I am an incoming senior
I have a unweighted GPA of 3.95
ACT Score of 35
SAT Subject test, math 2- 800, US history - 780
I have taken AP World History, AP Chemistry, AP US History, Symphonic Band Hr (Highest band in school), AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, Latin Hr for three years, AP Rhetorical English Language
Senior Year classes: AP Physics 1, AP European History, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, Symphonic Band Hr, AP Major British Writers, AP Latin
Awards: Multiple badminton tournament awards, 1st Singles, 1st Doubles, Varsity badminton for two years, At regional ICTM the 8 person frosh-soph contest got 3rd, At state ICTM the 8 person frosh-soph contest got 4th, qualified for state ICTM all three years, Regionals ICTM 8 person junior-senior 1st place, Medusa Myth Exam Sophomore Bronze, NLE Gold Poetry III-IV, IMEA District 7 Band 5th chair first flute, gave a ted Talk
Clubs: Current Events Debate (Treasurer), Math Team, Band (Section Leader), Volunteering at Church (Small Group Leader), Worked at Jewel for a summer, VBI debate camp, Book Club (Executive Board), Law Club (Founder and president), Women’s Club (Founder and Co-president), Brighten Student Representative
Stuff about me: Asian girl
Major: Probably doubles major in math and flute performance
Your standardized test scores are solid. Your GPA is solid. Your interests and EC’s are all over the place. Based on all that you have done, whether you get into Columbia and UChicago or not depends heavily on how you shape yourself in essays, how you paint your passion, how you emphasize the EC’s that matter most and leave out the rest. 
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!
I agree with @bzhang42
Could I paint my passions towards social justice, math, and flute as well as being an avid reader?
I’d suggest, at most, emphasizing the first three, as they can contribute significantly to your image as a college student. Math and flute are your two academic interests. Social justice is your extracurricular interest and is your sort of larger purpose. Being an avid reader can be something casual to showcase in the Columbia “list” supplemental questions.
You’ve maxed out your academic and EC opportunities. Now just make sure your can tie all your interests/career goals through your essays and teacher recs.
Yeah you’ve done everything right so far. You just need to format your story in the way that gives the greatest insight into who you are and what you are passionate about. By the way, good choice of schools there. Most students go for prestige, but these two schools have a lot of common, and make it very clear to me at least (as someone going to UChicago), an initial glimpse of why you like these schools. I would ED to Columbia and EA to Chicago. You can’t go wrong either way in my opinion.
Thank you all! @jarrett211 @bzhang42 @bradybest
Is there any way to write about social justice in the essay or is it a definite no-no topic?