My chances for merit aid? Thank you bunches!

Colleges & Universities A-Z New York University
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<p>NYU is my #1 choice school (with UNC-Chapel Hill, where I've already been rejected. Though, if I had been accepted to both and could afford both, I would have chosen NYU). The only reason I didn't apply early decision was because I knew that I couldn't afford to go if I didn't receive financial aid. I visited in October and had to be pried away to come home.</p>

<p>6 years ago, my brother got no financial aid from colleges, and since he's already graduated (he ended up going to Boston University and taking out major loans), he's not included on our FAFSA as a cost, though it did affect us financially.</p>

<p>Anyways, I'm hoping/praying for some merit aid, even though I'm not even sure I'll get IN to NYU! Can someone let me know about my chances for some sort of merit aid? THANK YOU!</p>

<p>Applied to Steinhardt as a Communication major
GPA: 3.7 UW/3.8W (90/100 numerically)
SAT: 1360/2140
SAT II: 750, 710
Rank: Around 75/400 (based on UW GPA; fairly competitive HS, but only in my state)
APs: 5, 4
-Taking 5 more exams this year (2 are independent study)
-Taken gifted/AP courses every year (2-4 each year, out of a total of 6); highly demanding courses</p>

<p>ECs: Varsity Swimming 4 years (one award), French Club 4 years (elected to board of governors, responsible for 100 members along with 2 other members, plan all meetings, etc.), founded and run a Mariah Carey fan club (works with her record label, does a lot of promo with Atlanta radio stations -- basically, not a silly club -- it's a LOT of work!), work at a pizza restaurant, run my own freelance web design company, played violin 2 years, National French Honor Society, etc.</p>

<p>Volunteer: Not sure how many hours, but I've organized a lot of charity events via the aforementioned Mariah Carey fan club. We've done charity walks, dinners, bought Christmas gifts for children, lots of things. Maybe 200 or so hours?</p>

<p>-I have a lot of awards in French, including attending the GA Governor's Honors Program as a French major and a computers minor, tutoring a student in French, top ten in La Grande Concours, etc.
-Good essays (main one on living in Belgium; sort of funny)
-Decent recs</p>

<p>THANKS again!</p>

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<p>hey i applied ED to communications and had pretty much the same ECs as you but my sat was lower (1320) and so was my gpa (3.63) I got a trustee scholarship for 2500/semester so I think you have a really good shot!</p>

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<p>Wow, that's really great. Gives me some hope!! </p>

<p>I appreciate your reply -- thanks :). Did you find out about the scholarship with your acceptance? How are you liking the communication program?</p>

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<p>omg, I applied to the Communications program at Steinhardt as well, RD. But my stats are lower than yours. I hope i get in though...</p>

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<p>Not sure what the Steinhardt specific merit aid is like but you may qualify for a small scholarship with those stats. My guess is max of $5000 a year, probably less. The largest merit scholarship is $26,000 at NYU and very, very few people get those. The average f/a package is around $19,000 which sounds good but when you consider that the annual costs are in the range of $45,000-50,000, that means a hell of a lot of outside loans for most people.</p>

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<p>themagster- I found out about the merit scholarship with my acceptance..it's not in the letter so I didn't even realize for hours bc it was inside the financial aid book that comes with the acceptance package . I don't attend NYU until next year- I just got in ED this year, but from what I know about it sounds great. It was my first choice b/c I know the #1 school for communications changes b/w northwestern and BU, then its syracuse, then chapel hill, and then pennstate. I really wanted an urban campus where I could get good internships since experience is the most important factor in this field and I felt nyu had better connections and I was more likely to land a job with a nyu degree than with a bu one (since it has more prestige). It may not have 10 majors within communications as the other schools I listed beforehand do, but it does have a big enough department to have a few. I felt that in the long run nyu was the definitely the way to go. Although, I wish steinhardt itself had a better reputation. Many people say that it is the easiest school to get into, which kind of sucks, but I can't disagree that is at least among the easiest since I have average nyu stats which earned me a merit scholarship. So gl I would be extremely surprised if you did not gain an acceptance, and although it is more competitive RD I think you still will get some sort of merit scholarship. Wow this was really long</p>

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<p>Thank you for all the info pepgirly!! I also applied to Chapel Hill and BU, as well as 7 others (including Emerson). Congrats on your acceptance and scholarship!!</p>

<p>Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. To afford NYU, I'll need around $15,000-20,000 in need/merit aid...long shot, I know!</p>

<p>If you don't mind me asking, how much did you receive in merit aid? </p>

<p>Good luck in the fall -- maybe we'll be seeing each other!</p>

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<p>you will not get 15, 000 in merit aid. sorry</p>

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<p>I know...but I'm hoping the combination of merit/need will add up to somewhere around $15,000.</p>

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<p>ah ok. well maybe the, but i doubt you will get much merit aid. there are people with much much better stats</p>

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<p>i got 2500/semester</p>

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<p>wow. i better get some money too then!</p>

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<p>You might not want to hear this but I don't think you will get much merit aid...
I had 1500/800/800/750, 1/110 etc etc and they slap me with a huge loan :(</p>

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<p>are u in stern?</p>

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<p>Well, I guess all there is to do is wait then. Here's hoping decisions come early! :-D</p>

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<p>nah i was in CAS
its funny as well coz im in the presidential honors program and all the other scholars in that program get some aid except for me and a couple of other international students</p>