Admission to NYU or Columbia?

Applying to College Admission Stories
1

I’m a sophomore in high school. Freshman year i was accepted into my school in a national merit program and took all honors classes, I got c’s in all of them and therefore wasn’t eligible to take any honors courses this year. I’m in all regular classes but I’m getting A’s. I also got a 1930 on my PSAT score. But I feel like I ruined my chances of getting into NYU or Columbia which are my top choice schools. Did I screw myself over by not trying hard enough freshman year? Do you think colleges would look down upon the fact that I moved down to regular classes sophomore year even though I’m on an all honors track again next year? Do you think Columbia or NYU would even consider me?

2

I think it’s all going to depend upon how you handle it come application time. Make sure you work very hard the remainder of this year and step it up even more next year. When you apply as a senior, use your situation to your advantage. If your grades continue to increase, the colleges will obviously see that you are exhibiting growth. Seize an opportunity to explain what you just did to all of us, perhaps in an essay or an interview. Put a spin on it so that they aren’t focussing on the fact that you did poorly freshman year, but instead, how much you have improved. You could throw in your own personal reasons for improving as well as mentioning once you realized the amazing opportunities available at insert college here, you knew you had to work harder.*

On a side note, I’d suggest applying to schools other than those two that aren’t necessarily safety schools, but match schools to ensure you’ve got options. Good luck

3

I agree with fleetfoxes.

Also does your school have any AP’s? Kids that look for competitive schools like Columbia have a rigorous AP Courseload and since you’re taking easier classes as a sophomore you gotta take it home with the AP’s junior year. Good AP test scores, SAT Subject test scores, GPA, and SAT and they’ll probably be impressed with your improvement, although no guarantees. There aren’t guarantees for anyone with schools like Columbia.

~CurryCow

4

Don’t lose hope, keep trying.

As a freshman I got low C’s in 3 classes and low B’s in 2, then as a sophomore I couldn’t take any AP classes so I aced all of my classes.

As a junior and senior I have taken 8 AP’s and recieved 4 5’s on the tests and brought my GPA up to a decent level (3.95) and I just got into NYU (Stern).