<p>Howard University
Hampton University
New York University</p>
<p>With the following criteria:</p>
<p>Freshman GPA: 1.0 (no AP's) - My dad died a few days before school started.
Sophomore GPA: 2.2465 (no AP's) - My mom re-married.
Junior GPA: 4.28 (3 AP's)
Senior GPA: 4.612 (5 AP's)</p>
<p>Overall: 3.034 (weighted)
Top 50% of class.</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars:</p>
<p>Mock Trial - 4 years
Debate Team - 3 years
Character Counts - 4 years
Environmental Club (founder and president) - 4 years
NAACP - 4 years
ACT-SO (nationals in essay writing and speech) - 2 years
National Honor Society (senior year) - 1 year
S.A.D.D. - 2 years
Track (JV) - 2 years
Cross Country (JV) - 1 year</p>
<p>ACT: 33</p>
<p>I'm an Ethiopian-American female.</p>
<p>Desired Major: Black Studies and History with a Sociology minor. (I hope to go to Law school)</p>
<p>So my grades pretty much suck, but what do you guys think are my chances? Especially at NYU; that's my dream school.</p>
<p>Please be completely honest; don't post answers like "You can do whatever you set your mind to." Also, if you post a reply, please don't just say something like "I think you have a shot." Give me REASONS you think I have a shot; is it a reach? A match? What?</p>
<p>I don't know anything about Howard or Hampton, but I will chance you for NYU. Your freshman and sophomore GPAs are pretty bad, BUT given the circumstances, they may not actually disadvantage you too badly (losing a parent/having a parent remarry is a big deal, and believe me, colleges will realize this and be very understanding). Your junior and senior year GPAs will also help you out--they're very good and show a marked improvement from those first two years--as will your high ACT. Have you considered taking the SAT or some SAT subject tests? You'd probably do well on them, and having a few more strong scores would certainly help your case. Also, what were your AP scores? If they're 4s and 5s, that's also in your favor; if not, then not so much. Your extracurriculars aren't too out of the ordinary, but your Ethiopan background is a very nice hook. Unfortunately, being in the top 50% of your class isn't too impressive, but again--the circumstances were exceptional and colleges will understand, especially if your college advisor/other school figure writes them a letter explaining exactly what happened. </p>
<p>So, chance-wise... NYU's a reach for the reasons listed above, but if it's your dream school, you should apply regardless of what you think the outcome might be. Good luck!</p>
<p>Besides your freshman and sophomore years, your GPA and ECs are really good. If colleges are understanding of those two years, I think you have a very good chance of getting into all 3 schools.</p>