<p>There are fewer minorities who have both an exceptional academic record and high standardized testing scores, relative to the upper middle class white population, say.</p>
<p>If every top university wants its class to be at least 10 percent African-American, 10 percent Hispanic, schools further down the ladder will have to settle.</p>
<p>It is convenient that the OP is a Mexican-American with both stellar grades and strong test scores.</p>
<p>I’m not making the claim that he will certainly be admitted, but his chances are higher than those of a vast majority of applicants to Columbia.</p>
<p>And, since he likes Columbia so much, and he’s damned intent on applying Early Decision to a school, why keep asking questions?</p>