<p>Background:
Location: New Jersey
Ethnicity: Asian (Indian) American
Gender: Male
Major: Economics</p>
<p>Stats:
GPA: 84.68 UW (somewhat of an upward trend)
SAT: 1350/2040 (720 math, 630 critical reading, 690 writing)
SAT IIs: 740 Math Level 2, 510 Chemistry (did not prepare well, will retake in January)
AP Tests(not sending): Stat (2); will take Calc BC, Chemistry, Psychology, and Spanish
Courseload: Will have taken 4 APs and 10 honors courses by end of high school
Class Rank/Percentile: Top 18% of my class</p>
<p>Extracurriculars/Volunteer/Work Experience:
1. Future Business Leaders of America (10-12)
2. Spanish Club (10-12) [Vice President, 12]
3. Town Unity Coalition (11-12) - [Officer]
4. Indian Cultural Club (9-12)
5. Volunteer at Hospital (10-12) [Lead Volunteer - 100 hours]
6. Data Entry for Family Tax Business (9-12)
7. Travel Soccer (6th-12th grade) [Captain 8th-11th]
8. School Varsity Soccer (11-12)
9. DECA Business Club (11-12)
10. Dance Team (6th-10th grade) [Noopur Jhankar Dance Competition 2008 - 3rd place]</p>
<p>Essays/Recommendations:
Essays: Very well-written and unique
Teachers Recs: Good not great
Guidance Counselor Rec: Good not great</p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
Spanish Honor Society (10-12)
National Honor Society (11-12)</p>
<p>You have good SAT scores however, your GPA is going to hurt you. The average GPA for all 4-year programs at NYU is an A- (3.5~3.7). I would venture to say somewhere about 3.6+, as 3.6 was the average for the year before. </p>
<p>Using a standard scale*:
A = 4.0
A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0
B- = 2.7</p>
<p>Due to the fact that your GPA is borderline B/B-, it would fall at roughly 2.95. With that GPA, it’s highly unlikely that you could gain admission to NYU. </p>
<p>If it’s the case that your school uses a different grading scale, i.e. a 87 is an A-, this would help you. However, if your school uses a standard A- = 90-92, then your GPA is going to translate as very low. </p>
<p>Given that your GPA is an 84.68 UW, that’s slightly over halfway between 84 (2.89) and 85 (3.00). If we calculate your GPA perfectly on that scale, you would have a 2.9648. Why? Well if each numerical grade increases by 0.11 from the previous, we can divide 0.11 by 100 and then multiply it by the 68 from your 84.68 gpa and get 0.0748. That 0.0748 is exactly how much greater your GPA is than a standard 84 at 2.89. We add the two and get 2.9648. </p>
<p>So, again, explain to me how you get 3.5UW?</p>
<p>I’m sorry I do not mean to be rude or very picky, but the 3.5UW was calculated by my school. I understand how you are calculating and that is valid as well. I should go confirm with the guidance department this. Regardless, if you had to give my chances a percentage what would it be?</p>
<p>They calculate it doing 4.0/95 * your GPA = 3.5UW. </p>
<p>However, that’s not how NYU will calculate it I don’t think. Because frankly, that gives you a higher GPA than you should have. </p>
<p>A 3.5UW GPA is somewhere between a B+ and A- average (as B+ is 3.33 and A- is 3.67). However, your numerical grade very clearly indicates a B average (84-86).</p>
<p>The average grade at NYU is A-; you have a B average. Your SAT scores are average for CAS as well. Overall, your chances don’t look so good. </p>
<p>1% of NYU students have an average below B. 11% have a B average. Given that only 12% of the student population has below a B+ average, I would say your chances aren’t great.</p>
<p>Well there is not much I can do about the GPA now, but if I worked to increase me SAT even higher should I try to do that? Or do I take subject tests in January for chemistry and spanish and ACTs in February hoping to score high and boost my chances if at all?</p>
<p>Any improvement in testing scores would help you. A 2100 on the SAT would be good, a 31 on the ACT would be good. Anything above 2100 and a 31 doesn’t count for much. That said, the better your letter of rec and essays, the better your chances are obviously.</p>
<p>Option 1: Retake SAT for a third time in January
Option 2: Take SAT IIs Chemistry and Spanish in January and ACTs in February (this is pushing it )</p>
<p>What do you think? Which option should I take?</p>
<p>You ought to consider the competitiveness of your school as well. At my school, the Average GPA acceptance has been a 4.0 out of 5, but many people with GPAs at 3.6 WEIGHTED have gotten in. this whole 3.6/2000-2200 thing is very general, and there are definitely exceptions. IMHO just write a really good essay and work on your schooling.</p>
<p>You asked me to post some of my stats. I got into CAS with a 2140 SAT and a 92 UW GPA. Your GPA will make it tough to get in, there’s no sugar coating it. NYU will also wonder why you aren’t sending in your AP score from last year, they will probably assume that it is low. </p>
<p>My only recommendation would be to retake all of your testing and hope to get a SAT over 2100 and a higher Chem score (possible if you are taking AP now)</p>
<p>I can only choose to take SAT in january or subject tests in january. An alternative option is take subject tests in january and ACT in february.</p>
<p>I would take the ACT in february no matter what, see if you can do better than on your SAT, no harm done. I suppose you have to choose whether you think your SAT I or IIs need more help.</p>
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