<p>The time is getting near when decisions come and I am nervous to the extreme between NYU and Fordham, my top 2 choices. My GPA weighted is a 4.0 and unweighted it is 3.66667. On collegeboard the stats show a decent amt. of students get in with that range but my SAT is a 1540 and that is a big problem. It isn't like I did not take it a second time either, 1st time I scored a 1510. I am jsut overall a bad test-taker. </p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>What’s the breakdown of your SAT? That may make a difference, but it still is a lot below NYU’s standards. What did the rest of your application look like? (Courseload, ec’s, essays, recommendations, etc.)</p>
<p>more possible then it would be to get in with a lower gpa and a high SAT. your scenario shows that you work hard but you may not be the best test taker. the other way around shows that you are a good test taker, but you didn’t work so hard in high school. I think it really depends though, so just wait a few weeks and see, there’s nothing else we can do!</p>
<p>good luck :)</p>
<p>The Good - I think it depends what school within NYU you applied to. If you demonstrated passion than hopefully that will shine above your stats. Also high GPA, low SATs at least means you applied yourself over the long term. A high SAT w/ a low GPA means: “Hey, look at me, I rocked at academics for 5 hours one saturday morning!” lol. </p>
<p>The Bad - omg 1540 :(</p>
<p>I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here, just to give collegebound1493 another perspective:</p>
<p>Ultimately, SATs and ACTs will count more in college admissions than GPA. Why? Because unless you’re going to a school like Philips Exeter or Andover, it’s pretty hard to compare high schools. For example, how do you know that an A in one school requires the same talent and/or effort as an A in another school? The answer is that you can’t know. With the SAT and ACT, however, there is no question of comparison: everybody takes basically the same exact test. The same skills are tested with the same difficulty level. There’s no ambiguity whatsoever. A higher score indicates more talent, more preparation, or both.</p>
<p>With this in mind, when you’re compared against all the other applicants’ test scores, how can a college admissions counselor justify admitting your 1540 against someone else’s 2100 assuming both of you have similar GPAs, ECs, courseloads, etc.? Unless you have extraordinary life circumstances and/or are a URM, they won’t. It’s just not fair.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to bash you, but I think that it’s important that you get the other side of the coin.</p>
<p>That’s a really good point anapestic that I haven’t considered in my own college application process. I never really thought of it this way, but in a way I know some high school are a lot more difficult then mine and some are way easier.</p>
<p>Besides what Anapestic pointed out, the reality is there are many more candidates NYU can accept with both high/ in the range GPAs along with SAT Is at least in the 1800+ range. Even those are not guaranteed admission because the field is so competitive.</p>
<p>If I could have counseled you, I would have urged you to work on much better standardized scores either by studying and taking the SAT Is again (yes, yet again, but with preparation and help by others), go for ACT, (which some find easier and more related to school work), take AP exams (even self-study for them if you have not taken AP courses), or study for the SAT IIs (choose and focus on topics you are generally more comfortable with). </p>
<p>In your case, it would have been worthwhile to have taken a preparation course in any of these standardized tests to allow yourself to be more competitive for application to a Tier I university. I strongly believe preparation courses and tutors do help to increase scores if the student is also diligent.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it is too late to do what I recommend in your case.</p>
<p>Your best bet would be LSP (and even that I am not sure, sorry, because the SAT Is are way low 
). Students do hear from LSP through March, according to LondonB.</p>
<p>GL. Maybe something else in your application will stand out, if they have not weeded you out based on the SAT I scores. :(</p>
<p>Also, I want to ask OP. You are obviously not a bad test-taker if you have been able to obtain the GPA you obtained. Unless your High School does not give exams but grades based purely on writing, which would be highly unusual.</p>
<p>It may be that your test taking abilities are only compromised in SAT I type tests. In reality, I think your study skills will likely predict your college grades if you have good study skills and discipline when it comes to academic work. So keep this bigger picture in mind.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for the replies! And Anapestic, that really is a good point that you made and makes a lot of sense. A part of me is saying NYU just isn’t going to happen and think more on Fordham (which I feel also feel strongly about) but I don’t know. I did work hard all 4 yrs. of high school, and my school isn’t easy or anything but also not as tough as the best in the country. However, it is a public school and has a great reputation for being one of the best in the state of NC. </p>
<p>Also, someone asked for my other credentials. I posted a thread last month about this so I just went and copied here, sorry it is long! </p>
<p>Class rank on the transcript sent says 89 of 269, but I checked tonight it went down to 93. </p>
<p>Freshman yr.
Algebra 1: 90
Chinese 1: 94
Chinese 2: 95
Comp. Apps 1: 94
Earth science: 89
P.E.: 100
Honors English 1: 90
Honors World history: 96</p>
<p>Sophomore
Honors chinese 3: 94
Comp. Apps 2: 97
Geometry: 89
Honors English 2: 91
Algebra 2: 91
French 1: 97
Honors Biology: 89
Honors Civics/Economics: 94</p>
<p>Junior:
Adv. functions: 98
Forensic science: 93
French 2: 93
Honors US history: 93
Chemistry 1: 89
Mythology: 98
Honors English 3: 95
Marketing: 98</p>
<p>Senior
Discrete math: 95
English 4: 96
Honors Marine science: 90
Principles of business: 98
AP World history: (The new semester started, dont have a score yet but I know ill make at least a B, could be an A)
Career management: (I know ill make an A)
AP Gov and politics: (Same deal with AP world history)
Honors Global awareness: (Pretty positive I can earn an A) </p>
<p>For extracurriculars/clubs
Track (sophomore yr)
International club (senior)
Biology club (sophomore)
Chinese club (freshman/soph. yr)
I went on a P2P student ambassador trip to Australia right before high school started and mentioned that in my essay </p>
<p>Lastly, I live in the south (originally from NY) and the high school I am in now has a reputation of being one of the best public schools in the state, if that matters. I also am African american, I am not relying on that of course but people say it makes a tad difference.</p>
<p>Sorry to be the hope killer,
but unless you’re applying to Tisch and have an amazing portfolio, your SAT is just too low for NYU. An 1800 is low for NYU, so a 1540 even for LSP is low, considering those who score in the 1800 range are usually put into LSP.</p>
<p>Sorry I am asking so many questions and asking so much, I am just so anxious like so many other prospective students. If anyone quickly, not even a whole sentence could quickly mention how you think Fordham would be for me that would be greatly appreciated. </p>
<p>When I go on forums and such where people who mention if they were accepted/deferred and what their stats were, I not once see one with an SAT score less than 1800 and feel as if all hope is gone :/. </p>
<p>Evolving, you’re right I guess I am not as bad a test taker as I think. My school does give plenty of tests in my classes, but for those I feel I did better on because I knew exactly what to study. The SAT, I will be honest didn’t know how to prepare exactly and I didn’t take a class. I did purchase the practice book but in retrospect I think what killed me was that I answered too many questions and since you lose more points if you get it wrong compared to leaving it blank that went bad.</p>
<p>collegebound,</p>
<p>You are one of the people the SAT system is unfair towards. Sounds like you really did not receive any tips on SAT test basics, like maybe time management, also how to skim and choose questions that you are more comfortable with, answer those and move on if there are questions that are too difficult. Then come back to the difficult ones if you have time and decide if you will be taking a good enough guess to warrant answering the question, fill out the answer (if you think your guess is pretty good) or leave blank if you really have no clue at all with any of the choices.</p>
<p>I know kids who study The SAT all summer in a paid course to go over drills, information, test-taking skills, etc. They start studying as soon as the school term ends, 7 days a week, from 9 AM to 11 PM, through July 4th, etc. This is why the SATs have had their critics.</p>
<p>You really seem to be a very hard worker and very conscientious. Because of that, I want to personally congratulate you on what you have brought to high school work, separate from the “judgment” of Admission committee members. You do have some very important qualities to be a very successful person. Please keep this in mind. I want to remind you, more so than some other students, that the college does not make you who you are. You are a worthwhile and successful person no matter the college decision. Please heed my words and take them with you, wherever you go.</p>
<p>Also, regarding Fordham University, a colleague’s son went there and really thrived. The father was very happy and proud in describing his son’s positive experience there. My colleague is a highly talented professor and professional social worker (making a very, very good living though he works long hours). The son must be quite intelligent too to have a father like him.</p>
<p>By the way, I am a retired professor of BSW and MSW students and I have spent years reading student applications to our BSW and MSW programs. I do wish you the best.</p>
<p>Let’s look at why you might get in:</p>
<p>-Excellent grades, doesn’t seem you’ve done badly in any one course
-Minority status (which believe it or not could get you over the hump)</p>
<p>And now why you might not get in (aside from SAT’s):</p>
<p>-average class rank, it seems you’re only in the top third of the class
-weak extracurriculars</p>
<p>All in all, this is gonna be tough. Hopefully you wrote a great essay and really did a good job writing it because believe it or not the essay is a HUGE factor. You haven’t really helped your cause with the extracurriculars. The main thing, but most important factor you have for you is the GRADES, which is good. I think you’ve figured this out by now: your SAT isn’t very strong. As someone above pointed out, you would be a great candidate for LSP although I’m not sure if they started sending LSP decisions already. Best of Luck! Seems like you were one of those typical people who every year have their applications tainted because of the SAT. Don’t worry about it. Wherever you end up the SAT doesn’t decide how successful or how good a student you are. You do have the grades to back it up. You’ll do well at whatever college, no matter if it isn’t NYU.</p>
<p>I really wish you could retake the SAT in time for decisions, collegebound1493. That would help your application big time.</p>
<p>I’m sure people with those test scores get in but it is probably rare so just have back up schools because it would be a stretch. Good luck! I bet you’ll be happy wherever you go :)</p>
<p>as for the SAT’s, I didn’t do any prep and luckily got a good score the first time I took it, but when I took the ACT I was so bored with the science section, I didn’t even do it (I got a 25 without the science section so I wish I’d just suffered through it b/c I could’ve had a killer ACT score)…I can see how these tests can be unfair b/c if you don’t like timed tests (I don’t at all!!) or long boring sections (ACT) then you won’t do as well…I wish I’d done SAT prep and tried harder on the ACT…and tried harder in high school (till Senior yr it didn’t hit me that colleges see everything. Even though I knew, it just didn’t really sink in til it was a bit too late.) so now I’m left scared to death that all of these things I regret will be the death of me. I hope not, but we’ll see. Anyways, point is we’re all in a similar boat. I’m so worried I won’t get in somewhere where I want to go and I know I could’ve done way better and then I wouldn’t have to worry like this :/</p>
<p>good luck collegebound! </p>
<p>:) anapestic-as informative and true as your comments have been, please stop with the discouraging tone and ‘if only’ kind of thing…it’s not helping!! we all know our grades/scores/whatever it may be are not up to par sometimes and we’re nervous about it!! when people post this kind of thing, make them feel better (maybe by talking about great schools they have a better chance at or something) because that’s what we all need when we’re waiting for a decision! </p>
<p>ahhh this is just so nerve racking!</p>
<p>Your grades are really good. I really hope that makes up for your SAT score, because I think you deserve it. Because even though my uw gpa is slightly higher, your grades are a lot more consistent and it proves you did not slack off in anything.
I actually got into Fordham LC (I applied early action) and it really seems like a great school. It’s not the school for me (I’m in between my state school and NYU if I get in) but you do have a better shot at that in addition to it being an excellent school.<br>
LSP has started coming out, just to let you know. But it still could keep coming throughout March. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Evolving, thank you so much for that, I greatly appreciate what you said and will definitely keep that mind! </p>
<p>Lorrainedelis, I can’t agree with you more about the timed tests part, the thing with the SAT that bugged me is that there are all those questions that have you re-reading a lot to try to understand, and by the 5th time I did I realized “Wait I’m running out of time!”. I feel like I had the potential to do so much better if I just necessarily know how to study for it. I hope you get in to your top choices! Thanks for your response and keep us updated also! </p>
<p>theresaax2, Much appreciated as well. I really did not slack off at all because the important thing my parents told me was that slipping off just one year lowers your GPA, and it is not easy to bring it back up. As far as it making up for the SAT, I am praying it does. Congratulations on your Fordham acceptance! If I don’t get into NYU but do Fordham I will feel so happy because they are both top choices. I applied for regular decision at LC as well.
But excuse me for asking, what exactly is LSP? </p>
<p>Everyone that replied, sorry if I didn’t directly reply, but know your answers helped a lot!</p>
<p>collegebound,</p>
<p>Haha, I just answered that question in a summary fashion. Here it is:</p>
<p>DMA, There is a lot of info about the LSP if you search for threads here. Generally, it is a group of intelligent and academically strong students who lean towards the liberal arts in their studies. They are generally not accepted to CAS (or maybe some of the other NYU schools, not sure) because they are not as strong in a particular area of the application, such as SAT scores, GPA, ECs, etc. </p>
<p>I would say it is also a program with unique opportunities because students are in smaller classes with more intimate interactions with their professors and peers. Some are assigned to Study Abroad programs the first semester (some stay in NYC the first semester).</p>
<p>After two years of a fairly set curriculum of core required courses (which appear to follow the MAP requirements for practically? all NYU students), the student then can move onto the school of choice at NYU (except for Stern and maybe Tisch?) if they have an acceptable minimum GPA.</p>
<p>Maybe the search function would come up with the range of SAT scores and GPAs for LSP students. Sometimes they can be very strong in one area and more average in another. As someone just posted tonight, probably SAT I scores still at least 1800+.</p>
<p>Another thing that is now evident, you really are very good at following the words of advice from authority figures (your parents in this case) You followed their words exactly, maintaining a consistent and excellent GPA. See what you can do when given the proper coaching and encouragement? Also, success in life, in school, on the job mean respecting people over you and following instructions well, which you do.</p>
<p>Collegebound, Read the last paragraph as it is not a part of the cut and paste paragraphs that are right above.</p>
<p>I know someone who got into NYU LSP with a very high GPA but a low-ish SAT (1890 if I remember correctly).</p>