George Washington and NYU

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

GPA: 3.56
ACT Composite: 30
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female

Majors: Economics and Spanish
Minor: Russian

APHUG: 4
AP Spanish: 3
APLC: IP
AP STATS: IP

I’ve taken four AP classes, 3 honors classes, and two dual-credit (through a community college) classes. I also have a language credit from the Concordia Language Villages (summer foreign language camp).
EC: Competitive All-Star cheerleading, varsity cheerleading, show choir, jazz choir, golf, bowling, and I work two part-time jobs currently. I also attended the Russian language village of Concordia for seven years as a camper, participating in the high school credit program, and I have worked there for the last three years. I am an NHS member, and I also volunteer at the local humane society.

My first essay is very strong, at 650 words. My second essay is only 350, given the 1,000 word limit, but it is also written fairly well. Please let me know if I have ANY chance at these schools, because I don’t think I can wait 6 more months to find out!

2

ACT is on point, slightly above average. The EC’s and work experience should make up for the lower GPA. Yes you have a chance. Are you applying for aid?

3

Act is below-the-line for both. GPA is on the low-end. EC’s not memorable. I’d say no on both.

4

@soze
“The average ACT score composite at George Washington University is a 29. The 25th percentile ACT score is 27, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 31. In other words, a 27 places you below average, while a 31 will move you up to above average.”
“The average ACT score composite at NYU is a 30. The 25th percentile ACT score is 28, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 32. In other words, a 28 places you below average, while a 32 will move you up to above average.”

5

Those stats include hooked candidates, which the OP does not appear to be.
The stats for unhooked candidates are much higher.

6

What where the honors and duel enrollment courses that you took?, you may want focus more on social science
based classes that fall in line with your major. The GPA may need some work, yet the ACT score should be made up with your EC

7

@cappex yes I am!

8

@matthew1290 the honors were English both fresh and soph year, and Biology. Dual credits were Intro to BUS102, and two Spanish classes. I took AP Spanish as a junior, so the dual-enrollment is the next level up.

9

@soze so if I am above 50% but below 75% and i do not have a hook, good EC’s and a good essay, then chances are not high, but average?

10

I’d say that’s about right.
If you factor out all the hooked applicants and all the ED applicants the number of spots for unhooked, RD applicants is a fraction of the total.So if you’re between the 50-75th percentile for admitted applicants and you’re unhooked I’d say your chances are not great.
P.S. EC’s matter a bit. Essays matter almost nothing except in a few rare cases.

11

@soze Okay, I am retaking ACT in december. So basically ACT and GPA are end all be all, and if they are on point/off that is the main concern?

12

They are not “the end all and be” but they are far and away the two of the three most important factors (the third is hooks). ECs add a bit of color to the application and essays are in almost all cases meaningless. You’re GPA is not bad but it’s not top-tier either and your ACT score basically “confirms” your GPA.

You might get into one or both of these schools, but I think they are long shots.