Am I at a disadvantage?

colum2017 · November 16, 2012, 7:58pm

Hi. I applied to Columbia Engineering through ED, and I was wondering if I’m at a significant disadvantage compared to other students because of my test scores. Now, I know that the process is holistic, and is relevant to the applicant’s context, but scores still matter to a certain degree.

SAT I (breakdown): First sitting: 570CR 700M 550W || Second sitting: 670CR 660M 620W (1990 Superscore)

ACT: N/A

SAT II: Math I - 660; Biology M - 720

GPA: 3.89 UW (on Common App), listed as 4.540 W on transcript

Rank: 1/70

AP: Calculus AB (5), Biology (5) [These were the only AP classes available at my entire school at the time, junior year. Also, to my knowledge, I was the first junior at the school to ever take an AP class]. Calculus BC (online through VHS) (pending), Lit. & Comp (pending, first year offered at my school)

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None. I made the Dean’s List (part-time), however, for taking a composition course at a local community college. I’ve also gotten High Honors throughout high school, that that’s probably expected of an applicant

Course Load:

<ul>
<li>Freshman/Sophomore:
Only one freshman year to take geometry instead of algebra. Finished Precalculus by the end of sophomore year. Forced to take a physical science course freshman year. Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors in the same year (all courses semester long at my school, but still unheard of). Took all honors available (relatively few). Also, freshman year, took an Honors Economics class online.</li>
<li>Junior:
— Gym
— Civics
— Spanish I
— AP Biology
— Lit. & Comp. 1 Honors
— AP Calculus AB
— Composition (taken at local community college)</li>
<li>Senior:
— AP Lit. & Comp
— AP Calculus BC (taking online)
— Biotechnology
— Spanish II
— Spanish III
— Physics
— Public Speaking
— International Studies
— Art</li>
</ul>

Extracurriculars:

ACE Mentoring program (student) all years except junior year, Career Beginnings program, , founder of Arabic language club senior year, sophomore class president, voluntary internship in Business Systems at local city government building summer before junior year

Job/Work Experience: Information Services intern at local city hospital summer before senior year

Volunteer/Community service: Volunteered at local mosque throughout high school summers, volunteered at local doctor’s office, Math tutor junior year

Teacher Recommendations: One from biology / chemistry / AP Bio teacher, the other from AP Calc AB / physics teacher. I know them both fairly well inside and outside of school. They are also pretty young (< 30), and easy to get along with in my opinion. Not sure if that matters. I also did the best in these classes.

Counselor Rec: Probably okay. I know her fairly well, but not really out of school.

State (if domestic applicant): Connecticut

School Type: Public Magnet, ~75% urban students, definitely not the best education. This past Oct. SAT, the school averages for each section were at or below 400. I was 99%ile for each.

Ethnicity: Asian (this is partly what worries me) - Pakistani

Gender: Male

Income Bracket: 50k

Intended Major: Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering

Intended Career: Engineer.

Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): 1st to go to college in the family… and that there’s only one working parent in a house that usually has 7 people? lol

Strengths: Valedictorian. GPA. Dedication and passion for academics, extracurriculars, multiculturalism. High SAT scores compared to my high school.

Weaknesses: No major awards. Low SAT scores compared to many other applicants. Not much community service.

<hr>

Final Comments: I really want to attend Columbia. I hope that came across in my application and supplements, in which I attempted to be very specific, mentioning why the Engineering program and a certain liberal arts minor would be the perfect match for me. My SAT scores and “ORM-status” are mainly what worry me. I’m quite pessimistic, but have been trying not to be lately. I just don’t want to get my hopes too high.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Please give advice, answers, comments, or suggestions.

CX380LAX · November 16, 2012, 8:44pm

They will evaluate based on what opportunities were given to you. It looks like your school did not offer many opportunities that other schools would so as long as you are at the top of your school, you have a chance. They won’t compare you to another applicant who went to a school where 15+ APs were offered.

pwoods · November 17, 2012, 4:13am

I wouldn’t worry too much about Asian; I may be wrong, but I think the admissions committee will treat you differently than an East Asian or Indian applicant, especially given your strong emphasis on Islam and Arabic. Again, I may be off, but I think you’re more likely to be seen as a “Muslim” applicant than an “Asian” one.

colum2017 · November 17, 2012, 3:29pm

Thanks for the replies. @pwoods, that’s what I was thinking too, but then again, can’t be sure, considering Pakistani families also have high expectations in academics… Still, I think I did pretty good for the high school I went to. I suppose I’ll just wait 3 weeks and not worry too much for now :)

IvyLKM · November 17, 2012, 4:22pm

Need to retake SAT for real chance

colum2017 · November 17, 2012, 5:52pm

Forgot one thing. my only “major” award would be National Honor Society.

raca1111 · December 2, 2012, 4:23pm

I think you have a chance if you were as specific as you said you were in the essays. Don’t give up. I’m just being practical about it: I know I have a chance, but there is a high chance that I still won’t get accepted (80% chance lol)

colum2017 · December 2, 2012, 5:03pm

Thanks, I feel the same. I feel like I may have a chance, but I can’t expect too much when the acceptance rate is so low. All we can do at this point is hope for the best :P

Am I at a disadvantage?

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