How I Got Into Columbia! (Stats, ECs, & Advice)

Summary

Ellie Rose, a sophomore at Columbia University studying financial economics and artificial intelligence, describes applying to universities in the United States and Europe. She says she was accepted to Columbia, NYU, UPenn, LSE, King’s College London, and other European universities.

Her central advice is to start preparing early, pursue activities that genuinely interest you, and use essays to reveal who you are beyond your résumé.

Academic and application background

• Ellie was born in France and raised in Switzerland, where she attended French schools and completed the French baccalaureate.
• She says she graduated with an average of 18 out of 20, which she equates to a 4.0 U.S. GPA.
• She applied without SAT scores under the test-optional policies available at the time. She describes this as a risk, noting that standardized testing can be difficult for students in Europe because test centers are limited, dates fill quickly, and travel may be necessary.
• As an international applicant, she also took the TOEFL and arranged official translations of school records and other documents. She emphasizes that these requirements take additional time, effort, and money.
• Her demanding school schedule—classes from morning until late afternoon, followed by homework and application work—made planning especially important.

Advice and lessons

• Start early. Ellie began looking for internships at 13 and had completed three by the time she applied. She compares preparing for highly selective universities to athletic training: starting early provides more time to build experience.
• Stand out through meaningful projects. She does not credit one activity with securing her admission. Instead, she describes a range of interests and projects that reflected different sides of her.
• Choose activities you care about. She advises students not to take on dull or artificial projects just to impress a particular university. Pursuing genuine interests can make the work more personally meaningful while helping build a strong résumé.
• Use essays to show your personality. Ellie notes that an extracurricular list records what an applicant has done but may not convey who they are. She sees the personal essay as a chance to share a distinctive voice and perspective.
• Reflect on challenges, not just achievements. Her Common App essay began with a detailed description of the 132 shelves in her small room. She used her carefully organized books and spreadsheets to explore her desire for control—and the difficulty of facing things she could not control. She says writing about personal struggles can help admissions readers see the applicant as a person, not just a résumé.

Examples of extracurricular activities

• Organized a fundraiser for families affected by the 2023 Morocco earthquake, an event that mattered to her because of her Moroccan roots.
• Worked as a guest columnist for a fashion magazine, drawing on her interest in fashion.
• Founded a nonprofit focused on environmental awareness. Its activities included visiting schools and companies to explain environmental issues and share practical everyday solutions.

Sources and speakers featured

• Ellie Rose — the sole speaker, sharing her application experience and advice.
• Atlas Education — mentioned by Ellie as offering a free one-on-one consultation; no representative speaks in the subtitles.