NYU Stern Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
1

Hey there,

I’ll be applying to NYU Stern for Finance during the 2022 cycle.

Would appreciate advice/thoughts on my chances

These are my stats

GPA : 3.81/4 (4.55 weighted)

SAT: 1560 Superscore (770 Math, 790 R/W)

Honors :

  • 41 individual chess awards including 1st place Chicago Open 2x (large cash prize), Multiple Top 20 State finishes with my school team, and other tournament wins
  • Vex Robotics State Qualification & U.S open qualification
  • 22 individual competition awards for Indian classical music and percussion

EC :

  • Finance internship at a capital management firm that holds a few billion dollars in assets.
  • Founded a not for profit that provides educational resources for underprivileged children in third world countries. Will have spent around 100 hours on it by the time of my application.
  • Chess (Big point on my application due to it being an early passion that I’ve spent 11 years on): Board #1 for my school team and variety of individual awards
  • Vex Robotics: State and U.S open qualification. Was the head of programming for my team.
  • Not sure if this is relevant, but I coached in the equivalent of the minor leagues (one step down from tier 1) in a video game. Including this because I spent 2-3 years on it and was a data analyst. Spent hundreds of hours working with data and numbers.
  • Volunteering: Around 75-100 hours of tutoring at school and volunteering through organizations like feed my starving children
  • Junior Economic Club: Selective application
  • SNHS

Essays:

I’m a strong essay writer. I expect my essays to be 7 or 8/10s conservatively.

Recc Letters:

Decent recc letters. I think I can submit a non core class recc letter so my teacher letter should be relatively strong as we’ve built a strong bond over the years (I’ve had her for multiple courses)
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Generally worried that my 3.81 will tear apart my chances. I was plagued by health concerns regarding my heart freshman and sophomore year so I picked up a few Bs. However I’ve been a straight A student from 2nd semester sophomore through the end of junior year.

Any constructive comments would be appreciated!

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2

I’m planning to apply ED1

3

How does your transcript present your grades? Specifically, what would your sophomore year look like? I think you can get away with Freshman year blemishes, but if you have grades that average to a B sophomore year as well (shown on the transcript), I think you are right to be generally worried. You seem like a solid applicant, and historically, Stern has loved strong testers.

Of course heart concerns are nothing to brush over, so an explanation may be in order.

4

I have a few Bs freshman year and one or two first semester sophomore. The only non honors/AP courses I will have taken over my four years of college are six semesters of gym, a technology class, and four semesters of Spanish. Therefore, my transcript presents my grades relatively decently. I’m hoping they consider my course load when taking into account that I don’t have a 4.0, seeing as how I have a 4.55 weighted.

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5

I understand your weighting and that does not seem like an issue.

Are you aware of how and what your transcript looks? Do they include grades for each semester or just averages? Some schools just include a final grade.

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6

They include a grade per class for each semester yes.

7

A 3.8 GPA is not bad at all. I don’t see how it would tear your chances apart. In fact, a 3.8 is great and desired for Stern transfers to have a GPA like this/in this range when applying. You seem like a really strong applicant who has done quite some interesting things. I really wouldn’t worry. As for your health issues that may have contributed to some Bs, you’re always free to write an additional personal statement/letter explaining this or anything you’d like to them, or you could do it within the app itself. B’s generally don’t disqualify you from entering into NYU, even Stern I’m sure, as long as you demonstrate continued effort, accomplishments, upward trends, or anything alike.

8

What I would recommend is that you have the correct prerequisite courses completed and focus on that for the designated year in which you’ll be entering into at Stern. They have a list of recommended/required prerequisite courses they’d like for certain transfer applicants to have up on the Stern or NYU website.

9

I’m a junior in highschool currently not college. So I won’t be transferring, I’ll be applying ED1

10

Ohhh I see my mistake. As far as what I said, I believe everything else stands excluding the information about transfer prerequisite courses. I think as a student in high school, it could be good to make sure your grades are strong in math courses, such as precalculus and Calc classes if you can take them (if you can, take higher level Calc as well, I believe it may be preferable), and Statistics if you can. I don’t know if your high school or high schools generally offer any business related courses but if you have anything like such that is offered as an elective, taking one or more would be advantageous to you. Join NYU information sessions and try to talk to NYU representatives to find out what would be useful and beneficial for you in order to be admitted to Stern.

I wish you the best!

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11

Thank you!

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12

Your scores- GPA and SAT are solid. Your Extracurricular are on Par. Make sure your essay clearly communicates and exemplifies who you are and strengths. Same with your “Why Stern?” supplemental essay. You should clearly demonstrate interest by reaching out to your regional NYU admissions representative (via Naviance). Strong recommendation letters from your core subject teachers are a must. Good luck with your ED1, you are a very strong candidate.