2.8 GPA and applying EDII to NYU?

 I'm really nervous about applying to NYU. I have been to campus and met with admissions officers to try and get a better understanding for the school. I believe I am a good fit for the school, however my sophomore year grades have brought down my GPA drastically. My mother died of cancer my sophmore year and my dad got married a month earlier. I was clinically depressed and did terribly academically that entire year. However, in my Junior year I did extremely well and made the honor roll for my second semester with a 3.7 GPA. My freshman grades were normal at about a 3.2 average. My overall is now a 2.84 and I am also on track to have a 4.0 for first semester senior year. I want to study Environmental Studies and minor in Japanese. I have taken Japanese for 5 years (Currently in AP) have taken multiple Earth Science classes (Currently in AP Envi Sci) and I am doing ISEF, was nominated for a female STEM industry program that i am currently participating in, a part of my schools ecology club and have participated in my districts science outdoor school program as a counselor. I am also an adopted female of Hispanic heritage with parents who divorced at a young age. I am taking the SAT in November so I will update this with my scores. I just want to know my chances of getting in as NYU is my dream school. Also is it a good idea for me to apply EDII?

You’re GPA is quite low. I suggest going to CC for two years and then transferring. However, if you feel that you can sway the admission officers through your essays and explain what you felt when these two major events happened so close together, how you dealt with it, how you struggled at first, but kept fighting to push through, and finally become what you are today, then I say go for it!