<p>That 3.5 GPA is going to be a problem at a lot of schools mentioned here, unless your school has a lot of grade deflation and your class rank is high. If you’re feeling that NYU is reachy and you’re looking for something similar, I’d suggest Boston University: large, urban, private, secular, well-known brand, pretty good academics, Northeast Corridor. Admit rate is 54%, average HS GPA of enrolled freshman is 3.5, and your SAT scores put you into the top quartile of the entering class. Financial aid could be a problem at either NYU or BU, however, as neither meets full financial need.</p>