Alright, so I am a junior currently going through the whole application process. My dad is banker, which means that I am continually changing schools and countries. The school that I am in right now is excellent, and I am a straight-A student. However, in my previous school, I had some problems. The constant movement mentally deteriorated me in addition to this, my mother was sick, and she was in the hospital a lot of the time, and I was left wondering if she would come out alive. As a result, my grades were not good. Now, I have a 3.85 unweighted GPA, but I am taking lower grade classes to graduate. Next year I will be taking five AP courses. In addition to this, my SAT score was a mediocre 1080 because I did not learn math I needed to take the test in the other school because it was a small school. To put it into perspective, it was in Malta, and I did not know what a GPA or SAT or IB/AP program was until about a few months ago. However, I will be retaking the SAT. I want an opinion, will I be able to make it into NYU? (I will be explaining my situation in the additional section of my application). Will, all of the dilemma count significantly against me or at all? Thank you.
Here is the class profile for NYU. https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/nyu-facts.html
A 1080 SAT score is too low for NYU. Do SAT prep on Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat
The best way to improve is to take the full-length, timed practice tests, and then concentrate your test prep on the problems you missed. They have a total of eight practice exams, with numbers 5-8 being actual former SAT tests. If you will have time for a second retake, then save the last two practice exams for the second retake.
Here is the CB BigFuture page for NYU: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/new-york-university
Click “Applying” and then look over the “What’s Important”, “Academics & GPA” (scroll down) and “SAT & ACT Scores” tabs. Are you in the US now? What state? NYU is likely a reach school for you, so you will want to identify match and safety schools, most likely state universities in your home state.
I have just started a program by prepscholar and I have 3 months until my next test, also I did not study for my previous SAT test, it was more of a bench mark for me, I did add some community colleges onto my list just to make sure. However I really want to know your opinion on how a college administrator may look into my special circumstances if you have that type of knowledge.
Many people have reasons for poor SAT scores. They are rarely a sufficient excuse.
Are you a US applicant or an international applicant?
What are your parents truly ready, willing, and able to pay for your education?
Why do you think you want to apply to NYU?
Moving a lot won’t score you a break. Too many students move frequently. My lot moved so often that none of them finished a level- primary / middle / secondary - on the same continent, never mind the same country or city- definitely no break was given! (one of them had grades 6, 7, and 8 all in different countries- we still feel badly about that…). We asked at some admissions events about students who have moved a lot and the only response was ‘it might make for a good essay’.
Also, too many students have family crises (spend a little time on CC- you’ll see every kind of family crisis). I get the unfairness, but there it is.
A 3.85 UW GPA is plenty strong enough in and of itself. It’s the 1080 SAT that’s the killer. Math is a tricky subject when you are moving a lot- miss just a small element b/c the teaching is in a different order and it can really come back to bite you (I have seen it happen to a lot of expat kids). But: there are ways to make that up. Get some tutoring if necessary.
Thank you very much! I also want to clarify that I did not just move around 1 country I moved several countries, several school systems and several houses but I will be including that in my essay. I just hope that the administration will somewhat understand
@MarMarBunny02 You need to update your story to conform to the helpful “overcoming adversity” model, not to the current and unhelpful “adversity that I did not overcome” tale of your OP. From what you say, it sounds like you have time to improve your SAT score. Good luck!
Will do thank you!
I understood that- that was our situation as well. Multiple languages, the whole deal.
But hope is not a plan.
Your challenge is not grades, it’s standardized tests, and by your account it is in the maths section. All of the maths section is at a level that you should have covered by now- no matter what countries you were in or how small the schools were. So if you are still that behind in math, get some help and make it up. An SAT score in the bottom 10% of accepted students is not going to be made up for with an essay about how you had to move a lot. I promise you: there are thousands of students writing that essay who have good SATs anyway.
IF you write about moving a lot, be sure that you bing it to some conclusion, some larger point, about who you are and how you are choosing to shape your life. Just telling the story won’t be enough.
Doesn’t Malta use the British system of O-Levels and A-Levels? It seems like their high schoolers would have some idea about what it takes to get into college.
I’m sorry about your mom. I hope things are more settled now. I think colleges may excuse a dip in GPA, but I don’t think they’ll ignore a low test score. I think test scores are used to determine college readiness and scores that are well below their cut off may be a red flag. They want their students to succeed. Study for it and do your best.
Can your family afford NYU? Their aid is usually pretty terrible.
I have o-levels in many about 7 subjects but I was never thinking about college as I already knew we were moving and changing to the American system meaning two more years of high school. Also, yes we can afford NYU.
Thanks for the tips, I have about 3 months before my next SATand I promised myself to study everyday for 2 hours until then, I know in myself because I am a hard worker that I can get a great score, it’s the grades that I cannot change that scare me because I know they dont reflect my academic abilities. I mean theres a reason I had a 30% in drama in my old school and now I have a 95% in IB Theater, there must be some growth there you know what I mean? My GROWTH is something I want to share not how my experiences brought me down.
Have you checked the GPA range in NYU’s common data set? I didn’t realize 3.85 might be low.
My GPA is above their standards they have an average of 3.7 last year it was 3.66 I believe. My GPA is a 3.85 unweighted.
If your GPA is above their average why are you worried about it?
In your first post you say your gpa “now” is 3.85 unweighted. What is the cumulative? That’s the one you’ll need to compare to NYU’s admit stats. And you mention “lower grade” classes - this might disadvantage you. NYU will look at the rigor of your curriculum in judging your gpa.
Also, make sure you understand their test-flexible policy. You may be able to use one of a number of other standardized test forms that they will look at in lieu of SAT, that will show you in a better light. https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/standardized-tests.html
Because that is the GPA that is going to be sent to NYU, they will not be sending the GPA from my other schools where I did badly because GPA does not exist in that school, they will just send my transcript.
NYU will recalculate your GPA. Have you done that to see what your cumulative GPA actually is?