<p>Decision: Accepted - SEAS</p>
<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2330(800 reading; 800 math; 730 writing)
[</em>] ACT: none
[<em>] SAT II: Math1 - 800; Math2 - 800; Physics - 790; Chemistry - 790; Biology - 790;
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.75(not entirely sure what it’s out of lol)
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 6/496
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): Biology, Statistics, Chemistry, Physics C: Mechanics, Computer Science, English language, Calculus BC - all 5s
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): none
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C: E&M, Multivariable Calc, Senior research, AP lit, AP US history, Art
[<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Dist Honor Roll for AMC 12 (114 score); Exploravision honorable mention
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity Tennis(4 years, co-captain during last); Youth orchestra(assistant concertmaster); Math Team; Columbia SHP; Science League; Frisbee team; Moody’s; Concert Band
[<em>] Job/Work Experience: none
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: Hospital volunteer(probs 200 hours); First Aid Squad; Tutor for Montessori school; Courthouse(101 hours); Music outreach program(taught little kids how to play violin)
[<em>] Summer Activities: Vanderbilt Summer Academy; Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology
[</em>] Essays: I think mine were pretty solid. For the common app I wrote about leadership because it didn’t show too much on my app in general. The columbia supps were fairly decent. My “why columbia” essay was probs the best. I basically talked about my experience at the Columbia SHP, which was very specific to myself, and then how I loved the city and the opportunities it offered. The other two were ehh. The “why engineering one” I talked about how I wanted to be an engineer stemming from my grandpa’s airforce stories. I then went on to say how I really liked BME after doing my own research at gov school (see below). I wrote about a book for the last one. I talked about how it represented how I go beyond the norm and excel.
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: One from an english teacher, which was pretty damn good, the other came from a math teacher I had for 3 years, he was kinda creepy lol…but I’m sure he wrote me something leaning toward good/excellent
[</em>] Counselor Rec: I think it was fairly decent, but leaning toward the generic side.
[<em>] Additional Rec:
[</em>] Interview: hmm I think it went well. We talked for an hour. I made her laugh a few times. I’d say I moderately impressed her</p>
<p>[/ul]Other[ul]
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant): NJ
[</em>] Country (if international applicant): USA
[<em>] School Type: Science and Engineering Magnet program connected to larger high school
[</em>] Ethnicity: CHINESE!!!
[<em>] Gender: MALE!!!
[</em>] Income Bracket: upper middle class
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I did a research report at gov school that had to do with Brain Computer Interfaces. I continued with it afterward with a partner and submitted something for the siemens competition. We basically made a spelling system more efficient than current standards… sort of (didnt win anything, though our project was pretty damn awesome). I attached the summary as a science supplement. </p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: I would have to go with gov school and the research project I did
[</em>] Weaknesses: ORM
plus nothing that made me really unique
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Honestly I was pretty surprised. Sure I had all the test scores and high academics, but I felt like I really didnt have anything that set me apart. I remember reading last years post; the majority of the acceptances all had something special like winning siemens, intel, starting a charity fund or they had legacy, sports or were URM. Plus there was at least 20 other students within 5 miles of me applying
lol. I think, if anything, it would be my research report/essays/Gov school that gave me that extra push in
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Rutgers, Upitt, TCNJ,(accepted)
.withdrew the rest</p>
<p>[/ul]General Comments: Dudes/dudettes of future years . READ THIS THREAD ONCE!!! AND ONLY ONCE!!! AND WHATEVER YOU DO NOT GET ADDICTED TO THIS SITE LIKE ME!!! The only thing I got out of this threads sister threads is that Columbia admissions are a complete and utter crapshoot. If youre like me and youre in the gray area, anything can happen!!! So just try and put your best foot forward!!! And to my fellow Asian Males aspiring to become engineers, fear NOT!!! I was able to make it!!! PS (to everyone now) try to be sincere in the why Columbia essay. Dont just go on Columbias website and find main points like the core/nyc/international community. If thats what draws you write about it by all means, but if it really doesnt .dont. GOOD LUCK FUTURE APPLICANTS!!!</p>