NOT a "chance me" thread -- just need some advice.

suppeeps
Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:16:18 +0000

Hey, everyone. I’m going to be a senior this fall and will be applying to Columbia University (the College) ED. It’s my dream school and I’ve been thinking about attending nonstop ever since summer started (which, I’ll admit, is probably not good for cushioning the blow when I receive my rejection). I’ve read from several sources that something Columbia really loves in an applicant is passion, which I believe I have a lot of. That being said, I’m not sure how well that shows through my extra-curricular activities because I’ve tried for leadership positions and not achieved them and most of what shows my passion is what I do in my spare time, away from school (i.e. you can’t exactly put the label of an award or club on it). I guess I’ll list what I do have and if you guys could please give me some advice on how to show my passions on my application, it’d be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this.

I’m a 16 year-old Pakistani girl and I attend a large, relatively competitive public school in Texas.
GPA: 3.9/4 (UW); 5.51/6 (W)
Rank: 17/597

(the reason my GPA/rank are so low is because in my freshman/sophomore years I took electives like journalism and orchestra and swim team throughout high school that were regular and not AP/honors and then I got a couple of 89s in my sophomore year because of personal issues – not sure how relevant that info is.)

SAT: 2290 (might retake)
SAT IIs: (taking this fall before applying; plan on taking Lit, Math 2, Bio)

APs: World History (4); APUSH, Psych, Bio, English Lang. (hopefully all 5s); Art, English Lit., Calc BC, Gov’t, Econ, Physics C (senior year)

ECs:
4 years Varsity swim team - TISCA and regional finals qualifier 2 years
10 years USA year-round swimming with local club team; Texas age group state champs placed top 3
2 years extensive triathlon training during off-season for high school swimming; placed 3rd in Texas High Schools mixed relay triathlon
orchestra freshman year but quit after being in orchestra for 4 years because I preferred independent pursuit of music (and teacher wasn’t the greatest) so violin for 6 years, guitar (self-taught) for 3 years
Track/Field before high school; quit in high school to focus on swimming (irrelevant?) but won my district in the mile, 4 by 4 relay, 800m, 400m and have continued running outside of school extensively (mile at around 5:10 now)
Internship with local businessman during his campaign running for the Democratic House of Reps. nomination for our district (junior year)
internship/volunteer at local Memorial Herman hospital in the radiology department (summer before junior year)
National Art Honor Society and National English Honor Society (2 yrs so far - art and writing are two huge passions of mine; I carry a notebook with me wherever I go and some pencils to sketch and/or write)
I thought it would be useless to join a multitude of other clubs which I have no interest in as my friends were doing just to make myself look good on college apps, but that may have hurt me now. I’m not sure. Either way, I don’t regret it.
I placed 1st in my region for this journalism UIL competition (feature story writing/editorial writing)
Model UN (hoping this, along with the campaign internship, shows my passion for politics and political activism)
I might send in an art or creative writing supplement, especially since – if I am accepted – I plan on double majoring in Creative Writing and either Neuroscience and Behavior, PoliSci, or Econ, so I thought it’d be helpful.

I truly believe, after researching dozens of colleges, that Columbia is a great fit for me with its Core and the fantastic Creative Writing program (among other things). I’m visiting the campus later this summer. So I guess after that excruciatingly long “resume” of my life, I just really need some advice on how to present myself on my app and how to let my passion for the school itself as well as other things shine through. Also, am I a competitive candidate for admissions?