<p>Fellow Members, </p>
<p>I am currently enrolled at a University in St Louis, MO but I am planning on tranfering to Columbia University, NY. But since I have heard that CU is a very selective school, I wanted to hear your opinion about what I should do or don't do to have the best chances possible? I am an international student, enrolled as a freshman right now. I would also be applying for Financial aid at CU. Thanks!</p>
<p>You need to tell us more. Columbia's acceptance rate for transfers this year will probably fall within the range of 7% to 10%, just so you are aware of the odds you're dealing with.</p>
<p>Yeah, I read that on their page as well. That is also the reason why I asked in this forum, what I can do to stand out, so I would be considere for admission. </p>
<p>What more information do you need?</p>
<p>Read the sticky threads.</p>
<p>Alright, first I want to apologize. I was just to eager to search and find help.</p>
<p>So, here we go:</p>
<p>Columbia only allows me to transfer in for the fall of 2009. </p>
<p>College GPA - too early right now, I can't tell
College recommendations - I can probably ask every prof I have
Essays - do you think services like *********.com are useful?
High school record - What's that?
Test scores (SAT/ACT) - I have neer taken the ACT, but will re-take the SAT. My last score was a 1450 I think (How do you combine? I just added all three scores together).
ECs/outside work experience - I got lots to offer there, Like exchange year in the US, basketball, football, exchange to france...etc. But what is really imporant what do they look for?
Dean Statement of Good Standing (Dean Rec) - should be easy
Mid-term grade report - same as above</p>
<p>I still don't know if I should apply as freshman or transfer. Maybe you can help me? I am currently enrolled in college and graduated in 2008. I will go for 14 credits this semester and was thinking about january term for another 3 credits. Then next semester I was thinking about going for 15-18 credits. his would sum up to 32 to 35. This is already too much isn't it?</p>
<p>College GPA -- Shoot for the moon.</p>
<p>LOR's -- buddy up with two/three profs. You want to establish a relationship so that they'll eventually say you walked on water and fed your whole freshman class with three pizzas and a keg.</p>
<p>Essays -- How well can you express your thoughts? Brainstorm a few topics and try to extend each one.</p>
<p>High school record -- Your transcripts from high school. Matters more as a soph transfer. </p>
<p>ACT/SAT Score should be within range -- check collegeboard.com.</p>
<p>Yes that would be too many credits.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about that. There's always next year.</p>
<p>You mean to many credits to apply as a frosh right? So what if I just cut back on the amount of credits? Would that be a smart thing to do?</p>
<p>Unless you're thinking about sitting the year out...?</p>
<p>How's your high school record?</p>
<p>So did I get it right, that if I would cut back I would have to sit a year out? </p>
<p>What do you mean by high school record? SInce I am from germany, the grades won't tell you much, but I would be able to get a certrification saying that I graduated in the top 5% of my class.</p>
<p>Anotehr thing, what exactly is the difference between Columbia College and Columbia School of General Studies? If I apply do I apply to both directly or just to one? What's smarter to do?</p>
<p>CGS is for non traditional students. People who've been out of the fold for a while.</p>
<p>No No, I'm not advising you to sit the year out. I'm saying that the threshold of maximum credits would be passed after your first semester in college -- after which you would be considered a transfer student. </p>
<p>I meant that unless you were planning on not going to school this year at all, you would have to apply as a transfer student.</p>
<p>so CGS is not for me. Well, as a transfer what do I need to do to stand out?</p>
<p>Are you currently enrolled at CU?</p>
<p>
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Bourne
Member</p>
<p>Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Stanford '10
Gender: Male
Threads: 10
Posts: 895
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</p>
<p>Look sharp, matrick.</p>
<p>yeah sure, but you might have noticed, that when you reply this information is not shown.</p>
<p>Well I saw it.</p>
<p>Anyway, to have a chance you need as close to a 4.0 as possible. But to stand out, you will likely need some great recommendations, a good reason to transfer into the specific major that you are pursuing, and if they weigh SAT scores, you will very very definitely need to re-take the SATs. Aim for at least over 2000.</p>
<p>What is a great reason to transfer? My honest reason right now is just, that I don't feel comfortable in the school I am right now and that I most likely (even though I have a scholarship) will not be able to pay for it after my sophomore year. So I am hoping to be able to get financial aid from Columbia so I can get my degree. My major is international business. </p>
<p>You really think I need a SAT above 2000??? I read that most students at Columbia had around a 1350 ??</p>
<p>If you have a 2090 SAT @ Columbia, you're barely at the bottom quarter of the incoming class ('12).</p>
<p>Your SAT score is 1450 combined all three scores? If so, that is nowhere within range of the SAT scores you'll need to get into Columbia. You should be aiming for at least a 2100 (or above 700 in each category). If that were the old SAT (the one that caps off at 1600, and not 2400), then you'd be in pretty good shape. </p>
<p>Transfer admissions to Columbia and schools like it are pure luck. You can help your chances, but really anything you could possibly do isn't going to guarantee admissions by any stretch of the imagination.</p>
<p>My suggestions are similar to the ones you see above:
Get a 4.0 (or at least greater than a 3.7). Anything below a 3.7 probably automatically puts you out of the game.
Do research. Work for a professor. This can provide not only a great recommendation but a killer activity to put on your app.
Get involved in what you enjoy: sport, debate, etc. Get good at it too. Make sure in your application it shows that you are good at it.
Make sure your application has focus. Don't list a bunch of small activities and awards. It dilutes your application. Sell Columbia on one or two or three key points about you.</p>
<p>"You really think I need a SAT above 2000??? I read that most students at Columbia had around a 1350 ??"</p>
<p>That may have been the case when the SAT was based on 1600 points, and not 2400. Someone with a 1350 would never get into Columbia. The average student at Columbia probably has something akin to a 2200.</p>
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My honest reason right now is just, that I don't feel comfortable in the school I am right now
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<p>I don't either. That doesn't quite qualify me to apply to Columbia. That's not the type of reason that I was referring to. What I mean by a "reason" is something compelling, and something that specifically Columbia can mitigate.</p>
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I am hoping to be able to get financial aid from Columbia so I can get my degree.
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<p>I can assure you that Columbia is way more expensive than your current school, and that scholarships (especially since you're looking for something that sounds like a full ride) are very competitive and much more difficult to come by at Columbia.</p>