a chance at all?

COLLEGEPLOX
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:38:54 +0000

Columbia is my dream college. Unfortunately, I screwed up my freshmen and sophomore year Any chance I could get in? Any way I could improve my application?

Asian Male
California Resident
I attend a very high ranked public school
(blue-ribbon school, was ranked in USNews top 100 High Schools)

Freshmen Year
Band - A A
Spanish 1 - B A
English - A A
Biology - B A
Honors Geometry - B B
Honors Social Science - B A

Sophomore Year
Band - A A
Spanish 2 - B A
Honors English - A A
Honors Chemistry - C+ B
Honors Algebra 2 - B B
AP Euro - B B

Junior Year
Band - A A
Spanish 3 - A A
Pre-Cal - A A
AP English - A A
AP American History - A A
AP Biology - A A

Senior Year Schedule
Band
AP Spanish
AP Statistics
AP English
AP Gov/Econ
AP Environmental Science

UW GPA: 3.61
W GPA: 4.11
UC GPA: 4.25

SAT I
Total:2200
Math: 700
Writing: 750
Crit. Read: 750

SAT II’s
Biology: 720
American History: 750
Eng. Lit. : 750

AP Scores
AP Euro : 4
AP American: 5
AP Eng. : 5
AP Bio : 5

Extra Curriculars
Green Club Officer - 4 years
Band Council - 4 years
Literary Arts Officer - 2 years
Internship at local newspaper - 4 years
Pasadena Youth Symphonic Orchestra - 2 years
Glendale Youth Orchestra - 2 years
First Class Boy Scout - (quit after reaching first class)
Architect Institute - 1 year
Business Institute - 2 years

Awards:
Most Valuable Band Player (Band)
Outstanding Freshmen Player (Band)
Also competed in several writing competitions

As you can see, my grades are what slightly worry me. I messed up my freshmen and sophomore year, but my parents were going through a nasty divorce and it was pretty tough. Should I, or can I even, include that somewhere on my application to explain my bad grades. I do have a C+ in Honors Chem (ouch), but my junior year grades were pretty good, so I really don’t know right now.

I’m probably going to go ED (b/c that raises my chances slightly?)
Would my chances improve if I declared a major?

any advice, suggestions , or feedback welcome.