Am I on the right track to get into Columbia University? (about to go into high school)?

Question

I'm currently in eighth grade, I know middle school grades don't matter to colleges but I want to get an idea if I'm on the right track.

I have all A's, except for Algebra I, in which I have an 87. I did the Duke TIP last year and made a composite 23 on the ACT. I just recently picked my freshman courses, taking all advanced classes and Spanish I. Am I on the right track to get into Columbia?

Specifically, I want to get into Columbia to go to college for acting. Something I'm confused about is: do I just take the courses when an undergraduate or can I pick a major while an undergrad? Or is that done in graduate school?

And in case there will be any confusion I AM getting high school credit for the Algebra I course.

Answer 1

Columbia is HIGHLY competitive so you definitely need to make sure you keep up your GPA. I'm concerned about the 87 in Algebra I, not so much because of the grade but because it is a foundation course and if you have an 87 in a foundation class, you are probably going to struggle with upper-level math courses. You might want to look into a tutor for future math sclasses. Keep a good varied curriculum, the advanced classes will work to your advantage and be sure to take as many AP classes as possible. Join plenty of clubs, academic organizations and play a sport if you choose to--not to the detriment of your GPA though! Your ACT score is going to have to come up or this will be prohibitive, but I believe as you take more upper level math and english courses, this score will improve on its own. A prep course would also help this. As far as undergraduate studies go, you usually pick a major when applying or when accepted, although this may be changed throughout your studies but may add on to the amount of time it takes to complete your degree. After all the requirements for your major and for the college, you are completed you are awarded either a BA or BS depending on what requirements you have completed. Some say a BS is more prestigous, honestly doesn't seem to major once. Your undergraduate degree is important, but for the most part you can major in anything before applying to grad school. I'm a law student and we have a class full of people with different undergrad degrees. I majored in communication studies. Grad school begins after you complete your undergraduate degree(typically 4 years, though some take more or less time) and the amount of time begins on your field of study and the degree you are pursuing--master's degree or doctorate degree. Good luck, keep studying and working hard and you should be fine. It's great that you are thinking about college so early!

Answer 2

Here is the deal as it is at the moment, everybody and their dog are getting under grad degrees. If you really want to wow people you need to shoot for a graduate degree. If you are really serious about going to school for acting, don't just set your sights on one school, I am sure that there are better acting schools then just Columbia. Also by the time you are ready to go to collage you may not even be interested in acting. If you want to make yourself appealing to collages get good grades, good scores on the ACT or what ever test you are going to take, and participate in lots of clubs. ALSO, ENJOY HIGH SCHOOL; DON'T STRESS OUT TOO MUCH THIS IS THE FUNNEST TIME IN YOUR LIFE. Mainly because your are a minor and can get away with a lot.

One other thing, just because you get into a school should not be the only factor you look at when choosing a school. You need to pay attention to what kind of scholarships they are offering, the type of people that attend the school, and what you are going to do when you are done with school. Columbia may let you in, but if for instance Duke or Cornell offers you a full ride where as Columbia does not you would probably be better off taking the full ride.

Answer 3

As far as coursework goes you'll want to take a rigorous college preperatory tract. Take AP courses and other difficult courses and make sure you have A's in everything. A B or two probably won't hurt but that 87 in algebra could use a bump.

As a former TIP student that's a good score on the ACT, a lot of people don't even get that as a high school senior. However acting classes in high school won't make you more competetive. If you are involved in extracurricular activities that will help boost your application but you have to have excellent grades and standardized test scores. Make sure that you concentrate on the college prep courses. Start looking at all of the colleges you may consider and look at the requirements they want of students as far as high school core curriculum and make sure you meet or exceed that. Typically that will mean a minimum of 4 years of high school algebra, 4 years of high school math, 4 years of social science classes, a minimum of 2-3 years of science classes, a minimum of 2 years of a foreign language.

Honestly you will probably change your mind about acting between now and the time you graduate high school. Not saying that you won't change it but as you get older your interests may change and there's nothing wrong with that. You probably should start looking seriously at colleges during your sophomore and Junior years and be applying at the beginning of your senior year at the latest.

As someone else said you need to look at sources of funding. Highly selective schools are much harder to get scholarships from because the people you are competing against are overachievers. For now concentrate on your grades and the rest will take care of itself.

Answer 4

You pick an undergraduate major, that is your Bachelors degree, graduate is Masters. Yeah, i'd say you're on track, but try to be involved in clubs, not just HS clubs but maybe start your own to raise $$$ for kids in a 3rd world country, or somthing that will make you stand OUT at Columbia, you want to be the big fish, the one that Columbia WANTS to have.

Answer 5

hi