Should I bother applying as a Stern Transfer with a 3.52? (HEOP possible?)

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
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I’m currently enrolled at SUNY Albany as an EOP student(1st gen college student) currently in their sophomore year. I’m currently an undeclared business major still deciding between Accounting or Finance. I’ll be looking to apply for admission to NYU HEOP.

College GPA - 3.52 (Meets the requirement but not great for Stern at all I believe)
Major GPA - 3.6
I will have completed all of the required coursework for Stern by the end of this Spring 2017 semester

ECs -
I am a tutor for Financial Accounting at my university. I have a great letter of recommendation from my accounting professor as well (good relationship)

I am currently completing a practicum/internship with Ernst & Young for course credit. It was a competitive program/internship I had to apply for. ( I believe NYU offers something similar) I might be able to receive a LOR from one of the EY managers/associates I’m mentored by. If not I can get one from my ECON or stats professors.

Completed a total of 50 hours of community service ranging from tutoring school children to all sorts of volunteer work at for my orgs.

A part of my schools ISACA chapter (An IT/Cyber Security national professional org), ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America), a community service-focused student group, and my schools Mock Trial.

I wrote my NYU essay on my passion/work ethic regarding my experience with my internship with Ernst & Young. At my current UNI so far from NYC opportunities like this are much rarer. With NYU being in the heart of the city I have greater ability to continue on with my passion/dedication towards exponential learning and find more opportunities like one I have found with EY.

I know I’m not REQUIRED to submit my HS stats but I believe they do showcase improvement/growth for me. I had a 2.7 in HS and a 1600 SAT(Old version) I’m not sure if I should submit my HS stuff or not.

As an EOP student at SUNY Albany, my financial situation is very poor. (ERC of 0 on my FAFSA)

However I do live very near to NYC and won’t have to pay for housing/living on campus costs. If I’m so lucky to be accepted to NYU that is. I am not sure if this will benefit my chances towards admission since I won’t need as much financial aid for housing/being HEOP eligible.

Next year I’ll be having to live off campus at my UNI and won’t be able to afford a meal plan, if I was able to attend NYU while still living at home it would make life much less stressful for me as I won’t have to worry about grocery shopping without a car while being a full-time student who is strapped for cash. NYU location really is much better for me in every single way.

I wrote my NYU essay on my passion/work ethic regarding my experience with my internship with Ernst & Young. At my current UNI so far from NYC opportunities like this are much rarer. With NYU being in the heart of the city I have greater ability to continue on with my passion/dedication towards exponential learning and find more opportunities like one I have found with EY.

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Your financial situation will most likely dictate your ultimate choice. NYU has really bad financial aid on top of the fact that business programs tend to give bad FA. But it offers a lot, as you noted.

Living at home may offset costs, as you noted.

I say: apply. What can it hurt? Once you see the costs of both, then make the decision.

If you have a cheaper ride at SUNY by only a few thousand dollars, it may still be worth going to NYU. The reason for that is your access to internships and/or work while at school. If the cost difference is a lot, then maybe stay at SUNY

If I were your parent in addition to the above I’d say: Your first priority beyond graduating with good grades is to land a well-paying job. Well paying is defined as being able to pay off school loans early in a position that gets you started in a finance career, or whatever your ultimate career focus may be. NYU internships may be better quality and quantity than those available at your SUNY. Regardless of where you attend, beyond skills, footwork and sheer determination will determine your outcome.

(To pay off school loans early, live small (with parents) for a few years, put every extra penny toward the principal, work with the loan companies EACH PAYMENT to reduce your principal and refigure your interest payments.)

If you need to stay at your SUNY remember you have summers in NYC to do internships. Make the most of that time and your winter breaks. If you don’t have an internship, use the time to network network network.

With either school, network like crazy. At some schools (Ivies and maybe NYU?) the career office will hand your resume to companies. It’s unclear that SUNY has that access, but it might for companies that interest you. In either case, you should make this a practice. In addition to attending events and meeting people (following up the social event with the email to retain contacts), begin lining up informational interviews with alumni. 15-minute interviews work wonders. A quick lunch or coffee or 15 minutes to help them get to the airport or 5 minutes to hail a cab. During each one 1) find out how they got to where they are and what they do and what their company does; 2) use active listening skills where you summarize what they say and ask more questions/otherwise continue the convo; 3) ask them how someone like you can fit into a company like theirs; 4) at end of interview, ask them for 2 more names of people you can talk to. 5) Follow up with thank you note IMMEDIATELY thanking them for their time and for the info and if they know of a position, please think of you. 6) Go to the next two people and do the same thing.

In this way you build your network. Maintain contacts with each person for the rest of your life. They helped you now; they are good contacts. Every 6 months or so or whenever you’re “in the area” look them up or send them an email. The email can be 2-4 sentences long. Each contact should be personal not a mass email. “Hi! Thought I’d check in and let you know how I’m doing. Thank you for your help in the past. How are you doing? I’d love to hear over lunch.” You do this regularly with all of the contacts you make. Within 4-6 months you will have a good job.

Get your business cards printed in a classic, simple style, on good quality paper. Polish your resume in a classic, simple style, on good quality paper. Get your 30-second elevator pitch honed to a natural patter. ( http://idealistcareers.org/a-quick-guide-to-writing-your-elevator-pitch-with-examples/ ) Invest in a really good quality suit and shoes in a timeless not cheesy style. Do the same with your hair. You want to look like you belong where you want to go. Take a marketing class and apply those principles to yourself. You create your brand. Practice on your friends, your career office admins, your mom, until they are sick of it. Get your chutzpah on. You can do it.