OFFICIAL DECISION THREAD CLASS of 2010

IvyLeagueORbust · March 31, 2006, 1:10pm

yaka: “their loss.”

IloveCC2 · March 31, 2006, 4:16pm

It’s funny that you should say that my scores are way below average, because looking at the stats posted on this board, I think that everybody here seems to be WAY above average. It just goes to show that above average scores alone will not enough get you in. And even at a school like CU, not everybody is going to be above the average.

My application essay was very good and apparently the committee thought so as well. Besides that, I took all the most challenging courses in H.S. Also, I did ‘four of everything’ four years of history, four years of english, four years of math & science, and two four-year foreign language sequences. I didn’t do a lot EC-wise, but I did have a rock band and we recorded some songs professionally.

On my application, I basically took the position that “what you see is what you get.” I mentioned that I was a solid, but not perfect, student, that I had both academic and non-academic interests, and that I wanted to go to Columbia much more than any other college, period.

IBclass06 · March 31, 2006, 4:18pm

Decision: Accepted

Stats:[ul]
[] Old SAT: 800 M, 760 V
[] New SAT: 800 M, 800 CR, 770 W
[] SAT IIs: 800 Bio, 800 Math IIC, 780 Chem
[] GPA: 5.25 w, 4.0 uw (cumulative)
[] Rank: 4/443
[] Other stats: IB Diploma candidate, president of a couple clubs, marching band, ~600 hrs community service, NC Governor’s school, summer biomedical research at ECU
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Essays: Excellent :) 
[] Teacher Recs: Dont know
[] Counselor Rec: Dont know
[] Hook (if any): major in Near Eastern Studies?
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[] State or Country: North Carolina
[] School Type: top public, AP and IB programs
[] Ethnicity: white
[] Gender: male[/ul]

Aunt_Jemima_1 · March 31, 2006, 4:26pm

Accepted CC

check my stats here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2022456#post2022456[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2022456#post2022456</a>

Accepted at the following:
Harvard, Oxford, London School of Economics, Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown, McGill, and others.

Still waiting from Stanford.

jayson6797 · March 31, 2006, 4:37pm

SAT: (1670) 530M, 560V, 580W
SAT IIs: 590 MAth level1, 560 Lit, 610 U.S History
GPA:3.7 weighed
Rank:originally 3, but moved up to 2(Salutatorian, YAY!!!)
Other stats:

Essays: Pretty good, i devtoed a lot of time on them.
Teacher Recs: Really good. Im really close to my teachers and they love me!
Counselor Rec: Pretty generic, she doesn’t really take the time to get to know the students, but I am pretty well known amongst my school faculty.
Hook (if any):URM (African American), first-generation college student, and Debater
EC: Debate, Internship at a prominent, corporate law firm, lots of Community Serivce.

State or Country: New York City
School Type: Small Public/ not competitive
Ethnicity: Black
Gender: Male

Other Factors

General Comments: Well, its better than nothing. Columbia really was a reach for me because my scores are pretty average. Im surprised that I was wiatlisted and not rejected(there still is that minute bit of hope). Im gonna try my best to get in. I also got waitlisted at Dartmouth. But I got into Georgetown, Northwestern, Brandies, and Fordham. Im also waiting for my decision from Emory(my #1 choice.) I also got a Guaranteed Transfer from Cornell ( so i can transfer there in my sophomore year if i wanna.) Im living proof that scores arent everything. :)

yaka · March 31, 2006, 5:15pm

Maybe I should have written that on my application. But I just got into NYU with a scholarship, so I guess that all’s well that ends well. I still feel bad though.

Falrapax · March 31, 2006, 5:26pm

Decision: WAITLIST, ed.

Stats:[ul]
[] SAT: 2170 (800V/700M/690W)
[] SAT IIs: 800 Japanese, 760 Math IC, 690 Literature
[] GPA: 5.0/6.0 (roughly an A)
[] Rank: top 15%
[] Other stats:
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Essays: I liked them
[] Teacher Recs: Didn’t see
[] Counselor Rec: Didn’t see
[] Hook (if any): Spent my junior year abroad in Japan with no previous study experience in Japanese
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[] State or Country: NJ
[] School Type: private
[] Ethnicity: white
[li] Gender: male[/li][/ul]Other Factors: I didn’t have a junior transcript because I was in japan in a public high school. but I came back to skip Chinese III and go straight to Chinese IV.
General Comments: I talked to my counselor…apparently I was right down to the end for admission. You know how it was 7.9% this year, apparently I was like the 8%, lol. So, if I go with the waitlist, I’d probably get in…I think

APDoolittle · March 31, 2006, 6:58pm

I’m soooo excited!!! Did anyone else who applied to Columbia hear from Princeton?

OH MAN!! My financial aid package is CRAZY!! I’m getting almost $40,000!!! Thanks be to God!!!

Congrats to those of you who got into your #1 schools!!

YEAH!! I’m going out to celebrate. Later

kuni_kuni88 · March 31, 2006, 7:22pm

40K in loans or pure gift aid? If the latter, congrats! I can’t wait to hear my finaid news…I hope it’s good (my EFC is only $5451, after all).

chopsticks3092 · March 31, 2006, 7:30pm

**Decision: Waitlisted (College, RD) **

Stats:[ul]
[] **SAT: 2330 (800 CR, 760 M, 770 W)
[] SAT IIs: 760 Lit, 750 US History, 700 Math 2
[] GPA: 4.0 unweighted, school doesn’t weight
[] Rank: 1/385 **
[li] **Other stats: ** 5 on AP US History, 5 on AP French Language, 4 on AP English Lit. My school only offers 9 AP classes total, 6 of which I will have taken by the time I graduate.[/li]National Merit Finalist
4th place at state History Day
Finalist at DECA International Competition, 5th at DECA state competition
AP Scholar
Several piano awards
3-year Varsity letter award winner + coach’s award
Several art awards
[li] ** Senior year courseload: [/li]Honors English (University of Washington curriculum)
AP Calculus AB (highest math course offered)
AP Chemistry
AP Psychology
Newspaper Production
Contemporary World Problems
[li] ** Number of apps from my school: ** At least 4. 2 to CC, 1 to Fu, 1 i’m not sure of.[/li][li] ** Prospective majors listed on app: ** Economics, Political Science or Economics-Political Science[/li][/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[li] ** Essays: Solid, but not exceptional[/li][li] **Teacher Recs: ** One was very good, one must have very good because she loves me.[/li][li] **Counselor Rec: ** I didn’t read it, but it was probably pretty unexceptional and standard. Each counselor has hundreds of students to take care of and probably up to 100 senior college recs to write. I know him pretty well, though, and he should have good things to say about me.[/li][li] **ECs listed on app: [/li]Piano (10 years)
Varsity Swimming (3 years)
French Club President and VP
DECA Treasurer
School Newspaper copy editor and reporter
National Honor Society peer tutor
Volunteering at local library
Progressive Youth of America (political awareness group)
Art
Band (Clarinet)
[li] ** Work Experience: ** Casting internship for a cirque production company that usually takes only college interns.[/li][li] ** Hook (if any): ** None - I’m a female Chinese-American!![/li][/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[li] ** State or Country: Washington[/li][li] School Type: Large public, 1800+[/li][li] Ethnicity: Chinese[/li][li] **Gender: ** Female[/li][/ul]Other Factors: Strong test scores and academic record and courseload all through high school. Weaknesses could be not enough sparkle and leadership in ECs, few high-level awards. And probably my essays did not stand out enough.
General Comments: Congrats to those admitted, and for those who didn’t get in, prestige isn’t all that matters and I’m sure you’ll be happy wherever you end up! Besides, wouldn’t you rather go to a school that truly appreciates and values you for who you are? I feel honored to have been waitlisted by Columbia in a record-low year, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it’ll be a good year for the waitlist. ;)

APDoolittle · March 31, 2006, 8:07pm

kuni_kuni88, PURE GIFT!! Princeton is the best Ivy for financial aid because they’re aid doesn’t include a single loan whatsoever!!! That’s what sets Princeton apart from the rest!!!

YEAH!! Princeton Class of 2010!! :)

eji2006 · March 31, 2006, 9:44pm

**Decision: Rejected **

Stats:[ul]
[] SAT: 770M, 680V, 650W
[] SAT IIs: 720MI,700USH, 630LIT
[] GPA:4.40
[] Rank:2/150
[] Other stats: 5 AP Euro, 3 AP Chem
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Essays: Excellent
[] Teacher Recs: Good
[] Counselor Rec: Excellent
[] Hook (if any): Bilingual
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[] State or Country: NJ, USA
[] School Type: Parochial
[] Ethnicity: Greek-Cypriot
[li] Gender: Male[/li][/ul]Other Factors: GREAT INTERVIEW
General Comments: A little surprised I was not waitlisted…my uncle’s accountant was regional Alumni Interview coordinator. Not a hook or connection…but OH WELL NYU STERN HERE I COME!!!

CC_Admin · March 31, 2006, 10:10pm

Decision: Rejected

Stats:
SAT: 2130
SAT IIs: 800/780/760
GPA:4.0
Rank:1/900
Other stats: 12 ap’s
Subjective:
Essays: I thought were good
Teacher Recs: awesome
Counselor Rec: ?
Hook (if any): fishing, tennis, traveling
Location/Person:
State or Country: IL
School Type: public
Ethnicity: white
Gender: male
Other Factors: lots of ec’s
General Comments: I have been either rejected or waitlested by all the ivy schools I have applied to so far

LetLiu · March 31, 2006, 10:23pm

**Decision: Rejected **

**Stats: **[ul]
[] SAT: 2270
[] SAT IIs: 800 800 800
[] GPA: N/A, Perfect score for GCE A levels
[] Rank: Top 5% of my class of 850 students
[] Other stats: Class representative, Softball team member, Won Merit Award for Economic Development Board Junior College Book Prize
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Essays: Self-deprecatingly humorous, everyone who read it loved it and I thought the Greek mythology references might have particularly appealed to Columbia but I guess I was wrong.
[] Teacher Recs: Great, or so they told me.
[] Counselor Rec: Ditto
[] Hook (if any): Nada.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[] State or Country: Singapore
[] School Type: Independent
[] Ethnicity: Singaporean Chinese
[li] Gender: Female[/li][/ul]Other Factors:
General Comments: I wasn’t as disappointed as I thought I’d be, because I realised (even though I’d applied early) that it had been quite an impulsive decision. And fortunately I was admitted to Stanford the next day, where I think I’ll be very happy.

RLauraD · April 1, 2006, 3:08pm

Decision: Accepted!!!

Stats:
SAT: 740M, 770V, 790W
SAT IIs: 760 US, 680 Chem, 680 Math II
GPA:99.8
Rank:school doesn’t rank…probably in top 5ish percent (class of 300)
Other stats: 5 AP US History, 3 AP Calc AB
Subjective:
Essays: Meh…i thought it was ok, my parents hated it, teachers were ambiguous
Teacher Recs: Didn’t see, but I’m assuming ok
Counselor Rec: My guidance councellor mistook me for another girl about a week after she wrote it…so who knows if it was even about me
Hook (if any): None really, maybe that I’m a dual US and Swiss Citizen
Location/Person:
State or Country: PA, USA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Other Factors: I don’t know…I’m involved in a lot of stuff, and am in charge of a lot of stuff. I guess that helped!
General Comments: I’m excited! I got deferred early…so it’s nice to be accepted now!

maverach · April 1, 2006, 3:34pm

Decision: Accepted

Stats:[ul]
[] SAT: M:790 CR:720 W:700
[] SAT IIs: Chem:790 MathIIC:760 Spanish:740
[] GPA: 3.89
[] Rank: N/A

[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Essays: Pretty hack
[] Teacher Recs: Amazing
[] Counselor Rec: Amazing
[] Hook (if any): French Horn - 1st chair VA All-state band, 3rd chair CT all-state orchestra,
TJHSST (Magnet Sci&Tech School) for 3 years.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[] State or Country: CT
[] School Type: public
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Female
[/ul]Other Factors: Female in Engineering probably helped

candlize · April 1, 2006, 4:34pm

“Princeton is the best Ivy for financial aid because they’re aid doesn’t include a single loan whatsoever!!! That’s what sets Princeton apart from the rest!!!”

That’s certainly debatable. Harvard’s new Financial Aid Initiative eliminating financial contributions for families making under $60,000 certainly sets it apart, and for me personally, Columbia was the only school that did not flat out reject me for aid, and instead offered me a John Jay Grant and Federal Work Study.

In short, Princeton ain’t that great :P

Skraylor · April 1, 2006, 10:40pm

Decision: Accepted (Fu)

Stats:

<pre><code>* SAT: M:720 CR:710 W:690

SAT IIs: USHist-770, Math1-750,Bio-790
GPA: 3.89
Rank: 21/321
</code></pre>

Subjective:

<pre><code>* Essays: Ok but not stellar

Teacher Recs: Amazing
Counselor Rec: Amazing
Hook (if any): URM, Governor’s School for MS&T
Other: Founding member of Lacrosse team, published research paper
</code></pre>

Location/Person:

<pre><code>* State or Country: VA

School Type: public
Ethnicity: hispanic
Gender: male
</code></pre>

Other Factors: being an orphan?

troublesomejason · April 2, 2006, 3:09am

**Decision: Accepted! **

Stats:[ul]
[] SAT I: 760V 740M 630W
[] SAT IIs: 730Lit 730USHist 670IC
[] ACT: 33
[] GPA: 4.23
[] Rank: 1/165
[] Other stats: Student Delegate to Board of Education, District Advisory Council Cabinet Member, Consultant to Asian Heritage Street Festival (50,000 estimated attendees), Mock Trial President (San Francisco Champions), State Assembly Certificate of Recognition for community service, San Francisco City Certificate of Honor, $10,000 Margaret O’Donnet top S.F. student leader award, School JSA Founder/President, JSA Norcal Speaker Pro-tempore, school Populist Party founder/president/editor, California Scholarship Federation President, DonorsChoose student board member, Lifetime California State Arts Scholar for Theater Arts, Tutor, School Site Council Secretary, Parent Teacher Student Association Executive Board Member, Student Admissions Officer for School, Williams College Book Award, Coca Cola Scholar, California-Hawaii Elks Most Valuable Student National Competition Nominee, numerous other awards and events attended. One random one is Prom Prince.
[] # of apps from your school: 4, I think
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Essays: okay
[] Teacher Recs: amazing
[] Counselor Rec: “NEVER have I had a student…”
[] Community Recs: San Francisco Superintendent, Board of Education Commissioner, Partner at a law firm, and one from the principal
[] Hook (if any): educational policy + arts + academics + politics/leadership ?
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[] State or Country: California
[] School Type: Arts Public Magnet School
[] Ethnicity: Chinese
[] Gender: Male
[li] Perceived Strengths/Weaknesses: Student Leadership and community service, interest in the arts, WELL-ROUNDED![/li][/ul]Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: Congratulations to everyone who made it. I hope we become fast friends. I understand how it’s like to be really disappointed. I’m so sorry for those that didn’t make it, i know many of you are more deserving than me. I hope you got into somewhere equally amazing. Best of luck.

xxdiana · April 2, 2006, 12:05pm

Decision: ACCEPTED to SEAS

Stats:[ul]
[] SAT I: 670R/740M/630W 2040 total
[] SAT IIs: MathII 780; Chemistry 760; USHistory 720
[] ACT: 34
[] GPA: 4.89, 3.95 unweighted
[] Rank: 4/570
[] Other stats: AP Chem (5), AP US Hist (4), taking AP Physics, AP Calc BC, AP English, and AP Spanish
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Essays: All my answers were pretty unique, as in they were really unexpected.
[] Extracirriculars: Speech & Debate (3 years, varsity+ officer, state-level debate, national alternate); NHS (3 years, secretary, director of multiple fundraisers); Academic Team (4 years, varsity, conference champs); Band, Marching Band, Clarinet (4 years, went to Midwest Clinic, Semis at Grand Nationals, state contest every year)
[] Teacher Recs: I’d venture to say they were really good. I picked amazing teachers to vouch for me.
[] Counselor Rec: He’s the father of one of my best friends. It worked out well.
[] Hook (if any): Woman in engineering, active leadership, lived in many places (Finland, NY, etc.)
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[] State or Country: Ohio
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Asian
[] Gender: Female
[] Perceived Strengths/Weaknesses: strengths (academic vigor, leadership, well-rounded, dedicated, ACTs, type of extracurriculars); weaknesses (SAT score, no sports, writing skills)
[li] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Impressive courseload with many extracurriculars; well-rounded student with many interests (science nerd who loves public speaking…); leadership positions; active involvement; high ACT score[/li][/ul]Other Factors: n/a
General Comments/ Congratulations/ Venting/ Commiserations,etc: Congrats to everybody who has been accepted! I am so excited that I got in!

OFFICIAL DECISION THREAD CLASS of 2010

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