<p>I called Columbia just now and had a very lengthy 40 min. conversation with the admissions officer (the lady who was my geographical reader), and found out some valuable information. (that may help with RD apps etc.) If you want to know specifically about your case it might help to call the person who was your "geographical reader". It gives a lot of closure and I think the advice I got was pretty useful.</p>
<p>Otherwise, if you'd like to know what I gatherd... in generally "why" you were denied admission, and the circumstance of this year's ED pool, I'd be more than willing to share. And if you'd like to know what this admissions officer had to say in terms of giving advice on RD apps and what really is important to be a successful applicant in the RD round...
You can IM me.</p>
<p>Just a very brief breakdown of this year's ED pool and other info:
- 14% more applicants than last year (so about 1,923 applicants to the College this year)
- "Hardest year ever"
- Admitted smaller % of the class than last year
- So, selectivity was much higher this year
- As always, ED pool is filled with special cases - legacy, athletes, development.
- So, getting in with academic merits alone was even harder.
- Mid-range SAT scores this year: 1370-1480
- Pretty much same number of acceptances and deferrals.
- If you were deferred, you were VERY close to an admission.. it's just they could only admit a certain number of people.
- "RD round is crazzzzy!!"
- So, it was better to have applied ED if Columbia was/is your #1 choice.
---> Columbia = crapshoot for everyone and anyone! </p>
<p>So all in all, if you got in.. it's a job well done!! and you were incredibly lucky! Congrats :)</p>
<p>And to everyone else, good luck in the RD round.</p>
<p>I have been following the Columbia board and want to say that I think that you show real character when you extend such good will to those who got in during the ED process. It is especially sweet that you are willing to share the information that you gathered from your phone call to admissions in an effort to make others on the board feel a bit better and perhaps help those who were bumped into the RD round. It is Columbia's loss not to have accepted you. I have complete confidence that you will get into a wonderful school and have a great college experience. I wish you the very best.</p>
<p>I see my Columbia denial as a blessing in disguise.. It has truly taught me so much, it was an invaluable life experience.
Don't get me wrong, if I was admitted I would have been ecstatic, the happiest girl ever.. However, if I was admittied, I'm afraid that I may have been a very arrogant, big headed person..I would have thought verrrry highly of myself, and be in the illusion that everything in life comes easy and I get everything I want.</p>
<p>This denial has reminded me once again the importance of being humble. And also, Columbia's denial has helped me realize that there are ALWAYS 2 sides to the coin... and it's very easy to flip from one side to the other... And there are SOOO many schools out there that are just as amazing... I am slowly falling in love with all my RD schools and really looking forward to going to one of them.</p>
<p>Columbia had been a figment of my perception.... I had coloured it up, glorified it, and made it a lot "grander" than it actually may be. This is the good news... The "Columbia dream" had beencreated by me, so I am also in control of discarding it and moving on. I let myself fall into a trap and got hooked on obsession. Whether that was good or bad, it doesn't matter, because I had fun and I had given Columbia my all... Now after this phone call with Alice the admissions officer, I have closure and in a way feel very flattered that she remembered me along with my essay and art slides. I'm very glad that I called because she gave me some great advice.</p>
<p>Feel free to email me at christina_sok @ yahoo.com
And AIM christinakizz</p>
<p>After hearing the news, my counsellor said to me:
"And remember, there's always a bit of illusion at first, created in the perception of the beholder, and the romance of the dream are so magical and enticing that they tend to colour one's perception. But a lot of that magic is in your own mind and even though I'm sure Columbia would have measured up to your dream, so will other places. There are other schools where you can be happy, just as there are always other guys...and you yourself are the maker of the dream, not Columbia."
"And yes the big hunky ones always attract the most interest but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how charming and stimulating some of the less flashy ones can be--and yes I think I'm still talking colleges!"</p>
<p><em>smiles broadly</em> I don't think I've ever be so ecstatic to read a post. <em>sighs</em> Oh Chris, I am so happy that you posted that, and I hope to meet you many times in the various forums here on CC. There are few people on CC who I like more, and that's saying a lot my boy. or girl.</p>
<p>Silver_wavez/Christina: Another parent here. You are a class act -- generous and gracious to your peers despite your own disappointment, and already looking ahead with optimism. I am so impressed by your maturity. You are surely going to wind up somewhere great.</p>
<p>How can you not just love Chris? She truly is the most amazing online persona I have ever met- and that's saying a lot. She truly is a special person, someone who deserves so much in her life- I only hope to be as mature as she is now some day.</p>
<p>Wow, silver_wavez...Christina, you are truly an amazing person. I hardly post but becuase of my ED to Columbia I've followed this board very closely and I think you're great--and I'm still in the process of bouncing back to normal and reading your encouraging words really helped me.</p>
<p>no she checked my email that morning i got it and deleted it... she's an english teacher, i'm pretty sure she read the email correctly.
since then the mail hasn't come yet...
so i've not been able to see it.</p>
<p>I still don't understand why rejected people were...rejected? It should be automatically transmitted to regluar decision - aka deferred. Princeton doesn't reject anyone - just defer. It makes a heck of a lot more sense if you ask me.</p>
<p>"I still don't understand why rejected people were...rejected? It should be automatically transmitted to regluar decision - aka deferred. Princeton doesn't reject anyone - just defer. It makes a heck of a lot more sense if you ask me." - yeh gtown also does this.. it would make sense.. but i guess columbia's just drowning with the number of applicants.. tis life, we can't do anything about it.</p>
<p>"and it's kind of nice to be rejected now instead of having to wait 4 months to be rejected." - yes i agree</p>