Chances at Stony Brook, NYU, UPenn, Cornell, Georgetown, GW, UCLA,

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everyone,
I’m planning to look at these schools and applying to most. Please let me know what you think my chances are of getting in. Should I aim higher, lower, or stick to this?

Reach: Cornell, University of Pennsylvania
Target: Stony Brook, NYU, UCLA, Boston University, Boston College, Georgetown, George Washington University
Safety: Hofstra, Texas A&M, University at Buffalo

High School:
GPA: 3.8 unweighted, 4.0 weighted (highest gpa possible in my school is 4.33 weighted)
(My school doesn’t do class rankings except #1 and #2)
AP’s: World History, American History, US Gov’t, Microeconomics, Physics 1, Biology, Chemistry, English Language & Comp, Psychology, Spanish Language & Culture (10 total)
Honors: Spanish
(Scored at least a 4 on all ap exams except world history which was a 3)

Tests:
31 ACT Compositite and not super scored (31 on all four sections)

Extra Cirricular:
160 hours of volunteer at a hospital, science research in labratory setting, model un club, honor society, tutoring

Awards:
National Honor Society

I live in New York applying for a Biology major. Tuition isn’t a big factor for me since I have been saving for a very long time and have enough to pay off debt.

Thanks!

2

I think Cornell and Penn are mega-reaches…your ACT is at/below the 25th percentile. If you want to give it a go that is fine, but understand that they are long-shots.

I’d classify Gtown, BC, and UCLA as reaches.

Any reason SUNY Binghamton isn’t on your list? You might consider SUNY New Paltz as well. Perhaps add Fordham too (they have non-binding EA).

If you haven’t done so already, please discuss finances with your parents. Tuition is not close to the entire cost of college. It is unlikely that you have saved $250,000+ (cost for 4 years of private college) with enough money left over for grad school (you mentioned med school in another post).

3

Are you a Junior or Senior? The UC application deadline was November 31 so if you are a Senior and have not applied, you are out of luck.

UCLA as an Out of state applicant will cost your around $65k/year to attend with little to no financial aid. Also UCLA only uses 10-11th grades in their GPA calculation, HS honors courses do not count for the extra honors point bump for OOS applicants so only AP/IB or DE (UC transferable) courses will be weighted.

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Some UCLA stats for OOS admits (25th-75th percentiles)
Fully Weighted UC GPA: 4.46-4.86
Unweighted UC GPA: 3.93-4.00
ACT: 33-35

UCLA is a Reach school for you.

4

With an admit rate last year in the mid-teens, I’m not sure I’d classify NYU as a “target” either. Many with OP’s stats (in range but towards the lower end especially for non-portfolio/HEOP applicants) got rejected last year. I didn’t follow BU as closely but I’d say at best it’s borderline as a target too, admit rate also in the teens now. Stats and ECs are decent but competition at these schools is tough and getting tougher.

GW should be a solid target, especially for a STEM major. I’d also think adding Fordham into the mix is worthwhile, it should be a solid target too, and judging from my D’s (accidental) offer last year OP could probably get some merit $$ there.

5

I’m a junior currently

6

Thanks for your advice! I understand your concerns about tuition and I share them. But I’ll admit that I come from a decently wealthy family (not to brag or anything like that, just stating my reality) that has stressed the college I get into more than the cost.

7

thanks for the advice!

8

“not to brag or anything like that, just stating my reality) that has stressed the college I get into more than the cost.”

I’m never convinced when a teenager declares their parents rich, and therefore able to afford EVERYTHING. My teenage daughter does that all the time to us. We’re talking about a $300,000 wad of cash. That’s no small chunk of change even for the well-to-do. I really think you need to talk to your parents about what they can REALLY afford. The “prestige outweighs cost” is an irrational argument that almost never comes from rational parents.

As far is the list, it’s very top-heavy. For the exception of Buffalo and Texas A&M, the rest of the schools are reaches. Even A&M is pushing it because they favor Texas residents.