What could this theater oriented junior do to improve for Columbia?

Staryulover
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:47:38 +0000

Residency: Southern Jersey
Intended Major: Major in Finance/Economics with a minor in Theater.
Intended Career: Broadway Theater Producer (A boy can dream, right?)

UW GPA: 4.0/4.0
W GPA: 4.56/4.0 (Will be around a 4.9 by the end of this year)
Class Rank: 1/400
SAT/SAT IIs : Haven’t taken yet (May/June/October/November ;])
ACT: C 33 (E:30, M:33, R: 32, S: 35, W: haven’t received yet.)
APs (currently taking) : Language and Composition, Biology, and United States History
Senior Year Schedule : AP Stats, AP Calc, AP Gov and Pol, AP Physics, AP Lit.

Extracurriculars - These are my main ones (but there are much more):
Fencing Captain (4.5 hours + a week)
Dancing Captain in a professional company. (8.5 hours + a week)
Theater in general (well over 300 hours in theater related activities)
Chorus/Jazz Chorus (5 hours a week)
Bassoon in Band (5 hours a week)
All South Jersey Chorus
All State Chorus
etc…

Volunteering - These are my main ones (but there are much more):
Organized my own can drive, raised over 500 cans, plan to do it again this year!
MS Walk (thousands of dollars total)
Dancing in hospitals during Holidays/for Make a Wish Foundation
Tutoring students in math
Probably around 200 hours of service total.

Awards - My weak point…
Principal’s list all of High School
2 time Spotlight Student
Presidential Community Service award (not the bronze/silver/gold, but a minor one.)
Honorable Mention in VFW essay contest
Core Honor Student (Academic achievement.)
John Philip Sousa Award for Musical Achievement

Summers -
Last summer, Cornell University Summer College (Received A’s in both my courses)
This summer, (hopefully!) Governor’s School, if I am accepted

Recommendations - the ones for Governor’s School were fantastic, so I think I will use the same ones, plus one from my Dance teacher who knows me more than any teacher.
Essays - I’ll most likely talk about theater and its influence on my life and why I want to continue in the industry through production.

Hook - Don’t have one except for one thing - I’m really super passionate about theater. I love it so much, and it means the world to me. I’m hoping this will come through in my application through my essays, but who knows?

Strengths - GPA, Extracurriculars, PASSION!!!
Weaknesses - Test scores, leadership

So, this is a general overview. What do you guys think? What can I do that would improve my chances at a place like Columbia? :]