Do I have a decent chance of getting into NYU, if a chance at all?

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
1

Hi! My name is Emma and I’m a senior. I’m a 1st generation US Citizen (my parents both immigrated from Bulgaria). I am white, a female, and speak Bulgarian, Spanish and English fluently. Some more backstory. I go to a highly regarded all girls private boarding school in Washington state. In all honesty, I can only afford tuition because my dad has worked there as a personal trainer for 25 years- this gives us a good tuition discount and I have a merit scholarship on my own. I have attended since preschool.

I’m now a senior in high school and my dream college is NYU. I’d like to study Music Business there and eventually get a law degree after that. I guess you could say the goal is to be a music attorney. This summer, I went to the music business summer program at NYU and established some great connections with two teachers there- we are still in contact. They are actually going to be using a music video I made of time time there on the NYU website to recruit future MBus summer program kids.

OK, HERE’S WHERE I NEED YOUR INPUT!

I turned in my application two days ago and am now anxiously awaiting a decision… My stats are: 27 on the ACT, didn’t take the SAT. I have a 3.97 WEIGHTED GPA since I’m taking all IB classes and studying for a full IB Diploma. I have no idea what my unweighted GPA is (my school didn’t give it to me), but I would estimate it around a 3.4/3.5. I do tons of extracurriculars: choir, tennis, musical theatre, private voice/piano lessons, I lead the event planning committee at my school and am the senior leader of my choir and am team captain for varisty tennis. I am also on the Seattle Youth Advisory Board at EMP (a music museum in Seattle): I wrote my personal essay on the story about how I made the decision to sell my car to go to the NYU summer program, and wrote my ‘Why NYU’? Supplement on my experience at the summer program: how the teachers I met inspired me and my involvement with the school. Knowing what you do about admissions at NYU (or any school I suppose) through your own experience, do you think I have a good chance if any chance at all? I appreciate any answer you give me… Thank you so much!

Extra: I am also applying to: Syracuse University, Emerson College, University of Washington (Seattle), University of Puget Sound, California State-Los Angeles, and Pace University.

I have already applied to and gotten into: Belmont University (with a scholarship) and Washington State University.

Thanks again :)) I’ll keep you guys updated on my admission decisions as they roll in (accepted, denied, waitlisted…) I’d like to help future seniors like me as much as possible!

2

I think your EC’s look great. You’ve shown a real interest for NYU, one that you’ve proven by selling your car, and I’m sure they’ll notice that. Maybe to cross all your t’s and dot all your i’s ask the two professors you’re still in contact with to put in a good word for you? Still I would assume that you would be earning part of your degree from Tisch through the Clive Davis Institute, which I know is difficult to gain admission to. My neighbor is apart of the program and I’ve heard from her it is small. I myself am applying to Tisch (for film) and while I feel confident in my application I know it is best to assume the worst. I really do think your application looks stellar, but I would always lean to be cautionary.

3

Thank you so much! Best of luck to you :slight_smile:

4

Can you afford NYU? You want to establish this now, rather than after you are accepted.

5

^^seconding the suggestion above . . . make sure you can afford NYU. It is known for being extremely expensive and unforgiving when people can’t pay.

6

Yes, I can afford NYU. My parents pay for my high school education but I have extended family who will cover my college education. I am mainly focused on figuring out what my chances are of getting in right now.

7

You have a pretty solid chance, having already established a relationship with faculty that are connected to your program. The only thing that might be worrisome is the test score, but even then, a lot of schools are shifting their focus away from the numbers side of applications and trying to focus more on the person, so who knows? I wish you the best of luck!

8

Update: since my post, I have been accepted to Pace University-New York City with an $86,000 scholarship, and California State University- LA as well. All I have left to hear from is UW, NYU, Syracuse, Emerson and UPS.

9

Since February 3rd, I have heard back from UPS (University of Puget Sound) and Emerson college, both good news! I’m 6/6 right now. All I have left is UW, NYU and Syracuse.

10

I hope you get in! You have a lot of amazing EC’s and I personally think you have a great chance (’: Good luck

11

Another update: I got into Syracuse University and was waitlisted and University of Washington. I was notified last because they seemed to go back and forth on whether they should admit me or waitlist me, but for now I am waitlisted but my college counselor said he would be surprised if they didn’t admit me off the waitlist. I’ll see! All that’s left is the big one: NYU!