I don’t mean to be arrogant, but I think I have the grades to be accepted into Columbia, but I need an opinion on some of the extracurriculars/volunteering I have:
-Member of National Honors Society (ARISTA, four pillars are leadership, scholarship, community, and service)
-Chemistry Lab Squad (help out at my school’s chem lab)
-Summer Arts Institute Class of ‘08 (attended free summer art school in NYC)
-Campaigned for politician 20 hours (volunteering?)
-Volunteered abroad in a hospital 117 hours (looks unique?)
-V.P. of Martial Arts Club in school (leadership position?)
-Going to tutor kids at the library next summer (volunteering/community?)
-Member of Freshman Advisory Council (leadership?)
-Member of Junior Advisory Council (leadership?)
-Cartoonist for school newspaper (extracurricular?)
Next to each activity I’ve written in parenthesis what it can apply to and/or details concerning it. I’m currently a junior (starting school in two days) and I live in NYC. And if you mist know I’m asian, not like "oriental" asian but south asian (brown)
Thanks so much for your time 
Their really is only some much a Peron can do with extra curriculars so you have a decent amount. It helps you are a minority Ivy leagues need people like you You are also a junior which means you still have time to do more extra curriculars and etc. Do well on your SAT and you will be a very very good candidate! Good luck
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Everyone applying to Columbia has great grades, so while that’s necessary it won’t be enough by itself to get in. Your activities look pretty good – nothing really outstanding but you could try playing up the volunteer work at the hospital, especially if you want to do premed.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Columbia is an Ivy so admissions are always up in the air. So many qualified students apply, it is so hard to judge who will get in and who wont. That being said, I think your list is pretty good. Being totally honest, it isn’t amazing, but when applying to an Ivy an amazing EC list is really hard to find. The only problem is it doesn’t seem like you have one passion that you have followed through on over an extended amount of time. The only thing is it is kind of late to start focusing on one thing now. But really, if you have the grades, the SATs and the recommendations, you have a good shot, which is the most anyone has at an Ivy. I don’t think this will hold you application back, but I just don’t think it will be the thing to push your application over the edge. Don’t worry too much. Good luck!
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March 3rd, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I would say your odds of getting in are going to be no greater than any other applicant. THe way I see it, you have to hope that the admissions officer that reads your application somehow feels a connection to one of your activities. You don’t really stand out that much, and plus you don’t even know your SATs. Your odds are probably diminished unless you break 2200, or 33 on the ACT.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Their really is only some much a Peron can do with extra curriculars so you have a decent amount. It helps you are a minority Ivy leagues need people like you You are also a junior which means you still have time to do more extra curriculars and etc. Do well on your SAT and you will be a very very good candidate! Good luck
References :
applying to two IVy Leagues