chances?

TheHalfrican · 10-29-2009, 08:41 PM

Rank: Top 10% of 476 student class. Very competitive public high school (sends numerous kids to ivy league schools each year).
GPA: 3.7
WGPA: 4.4
SAT1: 2050
ACT: 31 (33 english+essay)
AP Exams:
-US History: 4
-English Language: 4
taking four AP classes this year (Calc AB, Chemistry, Spanish, World History)
SAT II's:
-Chemistry: 710
-US History: 700

Awards (lacking here):
-Spanish National Honor Society inductee
-High Honor Roll (9,10)
-Honor Roll (11)
-Varsity Tennis letter (11)

EC's:
-JV Tennis (9,10)
-Varsity Tennis (11,12)
-Mock Trial (9,10,11,12)
-Noncompetitive Fed Challenge (11)
-Tutoring (9,10,11,12)- about 10 hours/week
-Camp Volunteer (9,10,11,12)- about 20 hours/week for 3 weeks in the summer. Head of 9-10 age group
-Spanish National Honor Society (very inactive chapter)

Aces in the hole:
-URM (African American)
-Double Legacy (mom and grandma)
-Mom has worked in the department of medicine for 22 years.

Techy233 · 10-30-2009, 01:42 PM

you don't have a single award, your ECs are lackluster, and your SAT scores are low.

silverturtle · 10-30-2009, 02:22 PM

Indeed. Your SAT/ACT are decidedly subpar for Columbia, and your UW GPA is rather low; your ECs are decent but far from outstanding.

If you indicate your race on the application, I'd say you have about a 50% chance; if you do not, you have about a 1% chance.

Good luck.

i took the sat · 10-30-2009, 03:00 PM

1% >>> 50% because of being african american?

hmm......... college admissions are sad

TheHalfrican · 10-30-2009, 03:05 PM

What's more sad is how few African Americans can do decently on tests. I know my scores are relatively weak, but I'm in the top 2% of African Americans applying to colleges this year (according to National Achievement). I'm signed up to take subject tests next week, but if there are enough tests available I can opt to take the SAT again. Would it be worth it? My practice scores have been around a 2130, so this last time was rather low.

Techy233 · 10-30-2009, 09:41 PM

I am black, and received a 2390.

No excuses - your mom and grandmother are obviously well educated, you being a double Columbia legacy. I'm the first person in my family to go to college. If you want to go to Columbia, make the cut. Otherwise, plead the minority card, and hope for the best. Sadly, I have had URM friends make it with 2040s, {one an 1820!}, but they were science fair winners, had national awards, etc.

justchuck · 10-30-2009, 09:55 PM

.......your SAT scores are not "weak", far from it. They are well above average regardless of race. They are at the 700 level needed for Columbia. You are AA and a legacy. You will get in.

mcgoogly · 10-31-2009, 12:25 AM

His SAT scores are exactly in the 25%ile of Columbia's enrolled students. Which means that it's far below average (technically median, a much better indicator).
Your GPA is about 0.1 - 0.2 too low. You have no leadership positions, and all you appear to do is play tennis, tutor some kids and do mock trial once ever few months.

Nevertheless, you are a minority and a legacy. And college admissions are not entirely a meritocratic system.

TheHalfrican · 10-31-2009, 11:58 AM

I do mock trial far from "once every few months." My school was the state champion my freshman year, and we have been as far as the finals since then (hoping to win states again this year). The time commitment has always been October-March (depending on how well we do) and meetings are usually 2 hours/day. I didn't list that as an award because, as a Freshman, I was only an alternate and didn't feel like a member of the actual team. As for leadership positions, my senior year tennis season hasn't started yet, but I'm the top candidate for varsity captain. The problem was that the coach NEVER lets any non-senior be captain no matter their rank on the team, so I had no chance until this year.

Anyway, what do you think about my idea to take the SAT's again next week? Would it be worth it? My practices were mid 50% for Columbia, so this past time was much lower. I also forgot to mention that I'm applying ED.

TheHalfrican · 10-31-2009, 12:09 PM

I have zero intentions of playing the race card in anything other than checking the box that says "African American". I'm not making excuses for anything. My low GPA is my own fault for deciding a girl was more important than my grades Junior year and my low SAT's are my own fault for being cocky.

Seeme25 · 10-31-2009, 01:40 PM

TheHalfrican... what'd you get on your psat's? I didnt apply for National Achievement (cuz i didnt want to recieve something because i was black--> im like that) but i was commended for National Merit. My friend last year was also only commended in National Merit but was a finalist in National Achievement. It made me wonder if i shouldve applied.

TheHalfrican · 10-31-2009, 01:47 PM

I did not do well at all (195) and was named an outstanding participant. It was the second highest score among blacks at my high school behind my best friends score (211) and semi-finalists are selected for having the highest score in their area. He is a finalist right now.

seanchl · 10-31-2009, 02:42 PM

well i'd say gpa and sats are abit on the low side, and if you can get them up then do it by all means... but hell go for it :P you do have some super hooks. just write some awesome essays and i think that you stand at the very least a shot.

Seeme25 · 11-02-2009, 03:25 PM

i guess it depends on the area. I live in NJ and got 206. I was surprised to be commended. Unless this other girl i know did well, i also got the highest psat score for blacks in my grade. It's upsetting (cuz my grade alone has like 750 kids) but i guess it's whatever.

*i just wanted to know if i'm in the top 2% lol

Techy233 · 11-02-2009, 10:52 PM

I didn't mean to say you were playing the race card - I'm really sorry and embarrassed about that OP.

However, I was irked when you said how good a 2050 was for URM.