Columbia ED chances (fu school)? with 3.4 unweighted GPA

Colleges & Universities Columbia University
1

<p>So, I go to Lawrenceville, a private school in NJ (<a href=“http://www.lawrenceville.org%5B/url%5D”>www.lawrenceville.org</a>) which is allegedly in the top10 following exeter/andover. Am a rising senior.</p>

<p>My grades have been horrendous. Basically, 3.4 gpa unweighted each year. I’m only in the top 40% (very competitive school). I don’t know if this matters much, but we’re only allowed to take five courses a year here. Also, everyone is required to play a sport (intramural or interscholastic) each term, which eats up quite a bit of time (~10 hours a week).</p>

<p>I transferred high schools twice, once mid freshman year and to Lawrenceville for sophomore year. However, my course loud has been rather vigorous:

  1. at Princeton High School, I was the second freshman in thirty years to take Accelerated Physics, a class usually taken by juniors and seniors. B+ average.
  2. Took BC Calc Sophomore year, B+ average again but 5 on AP.
  3. multivariable calc, ap euro and ap bio junior year. basically B+ all around once again.
  4. four out of five of my senior year classes will be aps (Physics C, Econ, US History and Latin)</p>

<p>SATI: Taken twice
First: Math 780 Verbal 730 Writing 680
Second: Math 760: Verbal 700 Writing 780</p>

<p>APs:
5: BC, Bio
4: English Lang, Euro
3: English lit</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
Math IIC 730, 800
Bio (M) 730
Lit 700</p>

<p>ECs:
JV Tennis freshman year, made JV sophomore year but was injured for 8 months, therefore didn’t play junior year. Injury prevented me from playing JV squash and trying for varsity tennis junior year.
vp –> President of Poker Club, largest club in the school.
~120 hours various community service
Made past AMC12 sophomore year, didn’t take junior year.
member of a few clubs, probably won’t help though.
various cty summer programs and harvard ssp, though they won’t help.
Worked full time job for 3 weeks at solar energy company fixing/checking solar panel devices.</p>

<p>So basically, I slacked off horribly for the first three years of high school, playing video games and hanging around. Don’t know if this helps, but was ranked at highest 84th in the world at the game “Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour”, though it will be hard to prove as I quit awhile ago.</p>

<p>I <em>hope</em> to pull at least a 3.7 senior fall to help prove that I’m capable, as my essay more or less asks the college to take a chance on me given my potential. I don’t know how to make up for three horrible years. Do I even have a chance?</p>

2

<p>Aside from the GPA, your ECs are pretty unspectacular.</p>

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<p>Why should they take a chance on you if there are people more qualified than you?</p>

<p>And how do they know your potential? Your standardized test scores are good, so the last thing they want is an underachieving slacker.</p>

3

<p>Well, I was hoping that bc calc sophomore year would help, as would the Physics freshman year would help show I have some potential. If I pulled much higher grades senior fall, I would also reduce my image of a slacker too, I hope.</p>

<p>So it looks pretty bad so far, huh?</p>

4

<p>I pulled off the “take a chance on me, i’ve grown up from my slacker ways and i’m smart as hell” application schtick. But I did it following two years of working full-time as a salaried professional.</p>

<p>I suggest not bringing up Command & Conquer. They’re not trying to recruit for the video game team around here.</p>

5

<p>I’m a freshman who was accepted ED. Going to be honest with you my gpa was only a 3.45. Not much better. What made me stand out was my long list of leadership positions/conferences, two excellent recommendations (I actually had 3 people write for me because i didn’t feel my math teacher, who was required, knew me that well), and an essay that I spent hours on. My point is that you can still be accepted if you work hard on the last few things you can control: the essay, choosing good rec people and giving them material that reminds them of who you are. E.g. I gave my guidance counselor a copy of my National Honor Induction speech. </p>

<p>Bottom line: i think that like me, it’ll be difficult for you to be accepted but if you work hard on those last few items then you will have a better chance. Good luck.</p>