What more do I need to do to stand out?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>So what else can I do to improve my chances of being accepted? I haven't taken my ACT/SAT yet and I know that is a MAJOR part of the decision. I am hoping to be a political science major. Here are my other stats:
Gender: Female
Race: White
GPA: 4.6 weighted and 4.0 unweighted
Class Rank: 2nd out of about 430.</p>

<p>Course History:</p>

<p>Middle School Credits:
Algebra 1 Hon, Geometry Hon, and Biology Hon</p>

<p>9th grade:
AP Human Geography
Chemistry 1 Hon
Algebra 2 Hon
Theatre 1
Improvisation 1
Spanish 1 Hon
English 1 Hon</p>

<p>10th Grade:
AP World History
Theatre 2
AICE Biology (AICE is kind of like AP but it is out of Cambridge)
AICE Thinking Skills
Spanish 2 Hon
Pre Calculus Hon
English 2 Hon (1st semester)
AICE General Paper (2nd semester)</p>

<p>11th grade:
AP Calculus
AP US History
AP Environmental Science
AP Language & Composition
AP European History
AP Psychology
Theatre 3 Hon</p>

<p>AP Scores (so far):
AP Human Geo - 4
AP World History - 4</p>

<p>Do colleges even look at AICE scores?</p>

<p>This summer I am taking Physics and Spanish at the local college.</p>

<p>I am projected to get 5's on AP Exams for US History, Psychology, Language, Environmental Science.
I'm projected to get 4's on Calculus and European History.</p>

<p>On my ACT I'm hoping for a 33 at least.
SAT I'm hoping for 2200 at least (?) and 760s at least on my 2 subject tests.</p>

<p>My ECs up until this year:
Clubs:
International Thespian Society (ITS) Officer: District One Representative
Mu Alpha Theta (math club) Officer: Historian (thinking I will be VP or President next year)
Young Democrats of America (probably will be president next year)
National Honor Society (trying for an officer position next year)
Science National Honor Society
Student Advisory Council Representative
Environmentally Conscious Youth (only for one year though)</p>

<p>Other EC's:
Viking Mascot
For plays/musicals:
-Romeo & Juliet: Katherine
-Hairspray: Brenda
-Once on this Island: Mama Euralie
-Shakespeare 2.0: Lavinia/Cassius
-The Children's Hour: Mrs. Tilford
-Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: Sophia
-Procrastination: Mom
-Thoroughly Modern Millie: Mrs. Meers
Church Youth Group (worship leader)
As District Rep for ITS I organize the entire District 1 Competition Festival for drama in Florida. Its 3 days long and there are about 800 students who attend.</p>

<p>Work Experience:
The Donut Hole (restaurant)
Old Navy</p>

<p>Awards/Recognitions:
Viking Scholar (all 3 years)
Critics Choice Playwrighting (I wrote a play and it won #1 out of everyone else at districts and I will be directing and producing it as a school production next year)
Outstanding Freshman (ITS)
Outstanding Sophomore (ITS)
Outstanding Junior (ITS)
Honor Thespian
Straight Superior set design at Districts and state
Straight superior monologue at districts
Straight superior duet musical at districts (we are taking it to state)
Straight superior small group musical at districts
2nd Place and straight superior one-act for Shakespeare 2.0 at districts (and straight superiors at state)
2nd Place and straight superior one-act for Procrastination at districts
Best Ensemble Cast at districts
Best Technical achievement at districts
State award winning mainstage production of The Children's Hour</p>

<p>Community Service:
About 150 hours</p>

<p>Some of this may superfluous info. I also know I could get killer letters of rec from my principal, teachers, and guidance counselors.</p>

<p>So do I have a shot if I get all of my projected scores on ACT/SAT?</p>

<p>What can better my chances of getting in?</p>

2

<p>I am also a junior, and since I have not applied to college yet obviously, I’m not sure how much help I can be. However, we are somewhat similar in grades and classes taken. I would say your theater accomplishments are extremely impressive, since they show leadership, but since you are going for a political science major and I’m assuming law school, it doesn’t seem very relevant. I would especially question your Theater 3 Honors class because it seems like a “fun” class which could be filled with an AP class and you are not pursuing a future in performing arts. I would say try to make your extracurriculars more purposeful. For example, I also am involved in theater and last winter, I wrote, co-directed, and performed in a charity show that raised $5000 for the United Way. I am also in Mu Alpha Theta and hold a couple national competition titles from National Convention. </p>

<p>Basically, your ECs are outstanding but since they are not in the field that you plan to go into, it does not count as much. If you could obtain even higher scores than what you project (I took ACT last year as a sophomore and got a 35, and we’re in almost the same classes, so it’s doable) and make sure your senior year classes are the most challenging schedule you can manage, I’m sure it would help.</p>

3

<p>If you’re interested in also studying theatre, you might consider touring Barnard College at Columbia University. My daughter has a theatre friend at Columbia College who says he would give anything to be allowed to transfer to Barnard. Columbia University’s undergrad Theatre Department is at Barnard College, and all undergrad theatre classes are taught at Barnard college. Also, I understand Barnard students tend to get better dorms and better counseling support than the kids at Columbia; and, Barnard undergrads have access to most everything Columbia University has to offer - classes, clubs and athletics. Also, Barnard’s ED acceptance rate is over 40% - much higher than Columbia’s. We toured it. It’s impressive.</p>