Hey guys, I’m debating between applying for ED2 or RD. My parents really want me to go to NYU (close proximity, my sister went there and dad works there), so they really want me to apply ED2, but part of me doesn’t want to limit my options by doing that. So, I’m trying to figure out if I still have a good shot getting in through regular decision without the ED bump! I would be applying to CAS, which is less competitive than Stern.
I’m an Asian female from New Jersey in a public, competitive high school.
Objective:
GPA: ~3.7 UW / 4.13 W (my school doesn’t calculate UW, so I did it myself. I included non-core classes like electives and Gym)
SAT: 2370 (800 CR, 770 M, 800 W, 11 Essay)
Rank: School does not calculate, but in the Top 10-12%. My grade has about 450 students.
SAT II: 790 USH, 790 Literature, 700 Bio-E (probably not sending)
PSAT: 231
AP Scores: AP Calc AB (4), AP US History (5), AP Language and Composition (5), AP Physics 1 (2; not reporting)
Subjective:
Major Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar, State Award for Arts Education (for Writing), Book Award (prob not a big deal), lots of regional/national (but nothing too huge) awards for creative writing
ECs: Editor-in-Chief of my school’s literary magazine, principal violist for my school orchestra and advanced orchestra for all 4 years and got into Region Orchestra and All-State Orchestra, secretary for Speech and Debate team and won a few awards for Speech, helped found and run a volunteer chamber orchestra group for community service, participated in a music therapy program at a hospital and interned at New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for a bit over the summer before senior year
Other: I’d say my main EC is writing; I’ve won various awards in writing and am pretty serious about it. I plan to attach a resume with extra writing/other awards and provide a creative writing supplement if NYU allows me to!
My main concern is my GPA, which may be on the lowish side (my worst grade ever was a C+ in Pre-Calculus Honors), but I’ve basically taken all Honors/AP Courses (hardest rigor) and maintain an A/A- average in most of them (save a few B+'s).
I hope I kept this short and easy to read. Thanks for your chances guys; I hope I can get into NYU RD (but I will be willing to apply ED2 if that gives me a better shot!).