star_s

- White male (I am 1/16th Native American...can I pull that card?)
- 2150 SAT first time, just sat them again today.
- ~3.6 GPA UW as of the end of this year
- School uses very odd weighting system (out of 7); however I'm in the top 2% percent of my class, was top ranked for junior year, if that helps.
- I have taken the most challenging schedule possible

EC's:
- Varsity Soccer
- Varsity Basketball
- Varsity Tennis
- International Club Member (exactly what it sounds like)
- Math League Member (exactly what it sounds like)
- Project Greenways Member (environmental club, essentially)
- Latin Club Member (exactly what it sounds like)
- Big Buddy (Served as a role model for an elementary-aged student)
- National Honor Society
- "Outstanding Achievement" in the National Chemistry Olympiad

Other:
- Hospital Volunteer (100s of hours, not sure of exact time)
- Pennsylvania Governor's School for Excellence Participant

I will be receiving some sort of AP award eventually (took the chemistry and USH this year, will sit 6 exams next year), and I have some other minor EC's that are I'm debating whether to include.

I realize that my UW GPA is rather low for Columbia, but it can be explained. I suffered from episodes of severe depression (can be verified by a physician, if that sort of thing is necessary) throughout my freshman year; as a result, my first-year grades were not up to par.

Can anyone offer any insights into strengths/weaknesses, chances, etc.? Anything would be awesome. Thanks!

wmmk

I'd be careful with the whole depression thing. In today's sue-happy world, colleges are very worried about liability, especially after incidents at VT and NIU. Anyhow, you'll want to do really well on SAT II's to make up for the low GPA.

Unless you actually identify as Native-American, are a card-carrying member of a tribe, and participate in your local Native-American community, don't claim to be Native-American.

Your EC's seem really scattered. You're obviously doing a lot, but I see no real focus. You seem to like medicine/science, so try to emphasize those activities in your app.

Do you think you have a chance at getting recruited for any of yours sports? If not, just try to write a really good essay and hope for the best!

star_s

Wmmk,

Thank you very much for your quick and informative response! I was thinking sort of the same thing about the depression ordeal and wondered if it may be best to just not mention it and to make up for it with other things.

The Native-American was in jest :P I definitely wouldn't want to accepted on the basis of race, especially when I don't regularly identify myself as such.

My EC's are scattered, yes! Sadly, I am plagued with too many interests. I do have somewhat of a focus in medicine and science (some EC's I didn't mention like county science fair awards, local summer healthcare programs, etc.), but I really am just interested in a wide variety of things. I will most likely heed your advice and try to develop my medicinal focus in my application.

Recruitment is not likely, unfortunately (Unless any of Columbia's sports teams need rather mediocre athletes!)

Again, thanks a lot for your insight.