Low GPA high ACT and good recs and good essay

<p>Junior
GPA : 3.5ish freshmen year then transferred to a better private school 3.0 Sophomore year and 3.5ish Junior year. 3.8ish(projected) senior year Unweighted
No honors no APs. Senior year will have two honors
My school is very screwed. Its private and the administration is trying to eliminate as many APs as possible. And its also really hard to get into APs not just A- in the previous year but also with recommendations from the teacher and have to take math exam.
Class Rank: NA
SAT II"s:
Math 2: 800(projected)
Physics: 800(projected)
Chemistry: 750(projected)
Extreme confident about the SAT 2 Scores</p>

<p>ACT
34
So my test scores are much better than grades.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
Investing in market
Made from 100k to 300k
Worked at bank
Worked at stock firm
National Games of the People’s Republic of China 70 hrs
A 501(c)3 non profit in SoCal to help under privilege children in education
Qinghai charity project to help provide children with educational materials in a township for four years
Created a club called Investing Club</p>

<p>Summer before Senior:
Boy state California
Pepperdine University Youth Citizenship seminar
Babson Entrepreneurship program</p>

<p>Schools:</p>

<p>Reach:
USC
NYU Stern
Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>Safety:
Babson
Boston University</p>

<p>My main concern is: Can i get into Boston very easily or would I have to need to smash my head to get in?</p>

<p>For my recommendations, I have a really good relationship with my counselor. I also made some contribution to the school. My english teacher will write most likely about how i improved over the junior year in my efforts and grades. I will have a recommendation from the 501(c)3 program as well.</p>

<p>My college essays will also be superb like A+++.</p>

<p>What are my chances?</p>

<p>Weirdly enough, I feel like NYU is a match for you. If you write a great essay, you have a good shot. I know someone with a 3.1 GPA and 1600 who got in. And she has no extreme financial hardship, just a great essay! BU is not a safety. It’s not a safety for anyone. It definitely is a match though. However, colleges will be concerned about you not getting into APs. Babson is a match or a low reach. Your ECs are stellar though. That will make you stand out from peers.</p>

<p>What does “financial hardship” have to do with admissions to NYU?</p>

<p>NYU stern? My friends (3 of them who all got in stern) who are seniors got in with 10 APs 34 ACTs and more than 4.0 GPA weighted. I just don’t know how i can compete against everyone. Although our school is not ranked but do you think i still stand the chance? BTW, my class (2015) has a lot of people who have strong academic background.</p>