HuxleyAlum

@mindreeder:

If you're dead set on applying to Columbia all you have to lose is the time it takes to fill out their Common App supplement and the fees associated with applying.

Keep in mind that as you complete the financial aid forms, especially the CSS Profile, what you and the school thinks you can afford may be two different things.

Applying early decision will help your odds, but keep in mind that Columbia rejects valedictorians and applicants with perfect ACT/SAT scores all the time. There are just too many talented and/or hooked applicants for too few slots. Go ahead and apply; hope for the best but plan for the worst. Have a good list of match and safety schools for the RD round.

Best of luck.

mindreeder

Thanks everyone for the help! I'm going to merge what all of you said and:
1. Retake my ACTs pronto and hope for an extra point or two.
2. Hustle to get my supplement all written and edited in the next couple weeks.
3. Talk to my guidance counselor tomorrow and start getting my finaid forms all set to go. Also going to call Columbia and just ask what I can do to increase my chances of getting in during the ED round.

You guys all rock; I'm never dissatisfied with an answer from College Confidential.

keabie18

also look at what ivies have early action, so you can do that and in case you are denied admission to columbia, you have a head start on other options. it is definitely very smart to be looking at ivies due to your financial position, as the ivies are phenomenal with need-based aid. try to visit some of the other ives you haven't already seen, and if possible, do this before you send in your ED application to columbia. you never know, you could fall in love with another school on a visit.

jetsfan289

Concrete full ride you take that. Thats a great school that you can go to for free youd be retarded to turn that down.

franzferdinand

You might also check out some schools that have non-binding EA -- it means you can apply to more than one school EA. I've heard of people submitting early applications to Columbia and UChicago, so you might want to check it out if you can find another school that has a similar policy you might be interested in.