Yes, I am planning to study business, prob entrepreneurship. I spoke to my college counselors and she said from a GPA standpoint, mine is pretty good. She said colleges are aware of the rigor in our school’s grading. Kids have gotten in to NYU from our school with lower GPA. I think my recommendations are going to be good - my teachers have said they really like my drive and how involved I am.
I would love to be in the city - NYU, BU, USC, Fordham Lincoln center or close to the city. But my list is unrealistic due to my low ACT. I’m so confused - don’t know what to do…
Should I indicate that I’m not looking for financial aid? I think there’s a question on the common app like “are you applying for need-based…”?
Yes, you should indicate that you’re not applying for need-based aid. That won’t make a difference at need-blind schools like Bowdoin, but honestly I’m not hearing a reason you’d be happy at a liberal arts school that’s almost three hours from the nearest major city. (Same for Colby and Bates.) You’re looking for someplace with more of a business/pre-professional focus and more access to an urban center.
Brandeis could be a good fit - access to the city of Boston is very easy, and the business and econ majors are strong and popular. It’s also in a several local consortia, allowing you to cross-register at Babson, Bentley, BU, BC, Tufts, Wellesley and Olin. And you’d likely have a strong application via the test-optional pathway with the writing sample. Their business school is more international business focused than most, which could be a plus or a minus depending on your interests.
I’m sure it’s true that students from your school have gotten into NYU with lower GPA’s, but those students probably had higher test scores. When one area is weak, the others have to be stronger to compensate. Even at test-optional schools, you’ll want to choose targets where your GPA is solidly above their median, or at least would be when corrected for the relative grade deflation at your school.
USF and GWU seem like appropriate possibilities.
Two more suggestions:
University of Denver Daniels School of Business is an excellent business school in a great urban location, and DU just went test-optional this year. Your strong leadership record in building your business could potentially get you into the university’s Pioneer Leadership Program, which is a cohort-based honors program with its own housing and programming.
Another great honors program at a test-optional, urban-adjacent school is the Business Leadership Program at U of Puget Sound.
Both of these programs require a separate competitive application in addition to the general application to the university, and these cohort programs offer a significantly enhanced experience, with opportunities over and beyond what the schools as a whole have to offer. And both are looking for the kind of strengths and qualities that will stand out in your application. You’d do well to consider selective programs like this, that will really play to your strengths, vs. focusing on name-recognition and USNWR rank over fit. You’re a person with a “pointy” profile and a strong sense of what you want, so look for programs that will value your strengths and offer the experience you want once you’re there.
Can you clarify what you want to study? This thread seems to suggest business, but your other thread has GLS in the title. This could impact suggestions.
FYI from your NYU/BU/Fordham Lincoln list, it sounds like you are looking for exactly what my daughter was - she had all these on her shortlist after our college visits. She really liked GWU as well and would actually have ED2’d there if she hadn’t been admitted to NYU. GWU is need aware rather than need blind (NYU is need blind for domestic applicants) so indicating no financial aid might help at the margin there, though from their info session it only comes into play for the most marginal candidates.
(If you are planning to ED anywhere, it goes without saying you should visit first. Another poster suggested Brandeis, as being close to Boston which is a common statement ; but my daughter did not like it, she felt it was too far out to feel urban. By contrast, she felt American was close enough to DC center to be urban enough for her. This kind of thing is something you’ll only really know for yourself once you’ve visited.)
I was thinking GLS to get into NYU but I can take business classes later on. I’m from California so urban is great if possible. I’m from Boston originally so BU/Brandeis/Bentley/Babson feels very familiar. I would have said Northeastern as well but I know my ACT won’t be good enough for them.
I’ve visited NYU, Fordham LC, USC, BU, Bentley, Brandeis, Pepperdine, USD, USF, and Santa Clara.
I have not been to DC (only during a school trip but was not able to check out colleges).
I would really like to not waste my ED - but I don’t where to ED to have the best chance. Is GWU close to the city or is it more suburban? And American is close to the city too?
Sounds like everyone is telling me to give up my hope of EDing to NYU, just because of my lousy ACT score!!!
Thank you for post. USF is definitely on my list but I would really love to ED at NYU. But sounds like that would be a sheer waste.
I would be happy at Brandeis too - I used to live in by Waltham so it feels very familiar. I think it says you can submit a graded literary essay in place of the ACT.
Definitely give Brandeis a try. GWU’s business school isn’t as strong as the other majors and colleges within that university. However, the city location could be a plus. I would give Babson another look too.
GWU is right in the thick of things in DC, it is as urban as NYU. American is maybe… 15-20 minutes out? It’s at the end of embassy row. Very suburban feel, but suburban as opposed to the more semi-rural feel we got from Brandeis. If you do want to do business though, I’m not sure either of these are necessarily top choice. GWU is like NYU and BU, blocks of buildings in the middle of the city. American is a traditional campus setting.
I honestly feel a test optional school is your best chance, if you are unable to substitute another test option for NYU. (I presume you have looked through the list of options.) If you think Brandeis would work for you, then it’s definitely worth a second look. From what I recall of the info session, they don’t get a ton of ED applicants and the % of ED admits is noticeably higher than overall.
I certainly think you would have a solid chance as a test-optional ED applicant to Brandeis. (Clearly you know the Boston area and are already clear on the relative urban access from Waltham vs. being right in the city.) They do favor ED applicants, and you have a distinctive and impressive EC in your business. Beyond that, how they perceive your application depends mainly on things that nobody here can assess - the strength of your transcript in the context of your high school (both grades and rigor), the strength of your personal statement and the writing sample you submit in lieu of standardized test scores, and the strength of your recommendations. If the feedback you get from your school counselor is that you’re a strong applicant in all of those areas, then you should be able to apply with relative confidence, acknowledging that there are few sure bets in college admissions.
If you really won’t feel okay about letting the NYU dream go without applying, you could apply there EDI and still be able to apply to Brandeis EDII. You’d just need to apply to the full array of safety schools at that point, as well; you’d be “one and done” only if you managed to beat the odds at NYU.
Here’s a wild thought (no clue iff this is possible, but just musing)-- can you apply to NYU Abu Dhabi or Shanghai, do well and then transfer to the NYC campus?
And its a good thing you aren’t needing FA, as NYU is notoriously stingy with that.
Hm, NYU says “students are rarely permitted to transfer between campuses when their intended major (or a similar major) is already offered at their current campus.” This means OP would likely have to spend extra semesters as the implication is that not all credits would be transferable/prerequisites done for a new major. So it would be a big gamble. Also, the NYUAD admit rate is crazy low, like 4%. For Shanghai you have to study Mandarin too.
After a lot of thinking and discussions with my parents, I am going to give my dream a shot. I know it’s a long shot but I’m always going to wonder if I don’t try. I spoke with my counselor and she said to go for it. I will ED at NYU and select GLS and London as my first choice. Since housing is a real issue in NYC, I may have a bit more of chance since I won’t be in NYC for the first year. And I’m perfectly happy with London! I will also put in NYU Shanghai as my 2nd campus choice - I’ve actually studied Mandarin since I was in 7th grade and have a good understanding (better listening than speaking).
I will apply at GW, Brandeis or Babson for ED II if I don’t get in. In the meantime, I will apply to other test optional schools. I know it’s a super high reach… oh well…
I don’t know if this helps but my sibling is at NYU and full paying. I hope I get in!!!
