SEAS difficulty, q. to current students and alumni

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hi,
So im very glad I made it into SEAS. It seriously is the school which I believe is the best match for me, ever. I want to try to be a leader in what I do, and this is the place to go.
I want to know something. I dont want to lie to myself, but i highly made it in b/c i had a very tough time beginning in this country, still do, and work through it. Im URM, yes, affirmative action. I have less-than-stellar scores, 740 math, 630 reading, 680 writing, 650 physics, 690 math 2. I basically have NO background in chem or biology, and enough physics to make it okay past an intro class. I am "ok" with math, enough to get a 4 or 5 on the upcoming calc AB test.</p>

<p>Im planning to do environmental engineering.</p>

<p>I am willing to work to the maximum extent, even if it means sacrificing the weekends or w.e. Ive been through a lot of ****, and now that i have this chance, i have to do absolutely everything not to waste it.</p>

<p>Basically, i want to know. did i get myself into something thats impossible? will i be able to get into bio and chem from the very beginning? and physics (which i abhor)? i have seen no one like myself get into seas, and im wondering if im still not good enough to go, if i should go into my state school and get strong in what i need.</p>

<p>Regardless, if i go to Columbia, I will try to make the very best of my experience.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>bust your a$$ and you’ll be fine, you could excel at seas if you work very hard. Most classes start from basics, consistency pays off.</p>

3

<p>When I entered Columbia, it was my second time applying to the school, and in a sense was the last shot I had to get into a top program. Getting into Columbia was like a second lease on life, and I treated it as such - I was probably the most focused and organized freshman I knew. I rigorously kept a schedule book, read every book and did every problem set, and basically acted with the mentality of, “Ok, I got in here, but now I’m a small fish in a big pond - I need to operate at 100%, all of the time, in order to swim rather than sink”.</p>

<p>That mentality, the fear of screwing up my one big shot, was the single factor in getting good grades and adjusting to the culture at Columbia. If you can enter with that same mentality - perhaps for different reasons but with no less fear - it will serve you well. Always be on the lookout for an edge, always ask people for help when you need it, always leverage that extra opportunity, and you’ll succeed. They don’t admit anyone (outside of a few athletic recruits) who doesn’t have what it takes to succeed there.</p>