challenger398

Hey,
I have an unweighted 3.6 at a prep school known for being tough on grading. My school does not rank. I have a 33 ACT and I have taken 11 Ap's.
Ap Language and Composition
Ap Literature
Ap Psychology
Ap World History
Ap United States History
Ap United States and Comparative Government
Ap Calculus
Ap Biology
Ap Latin Virgil
Ap Art History
Ap Economics.

I am the captain of my schools varsity sailing team and have done it for three years. I am captain of our varsity squash team, we are the top team in the midwest, and have done it for three years, and captain of our jv tennis team and this will be my fourth year.

I am captain and founder of our debate team, our investment club, and young libertarians club which is the largest political group in our school. I am also president of my schools chapter of Future Business Leaders of America. I am in charge of fundraising for our chapter of Free the Children, a student run service group. I am also a four year member of our robotics team and in charge of fundraising for the group and for our outreach program to lower income areas around us where we go and try to get them interested in robotics and engineering.

I am currently an intern for Congressman Robert Dold ( Illinois 10th Congressional District) and have worked several jobs such as a bus boy and waiter at various restaurants.

I have also played classical piano for 10 years and competitively for 4. I am a national hispanic scholar and an ap scholar.

What would you guys say my chances are of being accepted early decision?

challenger398

Bummmmp anyone want to help me out?

cathyberry

Your stats are definetely good especially for a URM! I'd say the only weak point is your GPA but it shouldn't really matter if your ACT score is good. Your extracurriculars are awesome btw. You definetely have a good shot at Columbia but beware, the ivy leaguers are known to be a little arbitrary in accepting.

Hope you get in

gty101

Hmm, well the ecs you have described are definitely spectacular--I will say that. You've actually done a lot more than I did (I'm a Columbia student RD) or any of my friends who got in ED. However, that's the only thing that I would precaution on. Sure you are doing many great activities, but I wouldn't talk about all of them equally in the application. It's all about focusing on one or two things you are really passionate about and how your activities relate, which they do...I'm guessing you want to go into business or political science? And it doesn't matter if your school is tough on grading....there are kids who went to schools probably as tough as your if not tougher and pulled off grades while still doing spectacular things. But I'm not saying that to discourage you. 3.6 unweighted is fine. I have friends here who had 3.6s. However, it will help even more to know what your AP scores were and I'm guessing you're not going to take the SAT? (I'm not too familiar with the ACT). So, yes, I do believe you have a good chance....as long as you write a good essay and answer Columbia's sups very well. Many people who have great ECs but don't get in fail to move admission officers with their essays.

challenger398

Thanks for the responses! I am thinking about performing Frank Sinatra's Theme from New York New York as a media supplement. Is that the kind of humor the admissions office would appreciate or not so much?