<p>For Computer Science program (College Arts and Sciences)</p>
<p>ACADEMIA:</p>
<p>Freshman GPA: 3.52
Sophomore GPA: 3.52
Junior GPA: 3.75 W, 3.7 UW
Overall GPA: About 3.6</p>
<p>SAT Critical Reading: 610
SAT Math: 680
SAT Writing: 680
Total: 1970</p>
<p>ACT: 27 (Not sending)</p>
<p>My School does not rank.</p>
<p>AP Courses:
Biology (This year)
Computer Science A (Next Year)
Economics (Next Year)</p>
<p>3 letters of recommendation (math teacher, club advisor, guidance counselor)</p>
<p>EXTRACURRICULARS: </p>
<p>President of Support our Soldiers Club
-Interviewed WW2 Veteran, contributed to National Archive</p>
<p>100 hours of Red Cross Volunteer work
-Office management, computer database organization, phone duty, etc.</p>
<p>4 Years of Varsity Swimming</p>
<p>Member of School Atmosphere Committee
-Helped create a video to send to New England Board of Accreditation to display information about our school
-Spread word about school ideals and beliefs in various ways</p>
<p>HOOKS:</p>
<p>I am of Hispanic descent.</p>
<p>I will not be applying for financial aid.</p>
<p>Just throwing this out there - when I contacted NYU, I was told they are “need-blind” and that my switching from “I will not be applying for financial aid” to “I will” wouldn’t affect me. (This was AFTER I got accepted.) Not sure if that is true.</p>
<p>It’s hard to say with NYU/CAS. I was accepted as a transfer into CAS for CS for Fall 2011. Transferred from a CC with a 3.92 GPA, but my cumulative GPA is extremely low. Like, hovering around a 2.00, I think. My work experience and essays are probably the things NYU really liked about me. I applied for FA and received a decent amount. </p>
<p>But (and its a big one), someone posted a few weeks ago in the transfer thread how they were rejected from CAS for CS and he had nearly perfect grades in HS and college. </p>
<p>My guess is they are willing to overlook stellar grades for those that have already applied the stuff they’ve learned. But, I guess they could be said about any place, huh? Anyways, you seem to be in a good position.</p>
<p>BTW, what CS program/career are you looking at?</p>
<p>Probably software engineering.</p>
<p>@hotblack:
can you elaborate on what you mean by overlooking good grades if you have already applied the stuff you have learned?</p>
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</p>
<p>Nice. You probably already know this, but CAS only offers a BA in CS. This is perfect for me because I don’t want to be an engineer, but if you want to be one then maybe check out CAS’s 3-2 program (combined BA/MS), which would prepare you better. Then again, it is about what you can do and not the initials after your degree. </p>
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<p>Sure. Doing things related to your field outside of academic work is something any admission board would like to see. I think some colleges, like NYU, would accept someone with a spotty past, but great work experience and drive over someone who’s only performed in academic work no matter how great their grades are. Personally, I think that’s why NYU accepted me. This is especially true with CS. Academic work is all fine and whatever, but it really comes down to what you can do.</p>
<p>I would also like to point out that I am by no means an expert. All my conclusions are drawn from anecdotal evidence found by conducting late night internet searches with a bottle of jack in one hand and a cigarette in the other.</p>
<p>Hotblack, thank you for all your information. I would like to get a bachelors degree in CS, work a few years, then obtain a masters in a more specific field within the realm of CS.</p>
<p>HotBlack,
When you mentioned that person who had excellent grades but did not get in then, mentioned that NYU might overlook someone with good grades if they have already applied what they have learnt I thought you were referencing this individuals experience. Like perhaps if you have TOO much experience they might reject you. I think i misunderstood.</p>
<p>Would you know why someone with such an excellent record would be rejected?</p>
<p>There could be tons of reasons. If they took lots of unrelated courses the admissions people would see them as unfocused. Maybe their essays were superficial and uninspiring. Who knows?</p>
<p>Its like being on trial, except you have to prove you are innocence (that you can do the work). And, you can only do that with pretty limited evidence.</p>