Just got deferred... What now?

javaislife
Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:51:46 +0000

@Yomo710 how’s your GPA? And how involved are you in your EC’s? Any leadership/achievements in them? If your GPA is good and you can show that you’re involved for the right reasons, I think you will be fine as long as you bring your test scores up to ~2200 or above. Also, being a refugee, you have to be able to write your essays in a way that encompasses your story and why the circumstances you have overcome in your life put you in a position to join the intellectual experience at the Ivy League level. Basically, just saying that you’re a refugee is unfortunately not enough. If your essays can speak to the hard work and assimilation that you have put forth, I think you will be fine. Also, don’t just focus on improving your profile in hopes of being accepted RD to Columbia. As much as I want to say that you have a good chance, deferred rates aren’t usually very good. However, there are still a ton of colleges that would love to have you; I am sure that you are an extremely qualified applicant. Columbia just did not see you fit their environment the first time around. Maybe it will be different in a couple of months, maybe not. Whatever the case, make sure you have a list of 6-7 good schools you want to apply to and have a good chance at.