<p>I’m a white, male senior from a small upstate New York high school. I would love nothing more than to go to Columbia University for mechanical engineering. Please chance me!
3.9 unweighted gpa
33 ACT
IB Diploma Candidate (math/science heavy ib classes)
AP Scholar with Distinction
RPI Medalist for Superior Achievement in Math and Science
National Honor Society
Black belt and instructor at my karate school
1st chair, award-winning alto saxophonist, Area All-State 3 years in a row
pianist for 8 years
work at public library
lifeguard
ongoing community service project: leader of a landscaping project at my library</p>
<p>I’m billing myself in my essays as the engineer who also has a passion for the liberal arts, and that’s why I want to go to Columbia.</p>
<p>Freshman year:
Honors bio
Honors english
Honors global history
Honors geometry
Band
Honors spanish II
Art Studio 1</p>
<p>Soph year:
Honors spanish III
AP European history (4)
health
Art Studio 2
Honors chem
band
Honors Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry
AP English Language and Composition (5)</p>
<p>Junior Year:
IB Biology HL
IB Theory of Knowledge (IB Philosophy course)
Regents Physics (no honors offered at my school)
IB English HL
IB Spanish SL
band
IB Mathematics SL (5)
AP US history (4)</p>
<p>Senior Year:
AP Calculus BC
IB World Topics HL
IB Spanish SL
IB Biology HL
IB Physics SL
IB Theory of Knowledge
band
IB English HL</p>
<p>you are competitive, but I hesitate to give you a chancing. You will be much like many other candidates out there, what have you done to make yourself stand out?</p>
<p>Standing out is going to be my biggest problem. As stated above, i am trying to stand out with my equal proficiencies for liberal arts and math/science. That is pretty rare when looking at engineering school applicants. Also, my RPI medal is a national honor. Not that it would have much pull at any school other than RPI! Overall, my essays and teacher recs are going to be great or even stellar, and I only hope I land an interview. Then, my personality can shine through. Finally, I was homeshcooled right up until 9th grade, which i neglected to mention above.</p>
<p>I think you have as good a shot as me. I’m also an engineering canidate with similar scores going to an IB school. Except I got a 6 on the mathematics SL exam :p</p>