Do I have a chance in USC or NYU? Syracuse, The New School, Fordham?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hi! I’m in my senior year of high school in the Philippines. I took the old SAT twice last year, and gathered a total score of 1860 (superscored). I’m retaking the new one this October to see how high I’ll score. Additionally, I’m taking Math 1 and Chinese this November, and World History in December. I know some of my school’s alumna got accepted to NYU with a 1900 and USC with a 1940. My grades are at an average mostly B+'s and a couple of As, though my calculated unweighted GPA is 3.3 (my school doesn’t give it out - I just estimated based on average).

I have stellar extra-curriculars (some with leadership positions), and I think I can write a pretty good essay.

For USC, I’m planning to apply to Annenberg for Communication. I’m getting my G9/10 English teacher to write me a recommendation letter, and my Trojan internship boss to write me one as well.

For NYU, I’m getting my favorite Social Studies Teacher to write my recommendation letter. I’m applying to NYU Steinhardt for Media Culture Communication, and I am going ED for NYU.

If I do miraculously get accepted in both, I have no choice to go to NYU due to the ED binding agreement. If my SAT score this October turns out to be quite high, I might consider going RD for NYU instead so I have a shot for USC.

The other colleges I’m applying to are Syracuse, The New School (Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts), and Fordham. These are schools I’m sure I can pass, and if I don’t get in NYU or USC, I’m considering applying as a transfer. If I do apply to be a transfer to USC or NYU, but I don’t end up passing, will my current university still accept me as a student for the following year?

Since USC is kind of my top school (slightly above NYU), if I don’t pass both, do you think I should apply to a community college in California then transfer to USC since they have a large percentage of accepted transfers there? Or is it fine if I transfer from Syracuse, Lang, or Fordham?

Sorry for this long post. Hoping to see some replies!

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1900 scoring applicant admitted to NYU and 1940 scoring applicant admitted to USC? To be perfectly clear, were those students top students in your school? Perhaps their acceptances happened a long time ago, when getting accepted was much simpler? Think about other reasons why they got in because maybe their ECAs and GPAs were good. If you can supply more information about those alumna, then please do, so posters on CC can understand your situation better (since you are not a US student). I myself have difficulty understanding your situation.

How did you “estimate” your GPA? How exactly does your school grade its students? Is it not on a 4.0 or 5.0 scale? Have you not tried calculating it on GPA calculators online?

As for your SAT, it’s not that high. Are you taking new SAT practice tests? If so, how are you scoring on them so far? If not, you can take some online. Same goes for your subject tests, how are you on those? The thing is, many colleges and universities in the recent years have less and less been focusing on subject tests—they still do of course, but not so much anymore. I would suggest you to take the ACT, some students do better on those.

What are those ECAs? Are they just random ones or are they activities you really spend a lot of your time on, because more often than not, colleges and universities can tell the difference between the two.

Realistically speaking, Syracuse, Langham, and Fordham are not 100% safeties for you. They’re more of matches. Your scores and GPA are below the 75% rank, meaning they aren’t safeties. You have good chances at those schools, but I recommend you to get actual safety schools.

Since your GPA isn’t high, your score could maybe compensate for it. However, with an 1860, that situation can’t really apply. USC likes high scoring applicants especially—its average SAT score is 2075. For USC average GPA, its a 3.73. If your score were around a 2100, then you would be a much more competitive applicant. As for NYU, its average GPA is 3.7. If your score were a 2000, which is its average SAT score, then I would see you having a better chance.

Yes, you can do that. It’s difficult to transfer because it’s really competitive, but many people choose to do that if they don’t get in. You can apply to CSUs as well, if you’re really keen on studying in the state of California. You can try LMU if you don’t want a CSU or CC and prefer a better known university. It may possibly be a match.

Good luck.

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I’m going to give you a concise response. NYU is going to be a reach school for you. An 1860 SAT is good, but it’s still below NYU’s average of 2015. However, people with 1800s get into NYU every year, so it’s possible that you can get in.