Currently I’m a senior in high school and one of my first choice schools is Columbia University. I would like to attend as an engineering major. I feel like I have a good roaster as far as classes are concerned (Apush, AP CALC, Ap Bio, etc). And I have extracurriculars like NJOTC, Peer leadership program, national honor society, as well as society of Hispanic profession engineers. My GPA stand firm at 4.311 out of 5 and i’m number 6/823 in my school. I go to a high needs urban school. On my sat scores I scored a 700 in math and 640 in reading/writing? Do I have good chance at getting into columbia university? Are there any other schools that fit my stats better (preferably an urban school) Any advice would help!! Thank You
You sound like a terrific student, as evidenced by your GPA and test scores., and your impressive EC’s.
Your are undoubtedly smart enough to understand what low acceptance rates mean - that nobody has a “good chance” without a strong hook - and I take it that you don’t have a parent who’s a Governor nor a Senator, nor are you a 7-footer who routinely can hit three point shots from half court or beyond.
You are, nevertheless, very competitive, despite perhaps a little low on the test scores. It sounds like you are an URM, which along with your top grades, may help overcome the scores. Even if you don’t get into Columbia, you will without a doubt end up very successful.
Best of luck.
Sounds like you have a hook as an URM. You have a good chance. Good Luck.
Would the URM be a good essay topic to write about?
If done well, yes, but much depends on what aspects of the story you are trying to convey. Don’t fall into the trap of using your URM status as a cliché - the "woe was me, I was picked on because blah blah blah, but I overcame the adversity blah blah blah by not really doing anything just ignoring it blah blah blah but see how I can show off my compelling vocabulary and include a few big words along the way blah blah blah
There are a number of threads here at CC about bad essays. The topic doesn’t matter, but how you write it does.
Picture yourself as an admin officer reading your essay, and ask yourself what will make it stand out enough to put you in the yes pile. They are not expecting a 17 or 18 year old high school senior to be perfect, but what they want is for the essay to read as honest, genuine, and in your own voice.
And I can’t resist - don’t mention your good “roaster” as far as your classes - unless you are perhaps talking about a cuisine class. 
got it thanks