Stanford SCEA or Columbia ED (with legacy)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Dilemna: For some reason I just like Stanford (just need to articulate this in my essays). But I know that at Columbia, with a legacy boost during ED, I will probably have a much better chance. But somehow I have this fantasy that I will be accepted by Stanford. I need to choose SOON. as in NOW.</p>

<p>I want to make the wisest decision. I like both of them, probably like Stanford slightly more just because I visited it when I was 11 but I only remember Columbia from when I was 6. Not many memories.</p>

<h1>heres my stats for reference:</h1>

<p>Schools : Stanford SCEA or Columbia ED (legacy), UPenn (LSM), Yale, Harvard, Brown (PLME), Caltech, Rice (Baylor), Vanderbilt (ENGAGE), UCs, USC, perhaps NYU if I have time.</p>

<p>Major: Biochem/Chem + Economics/Business double major. BME at Rice, Vandy, UT (non business schools)</p>

<p>Male, 16, Asian</p>

<p>Stats
Rank: top 3.6% [21/575]
GPA: 5.65/6 W, 3.95 UW
Context: medium (3000) sized public school. This year sent: 3 Stanford, 2 Harvard, 3 MIT, 1 UPenn, Duke, Brown, 6 Rice, 13 Plan II & BHP</p>

<p>Scores
SAT: 2280
SAT II: 780 Bio M, 800 Chem, 800 Math 2
AP: 5 on Bio, Chem, US History, English Language</p>

<p>This year: Macroeconomics, US Govt, English Lit, Physics C, Calculus BC, Studio Art</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>volunteer for Baylor College of Medicine (9-12)
Red Cross (10-12) webmaster 11, co-president 12
yearbook (10-12) student life editor 10, editor-in-chief 11&12
Asian Cultural Exchange Society (12) publicity chairman
japanese nhs 10-12
science nhs 11-12
nhs 11-12</p>

<p>Summer:
Rice University Summer School (before 10 & 12)
Rhodes College Summer Writing Institute (before 11)</p>

<p>Awards
USNCO Chemistry Olympiad National Honors (top 100 in nation)
national merit semifinalist</p>

<p>Work
15 hr/wk teaching little children math (summer, 12)
Freelance design work online for clients (9-12)</p>

2

<p>I dont see much of any major/passion (besides Olympiad) reflected in your EC's, it kind of looks like you did them just to do them... </p>

<p>you are in dire need of safety schools. You have WAY too many selective schools on your list and not a single safe-bet. Iwould say reach for most of those schools, and maybe in at some UC's, but being out of state will kill you.</p>

3

<p>^ agreed.</p>

<p>as far as where you should apply early goes, I would say visit columbia sometime soon and then make your decision.</p>

4

<p>I already have a safety school UT since I'm top 10 I'm automatically in. I'm only concerned with getting into top schools now..</p>

5

<p>Personally, I'd ED Columbia in your case, but strategic risk taking is my bent. While you are certainly a possible at Stanford, I'd be more prone to take the risk if you were val of your class and had a 2350 plus and exceptional ECs.</p>

<p>Columbia, on the other hand, will have a hard time rejecting you as a legacy applying ED. Some schools are more clear on the subject than others, but don't mistake the fact that your chance as a legacy is much better when you show them your family loyalty ED.</p>

<p>Given how competitive it is out there these days, the folks I know are choosing the legacy schools to assure their place at a top school now much more than I saw with my older kids a few years ago.</p>

6

<p>fair enough.</p>

<p>However, my decision is still not clear. On Columbia's FAQ page, they say that they consider children of Columbia College or SEAS graduates to be legacies. Yet in the "list parents who went to columbia" section, they allow you to choose the graduate schools (which my parent attended). I've emailed the office for a clearer response...</p>

<p>Here is the jargon on the page

[quote]
We are always pleased to receive applications from students whose family members have graduated from Columbia. When an applicant is extremely competitive and compares favorably with other similarly talented candidates, being the daughter or son of a Columbia University graduate (from any Columbia school or college) may be a slight advantage in the admission process. This advantage may especially apply for “legacy” candidates.</p>

<p>Please note: applicants are considered to be “legacies” of Columbia only if they are the children of Columbia College or the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science graduates.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>"being the daughter or son of a Columbia University graduate (from any Columbia school or college) may be a slight advantage"</p>

<p>implies that in my situation I would gain that "slight advantage"</p>

<p>However it then says "This advantage may especially apply for “legacy” candidates" who are defined as children of undergraduate graduates.</p>

7

<p>I think they're clear, your app will only get the legacy sticker if parent was an undergrad. Several schools do this. Too bad, I don't get it!</p>