<p>I’ve heard that it’s harder for asians to get into a top college because of the whole affirmative action business. I’m half asian, half white. My dad is japanese though so I have an asian last name. My dream school is columbia and I’m strongly considering applying ED this upcoming fall. Is a 3.95UW GPA (3/450 rank) and a 2200 SAT (one sitting) weak considering my race?</p>
<p>Those numbers are good enough to make you a competitive applicant. There’s merely a negligible difference in admissions prospects among non-URM applicants. All you can do is strive to make your application as compelling as possible.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s a little more complex than your generality. Columbia and other very selective schools want to craft an incoming class. Although they deny it, they create categories and apportion slots to each. Some categories are more competitive (Internationals, e.g.) than others due to sheer nos. of applicants. But you’re mistaken if you think that some good but not stellar black kid just jams out some super qualified Chinese girl. </p>
<p>Read the bottom third of this essay for some more illumination.</p>
<p>[Reed</a> College Messages vs Realities](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/admission_messages.html]Reed”>http://www.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/admission_messages.html)</p>
<p>T26E4, I would definitely recommend taking the SAT again if you feel that you can score higher. The bar is definitely set higher for Asians and Asian/caucasian applicants. especially at the Ivies and other more selective schools. Hence the term, “Model Minority”. Good luck to you in the application process.</p>
<p>I’d say those numbers are pretty competitive. At that point they’d probably start looking more at your extra curriculars. I hope you excel in that area also.</p>