Sophomore trying to get into Columbia?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>I'm just wondering what kind of school Columbia is, from the student perspective and not the historical/other perspective you find online at their website and in the news etc. What kind of students does the university look for, and what should one do if he or she wants to get into Columbia? Thank you guys!</p>

<p>Do I have a chance?
I'm currently a sophomore with a 3.67 unweighted GPA. This will be 3.83 by senior year. I scored 2000 on the PSAT (600 reading 600 writing 800 math) and expect to receive 2250-2300 on the SAT. I took the SAT Math IIC and got an 800 on my first try. I plan on majoring in either engineering (possibly mechanical) or mathematics (to become an actuary? truthfully not sure yet). I'm playing no sports this year, but will next year. I ran cross country, track, played tennis, and wrestled last year. I will most likely attend Harvard's SSP Summer Program this summer and Oxford's Summer Program next summer. I'm attending the HOBY leadership conference this summer and plan on attending West Point's Leadership Seminar and Boys State next summer. </p>

<p>This year's classes: Chem Honors, World History Honors, Precalc Honors, English 2, Leadership, Korean 4, Leadership
Next year's classes: Physics AP, Calc AB AP, English 3 Honors, US History AP, Korean 5, XC/Track, Leadership</p>

<p>Who I Am: Vice-President of Sophomore Class, Vice-President of church Student Council, Secretary of District's Youth & Government [state-wide club that is recognized by the government (the governor of CA comes to our last convention)], Short-term missionary (I went to Kenya for a month for missions), Music Volunteer for Kaiser Permanente (200+ hours), Snowboarder (started when I was 7 years old)</p>

<p>I don't have a ton of leadership positions yet, but in the next two years I plan on being...
Junior Year: Junior Class President, CSF Secretary, Youth & Government Secretary/President
Senior Year: Student Council President, Youth & Government President, Officer in Civil Air Patrol, CSF President/Vice-President</p>

<p>Please tell me what I need to work on. I'm trying to be as well rounded as possible.</p>

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<p>if you got a 2000 on the PSATS dont expect to get a 2300 on the SATs...</p>

<p>other than that you seem to be doing well; to be honest though, you are a sophmore, I really dont think its time for you to be thinking about this kind of thing. just concentrate on taking the hardest classes that you feel you are capable of doing well in, and get good grades. participate in ECs (as you are doing), and try to develop whatever passions you possess. Also, did you do any sports your freshman year? Going the first two years of high school without doing ANY sports is not such a great idea, because colleges look at sports as a reflection of your ability to balance multiple responsibilities and coordinate with other people.</p>

<p>lastly, for columbia specifically, being well-rounded is good, but having a passion for something and having that passion show in your activities and essay is even better.</p>

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<p>Thank you scifikayaker :)</p>

<p>I am currently getting tutored for the SAT and am going to take the Princeton Review tutoring program this year. I can only hope that I get a 2300, but as you said, shouldn't expect such a high score. </p>

<p>I took Cross-Country, Pre-Track, Tennis, and Post-Wrestling last year. I will take Cross-Country and Track next year. </p>

<p>My greatest academic passion is for mathematics. My other passion is for snowboarding, which I have been doing foreverr. (Haha I'm going to Salt Lake City during spring break.) </p>

<p>I am trying to take hard classes and have taken 5 or 6 classes at a nearby community college. Thanks again!</p>

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<p>Hey! seems like we have similar aims!</p>

<p>My top choices currently are, Columbia, Georgetown, and Princeton.
Perhaps it is too early to make any assumptions regarding future positions, gpa, programs, but it's not a bad idea to hypothesize.</p>

<p>As for me, I am a Korean sophmore as well - throughout my elementary~middle school i've attended SIS(seoul international school) and started my highschool in the states.</p>

<p>My current plans for majors: Journalism/International Relations, Foreign Policy/Law</p>

<p>Current GPA: 3.7 uw</p>

<p>Sports: Freshman ( JV soccer) Now: Swimming
Previous Sports : TKD ( 1st degree bb)
Courses taking now: World Lit., Chemistry, Precalculus(honors), Freud and Psychology, World History10, Concert Chorale, Spanish 2</p>

<p>Hobbies outside of school: Producing my own music, Piano since the age of 6, B-boying/Popping</p>

<p>Junior Courses(Nxt Yr): Ap lang, Apush, Apcalc ab, Ap Psychology(At a nearby community college), Concet Chorale, Spanish 3, Electives: 1st semester Constitutional Law , 2nd semester Literature and Politics.</p>

<p>Current EA's , : School newspaper, School writing collection, Boyscouts ( been doing it for 5 years, currently a life scout. Will be getting Eagles by the end of this year) , Musical, All county vocal, Habitat for Hum since freshman, Vice President of the High School student council, BRP club president ( it's a club where you produce your own music, mostly old school r.a.p)</p>

<p>Summer Programs: Georgetown 5 week Pre-College ( taking 3 credit college course International Relations) , Next Year : SSP (hopefully)</p>

<p>Scores: SAT II Korean: 800<br>
PSAT: 190
Scheduled to take World His and Lit</p>

<p>Aside from the fact that Columbia is an Ivy, it is known for its Journalism department, and its metropolean enviornment where "the crossroads meet"
Personally I would absolutely love to go there, not only for its metropolean enviornment but also for its diverse student body.</p>

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<p>mike3yo: Haha wow. Don't people say, "Why are you worrying about college, you're a sophomore!" I get that quite a bit... LOL what a korean. Bboying and popping. Almost all of our kind does that x) It looks like you have really good activities and leadership roles. I wish I had done Boy Scouts, but didn't want to when I was younger. I could apply for SSP again next year. If we both went that would be pretty cool.</p>

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<p>yea, i get that , "it's too early" type comments a lot especially from my classmates. But the thing is, its never too early to worry about colleges as long as its not when you're an elementary or MS student; Moreover, most of the motivated students such as us start building our " resume" even starting our freshman year. Oh yea and I didn't quite get the Vp position of the school. I did not anticipate that i would loose by 5 votes:P, but oh well i was the only sophmore to try xD And yea it would be cool if we both went to the SSP :)
Anyway, we still got two years left haven't we ;)? Wish you the best of luck, and HURRAY for the KOREANS!</p>

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<p>module9,mike3yo/ As a korean-American high school senior, I would like to say "It is never too late to prepare or think about colleges." I emigrated to America 4 years ago, so I know how the education system works in S. Korea. They prepare for the colleges before even they are born. I am not joking. You can ask your mother what most of Korean mothers do to increase babies' IQ. And start learning stuff as soon as they begin to talk. bla bla bla.. all the BS...
anyway, it is awesome that you two have very strong ambitions. Keep it up.
Just remember one thing. There is always somebody who is better than you, so don't be cocky!</p>

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<p>Wow we have the same goals dont we. Im going to apply to columbia under early d in fall of 2010. I was thinking about columbia ever since the 8th grade ha. I attended there summer program and i fell in love with the school. My sat score was a 2290, my sat subject tests were 780 on bio E and 760 on us history. My gpa is a little low a 3.5 - 3.7, but Im invalved and i have many ec. I hope i get in.</p>

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<p>Your an eagle, me to. You should try out for Princeton as your first choice. Its better then columbia. I would apply there but my grades are not good inuf.:(</p>

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<p>Columbia09, if you think Princeton is better than Columbia, why on earth would you apply ED to Columbia??? The odds of acceptance to Columbia or Princeton are mathematically identical, based on last year’s statistics. I suggest you not apply to Columbia if it’s not your first choice. And I’m a HUGE fan of Columbia.</p>

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<p>I attended Rutgers University and I could not afford my textbooks because the financial aid was not enough for me to cover all of the fees, so my grades suffered. I finished with 12 credits and a 2.5 GPA. I then went the United States Marine Corps. I am now at a community college and I am taking 12 credits and I believe that I will be finishing with 12 credits and a 4.0 GPA leaving me at a 3.25 GPA and 24 credits. I also have my own business that is booming. Do you think that I have a chance of getting into Columbia GS? Also, what is the work load like at Columbia GS? Despite only having a 2.5 GPA at Rutgers University it was a cake walk. If I had my text books and had no financial distractions, I would have been in the 3.0 to 4.0 GPA range. I made the honor roll times five times and I had a 3.75 GPA during one semester of my Junior year at a top 20 New Jersey public high school (100% graduation rate). I am sending in my application in Spring 2010 with my grades from my community college in May 2010. The deadlines is June 2010. Do you think I have a chance of getting into Columbia GS in the Fall semester 2010? ANY RESPONSE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.</p>