.
Be wary that Columbia will take note of this. They will see that you come from a high-income background, but don’t share the same statistics as other privileged applicants.
Being URM, female interested in engineering is good. But I’m not sure it will outweigh the lower SAT scores. SEAS is very focused on high SAT scores. But your math score is good.
If you don’t get accepted, you might consider the 3-2 engineering program at Columbia. I hear that it is a lot easier to get accepted into SEAS after doing 2 years at another college.