right arrow
PARENTS4PARENTS is a new initiative aimed at highlighting the vast expertise of our parents community while helping other parents better navigate the college admissions process. aggies1989 is a UC alumnus and parent of two UC college kids. ASK HIM ANYTHING!
GUEST STUDENT OF THE WEEK: fintech3753 is a current student at the Wharton School. Majoring in finance, he is hoping to pursue a career at the intersection of finance and technology. ASK HIM ANYTHING!
Make sure to check out our August Checklist for HS Seniors. Consult these quick resources to get you started on the process this month.
As we work to adjust to the current reality, make sure to check out these dedicated COVID-19 resources: our directory of virtual campus tours, our directory of extended deadlines, as well as the list of schools going test optional this fall.

Columbia ED Chances?

kjdoc19kjdoc19 5 replies9 threads New Member
in Columbia University
Hi! Columbia is my dream school and I am planning on applying ED because realistically I think that is the only way I would be able to get in (and my other top choices don't have ED). Any feedback you have would be greatly appreciated.

white female
upper-middle class
attend a prestigious private school
should have good letter of recs from my math and social studies teachers

Weighted GPA: 4.01
Unweighted GPA: 3.87
ACT: 32 (superscore 33)
SAT: Not taking

Academic Honors:
Scholar Award for Academic Achievement (4.0 all years)
Latin National Exam Award Recipient (Silver freshman year, gold sophomore year)
my schools prestigious honors Program (also on the leadership council for it)
National Honors Society
AP Scholar

Extracurriculars:
Varsity Soccer (3 years)
Student Council (junior co-chair)
Nationally ranked club soccer team
Peer tutor
100+ community service hours (volunteer with elderly, with the homeless, with special needs, and an active JDRF volunteer)
Solidarity Club
President and Founder of Arts and Culture Club
Work as a babysitter/nanny for families who have kids with T1D or other disabilities/chronic illnesses

AP Classes:
Art History
Lit and Comp
US History
Language
Chemistry
European History
(All other courses are honors)

My essay is about living with type 1 diabetes and how it’s played a role in my life/influenced what I want to do (I tried to not make it sound like a pity essay)

Thanks!!
4 replies
· Reply · Share

Replies to: Columbia ED Chances?

  • happy1happy1 24213 replies2431 threads Super Moderator
    Your superscored ACT is at 25th percentile which is low for an unhooked applicant. Sure, apply and give it your all, but Columbia (with an acceptance rate of 5.5%) is a real reach for you. http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/classof2022_profile_final.pdf

    In all honesty, if you are at a "prestigious private school" the guidance counselors there are likely very competent and they understand how people from your particular HS do in terms of admissions -- IMO they would be able to best advise you.

    Unsolicited advice: I'd recommend that you give up the idea of a dream school and focus on creating a solid college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (find out your parents' budget and run the net price calculator for each school) and that you would be excited to attend. The people I see who get most hurt by the college admission process are the ones who focus on one or two hyper-competitive schools and then don't get in. There are so many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
    · Reply · Share
  • j7thletterj7thletter 45 replies6 threads Junior Member
    Happy1 can you respond to more chance me Columbia posts?
    · Reply · Share
  • happy1happy1 24213 replies2431 threads Super Moderator
    @j7thletter I don't really chance -- all I did is present the class profile for Columbia. Any applicant should be able to do this for him/herself. Frankly it is impossible to chance at a school with an acceptance rate in the single digits -- more students will be academically qualified than there will be space to accept so many decisions come down to a lot of things we don't see (ex. essays, LORs, depth of ECs, things the college might be looking for at the time etc.).

    The purpose of my comment here was to dissuade the poster from the idea of a "dream school" and to encourage him/her to utilize the guidance dept. resources which likely exist at his/her "prestigious private" HS.
    · Reply · Share
  • j7thletterj7thletter 45 replies6 threads Junior Member
    ok no probs! Thank you for all your contributions and guidance!
    · Reply · Share
This discussion has been closed.

Recent Activity