What are my chances of getting in ED?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>I have decided to apply Early Decision to Columbia, but I am unsure about my chances of getting in. Any opinions/suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you so much!</p>

<p>I am a Caucasian girl attending a magnet school for Government and International Studies in Richmond, Virginia. </p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted, but my school uses 4.5 for A+’s, so I’ve received B+’s in Chemistry and Spanish, and a B in Physics, but everything else is A’s and A+’s.)</p>

<p>SAT: 2210 overall
Math: 680
Critical Reading: 770
Writing: 760
(taking the SAT again Oct. 4)</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
US History: 780
Literature: 760
French: 740</p>

<p>APs:
European History: 5
US History: 5
English Language: 5
US Government: 5
French Literature: 5
French Language: 4</p>

<p>Activities:
Model Congress: 4 years
Model UN: 4 years
Debate: 3 years
National Honor Society
National French, Spanish, English, and History Honor Societies </p>

<p>*I am the President of Model Congress Club, and I have won committee awards at Harvard and Princeton Model Congress Conferences.
*I am the Policy Debate Team Captain, and my partner and I have placed 2nd and 5th at two different state debate tournaments, which qualified us for nationals last year.
*I am Secretary of Model UN and National French Honor Society.
*I also participated in a summer scholarship program called High School Diplomats, which allowed me to live and study with Japanese exchange students at Princeton one summer, and then travel to Japan for 3 weeks the following summer, for free. </p>

<p>I am most worried about my Math SAT I score, as well as the fact that I took Trigonometry twice – once my sophomore year and finished with a C+, then again my junior year and finished with an A. I am taking college level Calculus this year, but will this hurt my chances of getting into Columbia? I also had a C+ for the 2nd semester of Physics, but finished with a B. </p>

<p>I have no interest in pursuing a career in math or science though – I’ve taken 6 years of French, 5 of Spanish, and 2 of Italian, and 7 history courses, and I want to be a lawyer. </p>

<p>Thank you so much again for your time!</p>

2

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I have decided to apply Early Decision to Columbia, but I am unsure about my chances of getting in.

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<p>It sounds like you're unsure of your decision to apply ED.</p>

<p>The C+s in math and science will hurt. Not having an interest in math and science won't fly as an excuse either. But, if you post a strong score in Math on your next SAT, it might blunt the axe a little bit.</p>

3

<p>I would not worry so much about your math SAT score. It is within the average range for admitted students. You have very nice scores in general and a very high math/verbal combined score. Focus your attention on other aspects of your application.</p>

<p>Look, you attend a magnet school that emphasizes subjects other than math and science and you have shown through your grades and ecs that you have strong, consistent interests and abilities. Make sure that these stand out in your application and choose the people writing your letters carefully. You cannot change some dings in your math/science grades, but you can emphasize other things. Help the admissions committee understand what you would bring to campus.</p>