Chances for NYU? etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm going to be a senior next year, and I was thinking of what schools I would want to go to and so far NYU is my favorite school. I would be going for journalism. One of the main reasons is that it is a fantastic location. I considered Columbia but since it is Ivy League I doubt I'll ever get in. The only thing is I have next to no extracurriculars. I have a job as a summer camp counselor over the summer, have been working there for 3 years, logged in over 300 hours of community service there too. Only in one club though - French Honor Society. Going to join National Honor Society this year and probably another one too. Is that not enough for ECs? Maybe starting a club would help? Holding a fundraiser? I know I should have thought about all this earlier, but I always figured it was a long time off anyway. Which was a bad idea...
My schedule for junior year was : Pre-Cal (lowest grade though, got a C). Got a A's and B's in AP Biology, and all my other classes I had high A's (AP US History, AP English Language, French 2 Honors, Foods/Nutrition [my "easy" class]).
I got a 5 on AP US History exam. Don't know the other two yet. I think I either got a 4 or 5 on AP English, but I am really worried about AP Biology.
My schedule for senior year is: Culinary Foods, AP Psychology, AP English Language, Creative Writing, Trigonometry, and Anatomy/Physiology.
My cumulative weighted GPA is only 3.5 though, is that too bad?
I have only taken the ACT once, got a 31. I haven't taken the SAT yet, but I will take it in September, along with the ACT again, since the first time I did not do the writing section. What SAT score would be good?
Based on this, and if I do well in all my classes next year (A's hopefully in all my classes), what do you think my chances are of getting into NYU? I would be applying for financial aid as well.
Would I fare better if I applied early decision?
I was also thinking of visiting the campus, but should I even do that if I haven't even applied/gotten accepted yet? I live in Kentucky, so it's a while away.</p>

<p>Other schools I'm considering: (if I can't get into NYU)
Missouri (good chance here?)
Northwestern
Syracuse
UNC
USC</p>

<p>Any other suggestions for schools would be greatly appreciated. I just like the idea of going to New York, because it is pretty much the media capital.</p>

2

<p>Northwestern and UNC will be tough. USC will be a little less hard, closer to a match, and I’d say you’d get into NYU and Cuse along with Mizzou</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1177043-do-i-have-enough-good-ecs-ill-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1177043-do-i-have-enough-good-ecs-ill-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Are you sure you like NYU or the idea of NYU? Everyone I’ve talked to thinks its a pretty bad college experience overall. You can always intern from any school.</p>