Questions and Chances..

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
1

<p>Hey, first I would like to apologize in advance for any questions that have already been answered. Although I have read some threads, I do not know everything that has or has not been answered. Thanks for understanding..</p>

<p>Okay.. So I'm very very interested in NYU, especially in Stern (although I'd be willing to go to either of the other schools just to attend NYU). I would catergorize it as my dream school mostly because of financial issues. I read in an earlier thread that if I were to apply ED, and got in, I could void that contract if I were not satisfied with the financial aid packet I was given. Is this true? and if so, is there any way to prove that it is? because afterall, it is a serious issue.</p>

<p>I also read that if I really want to go to NYU and finance is a problem, I should apply ED because financial aid packets are generally better. How much better? and is that always the case?</p>

<p>Now a little about myself.. I was fairly discouraged by some of the other "Chance" threads where absolutely stellar students wondered if they had a chance at NYU. I found myself thinking, wow.. I wouldn't be able to compete with these kids.. So I'd like an honest opinion, as my honest as my description is.</p>

<p>Some facts:
-Going into my Senior year of High School
-Parents are divorced (live with mother)
-Am a first generation college student
-Live in California</p>

<p>GPA unweighted = 3.8571 // class rank = 25 of 525 (top 4.7%)
GPA weighted = 4.3571 // class rank = 28 of 525 (top 5.3%)</p>

<p>English 2 H
English 3 H
Geometry 2 H
Algebra 2 H
Pre-Calc H
Biology H</p>

<p>World History AP (score: 3)
US History AP (score: 3)
Environmental Science AP (score: 5)</p>

<p>The classes I'm taking this year..
Calculus AP-AB
Physics AP
English Literature AP</p>

<p>-Took a Fundamentals of Drawing AB class at a local community college over last summer.</p>

<p>SAT I: 550 Critical Reading // 610 Math // 590 Writing
SAT II: 600 Literature // 600 Math IIC // 530 US History
(Standardized tests are NOT where I shine.. obviously)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars: CSF (California Scholarship Federation - Graduating with this honor is typically a big deal in California, dunno if anybody has even heard of it outside of the state) and one year of Key Club. Then there's some smaller clubs I joined such as Chess Club, Film Club, and Japanese Club.</p>

<p>Awards: Academic Honor Roll 6 straight semesters, Citizenship Award 6 straight semesters, G.A.T.E. (Gifted And Talented Education) program past 6 years (not sure how 'special' these things really are but figured I'd list them).</p>

<p>One thing about myself that helps to explain my lack of extra curriculars.. Throughout my highschool career so far (9-11), I have been active in the local music scene. I kept my grades up and everything, but as soon as school was over my life was dedicated to music and the bands I was in. So I never found too much time to be in any school-related things like sports or afterschool clubs, because my time was allocated elsewhere. With that said..</p>

<p>-Guitar (6 years)</p>

<p>I think that writing about my love for music in my essays would say a lot about me, which could make up for my lack of extra curriculars. I think that being in bands show a lot of things like dedication, responsibility, and the ability of collaborate with others. Just another thing to take into consideration..</p>

<p>Thank you all for taking the time to read this (if you did.. I'm sorry, I know that it is long). I truly, truly appreciate it.</p>

<p>Best wishes to those coming up on applications like me..</p>

<p>-Andrew</p>

2

<p>Andrew, it is not true that you can get out of the ED contract if the aid is not acceptable to you. It is if the aid is acceptable to THEM, based on their calculations of your need. And it can be all in loans, and that would be considered "meeting your need."</p>

<p>If financial aid is at all a concern, do not apply ED. NYU particularly is known for giving lots of loans in its aid package.</p>

3

<p>Chedva:</p>

<p>Thanks for the response.. That is good to know. I'm not quite sure that I understand what you mean though with it being whether the aid is acceptable to THEM or not. Would you mind telling me a little more?</p>

4

<p>You have almost no shot, sorry. Your tst scores are subpar, you didnt take the hardest curriculum (its really bad that your class rank drops after you factor in weighted gpa), and you lack EC's. unless you can raise your SAT's 300 points, you wont even get into CAS</p>

5

<p>The FAFSA calculates your family's Expected Family Contribution ("EFC"). Then the CSS Profile counts some other familial assets, and generally your EFC increases. That amount may be more that your family thinks they can pay. It doesn't matter; that's the number you're stuck with. If the school gives you enough aid, even if it's all in loans and/or work study, to meet the difference between the cost of attendance ("COA") and the EFC, then you can't get out of the ED agreement. And it doesn't matter if you don't want to graduate with $120,000 in debt.</p>

<p>It's only if they do not meet the total amount (COA - EFC) that you may be able to get out.</p>

6

<p>mattistotle:</p>

<p>Wow, very harsh words. Thanks for the response though, I appreciate the blunt honesty. I would be lying if I said that I am not extremely discouraged. But I think that I'm going to apply anyways. I'm taking the SAT I's again for my second time in October, this time with preparation. Hopefully I can bring them up substantially seeing as it's a major factor. As far as my curriculum, academically I chose the hardest classes that were available to me each year. At my school the class rank is very strangely calculated. It seems to take into account the quantity of classes taken over the difficulty.</p>

<p>Chedva:</p>

<p>Thanks very much for that clarification. It all makes a lot more sense to me now. Appreciate it..</p>

7

<p>I disagree with mattistotle.. You sound like a good GSP candidate. If you don't know what that is, research..</p>

8

<p>Chocolatesigood:</p>

<p>I did not really know about the GSP program, but now I'm well aware of it. Thanks for the heads up. I think that if I were accepted under those terms I would probably still go to NYU.</p>

<p>This leads me to some questions.. Are GSP students generally looked down on among other students (like by those accepted into their choice school)? and as I would have expected, NYU praises it's GSP program making it seem like it's really not too much different than its division school's programs. How do any students feel about the program? Is it worth the price of NYU if accepted under these terms?</p>

<p>Also, if this means anything.. I'm half Filipino half Taiwanese. I've heard race may be a factor to some extent.</p>

<p>Sorry for all the questions.. I really am ignorant to college-related stuff being a first generation college student trying to figure out how to do all this through friends and forums.</p>

9

<p>Edit: I found all of the answers to my questions about GSP and more. The featured thread here had loads of information. So nevermind about the questions in the previous post. Thanks.</p>

10

<p>tuff enough.</p>

11

<p>I just started the GSP program and I honestly don't feel like people think I'm less intelligent than others. I also think GSP is for those who are completely undecided. I have stats very close, and higher, than a lot of CAS kids yet I was placed into GSP. While sitting in my academic advisor group, every single one of the 23 kids said they were undecided. Coincidence? I think not.</p>