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I visted both Columbia and NYU this past year and loved both. They are two very different schools, but I know I would love attending either one. Now, my senior year is coming up soon, and I want to apply to a school Early Decision. While Columbia has always been a "dream school", I really, REALLY want to get accepted to a college ED and enjoy my senior year. My parents are totally against me applying ED to NYU, and would rather see me attend Columbia (the Ivy League thing is a huge deal to them, not so much to me). Would you look at my stats and help me out with my decision?

Polish Male, First generation American (fluent in Polish)
SAT I 1400 (retaking in the fall)
SAT II's US HISTORY 690, BIO 690, WRITING 670 (Also retaking Histoy and Writing)

Weighted GPA ~ 95.5
Unweighted : not sure

Rank: school does not rank , although I am in top 10%

Will have 2 B's and 2 B+'s on trancript from fresh and soph years. Three year trend shows steady improvement from 93 avg to 97 avg.

Taking hardest course load, 5 aps senior year, 3 this year (I got all 5's on exams) and 1 sophemore year (score = 4) for a total of 9 APs.

Community Service = CCD Teacher and various annual community activites such as Special Olympics

EC's : Talented Musician, have been involved in all state and regional choirs for 6 years. Based on score, will most likely take part in the All Eastern Music Festival this year. Take private voice and piano lessons, as well as involved in summer vocal programs ranging from musical theater to Beethoven's 9th with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. (Will send supplemental material with all appications) My a cappella group won the highest award at a music competition in San Antonio Texas.

Varsity Boy's Volleyball 2 years/ Varisty Girls Volleyball manager 2 years

French Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta --> (President)
Involved in Principal's Advisory Council and School Leadership Organization.

Involved in a Microbiology internship this summer at the Uconn Health Center.

Recieved numerous music scholarships as well as the "Michael's Jewelers Award" for service to school and community at my school's award nights.

So what do you think? Do I have a shot at Columbia? Or am I better off applying to NY? Be honest! I won't be offended!!

Thanks guys,

Dave

By Hayden (Hayden) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 12:01 am: Edit

Just looking at stats: 35% of the 1st year students at NYU have SAT's of 1400 or above; at Columbia, the mid-50 percentile is 1310 to 1510. So from SAT's only, you are in the top 35% at NYU, but in a lower-mid range for Columbia. So neither one is ruled out, but clearly a better shot at NYU.

EC's look good! congrats.

As for grades, this might be a weak point for Columbia. You say you have an upward trend, but 93 weighted doesn't sound all that high to me (but we're on a 4.0 scale, so not really sure).

But all that aside, which school do you really, really want to go to? Will you always secretly kick yourself that you didn't at least try to get into Columbia, if you go ED for NYU? If you ED Columbia and get rejected, will you always kick yourself you didn't go for NYU? Only you can know these things.

Then, practically speaking, if your parents are footing the bill, their feelings need to be taken into account also.

My suggestion would be to sit down with our GC and ask him/her to give you advice on how other students from your school, with similar stats have fared at Columbia.

Good luck.

By Davidpien (Davidpien) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 04:26 pm: Edit

thanks or the thoughtful response

By Davidpien (Davidpien) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 04:27 pm: Edit

*for

By Davidpien (Davidpien) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 04:37 pm: Edit

Well, in fact my GPA will appear to be a high 95 or low 96 on my transcript, when i said "upward trend" from 93 i meant that i startd out with a few 93's during freshmen year but quickly improved to the 95 range. (I'm doing this by quarter, I literally dug out all my old report cards and ordered them by quarter to get an idea of how I have done in high school).