Can someone with a low GPA (3.3), amazing letters of recommendation, great essay, astronomical SAT and SAT II scores, various extra curricular activities; and participated in an exchange program; get into either NYU, BU, or UF. I’m a white male from a private school in NYC interested in Journalism; if it helps.
P.S. I am the editor in chief of three of my school’s publications, have lobbied to Washington D.C. and interned at a local newspaper over the summer.
I’m not sure about NYU, as they have pretty stringent admissions standards, though anything is possible. Though, if you want to study journalism, while NYU is hardly bad… it’s a major vs. an entire department/ranked school, ala BU. So other schools may be better for you anyway. Are you looking at Syracuse? Mizzou?
People with lower GPAs do get into UF (as low as 2.4 GPA on the low end), so I’d say you have a shot with a strong application package, re: essays, etc.
For BU, your GPA will make it tough BUT stellar essays, ECs & recommendations, specifically applying to JO/COM, you would have a shot. I know COM considers its JO applicants very much holistically–your essays/JO background/interest/potential matter. I think if you can show course rigor & an upward trend in your grades + really good essays/focus on journalism in your application, that you have a shot at BU.
Are you also looking for match/safety schools with good journalism programs? If so, I could rattle off a few.
Only if they are a four star, 300+ lb, offensive tackle.
From the Common Data Set:
You can get into UF.
UF uses a holistic admissions. 50% is based on GPA (most important), Class Rigor, Essay and Test scores (least important). The other 50% is based on ECs, leadership, etc.
UF uses a weighted GPA, with +0.5 points for honor classes, and +1.0 points for AP/DE/IB/AICE classes, so a B in AP US History is worth 5.0 points.
If your weighted GPA is closer to is around 3.7 or better, UF can be viewed as a high match/low reach school. If not, it’s more likely a low reach. (if your weighted GPA is closer to a 4.0, you can view it as a match)
UF does not consider recommendations or SAT 2 scores. However, like I said, they would love your EC’s.
Good Luck!