Chance me for NYU, UW Seattle, Columbia, Brown

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! Im a senior from Cali. Asian male. Gonna study psych or music or some combination of the two.

I’ll apply to probably most of the UCs just in case but NYU and UW Seattle are the targets I really want. Columbia and Brown (maybe Cornell and Dartmouth) are my absolute reaches. Don’t even know if they’re worth applying to, honestly. Let me know if I’m being delusional. I’d also appreciate if anyone wants to suggest some school to take a look at.

So my stats. Unweighted gpa 3.75. Weighted gpa 3.97. UC gpa 4.06. Upward trend.

1560 Sat, 790 math, 770 english. 15 essay. Only took once, don’t know if I should take again. I will, however, take subject tests in math and bio and maybe ACT.

7 Aps total, 3 this year. (comp sci, psych, music theory, calc ab, bio, lit, french) Fives on the 3 AP tests I did take so far. (psych, music theory, calc ab)

Only 3 maths (though including calculus) and 3 sciences.

1 c+ in honors precalc sophmore year.

Extracurriculars are mostly music and band. Marching band 3 years (20 hours/week), accepted to state honor bands several times. Lots of school band classes. Top jazz band since freshman year. Officer in a music club. Did piano since I was 5 (got a couple awards when I was young) and trombone since 10. Currently working with an organization that offers music lessons to disabled children. Also did track for a year. Worked with some volunteer clubs and have at least 80+ hours accumulated. Took A and B periods throughout high school.

As for special circumstances, a few months every year, my dad would go to Asia and I would have to take the bus home, arriving at around 6-7pm.

Thanks!

2

Forgot to mention, I did take 3 honors courses in addition to the 7 APs.

3

“As for special circumstances, a few months every year, my dad would go to Asia and I would have to take the bus home, arriving at around 6-7pm.”

Absolutely would not mention that to any of the NYC area schools on your list. Unless you are trying to give the admissions officers a bit of a chuckle. 2 hour commutes each way every day are not at all uncommon for NYC area kids going to top public schools.

3.75 GPA most likely puts you in the bottom 15% or lower at IVY schools. Probably not happening. But 3.75 is fine for NYU.

Your SAT scores are fine for NYU and a few points more won’t make a difference at the IVYs on your list given your GPA so not worth retaking.

Think you have a good shot at NYU. Particularly if you are full pay.

4

Agree not to mention your bus ride home. Very common. We had a girl in elementary school with a 2 hour commute each way on public transportation.

5

All of my kids had similar commute all year round and it didn’t even cross their mind to count this as an adversity. If you mentioned it, it would only paint you as a low EQ snowflake.

If NYU is affordable then definitely do ED to raise your odds. To be honest, Ivies aren’t likely to happen for any Asian with this resume.

6

I am choking on the bus hardship also. It is a pretty privileged life when the worst you’ve got is having to take the bus home part of the year. We all know way too many kids for whom that is normal (and lots of sports kids are rarely home before 6, that no matter what the transport situation is).

It is possible that there is an essay in having Dad gone a few months every year- how it changes the household / your role in it perhaps?- but no.just no on “special circumstances”.

Track for a year is more likely to be a negative than a positive.

7

Ok guys, I wasn’t going to write a whole essay on this. Literally just a quick endnote since some other people suggested mentioning transportation issues. But guess not.

I know I don’t have much of a chance at ivys. Really I was just wondering if its a waste of $75 scenario or just a long shot scenario.

But any thoughts on UW Seattle?

Thanks all.