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Hi. I was just rejected from Yale EA (my first choice for as long as I can remember.) Surprisingly, I wasn't all that upset when I received the REJECTION... I think this is because of the experience I had at Columbia this summer.

I'm a U.S. citizen currently overseas (actually, I have been so for almost all of my life) and this past June, upon arriving "home," Columbia was the first university I visited. I had visited Yale the previous year and fell in love with it; however, Columbia just blew me away. Having been raised in an urban, international environment, it seemed like a perfect fit... When I attended the Undergraduate Info session, I actually decided that COLUMBIA was my first choice for university... not Yale. I LOVE the "Core" and the campus and the PEOPLE... I was totally convinced. But then I went to the Yale Summer Program... and that changed things.

Anyways, I am really nervous about applying to Columbia, considering my flat out REJECTION from Yale. I was so proud of my early application (x_X). Was Yale extra-conservative this year? Is Columbia looking for the same things as Yale? Hah, of course they are... but WHAT are these things? I haven't provided my grades, etc because I'm not really looking for someone to evaluate my chances that way (as I have realized that this whole process is a total crap shoot.) I just want to know what the differences between the two adcomes might be. Is it "easier" to get into Columbia?

Is there any current Columbia student out there who might be able to help me out and compare Columbia to Yale? I am so nervous. I never thought I would post on this board. I usually just read everyone's posts.

Thanks a lot.

PS: Sorry for any type-os. It's late here, I'm tired and I just don't feel like proof-reading this. m(_ _)m

By Godis (Godis) on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 12:14 pm: Edit

columbia rd is comparable to yale, so it's tough (and that's why i applied early decision). however, apply! you'd be better off applying and receiving a rejection than not applying at all. good luck.

By Scarletgirl (Scarletgirl) on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 02:55 pm: Edit

Yale and Columbia are too totally different institutions. Don't let one rejection letter discourage you

By Mnm86 (Mnm86) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:12 pm: Edit

they do look for different things. it seems to me that yale really looks for people who stand out on paper through such things as the SAT, grades, etc. they try and find sheer excellence but unfortunatly use these unequal, and often innacurate gauges of accomplishment.

columbia i believe makes a greater effort to search for intellectual curiosity and other more or less ineffable qualities that some applicants succeed in demonstrating.

also keep in mind that getting or not is often a question of marketing. you may be more qualified than a classmate who got in and marketed himself/herself more effectively. good luck with the process.

i know this answer comes after the columbia deadline, but i was hoping it would reassure you and therefore be of SOME use.

By Mmccullough (Mmccullough) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 05:04 pm: Edit

yale ea this year was HORRIBLE. honestly, don't worry about columbia based on yale's decisions--they rejected 40% of their early applicants and admitted only 16% of them--more selective than many ivy/competitive school regular decisions. columbia was twice as "easy" as yale to get into early this year (well...pending columbia accepted the same % early this year as they did last, which was about 30%). i agree with what i believe someone said earlier about columbia--it seems to seek a diverse community as opposed to a high median sat score to report to the us news & world report. additionally, you made the right choice in not posting your stats--i did (earlier this fall, before i was accepted) and was told that I wouldn't get in...quite obviously, this wasn't the case. i wish you the best of luck , and definitely believe that the yale early action decision should not discourage you.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

Columbia is going to be tough for everyone RD. They only accept single digit percentage wise historically as opposed to 30% ED. That is one school really worth applying early because of the huge differential.
Congrats Mmccullogh. Are you going to be swimming for Columbia?

By Mmccullough (Mmccullough) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 08:27 pm: Edit

yeah...last year's rd acceptance rate was around 9%
i might swim club/intramural...i'm planning on taking on a pretty tough courseload & getting involved in other campus activities (predominately political). thus, it would be too time consuming to do intercollegiate. are you a swimmer?

By Chotonervous (Chotonervous) on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 08:23 am: Edit

Hey. Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I really appreciate it.

I'm proud of the application I sent in to Columbia--I really put my heart into it... even more so than I did for Yale, I think. I hope they can see that and that they like me!

I'll let you all know how things turn out hey.

(^*^) chu!

By Mr0range (Mr0range) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Could the extremely low acceptance rate for Columbia perhaps be affected by its location in NYC? The large differential between early and regular seems to be testament to this fact. Do you think maybe the regular acceptance rate would be in the mid-teens without the large number of underqualified apps people send in during regular just "to see" if they can get into a school in NYC(if that is in fact the case)?

By Cat73 (Cat73) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 08:50 pm: Edit

You also went to YSP 03? Which session?

But anyway- I know I'm late in stumbling across this thread, but definitely realize that Yale EA was just bizarre. (I personally was deferred). I wouldn't necessarily worry-- because if you say you're that proud of your application, I'm sure it'll come across with the AdComs. Best wishes though.

By Candi1657 (Candi1657) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 08:56 pm: Edit

What Mr0range is saying is quite probable. The two other kids that are applying from my NYC school (by the way, no one applied to any other Ivies but Columbia except me) are, IMO, underqualified. Both have an SAT of approximately 1030 and SAT II's in the mid-400s.