Surprising Result from Columbia; Should I be worried about the rest?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I already applied ED to Columbia and got deferred, a surprise to me. My dad works there and I had an internship at the Columbia Medical Center this past summer. I got supplemental recommendation letters from my boss from when I worked there and from my soccer coach who went there, coached there, and helped in the admissions office at one point (he was personal friends with one of the officers). Should I be concerned about my chance at getting in regular decision? And did I overestimate myself? What are my chances at my other schools? Please help.</p>

<p>Boston University
Boston College
Brown
Cornell ALS
Dartmouth
Duke
George Washington
Middlebury
UConn
UPenn
Villanova
Yale</p>

<p>Male, Caucasian
I go to a pretty large public school in CT (about 400 in my grade)
School doesn't rank, but I know I'm in top 5%
GPA Weighted: 4.05/5 Unweighted: I think around 3.9/4.33</p>

<p>Courseload:
Freshman Year: Biology Honors, Geometry Honors, Spanish Honors, Western Humanities A, English B (there was only A and B and the next year A turned into honors, so B was the normal class), Band, and other electives (No Free Periods)</p>

<p>Sophomore Year: Chemistry Honors, Algebra 2 Honors, Spanish Honors, US History, English A, Band, and other electives (No Free Periods)</p>

<p>Junior Year: Physics A (Honors not offered), Precalculus Honors, AP Statistics, AP Spanish Language, AP Economics, Caribbean Literature, Research and Literature, Band, and other electives (No Free Periods)</p>

<p>Senior Year: AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, AP Spanish Literature, American Government A, Irish Literature, Contemporary American Literature, Medical Terminology, Biotechnology (2 Free Periods)</p>

<p>SAT Is: M-720, CR-680, W-720
SAT IIs: Math 2C-790, Physics-730
ACTs: Composite-33 (E30/M33/R33/S35/C35 W10)</p>

<p>Awards: Nominee for Connecticut Governor's Scholar Award (One junior from each HS, based on GPA and PSATs), Conference Scholar Athlete of the Month (September, 2007), Nominee for Scholar Athlete of the Year (2007), First Team All-Conference (soccer, 2007), First Team All-Area (soccer, 2007)</p>

<p>ECs: Soccer (Varsity junior and senior years, Varsity captain senior year, also on team outside of school that requires a very large commitment), National Honors Society (junior-senior years, nominee for president), volunteer at local soup kitchen (5-10 hrs/wk, 2006-present), Volleyball (Varsity sophomore and senior years, did not play freshman and junior due to conflicts with soccer, JV captain sophomore year), high school pep/marching band (freshman-junior years, 1st seat trumpet), literacy tutor for underprivileged children (2005-2006, 5-10 hrs/wk), Spanish National Honors Society (junior-senior years), founding member of church youth group (2004-2006, 2 hrs/wk)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Busboy/Cook at local pool and ice skating rink snack bar (6/07-present, 10-35 hrs/wk), intern in the Division of Functional Brain Mapping at Columbia University Medical Center (6/07-8/07, 30 hrs/wk)</p>

<p>Recommendations should be pretty solid
Essays were pretty good, I'm just not a good writer so I have some doubts but others liked them</p>

2

<p>anyone?
…</p>

3

<p>I would have to say that if Columbia didn’t accept you as a staff child, it doesn’t bode well for other ivies and very high ranked schools. It’s a very competitive year and for the unhooked, your scores make it hard. Maybe Middlebury and definitely you will get into BC, UConn etc.</p>

4

<p>Wow, that really sucks. Maybe you will still get in though, who knows? Your stats are really great though, and I think you can get into BU, BC, Middlebury, GW, UConn, and Villanova. The rest of the ivys, i’m not too sure about. Like the person above me said, it’s a really competitive year and for the average ivy applicant, it’s hard to get in.</p>

5

<p>i’m sorry to hear that you were deferred (i got deferred unexpectedly from my first choice too). However, i have heard from others that ivies are taking the top scoring students early before harvard/princeton do. (just a thought. I’m not really sure and would love confirmation/contradiction of this)</p>

<p>You have some really good stats, but admissions are just SO unpredictable this year. Definitely send a letter to Columbia reiterating your love for the school (if it is still your first choice). You do have a chance at your other schools, and like I said, it is very hard for anyone to know for sure who will get in. You’ve already sent in your apps, and it’s out of your hands now. Just try to enjoy the rest of your year. :)</p>

6

<p>Sunshiner, the ivies that have ED did not show major growth in applicants due to Harvard and Princeton not having early this year. While numbers went up, they were expected to. Yale did show an impact because it’s early is not binding. Therefore, the kids who really wanted HP waited for RD.</p>

<p>The issue is that this is the hardest year ever at top colleges because of the sheer number of American kids who are HS seniors and a big increase in international applicants. Kids who stats below their averages, like the OP, will have a very hard time this year without a hook. As you can see, th OP did not get in with a major hook. A few years ago he would have.</p>

7

<p>sorry about your deferral, but you’re not rejected.
Also, they’re comparing you to international applicants as well, and they may be looking to increase diversity.</p>

8

<p>Seems like a fluke that you were deferred, you’re fine for at least half of those schools.</p>

9

<p>I am shocked that people post things that are so clearly incorrect. Columbia did not defer the child of an employee who has other ties and recs from their profs by “fluke”.</p>