<p>I submitted my RD application to both NYU Stern and Wharton UPenn about two weeks ago and was wondering whether you guys think I have a chance of getting in.</p>
<p>--</p>
<p>Race: White</p>
<p>Nationality: Italian</p>
<p>GPA: AABBC in As Levels (I live in Europe and study at an international school.)</p>
<p>My SAT’s are low, I admit, but I have good grades in my report in the European system of education which is harder and a year ahead when compared to the American one. Do you still think I have low chances? I mean, NYU admits 32% of it’s applicants – honest answers plz</p>
<p>I am also planning to pay for the full tuition (including housing) myself, without applying for financial aid. Will this increase my chances? or does it not make any difference?</p>
<p>I am not aware of European system so I can’t really give you an objective answer about that, but there will be international applicants who have 2200+ SATs. </p>
<p>NYU’s admission rate is not that low in general, but when it comes to Stern, it’s completely different. Stern probably has like a 15% admission rate.</p>
<p>Stern and Wharton seem to be reach schools with your stats. I would also look at UVA, UMich, Georgia Tech, BU. All have fantastic business programs. </p>
<p>Also, how many recommendations do you have?! A lot of school specifically say they do not want supplemental recs. I would be careful of that…</p>
<p>Advice: Retake the SATs. Additonally, be less abrasive. Doremi144 is just trying to help you and is quite accurate in his/her evaluation on your chances. And actually on second thought, I think your comment to doremi144 was a joke? Disregard my second comment if your address to doremi was jesting in nature.</p>
<p>At the moment Wharton is impossible. Wharton is not just Ivy level, it is arguably the best business school in the world. Your current listed credentials are not nearly substantial enough to be considered there. Stern is not nearly as competitive as Wharton but is nevertheless one of the top business schools. Beyond your internships, everything you listed is sub-par. If anything, the fact that you will pay in full with no aid is the one of the only positive factors (I also like your internships) for NYU. Raise your SAT to 2100+, then you have probably a 40% shot at Stern. Wharton is still impossible.</p>
<p>Here is the thing though… I can’t take the SAT again because I would be submitting my scores after the january 1st deadline, I just took subject tests in US History and English Literature yesterday but wasn’t very convinced of the result…</p>
<p>I visited NYU this summer and got to meet some of the students there, even junior and senior years and was shocked by their ignorance. Many of them didn’t even know what things like inflation caps, credit default swaps or derivatives were which is really frightening. I applied thinking it would be an easy choice and now I hear that it’s one of the top business schools in the world??!? lol - Is there any way of me increasing my chances other than the stupid SAT? - Students in America practice this test since they get into 1st grade, in Europe, I only had time to study for like one week, does NYU take this into account?</p>
<p>Hmm, that is a problem. Well I think the only thing you can do now then is apply to another school before the January 1 deadline. (That is, if you really have your heart set on going to an American business school) Some schools you should look at that have great undergrad business schools but are by no means a shoe-in are: University of Texas at Austin (ranked 6 by US News - NYU is 5), University of Maryland - College Park (ranked 16), and University of Indiana - Bloomington (ranked 9). Those are all still reaches though. Some easier schools (but still great business programs) would be Purdue University, University of Georgia, and Texas A&M. </p>
<p>The thing about the American education system is that it’s very broad but not deep. Many Business undergrads have never taken a class to prep for the business world beyond honors, regular, or a select few: AP and IB economics classes. Although, I’m nearly 100% sure all Stern undergrads know about derivatives ;P. </p>
<p>I’m actually really empathetic with your SAT dilemma. Although, it is definitely not true that Americans have been preparing for the test since the 1st grade - we still definitely do have a head up on international applicants. A month ago, I had to take the HAT entrance exam for Oxford in England and felt that I had the same disadvantage. Additionally, I have an interview next week and have really no idea what to expect. Meanwhile my British competitors are having multiple mock-interviews with their tutors. But the sad answer to your question is, probably not. The thing is, NYU will have many international applicants and many of those will have very high SAT scores. However, if you applied to a school like Texas A&M or Purdue, where their international applicant rate is low. They probably will disregard your low SATs in the stead of the diversity you will add to their campus. NYU has no dearth of international applicants and thus will probably not go easy on you. I strongly suggest applying to some other schools.</p>
<p>dasvergnini, I think you’re internships do significantly help your application. I do understand that their is an advantage American students get with the SAT, however, most colleges will expect international students to study even more to compensate for their disadvantage and not use it as an excuse. In no way am I trying to be mean, I’m just trying to give my honest opinion. </p>
<p>The difficult thing with applying to colleges is that scores are pretty large factors in their decision. I’m not sure how colleges will see your situation being an international applicant, but they might not be able to see the knowledge you do have from your scores. </p>
<p>But on a more hopeful note, college decisions are rather random. A school might seem out of reach for one student, but he or she might get in while another student who thought it was a match school could end up being rejected. I would look into UMich though, it’s right behind wharton and ahead of stern. Apparently UVA has also dethroned Wharton from it’s number 1 status so maybe look into that as well. However, these two schools are very competitive. </p>
<p>Your response to doremi144 was also uncalled for. I think that person was simply trying to give on an objective opinion to help your understanding of your college chances.</p>
<p>Wharton and NYU Stern are difficult for anyone. I am vaguely familiar with the European system and you do have good grades. Your internships and finances might help, but I would still say its a reach.</p>
<p>I would agree with raychai- your response to doremi was rather cruel. If there is anything that helps with chance threads, it is kindness. </p>
<p>Best of luck with everything.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity are you applying to any schools in the UK like LSE or UCL?</p>
<p>Why is everyone on the board being so damn nice? 1130/1600 and 1760/2400 SAT scores. 3.2 GPA unweighted (if it’s weighted, then you’re even more screwed)
I’m sorry. but my honest opinion is that you won’t even be able to get into either NYU or UPenn main, let alone Stern or Wharton. Please don’t take offense, that’s the honest truth. NYU Stern is an amazing school, and Wharton is arguably the best buisness school in the WORLD. 3.2 is waaaay too low of a GPA to even be considered; once again, these are easily two of America’s best schools. Your SAT’s are also very low. You should be looking at state schools with those scores. (SUNY and CUNY schools). Students who go to Stonybrook and Binghamton on average have higher scores than you. Basically, you have a 0% chance of getting in. Ivies like UPENN have GPA and SAT cuts for general admission. Basically, if your grades aren’t high enough, they don’t even look at the rest of your transcript. You are international, which is great, but look at it this way. I’m an asian american in PA, and I have a 3.85 unweighted gpa, 4.05 weighted, 800 math, 660 reading, 690 writing SAT score, and I know for a fact I could never get into Wharton, and I would have a very very slim chance at Stern. There are THOUSANDS of international students who have gotten nothing but A’s in top schools and come to the US and get perfect SAT scores. Email these schools and ask for the trends in SAT scores for international students that are accepted.I know the Wharton’s average SAT for these students is around 2300. Sorry to rain on your parade, but it’s just not happening. There is no way two of the top buisness schools in the world will accept someone with a 560/800 math SAT score. Not sure if this is reliable, but my friend who attends UPENN told me that around 65% of accepted applicants at Wharton have 800’s in the math section of the SAT.</p>
<p>I’m sure I’m going to get torn apart with angry comments such as, “Oh, you;re so mean” but it’s the truth. It’s unfortunate that American schools place so much emphasis on GPA and SAT’s.</p>
<p>There is a difference between telling the truth or not sugarcoating things and being rude and/or mean. Your comment was more or less true, however the way you said it probably was pretty painful for the OP and made yourself look like another spiteful high school kid (which you may or may not be) who is venting our his/her feelings online. As you can probably see I don’t post much on CC but your post in general really stirred some sentiment in me. CC has, so far, been a wonderful experience for me with people really trying to help one another out. Your comments were unnecessarily harsh and much of it could have been completely avoided. Please, for CC’s as well as your sake refrain from such posts. </p>
<p>To the OP</p>
<p>Though I disagree with the way hconghoops attempted to convey his/her message, I do not disagree with much of what was said in regard to your grades/testing. However, I have heard that the European grading system is more than significantly harder than the American system. As a result your converted 3.2 GPA may be valued MUCH higher than an American 3.2 GPA. Your SAT scores are on the low side and there really isnt anyway to beat around that. On the whole, I must agree that your chances are low. Don’t lose hope, I have heard of others who have been accepted to schools of this caliber with worse statistics than yours. Good Luck.</p>
<p>@ supakew I guess I was being very “blunt” with my comments, but I did not utilize any statistics or rhetoric for means other than to deliver an honest answer. Trust me, if he were a student talking about a good college like UVA or Michigan for example, I would be much more open minded. We’re talking about Wharton here. It doesn’t matter how good your EC’s or essays are if you aren’t “there” academically. So I apologize for the malicious comment, but I stand by what I said. The above posts, that included comments such as “I give you about a 10% chance to get into Wharton” is ridiculous. I would much rather be honest. I dug up my old email conversation with a lady at admissions for UPENN, and she confirmed most of what I said. For example, Wharton literally REQUIRES that you have taken the most challenging math courses avaliable to you. (AP Calc BC by senior year for most US kids) Seeing as the European eduation system is different, Wharton looks towards the SAT and subject tests to adjust for the differences. The nice lady at admissions told me that above 85% of applicants have SAT scores about 2150 (my score). Like I said, it’s unfortunate that American schools place so much emphasis on SAT scores, but they do. </p>
<p>A 3.2 GPA European is generally valued more than an American 3.2, but it doesn’t matter, because there are thousands of international students from Europe who have perfect 4.0 GPA’s and get denied from Wharton. Once again, sorry for being so upfront, but we’re talking about the best buisness school in the world, which makes the asker’s question completely unrealistic.</p>