NYU Tisch Application Advice

Applying to College
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<p>I'm a high school Junior and now my school's getting us ready for applying to college, and I've had my mind set on NYU Tisch for film and possibly animation. It's a reach, I know, seeing as it's a dream school and thousands apply. This year my grades are pretty good - A average. Last year and the year before weren't quite as good, but they weren't bad; probably around a B/B+ average. I've been active in my school's media lab all throughout high school, I've been on the tech crew during my school's annual "UNIS-UN" conference that takes place in the General Assembly of the United Nations all three years, and right now I'm working on a movie for the UN. (My school's the UN school, so we work with them a lot) My school is also one of the few schools to offer the IB (International Baccalaureate) program, which I participate in. I haven't taken the SATs and I have no plans to do so - both times I've taken the PSATs I've bombed (both times I got around 135 out of 240), so I see no point in taking the SAT when I'll almost certainly do badly and the colleges I apply to will see that. But I do plan to take the ACT, which I'm confident I'll do much better in. I've already looked into it - NYU is fine with accepting just the ACT, so long as I take the essay part of the SAT, which I have no problem with, since English is one of my better subjects.</p>

<p>So I want to know - does it look like I have a fighting chance? I'm not the most amazing student, but I do well. And I know the fact that I live in New York City (and have my whole life) will be a huge disadvantage, but if I do well on the ACTs, make a lot of good movies and other creative pieces, and work day and night with my school's college office/English Department to make one hell of a dramatic essay, (one of the Tisch application requirements) does anyone think I could actually make it? Be brutally honest - either way I'm still going to apply, but I'd just like to know what other people think. If most say that it doesn't look good for me, it'll only make me work that much harder. :)</p>

<p>Any advice/constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated! :D</p>

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<p>I just got accepted this week to Tisch for film studies (I want to double major with cinema studies and film production). I'm from California and I have pretty good stats, but I didn't get the best SAT score and I've had a B here and there. In my opinion, I think that Tisch puts the most weight on the portfolio when it comes to admitting students. I think the caliber of people applying can work hard, they are smart- but what they're looking for is creativity, something that will enrich the artistic atmosphere. </p>

<p>For cinema studies, I wrote a ten page paper on a film subject and another mini paper. I think that's what really got me in, because I know there are many more people who have better grades/SAT scores. </p>

<p>I think you have a fighting chance. Just make sure you focus on your craft, your art- put a lot of effort into that and I think your hard work will be rewarded. :) Good luck!</p>

<p>By the way, I totally didn't think that I would get in- it was my reach and my first choice. So anything is possible!</p>

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<p>^about the ten page paper, this is absolutely true.</p>

<p>My brother applied, it was a super-reach, no one thought he could get in (B's throughout high school, rarely an A, took the SAT 4 times but still couldn't pull off a 1200 and applied with an 1190, out of 1600), but he wrote an unbelievable paper about how Stanley Kurbick, who at the time had just recently died, was an inspirational figure in his life, the focus he put into his craft, etc. It was a fantastic essay (even though he wasn't a very good writer, it showed his passion), and when he got his acceptance letter he was asolutely sure it was the reason he got in.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your comments - it's really lifted my spirits. And congratulations on your acceptance to Tisch, Marcine! :) Heh, hopefully I'll see you around campus one day. :P</p>