Chance An Incoming Senior (Fordham, NYU, Barnard, Ivies)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>-Hi, I'm a Senior as of the 2011-2012 school year. I’m female, Caucasian and from Brooklyn, NY. I’ll be a first generation college student. I will be applying for financial aid.</p>

<p>Sorry if this is long but I wanted to include everything.....</p>

<p>Colleges:
-Fordham University (Lincoln Center Campus)
(first choice.. will probably apply Early Action if my SAT scores in October are 2100 or better because I need at least a Dean's Scholarship, but a Presidential scholarship [full tuition] would be nice too)
-New York University
-Barnard College
-Brown University
-Cornell University
-CUNY Macaulay Honors College – Brooklyn College & Hunter College Campuses
(as of next year you'll be able to apply to more than one college campus.. and this is a very prestigious program, considered a public Ivy I guess.)</p>

<p>School Type: Large, arguably the best (at least one of the best) public high schools in Brooklyn/New York City after the Specialized High Schools (such as Brooklyn Tech and Stuyvesant). A large number of students get into the Ivies and other top schools (last year 3 got into Harvard). </p>

<p>-Rank: Top 5% of my class.. possibly higher but school doesn't release rank to colleges (please consider that there's over 1,000 students in my grade)</p>

<p>-GPA: 95/100 unweighted, 96/100 weighted (I converted it from the scale) and a very nice upward trend with amazing junior year grades (both terms 101/103 weighed average or 98/100 unweighted)</p>

<p>APs: Junior Year- AP United States History, AP Psychology (awaiting scores)
Senior Year- AP English Literature, AP US Government & Politics, AP MicroEconomics, AP Statistics
(APs limited almost exclusively [there's occasional exceptions] to Seniors and Juniors with a limit of three for Junior Year and five for senior year)</p>

<p>Honors Classes: Honors Geometry, Honors Integrated Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Honors English 1/2, Honors English 3/4, Honors Creative Writing, Honors Chemistry, Honors Living Environment (Biology), Honors Latin 1/2, Honors Global History & Geography 1/2, Honors Global History & Geography 3/4</p>

<p>Academic Record: (took an "extra year" aka double classes in the subject)
Foreign Language- 5 years (4 years Spanish and 1 year Latin)
Math- 5 years
English- 5 years
Science- 4 years
History/Social Studies- 6 years
Art/Music- 1 year (requirement of one semester of each)</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule (one of the most rigorous.. school cut back a lot because of budget cuts so we had a limit of classes)
AP English Literature (full year)
AP US Government & Politics (half year) and AP MicroEconomics (half year)
AP Statistics (full year)
English Elective- Advanced Creative Writing Honors (full year) (Humanities program requirement)
History Elective- History of Vietnam (half year) & Historiography (half year) (both requirements of Gilder-Lehrman program)</p>

<p>SAT: 1970 (took in December 2010)
660 in Critical Reading
620 in Math
690 in Writing
I’m going to take the SAT two more times (October and November) and plan to get a 2100 or higher. I really didn't study as much as I should have the first time.</p>

<p>SAT IIs: U.S. History and World History (awaiting scores but I'd say at least 700 on each)</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular Activities/Volunteer Work (only included ones I'm going to fit on application)</p>

<p>Writing:
-President and Founder of Young Writers Club (since Sophomore year)
-Editor-in-Chief & Writer for PATTERNS (literature magazine) (since sophomore year)
-Editor & Writer in JAALs and FORUM (history magazines) (since Freshmen Year)</p>

<p>Politics/Government:
-Chairperson of Senate Judiciary Committee Committee in Model Congress (since Freshman Year)
-Coordinator of Amnesty International (since Junior Year)
-Internship with local NY State Assemblyman (since Junior Year)
-Co-Founder & Co-Head Organizer of Campaign to Save I.S. 303 (since Junior Year) [Started a campaign to support I.S. 303 (my former junior high school) and oppose the co-location proposal of Coney Island Prep Charter School into I.S. 303’s building; worked closely with a NY State Assemblyman (how I got the internship); contacted other elected public officials and the media; made and helped get signed petitions; publicly spoke at public hearings and to the media; made signs, a Facebook Page, e-mail account, and Twitter Page for the movement to gain supporters; worked with teachers, parents, administrators, students, and lawyers]</p>

<p>Other school-related:
-Key Club Volunteer Committee Member (since Freshmen Year)
-Monitor for Guidance Counselor, various teachers, & Freshmen Orientation (since Freshmen Year)</p>

<p>Parish/Church: (over 1500 hours of volunteer work altogether)
-Teen Leader of Teen Group (Parish's Youth Group.. weekly meetings every Friday Night for three hours which usually includes a discussion on a teen-related topic, also engaging in a lot of volunteer work) (since Freshmen Year)
-Co-Leader of the Altar Servers (assists the priest on the altar during mass) (since Freshmen Year, although technically I've been an altar server since I was eight years old)
-Lector (reads the liturgy during mass) (since Freshmen Year, although technically I've been lectoring since 8th grade)</p>

<p>Awards & Honors: (only included most recent ones and ones that will fit on application)
-Arista – National Honor Society Member
-Archon – National Service Society Member
-New York City History Day Regional Competition Award Winner – Outstanding Project on New York City History
-The American Classical League and National Junior Classical League Certificate of Honorable Merit: Magna Cum Laude
-National Council of Teachers of English: Achievement Award in Writing – School Nominee
-Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: School Nominee – Poetry & Memoir Divisions
-Midwood High School Student of the Month for Service to the School & Academic Growth for February 2011
-Holocaust Memorial Art, Essay, and Poetry Contest First Place Winner – Poetry Division</p>

<p>Hooks: Uncle (dad's brother) is alumni of NYU, First Generation College Student</p>

<p>Recommendations/Appraisal:
Appraisal:
-Guidance Counselor who I have a good relationship with and have monitored for (and hence personally know well) since Freshmen year is writing my APPRAISAL (I'm one of a few she's doing this for.. usually the college office counselors do it.)</p>

<p>Letters of Recommendation:
-AP US History teacher (I had her all of Junior Year), got the highest grade [99] in her class both terms and she said she's "never seen anyone write a history essay as good" as I do in her 15 years of teaching.
-Creative Writing Teacher (I had him all of Junior Year), and got the highest grade in his class both terms [99 again], and he helped me enter most of the writing contests, and I already got the recommendation from him and it's very good.
-Pastor of my church (I've known him since I was 6 years old), I have an AMAZING relationship with him (he's a second father to me), he's really my "boss" for all the community service I do with my church, I work very closely with him, and I already got the recommendation from him and it's also great.</p>

<p>Intended Majors: I want to major in Political Science or Government with a double minor in Psychology and Creative Writing. I’m considering going to Law School.</p>

<p>Financial situation: My family is working/middle class. My dad worked for NYC Dept of Sanitation for 25 years and is retired since June 2009. The only source of income for us now is his pension (don't know exactly, but I'm guessing about $50,000 a year or less). My mother never worked. My parents are married and they don't own any houses, property, or any other assets other than savings. I have one sister who is three years younger than me who along with my mother and myself, are dependents of my dad.</p>

<p>And are they any other colleges you suggest? I prefer private and/or Catholic colleges over public ones, but I’ll look at anything. And I would also like to stay within New York City or the surrounding suburbs but I'll make some exceptions.</p>

2

<p>I think you have a pretty fair shot at all of those schools.</p>

<p>Here’s another idea: What about Nassau Community for 2 years and then trying for a great scholarship someone else if you don’t get those scholarships at Fordham? I know some amazingly smart kids who did that and then got into schools ranging from Syracuse and Northeastern to Harvard and Columbia.</p>

3

<p>Hi! Thank you for chancing me. If you want I’ll chance back but I didn’t see a thread.</p>

<p>And what I was thinking is this: if I don’t get enough of aid and scholarships from Fordham, hopefully I’ll get into the CUNY Macaulay Honors program because it’s free tuition (and in some cases free room and board too) since they give you a full scholarship. Then after two years, I could apply to Fordham. But hopefully I won’t have to do that just because I think its a bit of a hassle and you never know if you’ll get in with a transfer.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, though.</p>

4

<p>No I don’t have a chance thread. But thanks for offering. And good luck! :)</p>

5

<p>Thank you =]</p>

6

<p>Would you think of applying to SUNY Genneseo or Binghamton, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, or University of Virginia. Those schools have really strong programs in most majors and give very good financial aid (4 out of the 5 are state schools).</p>

<p>Chance me back please!!</p>

7

<p>I would, but honestly I don’t want to dorm, especially that far away. I know Binghamton is Public Ivy and many, many students from my high school get in and go there every year. I really love NYC and would like to stay here. </p>

<p>Are they any other schools you’d suggest? I know I wrote about my financial situation but that was more so to get some opinions about how much aid I would get from those schools. If Fordham doesn’t give me enough of aid and I get into CUNY Macaulay Honors, I’ll probably just go there since it’s a free (full tuition and room and board covered).</p>

8

<p>Fordham University - Target
New York University - Target
-Barnard College - low reach
-Brown University - reach
-Cornell University - low reach
-CUNY Macaulay Honors College - I am not really familiar with this program.</p>

9

<p>Thank you =]</p>

<p>I wish you the best of luck!</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the chance, I appreciated it :D</p>

<p>Better SAT will get you places, because your ECs are just so good. You have time, try and shoot for a 2200+. It happens to a lot of people. And make sure you can get all As this next semester.</p>

<p>Fordham should be a low match I think. I know someone who got in and wasn’t nearly as good as you.<br>
NYU-high match
Barnard-low reach
Brown-mid reach
Cornell-mid reach
Don’t know about CUNY</p>

<p>It seems as if you’re a great writer, so write some amazing essays and with a better SAT you have a chance at all of these schools. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

11

<p>You’re welcome. And thank you.</p>

<p>I don’t think I’ll have a problem with NYU especially since so many kids from my school go there every year. People on CC get a bit crazy and think you need a 2000+ to get in, when really anything over a 1900+ is pretty good.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you! </p>

<p>And thanks for the writing compliments… I’ll try lol</p>

12

<p>Fordham- Match
NYU- Match
Barnard- Match
Brown- Mid Reach
Cornell- Mid Reach
CUNY- Not sure</p>

<p>SAT might be a little low for Ivies, but some of your ECs definitely stand out. Thanks for chancing me and good luck :slight_smile: I definitely think all of your schools are achieveable. Just write really good essays and show what you’re passionate for!</p>

13

<p>Fordham - low match
NYU-low match, especially since you’re in NY
Barnard-match
Brown-reach
Cornell-low reach</p>

<p>brown will be the hardest one to get into. i think just write a really good essay :)</p>

<p>make sure you get at least 2100+ on your SAT and preferably 2200+ above, and you will have great chances for these schools. right now, 1970 is gonna be a little low, but I know you’re taking them in October so kick some butt :smiley:
thanks for chancing me! good luck :))</p>

14

<p>Thank you! </p>

<p>And I definitely will. Best of luck to you!</p>

15

<p>What’s a low match exactly? lol Does that mean I’ll get in?</p>

16

<p>Thank you too by the way! I will definitely try =]</p>

17

<p>You have fantastics ECs and a great GPA. Hopefully you can boost your SAT score, though.</p>

<p>-Fordham University (Lincoln Center Campus) - match
-New York University - match with higher SAT
-Barnard College - match
-Brown University - reach
-Cornell University - mid reach
-CUNY Macaulay Honors College – really not sure, sorry!</p>

18

<p>Fordham University (Lincoln Center Campus) - match
-New York University - match
-Barnard College - match
-Brown University - mid reach
-Cornell University - mid/low reach
-CUNY Macaulay Honors College – in</p>

<p>I’m not sure if Fordham is binding early application, but if it does I wouldn’t do it. You stand a shot at Cornell, and you’d probably end of kicking yourself if you get in there and Fordham.</p>

<p>Chance me: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1168384-chances-couple-toptier-other-colleges.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1168384-chances-couple-toptier-other-colleges.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

19

<p>Thank you both! Best of luck!</p>

20

<p>nyu cuny barnard and fordham shouldn’t be a problem, especially with a 2100 + (TRY THE ACT THOUGH IT’S SOOOOOO MUCH EASIERRRRRRRR!) the ivies are going to be quite a reach b/c you neither have the scores, nor the ECs for those. good luck.</p>