Still no chance for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hi, i posted a chance thread about a month ago, where basically the consensus was that I had no chance. However, my SATs have gone up by over 150 points and I wasn't as descriptive in my last post, so I'ld appreciate any more input. </p>

<p>I'm a high school senior this year planning to major in Political Science.</p>

<p>GPA UW 3.47 W 4.27
Rank: school doesnt rank
SAT I: 1560/2300.
SAT IIs: 780 BIO took two more during November test date. </p>

<p>EC's
*Founding member of charity organization promoting Korean diversity
*Member of National Science Bowl (10, 11, 12) JV captain (11)
*school newspaper - (9, 10, 11, 12)Features editor (11) Photo Editor (12)
*Teaching Assistant at Korean School of New England
(11, 12) President of TA committe (12) English Editor of newsletter (11,12)
*Classical Violin (9,10,11,12)
*JV & Varsity Field hockey (9, 10, 11,12)
*Tutor children in ESL (10, 11,12)
*Cashier at local supermarket - (10, 11,12) (about 15
hours per week)
*Jangu - Korean traditional drum - self taught (9,10,11,12)
* Help Dad out at store over summers - (9, 10, 11,12)
*Lexplorations - Teacher's Aide (11)</p>

<p>Community Service - about 250 hours, worked as TA in various organizations</p>

<p>My passion - The organization i helped found is the first of its kind, even though there are similar organizations for other eithnic groups. It takes up quite a bit of my time and is definitely not a school club if ounded to look good on my resume. I found it with several people who are well known in the Korean community. Including the principal of my korean school. (which has over 300 students) We've had coverage in Korean Newspapers and have our website online. </p>

<p>ACADEMICS
will have taken 8 APs by graduation</p>

<p>FINANCIAL AID
my parents make about 25k per year. Assuming i get in how much financial aid is possible?</p>

<p>OTHER
location - MA.
Race - asian
gender- female</p>

2

<p>first of all the SATs r out of 2400 not 2300...</p>

<p>you are an asian female with 1560 on your SATs....i have no good news...sorry.</p>

<p>Do yourself a favor and look at schools that are more realistic, columbia is an ultra reach.</p>

3

<p>I still don't get how people have not figured out 1560/2300 means M+V/M+V+W.</p>

<p>Do you seriously think that the people who seek out advice online about college admissions to the extent they visit a forum would not know what the SAT is out of?</p>

<p>That being said... I'm also applying to Columbia so I can't really give that much advice. I've got similar SAT scores and a higher GPA and really really different ECs from you... but I would be surprised if once you get in you aren't given financial aid equal to the cost of tuition and then some.</p>

4

<p>i apologize to kinly07 and retract my previous statement....</p>

<p>fengshuibundi..... "people" don't know what that means because "people" on this board whose opinion matters took the SAT when it was out of 1600, so "people" who have over 700 posts have not seen this strange notation before despite being on this board for 10 months. </p>

<p>kinly07......i think you have a pretty good chance...it will all come down to your essay and your "why columbia" piece...if you get in you will probably get full financial aid with no loans if your parents make that much combined....of course other things will factor into the equation on your financial aid forms but i'm sure you won't be disappointed with the financial aid package.</p>

5

<p>Lexplorations? Waittaminute, you're from my freakin hometown. LHS '01.</p>

<p>If you know a sophomore named David Estes, tell him his brother says to get a haircut.</p>

<p>Anyway, your grades are going to hold you back. I had a similar basic profile - low GPA (and yes, it's low for LHS applicants to top schools), great test scores, lots of ECs - but Columbia didn't take a chance on me until I proved my work ethic wasn't reflected in my GPA by spending a year and a half working full time. I'm not sure whether you've got anything to counteract that GPA, frankly.</p>

<p>FTR, I had a 3.3UW / 3.9W, but a few other things going for me.</p>

6

<p>"so "people" who have over 700 posts"</p>

<p>Alright, I did come off more than a bit annoyed and for that I apologize. But please don't start about how one person's opinion may or may not matter. Granted, I think it is absolutely stupid for a high schooler to give chances to another with any authority at all. But to say that a poster is more important because s/he has more POSTS than another! Posts shouldn't be an indicator of authority and I would expect better from somebody "on this board for 10 months."</p>

<p>Whatever, just expressing my little issue about post count supposedly meaning anything other than what its name implies. Also... I still find it hard to believe that if you've frequented a website about colleges, and predominantly college admissions, that you would not know what the current version of the SAT is scored out of. I know you know it is out of 2400, just a general statement there.</p>

<p>Let's drop this, okey?</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
Granted, I think it is absolutely stupid for a high schooler to give chances to another with any authority at all. But to say that a poster is more important because s/he has more POSTS than another! Posts shouldn't be an indicator of authority and I would expect better from somebody "on this board for 10 months."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>first of all i'm a senior....at columbia
second of all, i mentioned the post thing to indicate that i'v been around for a while and have posted in many a chances thread and havent seen that notation.
Too bad i didnt live up to your "expectations" if you dont like it...tough...my authority comes from the fact that i'v been at columbia for almost 3.5 years, not that i have been on this silly website for 10 months....you clearly didnt read my post correctly.</p>

8

<p>(insert Cartman "respect mah authoritah!" joke)</p>

9

<p>I know you're not a high schooler...</p>

<p>I didn't mean you! I am perfectly capable of reading and it wasn't hard to figure out you go to college. Oooh so I'm going to cry since you don't live up to my expectations. It's too bad that your post really emphasized more your post count and being on this "silly website" instead of being an authority figure for attending Columbia.</p>

<p>whatever... I dont feel like arguing with you right now.</p>

10

<p>If you are accepted, which will come down to your essay, you will receive 100% grants for financial aid--Columbia has eliminated loans for families making less than 50k annually. I don't know if that will cover room and board and books also, but you won't be paying for tuition.</p>

11

<p>this columbia financial policy only applies to permanent residents and american citizens and not to international students, am i correct?</p>

<p>also shraf, what was the reason for your complete change of mind from "asian with low SAT: no chance" to "you have a chance depending on your essay"? just curious.</p>

<p>anyways, you have really good ECs, your poor and your giving 8 APs. i dont know why you got a 1560 but you can definitely do better than that...maybe you're just not accustomed to the SAT, and hopefull they'll look past that.</p>

<p>also, like everyone says here, it does really boil down to your essay. you really have to wow them with that. and being poor really helps. good luck!</p>

12

<p>just to give you some encouragement, i know a friend who got 980 on the SAT and got waitlisted at harvard after two interviews...she had nothing special going for her, except maybe a 95 gpa.</p>

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<p><a href="insert%20Cartman%20%22respect%20mah%20authoritah!%22%20joke">quote</a>

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://www.columbia.edu/%7Eaf2123/authoritah.wav%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.columbia.edu/~af2123/authoritah.wav&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>...thank you gateway...came in handy for something :-)</p>

14

<p>sifat--your friend must have been some extraordinarily underrepresented minority or an athlete. The SAT is a disqualifier, and a 980 would get tossed, even with a 95 GPA. A high GPA and such a low SAT score means that the school is easy.</p>

<p>Also, the first poster said she was from MA, so that's why I mentioned the Financial Aid policy. I don't know what the deal is for international students. I don't know any poor international students here, to be honest. Does anyone agree/disagree?</p>

15

<p>Also, a 1560/2300 means she has a 1560 Math/Verbal, and 2300 Math/Verbal/Writing which is absolutely Columbia material.</p>

16

<p>lol ohhh, i actually thought the OP made a typo :) </p>

<p>anyways, layla she is from nepal, i dont think south asians are too much of a minority at harvard. and i donno, crazy things happen...and she told me harvard assumed her parents were really poor and uneducated. but remember she didnt get accepted, just waitlisted after two interviews which she messed up.</p>

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<p>and oh, im a very poor international student, nice to meet you lol</p>

18

<p>Wow you guys are confusing me quite a bit. First fo all my SAT scores are 2300. 1560 is just my score for math and critical reading without writing. </p>

<p>Also I am not an international student. I was born in Massachusetts and have lived here all my life. </p>

<p>:)</p>

19

<p>really? then why is you location stated as new york? :-p</p>

20

<p>Columbia accepts 9% RD, 9% of a very competitive applicant pool.</p>

<p>They reject 65% of the valedictorians that apply ... or was that Brown ...</p>