<p>I want to go to NYU (Gallatin) so badly, but my parents are saying that they don't want me to apply early decision because it's so expensive. I've heard conflicting things on this board; some people say that early decision applicants get screwed when it comes to aid, and others say the aid is better if you apply ED. Does anyone really know?</p>
<p>That said, I'd love your opinions on what my chances of being accepted and/or getting some merit-based aid are.
SAT: 1510 (800V, 710M)
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.913 W
RANK: 1/368, shared w/ 1 other
AP COURSES: AP Env. Science, AP Calc AB (5), AP English III (4)
SENIOR YEAR APs: AP Calc BC, AP English IV, AP French, AP Gov
ECs: French Club (treasurer 11th, president 12th), Kids Helping Kids (a service-based club that tutors kids after school; VP 10th and 11th, president 12th), marching band (9th, 10th, 12th), website designer for French Club, Kids Helping Kids, and Drama Club (11th and 12th; this takes a significant amount of time), National Honor Society (11th and 12th), Mu Alpha Theta (11th and 12th), French Honor Society (11th and 12th)
SUMMER STUDY: SPEC Camp (Southern Piedmont Education Consortium)
AWARDS: Rotary Scholar 9-12, Academic Achievement Award 9th and 11th </p>
<p>I'm taking SAT IIs in October (Math II, Lit, and French)
My schedule doesn't sound that strenuous when compared to other posts I've read, but we can only take 4 APs a year starting junior year</p>
<p>I forgot to add that I am most concerned about the ED as it relates to financial aid issue...I get butterflies in my stomach when I think about NYU and can't imagine myself anywhere else.</p>
<p>With your statistics, I think you should have relatively little problem getting into Gallatin.</p>
<p>From what I have seen, ED applicants get significantly more aid than other students. I have heard conflicting reports as well, but all of my ED friends are getting many thousands of dollars in grant money more than me every semester.</p>
<p>Just to assuage your worries a bit -- your stats are very, very similar to mine. We can take 4 APs starting junior year, I was in basically all that you were, and our test scores are really close. And I got in just this past year (given, it was CAS and you're going for Gallatin, but I just thought you'd like to hear a good indicator). =) Best of luck! (And as far as aid, sorry, but I can't help you much. I applied RD and got some moderate help, and I have heard some of the ED kids getting a heck of a lot more, but I definitely understand the financial worries. Good luck with all of that, too.)</p>
<p>If you're certain you want to go to NYU, apply Early. You are released from your agreement to attend if the financial aid package they offer is not sufficient, no strings attached!</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. jnr09, that does assuage my fears; thank you! The only thing keeping me from applying early decision now is that so many people have told me that it is best to "pit the colleges against each other." In other words, I should tell NYU what Columbia (my 2nd choice) offers me and see if they match it. Is this effective, or would I be wasting my time? It seems to me that a school like NYU (big, with many qualified applicants and notoriously bad need-based aid) wouldn't really care what another school offered me, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>"Thanks for the replies. jnr09, that does assuage my fears; thank you! The only thing keeping me from applying early decision now is that so many people have told me that it is best to "pit the colleges against each other." In other words, I should tell NYU what Columbia (my 2nd choice) offers me and see if they match it. Is this effective, or would I be wasting my time? It seems to me that a school like NYU (big, with many qualified applicants and notoriously bad need-based aid) wouldn't really care what another school offered me, but I could be wrong.
GoGetter is offline " </p>
<p>wasting your time, unless your a superstar going to a mediocre college, its one of those things that book publishers make up to give themselves something to write about... nyu has over 30k applicants, they really dont care. You can call and get an upgrade in aid by a few thousands possibly, but thats based on need, not what other colleges gives.</p>
<p>NYU gives financial aid preference to ED students, I believe its the only school in the country that does this.</p>