My chances: Slightly complicated situation?

Colleges & Universities Columbia University
1

<p>Okay, so I don’t really even know where to start … I guess at the beginning, I ask that those with enough time really please do read through this and take the time to give me an idea of where I stand with my application, getting into Columbia to course in Economics is something that I’ve wanted ever since I decided I wanted to, in fact, study economics (must’ve been around 5 years ago).</p>

<p>My situation starts in Elementary school. Ever since Elementary school I was a high-honors student, participated in Principal’s Honor Roll every grading period, ever since the 4th grade I took advanced or gifted class and so on and so forth - this extended all the way to my 6th grade, I finished 6th grade with high academic recognition, outstanding math achiever, school spelling bee champion, 3rd place in county for spelling bee, also had outstanding FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), I was a high rising student. I had a goal and that was a good college, I always dreamed of something Ivy-League even before I knew what Ivy League actually was, it has been my constant goal in life to reach for greatness, I realize that a great college education is the foundation for that - and this is why ever since I learned about Columbia it’s where I want to go.</p>

<p>Things start getting complicated from there on out. In the first grading period of my 7th grade, where I was coursing at Nautilus Middle School (Miami Beach, FL), I had to leave school and move to my parent’s country. This country being Brazil - the move happened in October of 2002, I was 12 at the time (my birthday is January 3rd, 1990). I stayed here in Brazil for approximately 2 years and a bit, until I returned to the U.S in February 2005. I enrolled at Miami Beach Senior High School, and was in the 9th grade - right after admission I was bombarded with the FCAT once again (we get it every year in Florida), and even having spent 2 years in a foreign country I got remarkable scores. What happened was that due to the fact I had enrolled in the second half of the school year (during the 3rd nine-week period), I was unable to take any year courses (english, math) so I was doing all elective courses. I had 2 team sports, 2 physical education, 1 business system and technology class and an English class which served me no purpose whatsoever as the credits would not be accounted for.</p>

<p>In essence I was screwed, already. The year ended, and since my parents made a small move to a house a little bit more north in Miami I also had to change schools - this time to Michael Krop Senior High in Miami as well. My counselor there was a very nice lady, she reviewed my FCAT scores which I had done great on, and proposed to me that I get held back a grade (start 9th again instead of 10th), and she’d put me in all honor classes (Honors world history, honors English, honors math, honors science) if I thought I could do it. I knew I could so I accepted, and chose Law I and Drawing as electives. </p>

<p>Now comes the BIG problem. 2 weeks into my school year, in August 2005, my family had to come back to Brazil. I was forced to leave my schooling behind once again, and move out here. Here I have no choice for IB Schools - in fact I do, but I can’t afford tuition at all. Tuition for schools internationally recognized here such as The British School and the American School of Rio de Janeiro are around 25k dollars a year, something my family could never afford.</p>

<p>So now, once and for all, I’m moving back to the U.S. As I understand it, my new U.S. high school will deem my credits earned here as nontransferable, and they very well should with the lack of well formed curriculum here. Studies here are formed in a way VERY different to the U.S. Right now I’m 17, and would supposedly be in my Junior year in High School, starting the 3rd nine-week period. What happens is I will likely have close to no credits whatsoever when I get back. </p>

<p>I want to get into Columbia. It is my number one priority, and I don’t want to have to give up on it. I will be willing to do everything possible to compensate the lost time I had with all the traveling difficulties, and I’ll be willing to take up all and any advanced classes, extra-curricular courses, anything to compensate. I want to build a high-school curriculum worthy of Columbia and I believe I have a limited time span to do so. I’m agonizing to get back (should be moving back next week or so), but just can’t wait any longer to talk to a college counselor. I’m asking if you guys have any idea/perspective on how I’ll be able to take it from here, maybe even suggestions of what I should focus more on or less on once I’m there.</p>

<p>Any help/opinions on my situation are very welcome, and I thank you already for reading all this even if you don’t have much to say. Anyways, I’m hoping that there will be a way to appeal to a college education at Columbia, but I’m not sure how that’s gonna look up for me now. Any insight is welcome :).</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch!</p>

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<p>i’d try to start with 10th grade classes, since you’ve already done a set of 9th-grade ones, and see if you can hack it.</p>

<p>I would also try, as soon as you are able, to take a few college courses at a local university. If you’re particularly good in math, then advance yourself quickly through Calculus (Stanford’s Distance Learning Project may be a great way to self-teach yourself a lot of the higher points), and use advancement and proficiency in those things to demonstrate your learning potential.</p>

<p>I’d make sure to keep up the sports and at least one non-athletic extracurricular. Debate team, math team, science team, whatever the school offers that you can go kick butt in.</p>

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<p>I’ll check for local universities, what I’m most worried about at the moment really is my credits. I need the basics, and I know just the basics even won’t cut it for Columbia! I need to take AP if possible, my school has the IB (International Baccalaureate) program, extending to IB Grad or IB Diploma, not sure how eligible I’ll be. Would that stand out lots ?</p>

<p>I can focus on sports, I guess that can be very important - I also think that maybe law club or something like math team would fit me well. Could you possibly give me any more details pertaining to the Stanford program? As in maybe a place on their site where I can inquire, or something of the sort? Sounds really interesting =).</p>

<p>Thanks for your help already - seems like there is hope =)</p>

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<p><a href=“http://epgy.stanford.edu/[/url]”>http://epgy.stanford.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks for that I’ll be looking heavily into it =)</p>

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<p>Just bumping to see if I get any more opinions/view regarding my shot at Columbia :)</p>

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<p>I don’t think you should rush things. Can you just go in to 10th grade when you move back here and complete your high school degree a year or two late? I don’t think that would hurt you given your circumstances.</p>

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<p>the good thing about getting your diploma late (if thats what you choose), youll be 21 before most other freshman. That’s a score.</p>

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<p>Yup, it might even be better to graduate high school later.</p>

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<p>I had thought about just holding back and graduating later, and point well made about the being 21 thing, that is a definite score. I guess I really shouldn’t rush, I have to see how well my dad is going to reach to me wanting to actually get held back that time. We’ll see how this works outs I guess, not so bad being older in a grade full of younger people :P.</p>

<p>I really want to take AP classes, how will my counselor guide me towards that? I’ll have to wait for AP testing, right? Also, are there pre-requesites? Example, let’s say I go into grade 10 now - can I ask to take grade 10 AP courses? I’d really like to have 3 years of as much AP as possible.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the opinions =) all are welcome</p>

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<p>If you insist that you have the background to take AP courses, I don’t see why your high school wouldn’t let you take them. I skipped some of the prereqs for my AP courses in high school and I did just fine. For example, I skipped Chemistry1 and jumped straight into AP Chemistry. You don’t need to take an official exam in order to take an AP course.</p>

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<p>Yah, I do definetely have the background. As much as the system differs, here in Brazil the teaching is a lot stronger. We get more stuff packed into each year and more vigorously since we only have 3 years of high school and the final exam for college encompasses everything thought in that period, it’s a huge exam - much bigger then SAT.</p>

<p>Anyhow, I also have the IB program available to me at my school, is that parallel to/better than AP? I’ve heard it’s a very nice program, but only kicks in the last 2 years (junior and senior) ?</p>

<p>Thanks so far =)</p>

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<p>Well, just a small update I guess. I’m back in the U.S., here’s what’s going on:</p>

<p>My counselor said my credits were all pretty much up to what I needed and I could graduate on a regular schedule, and that in fact I wouldn’t have to take a full courseload next year (but I will). What he did for my classes this year is this, he got me in:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry
AP U.S. History
AP English Language
Honors Economics
Honors U.S. Goverment
Pre-Calculus</p>

<p>Now, I didn’t even mention IB, because he didn’t mention it either - but I think I can take it next year. Right now I’m a Junior as it stands. What do you guys think? I’m thinking of re-doing my Junior year next year to get more credits, I’m not even sure if I can. He said he thinks maybe I don’t need to, but honestly I’m not thinking this may be enough to cut it if I have to be applying to Columbia early in my Senior year. </p>

<p>Things seem on track, what I mentioned about not having enough for applying is my only frustration right now. Anyways, thanks for the help so far guys =). It’s great to be back and studying.</p>

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<p>if you’re taking the most challenging course load that you can get yourself into, and pursuing legitimate academic interests outside of the classroom, and getting good grades in those classes, then you’re doing everything you can from the academic side of things. Stress less about it and focus more on doing what you really enjoy.</p>

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<p>Yah, I’ll relax a bit now I guess. I’m doing as much as I can, let’s see how it turns out :D</p>