<p>NYU is my dream school and I've spent a lot of time on its application. I'm doing Early Admission I (meaning it's due November 1st). I've given my essays to quite a few people and none of them have gotten back to me yet, I'm worried if I submit them as is, it'll be detrimental. So if someone could critic the two essays I'm doing, that'd be great. Please just PM me.
Another thing is, I'd like to be chanced by the public. So please let me know what you think.</p>
<p>I plan on being an English major because I want to go into publications and be an editor at a major (or alternative, doesn't matter) magazine or newspaper. I'd get a Journalism degree but I've heard it's useless. And Communications seems so boring to me.</p>
<p>High School Type: Public, a little competitive in the top 10%, below that nobody cares.</p>
<p>My classes - I'm giving what grade I'm pretty sure I made because my school district no longer shows me my old grades.</p>
<p>9th Grade
Pre-AP English I: A
Pre-AP Algebra II (I took Pre-AP Algebra 1 in eighth grade): B
Pre-AP Biology: A
Pre-AP World Geography: A
Journalism/Newspaper: A
Speech: A - (1st Semester)
Intro to Debate (I know, waste of time, but I thought that's where I was headed): A - (2nd Semester)
Spanish I: A</p>
<p>10th Grade
Pre-AP English II: A
Pre-AP Geometry: B
Pre-AP Chemistry: B
AP World History: B - Exam grade: 3
Journalism/Newspaper: A
Spanish II: A
Debate: A
Dual Credit Psychology class (Pre-requisite to other dual classes, which I never really took): A - (2nd Semester)</p>
<p>11th Grade
AP English Language and Composition: A - Exam grade: 4
Pre-AP Pre-Calculus: C
Pre-AP Physics: B
AP US History: B - Exam grade: 3
Journalism/Newspaper: A
P.E.: A
Problems and Solutions (Career Choice class, another waste of time - I have a crappy counselor): A</p>
<p>12th Grade - current grade (only two-thirds through the first semester)
AP English Literature an Composition: A
AP Calculus: C
AP Biology: A
AP US Government: A
AP Economics: Haven't taken it yet, I'll probably hold a high B.
Journalism/Newspaper: A
Pre-AP Spanish III: A
Art History (PLATO, online course): current F because I haven't had time to start, will be an A soon.</p>
<p>PSAT: I do not remember.
SAT: I took it three times. The first time was in January 2013 - composite: 1740 (R: 620, M: 530, W: 590), second in May 2013 - composite: 1760 (R: 610, M: 530 (UGH), W: 620) and third in October 2013 - I'll find out on the 24th (I hope it's better, I really don't know).</p>
<p>Extra: I was a section editor on my school paper for three years (end of 9th grade to 11th grade). I am now editor-in-chief of the paper.
I am a class officer of our senior class - Historian.
I am an officer of our NHS chapter - Historian/Parliamentarian.
I am a chairman (not quite an officer) of a section in our Student Council.
I'm not sure the total number of hours I have volunteered just yet, but combined with Student Council, NHS and my own separate work - I'm sure it's over sixty.
My GPA is currently a 3.5.
I am 32 out of 400 students in my class. (Top 8% exactly.)</p>
<p>Background: I am an African-American female. My mother got her associates degree at a community college, so I'm not a first generation student. And my brother went to LSU but transferred to a religious college and then kinda/sorta dropped out. I live in Texas. I don't currently have any awards. :/ My family isn't well off and I'm depending on aid to help me through school. I take a few odd jobs a year - seasonal stuff - to help out when times are super hard but I can't keep one up for a long time because of my involvement and grades.</p>
<p>I feel like a very basic student and I've done all I can to remain impressive. My counselor doesn't really care because she focuses on students who already seem to have everything on lock. I wish I could go back in time and take the proper classes so that I'm not rushing to finish the right way but what's done is done.</p>
<p><em>If I don't get in, I plan on submitting my applications to Amherst, Wellesley, USC, UT, and Texas A&M. Feel free to chance me on the first three as well because I know I can get into UT and A&M. It's just NYU is most important right now.</em></p>