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hi, i am a junior and this year i have 3 ap's
chem, calc ap, comp sci ap. my avg.s. Will get an A- in calc, and A+'s in the other 2. i have take a couple of SAT diagnostics, and i get like 800 math and like 670 verbal.

top 5 out of 400

Ec's

1) Varsity Tennis Team (9-12)

2) Founder of Spelling Contest Club of America
- organized Spelling Bee for entering Freshman Classes. Commended by english dept head, principal and assitant super-intendant

3) Woodbridge Township Ambulance and Rescue Squad
10-12, cadet,captain of cadets in 12th. EMT in 12th. 10hrs/week

4) Volunteer at local temple, 5 hrs a week.
Recieved community service award, and receipient of scholarship. Leader/director of teen temple volunteers

5)Prominent singer in temple, commended for singing religious songs in front of other devotees.

6)Editor of School Paper

7)Job at supermarket about 20 hrs a week (11- to probably 12)

8) either columbia summer school or governors school this summer


WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE doing to get INTO COLUMBIA, I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO GO TO COLUMBIA. I am an asian

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 04:27 pm: Edit

You should try not to get your heart too set on Columbia and look at lots of schools that aren't in the Ivy League. Really, most kids don't get into the Ivy school they get their heart set on and it can be very crushing. Consider why you want to go to Columbia and look at schools that have similar qualities. It's hard to say if you'll be able to get in or not because you didn't list your GPA and you haven't actually taken the SAT I or SAT IIs yet. Still though, look at lots of schools and don't get your heart set on Columbia.

By Bignick123 (Bignick123) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 05:50 pm: Edit

i have a 3.9 gpa unweighted, 4.2 weighted

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 06:22 pm: Edit

You have great ECs. Emphasize them in your aps and essays and point out subtly how different you are. Get a couple ( not a bombardment) letters from those who worked with you on those ECs. Governor's school is usually considered more prestigious than a program you pay to a college.
That said, there is no sure road to Columbia. If you apply early, you increase your chances quite a bit. If your geographics are further from NY, that can increase your chances. Without definite SAT2 scores and a final look at your academics, all anyone can say is that you are definitely in the running. And even with all the info, Columbia is always a lottery ticket.
Are you good enough to play tennis for Coumbia? If so an athletic hook is very valuable and you should contact the athletic director and tennis coach. Admissions will not necessarily pick it up--they rely on the athletic department many times to tag the athletes.
Clickspring is ever so right in her post. Get a list of schools that you can enjoy with varying acceptance rates, CMU,Case Western are two suggestions. An LAC would probably be a great pick and tennis is more possible as a hook at some of these. Look at Lehigh, Lafeyette, Bucknell. To obsess over one school is not a good use of time. Keep those options open. It is easier to moon over an ivy league school than to take the time and trouble to research other schools that may fit your profile better and where you could be very happy.

By Patient (Patient) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 09:26 pm: Edit

I wonder how many people got into their first choice colleges and realized later that they had "rushed to judgment" and maybe it wasn't the best fit for one reason or another...and by the same token, some people were bitterly disappointed not to get into their first choice at first, and then realized, once college began, that the place where they ultimately enrolled was a better fit...any experiences to share along these lines?

E.g., I just spoke to a freshman at a southern college who got rejected last year from an Ivy and was so sad at first, and is SO happy now where he is. I guess it can be that "every cloud has a silver lining" idea, and also, perhaps if things are not handed to you on a silver platter (by getting your dream choice), you then put more effort into college and that is what really helps to make the experience worthwhile????

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 10:38 pm: Edit

Well, there are always kids who are unhappy with their college even if it was their first to-die-for choice. And there are always kids who love their college even if it was their last choice. I suppose it has to do with the person, not the college.
It really hurts more not to get into a school if you obsess about it, think about it all of the time and make it the end all goal. Everyone should look at several schools of varying selectivities where he can be happy and get the education he wants.