<p>Sorry to bother everyone with this question, but I'm at my wit's end. I'm currently a junior studying at an extremely prestigious high school. Previously, I had been aboard in China during my middle school years, so I lack some sufficient English writing and vocabulary skills necessary to pass SATs and other standardized tests proficiently. I've improved greatly during my sophomore year, but the language barrier is still a setback. I was wondering the probability of getting into Columbia University for a person in my circumstance. It's just a question I had in my head for a long time.</p>
<p>Information:
My GPA so far is 96.59 w. and a 96.2 uw? ( not sure, the guidance counselor only let me get a glimpse of my transcript.) I don't know what that grade translates into on 1~4.0 GPA scale.
SAT I (first time): 2060 (CR:660 M:760 W:640)
SAT II: Chemistry: 690 Math Level II: 660 (I don't know what happened ^^;.) Chinese: 800
I haven't taken any AP exams yet. The only AP class offered at our school in sophomore year was AP Chemistry, and I didn't think I was ready for the excessive amount of stress and work involved. I was suppressed enough to be enormous pressure to adapt and communicate with fellow high school peers. (Sophomore year was my first year in an actual high school; ninth grade is considered a middle school grade in China.)</p>
<p>Thanks and please leave feedback! Thanks again!</p>
<p>Magic, I don't know too much about Columbia, but I don't think your SAT scores are bad at all. You have plenty of time to take it again and improve on your scores if that is what you want to do. Most colleges take the highest score from each section (v/m/w) and combine them (superscore), so if your cr score is higher next time around they will use that particular score instead of this one. You can also take the ACT as some people do better on that test than on the SAT. Also, make sure you are involved in some activities in and out of school (clubs, community service, sports,etc). Remember that Columbia is a reach school for everyone so make sure you get some match and safety schools lined up just in case. Just so you know your gpa and scores now will get you into many very good schools. Best of luck!</p>
<p>magicinworlds: You might want to consider posting on the Columbia boards on College Confidential(I'm very active there), but to answer your question, you seem like an OK applicant. I'll say this much: you should raise your CR/W SAT scores if you can(along with that Math iic). To put things into perspective, I was deferred ED with a ~3.0UW(3.7W) GPA, 740M/670CR/660W SAT(and 710 Math IIC, 640 chem) from The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. </p>
<p>Columbia wants a unique applicant. Show a passion, something you really care about(other than your classes). Have you been doing research with professors at any universities? Internships? Summer jobs? What do you do in your spare time? -- These are all questions Columbia wants to know. If your answer to all of them is "I do nothing except study for my academic classes," you won't get in; I'll tell you that right now. You're still a junior, so you have a chance to seize on some opportunities, if you have not done so already. You need to be more than a bookworm to get into Columbia.</p>
<p>Also... are you applying to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science or Columbia College?</p>