<p>Well my counselor got an email from the admissions rep from columbia for my area asking for my grades so I guess she found out then. Also (at least at my school) the college counselors know the decision a day or two in advance so I guess she found out when she is going to know the decision and it is Wednesday or Thursday next week. As to the importance of Columbia asking for grades: I have absolutely no idea. I think one of my friends who is also applying from the same school wasn’t asked but I’m not 100% sure so I guess they don’t ask everybody. Again, dont trust me on this one as I haven’t checked.</p>
<p>I called admissions earlier this week, December 8th is not a confirmed date at all.</p>
<p>And I originally thought asking for first quarter grades meant you were on the edge, and an improvement in first quarter would lean you into accept range. I may be wrong though.</p>
<p>I am nearly 100 percent sure our counselors don’t know the decisions a day or two in advance? Why would Columbia tell them?</p>
<p>Also, my counselor received an email on Monday and it stated that decisions would be out by December 15th. I asked her if it mentioned the 8th but it didn’t. It also didn’t ask for my first quarter grades…now i’m freaking out over what that means.</p>
<p>I agree with Columbiafan, I think that quarter grades means your academics are sort of in the gray zone and they want to see how your doing. I also think that they would want to check on applicants quarter grades for those applicants who are taking a lot of hard (AP) classes that didn’t take many prior to senior year to see how that applicant is handling them. So on one hand its a good thing because it means they are interested, but on the other hand it could mean that they aren’t sure about you. And if they don’t ask for your quarter grades it could be because they already rejected you or they don’t even need to see them because they already think you have proven yourself academically. What do you guys think? Is that a fair assessment?</p>
<p>^ totally agree with brandnew.</p>
<p>@brandnew3773-</p>
<p>I think that’s a perfect way to put it. Essentially, since it could mean anything, it means nothing.
Doesn’t mean that my heart’s not beating a little faster right now, haha.</p>
<p>@brandnew: Did they ask for your first quarter grades. You got a likely (yes?), so if they didn’t, I’m assuming that you’re right and it’s only for people on the edge and not for everyone who’s been accepted.</p>
<p>@zekaje: They didn’t ask for my quarter grades but I have taken a lot of AP classes in the past and done really well so that could also be why. However, my best friend who also has a likely letter wasn’t asked for his quarter grades either and his academics aren’t that amazing. So I think that info supports my analysis of what it means if they ask for your quarter grades.</p>
<p>That alleviates my concern momentarily, though I’m going to be on edge all of tomorrow waiting for a call to the counselor’s office, haha.
I really don’t think anyone should read into it, though. Regardless of any guessing or justification or rationalization, a decision will be made, and we’ll know when we know.</p>
<p>Now if you excuse me, I’m going to go repeat that mantra to myself for oh, a week. :P</p>
<p>Btw I was just stalking last year’s ED thread, and they said they first found the notification date for Columbia last year (which was Thursday the 9th) on their CSS profiles. I didn’t apply for financial aid, so I wouldn’t know anything about CSS profiles, but I was just curious to see if anyone’s profile says anything about notification dates for early action/early decision? Gah I hope it’s the 8th this year; Cornell’s is the 8th.</p>
<p>I just checked the CSS profile and I didn’t see anything there, and I didn’t see anything when I applied…</p>
<p>I checked the CSS profile too and I didn’t see anything. Hoping for the 8th though…
Also, kind of jealous you guys have so much contact with your counselors. Mine was on maternity leave through October and I rarely see her except for schedule issues anyways. Hoping that doesn’t work against me.</p>
<p>i’m sure you’ll be fine :)</p>
<p>well know in a week anyways so no need to worry</p>
<p>oh oops… i just checked my cellphone and realized there is a missed call from Columbia on Monday…my phone was broken…</p>
<p>Regarding first quarter grades: Why not send them? If nothing else, a school like Columbia is looking for confidence. My younger son, a Columbia junior, arranged to have his counselor forward his first quarter grades even before he knew what they were (and without receiving a request for them, which he may or may not have received had he not sent them).</p>
<p>@brandnew3773 I am a recruited athlete with a likely letter and I wasn’t asked for my first quarter grades. So I concur. I think being asked for first quarter grades is a good thing - at least it means an applicant wasn’t thrown out immediately!</p>
<p>For those of you who weren’t asked for first quarter grades (I wasn’t) and if brandnew’s theory (which I support) I correct, then you shouldn’t worry. If you’re a good enough student, there won’t be any improvement to show, so Columbia wouldn’t ask for grades. For example, if you’re a 4.0 student and Columbia doesn’t ask you for 1st quarter grades, that just means that they won’t see improvement because you’re already a straight A student.</p>
<p>Columbia asked my counselor for my first quarter grades, but I took five AP classes in total (none offered sophomore year but I was able to take one anyway) through my junior year, and I got all A and A+ with two A- my whole high school career (my unweighted is like 4.2ish). So yeah, I’m still curious why they asked…lol.</p>