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Hey everybody! I was just wondering... what are my chances? Here are my stats:

GPA: 3.88 UW, 4.03 W (no rank)

SATs: 1410 (710 M, 700 V).
SAT IIs: 770 French, 740 Math 1C, 730 Writing

APs: (Planned) French, English, Environmental Science
Also- I took 2 college classes at a nearby college: Law and Society and Political Science (both As).

ECs: JV Golf team, Track team, I founded both a hospital volunteer group at my school and also the French Honors Club, piano, Current Events club, volunteer at a soup kitchen, I'm a judge for Destination Imagination, and I'm on the school "Climate Committee."

Awards, Personal, etc.: California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Roll (yah, i know, a scam...), father passed away, only person at my school to take two language classes.

Thank you so much!!!

By Godis (Godis) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 08:58 pm: Edit

ED or RD?

try to raise SAT I.

By Saxfreq1128 (Saxfreq1128) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 09:11 pm: Edit

What is Destination Imagination? What is the "climate committee"? These are unusual and will make you stand out---but Columbia won't care if you don't explain what these things are.

And your SAT I is good enough--I wouldn't stress over raising it.

By Calidan (Calidan) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:50 pm: Edit

I might do Early decision, yet I'm not 100% sure (I'm probably 94% sure). Destination Imagination was a program called OM, or Oddysey of the Mind. It is where kids of all ages all over the world compete in different types of problems that they are given, and they all have to come up with a creative way to solve it. Climate Committee is a program through my school that creates/facilitates activities (academic or social) for the students (i.e. things like freshman orientation, the peer-tutoring program, etc.). The 1410 is my most recent re-take of the SAT, and I raised 110 points (from a 1300, 640 V, 660 M). I was hoping that I wouldn't have to take it again since I passed the 1400 mark, but do you think that it will really affect my application negatively if I do not raise it? Thanks for the repsonses!

By Alvatar (Alvatar) on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:25 pm: Edit

Yeah, definitely do work hard to raise it. Practice with a review book taking the exams, and learn some of the tricks(though I never did). I went from a 1210 toa 1510 in 3 years. It does matter, many small things on an app (like every 10 pts on the SAT) add up to make a big difference. i had a lot of similar qualifications, but got deferred and then rejected. I'd definitely apply ED, good luck.

By Macbeth04 (Macbeth04) on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 03:04 pm: Edit

Don't worry about raising your SAT. I was told that once you are above 1400, a 1410 is equal to a 1510 or whatever. They only look to make sure you are in some range. They read the essay first, SATs are not really that important as long as you are about 1400. They take a lot of 1300s. Spend your time doing something that will make you stick out, and think outside the box.

By Calidan (Calidan) on Friday, May 28, 2004 - 07:46 pm: Edit

bump...

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Friday, May 28, 2004 - 10:59 pm: Edit

very insightful, Macbeth

By Calidan (Calidan) on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 09:00 pm: Edit

bump!

By Blah1111 (Blah1111) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 10:11 am: Edit

In my opinion, if you think can improve the SAT score 50+ points without having to prepare (for example, maybe you were just really tired on the day you took the test the first time), then I'd say you should retake it. 1410 is by no means a bad score and I'm pretty sure many people are still admitted with lower, but if you get denied by Columbia, you might end up kicking yourself for not trying again. Your SAT II's are pretty good, though.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 12:31 am: Edit

"Don't worry about raising your SAT. I was told that once you are above 1400, a 1410 is equal to a 1510 or whatever. They only look to make sure you are in some range. They read the essay first, SATs are not really that important as long as you are about 1400. "

no. no no no no no no no. no. what you were told was wrong. 50 points matter. 100 points matter even more. don't listen to anyone who tells you differently.

raise your sat score. it's imperative, especially for an asian applicant. good luck. if you can, try to take sat ii's over again, if you think you can raise them.

the plurality of kids they take with 1300's are URM's or athletes.

By Calidan (Calidan) on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 07:01 pm: Edit

umm... I'm not asian...