Chance me for Northwestern, NYU (stern), Columbia and more

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Here it goes !</p>

<p>Race : Asian (Yay! competitive pool)
GPA : UW - 3.75 W - 4.68
Class rank: 9% (65/745)
ACT: E-34 M-35 R-36 S-36 (34 single seating, 35 super-score)
SAT II : Math II - 800 / US History - 710
Courseload : Mostly AP / Pre-AP ( = advanced or honors)
AP (taken) :
World History(5), US History(4), English Language and Composition(5), Human Geography(5), Calculus BC(5) (AB sub-score - 5)
AP (current classes) :
Government, Macroeconomics, Physics C (mech / electricity), Statistics
ECs :
Lots of music (clarinet) - many solo competition awards, band awards, highly ranked and qualified multiple times in all state process (Texas), multiple years in a rather prestigious youth orchestra, according to my teacher (Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra), Student leader (band)... etc
Some volunteering - Church ensemble (~60 hrs), Helper in DFW International Airport (~100 hrs), student leader in music camp (~25 hrs)</p>

<p>Essay :
Common app one is pretty decent, but supplemental essays are not as good as the common app one.
Rec. Letters (Asked them with personalized, nice 4-paragraph emails, so hopefully that is a plus) :
Band directors - I have known me for years. I'm their favorite according to my friends, so I am expecting some great letters from them.
Calculus teacher - Don't know me as well as my band directors, but he was very willing when I asked him. </p>

<p>Intended major :
Northwestern - Dual degree in Clarinet performance / economics (Audition is a different animal, so feel free to ignore it. When asked, my peers believe that I am qualified. But feel free to make any comments!)
NYU (stern) - concentration in economics (and finance)
Columbia - Economics</p>

<p>Further note:
- Strong in math / also highly interested in engineering
- Already accepted to UT Austin (I have a safety with in-state tuition!)
- Fluent in Korean / English with some knowledge in Chinese (writing at least...)</p>

<p>Also considering applying to (If don't pass prescreening round for NW / have extra time)
- UMich (econ, or engineering)
- UVA (econ)
- Univeristy of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (econ)
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (engineering)</p>

<p>Any opinions are appreciated! Thanks for reading :)</p>

2

<p>Your uwGPA is a bit low for top schools. Your ACT is fine. Did you apply to any schools with EA/ED?</p>

3

<p>No. By the time I have decided to make NU my top choice, ED deadline was passed.</p>

4

<p>I understand ED would take a lot of consideration, but you should have applied some schools EA like UMich and UIUC. Anyway, the EA is over. As for your chance at NU and Columbia, it should be a low reach. Most schools including NU do not superscore ACT and your GPA is below average for admission.
For UMich, and UIUC engineering, your ACT is at 75% but again your GPA is below admission average. These schools have much higher acceptance rate than NU and Columbia, but they will only be high match for you.
It seems UT Austin would be your best bet but you may try the other 4 schools. Particularly, UMich LSA (for economics) would give you a decent chance.</p>

5

<p>Thanks! Sadly, I have yet to consider EA school you have mentioned by the time of their EA deadline :frowning:
-I have realized that you have not mentioned Stern, so feedback on that will be appreciated!
-Will the fact that I have an upward trend in my GPA (3.55 in freshman to 3.75 now) give them a better impression?</p>

6

<p>If you are applying to NYU, you can either major in economics in CAS or finance in Stern. CAS would be much easier to get in than stern. Overall, your leadership positions are mostly music related, so they are a little bit flat. But with your ACT score and gpa, you have a good shot at those schools. -ED1 stern 2018. Let me know if you have any questions</p>