Should I even bother applying?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Ok, here is the deal. Columbia has recently been sending me packets of information about the university and campus life and all the such. At first I was a bit skeptical, but the packets kept arriving. The only logical explination that I could come up with for Columbia to be sending these packets to me was demographic diversity. I live in the Florida panhandle and I am not sure if Columbia gets many applicants from that area. If I was to be accepted there is no chance that I would not attend. So... to get to the real point of this topic. With these credentials do I have any chance at getting into Columbia or should I not spend the time and money on the application?</p>

<p>GPA: 3.18 unweighted 3.86 weighted.
Class rank : 22/150
SAT: 1510 old (710V 800M) 2180 new (640CR 800M 740W 10E)
SAT II: Math I 800 Math II 800 Physics 800
ACT: 35 (35E 36M 33R 36S 11 essay)
AP Exams:
Chem - 5
US Hist - 4
Calc AB - Will either take this year or will take BC(self study) (expect 5)
Physics C - Will take this year (expect 5)
English - Will take this year (expect 4-5)
Macro Econ - Will take this year (expect 4-5)
US Govt - Will take this year (not a clue what to expect, 2nd semester class)
The only two AP courses offered my junior year were chem and us history. I am also taking every AP course currently offered at my school this year.</p>

<p>ECs:
4 years varsity cross country
3 years varsity track & field
3 years varsity soccer
4 years working at a chemical engineering firm (40 hrs a week during summer)
~ 150 recorded service hours
JETS/TEAMS enginnering team, ranked 6th in nation last year
4 years math team -local competition that my school has won the last 3 years.</p>

<p>As far as comments, please be honest and critical. I realize that my GPA is disgustingly low for an Ivy school. I would love to attend Columbia, but if I have less that a 15-20% shot at getting in I won't apply.</p>

2

<p>Ivy league schools are looking for people, not GPAs. Your other stats sound wonderful, so I would give it a shot. I realize this is late, but I hope you applied early - you have almost a 50% chance if you did.
Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the input, but no I did not apply EA. I plan on applying RD.</p>

4

<p>That being said, I still think that you have a good chance, for these reasons:
1. STELLAR test scores - who gets a 35 ACT and 3 800 SAT IIs?
2. Demonstrated committment to ecs - all 3 or 4 years
3. In context - considering you're taking every AP offered by your school</p>

5

<p>I was under the impression that most Ivy applicants had test scores of 2300+ SAT 34+ ACT and 750+ SAT II's.</p>

<p>The only reason I got those scores was because I prepared for each for about a month before the test.</p>

6

<p>You stand a great chance. Your rank isn't that bad for that kind of GPA, so you must be in a very challenging and well-known school. I'm guessing that it is private also. Overall, I think youlook've got a great chance. Apply with an awesome essay and you'll be ing great.</p>

7

<p>Nobody has a 50% chance or a "great chance" at Columbia (not even someone with a 4.0 and your other credentials), so take the advice here with a grain of salt. You're competitive at least, meaning that they're not going to throw your app out and laugh (figuratively).</p>

<p>Your grades are obviously the big wild card. Will Columbia see you as an underachieving slacker type or someone who went to a competitive school with no grade inflation? You'll have to give more information for us to figure that one out.</p>

<p>Your ECs are decent but not spectacular. The ChemE stuff might be somewhat interesting and something to talk about in an essay.</p>