Transferring to NYU, can I do it?

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
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<p>I'm currently a community college student. My intended major is Philosophy.</p>

<p>HS GPA: I'd rather not say, but an explanation for it. Familial problems, health problems, etc</p>

<p>Played 2 years of soccer (no distinctions there), active in theatre, Philosophy Club. I had incredible letters of recommendation that unfortunately fell on deaf ears. I don't think I can resubmit those nor would they make much of a difference. I did accepted to UPenn. It was one of those incredible incredible things which to this day I'm not sure it really happened. I think it had something to do with my essay and rec. letters. </p>

<p>CC GPA: 3.95</p>

<p>PTK member and officer (VP of Leadership)
Student Government senator
Philosophy Club
Internship with a nonprofit for a while now with a lot of responsibilities
Starting my own non-profit organization
Starting literary magazine
Plan on volunteering and finding a research position (It won't, however, amount to many hours considering applications are due in March)
Currently under consideration as an editor for a non-profit film production company and looking into another internship.</p>

<p>My volunteer experience isn't good. I did an average of 50 hours in high school but I plan on doing more. Also I've really not had a job.</p>

<p>My SATs are over 2000. I'm a good writer and I am sure my essays will be good as well as recommendation letters.</p>

<p>However, I'm feeling a little discouraged. It seems a lot of people have very compelling stories and much more impressive ECs. Many have been in the army, have worked for years on Wall Street and things like that. Do I have a shot when competing with people like that?</p>

<p>I'm considering Columbia University GS as well as NYU. To be honest, those are my 2 choices. I fear what would happen if I didn't get accepted to either.</p>

<p>I doubt it makes much of a difference, but also first generation. I'm white, however... I'm hoping starting my own non-profit will be good to me and count for something.</p>

<p>Money would be a struggle--especially considering how both schools are terrible with financial aid--but I wouldn't mind for now. I can figure it out.</p>

<p>Another question is, would my major, Philosophy, count against me? </p>

<p>Thank you so much, help is truly truly appreciated.</p>

<p>What I think will count against me:
Lack of volunteer work
Lack of actual work
HS performance</p>

<p>I don't think it's worth much, but in high school I did take APs and honors classes.</p>

<p>As for my first year of CC, I'm in the Dean's List, Honor's List, the works. Not sure how much they count. Also published a short story. I don't know if these are worth much. I've also never won anything. ... No awards, nothing like that.</p>

<p>I apologize; perhaps I'm being too thorough. But again I'd like to mention that I don't have a multi-million dollar business nor have I worked extensively for years. I'm 19 as well. I know a lot of transfers are a lot older and much more accomplished. Already with MBAs and MAs and great resumes under their belts.</p>

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<p>Do it. Dunno much about Columbia GS but i think you have a really good chance to transfer to NYU. You don’t need compelling stories (None of my relatives died while i was in school, i didn’t work between 3 part times trying to feed my younger siblings, nor do i own a multi million dollar company… and so on LOL). Your high school performances doesn’t have much to do either lol You gpa is good and i think your extra- currics are pretty solid. 2000+ on the SAT is good enough too. I’m guessing you are gonna apply for transfer in your sophomore year? If so, they don’t look at your SAT. This is true if you are coming in from another university, don’t think it’s too different with community colleges. double check. Also, I definitely don’t think your major will count against you. y would it lol?</p>

<p>And AND ANNNNND you are white, better than being asian in the application process :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

<p>let me know if u wanna know nthing else. i have no idea how the philosophy department works tbh but i can ask lol</p>

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<p>I would say you have great chances, but the only obvious downfall is you’re transferring from a Community College, which is basically looked at as a clown school by a school like NYU. (and let’s be honest- it is)</p>

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<p>@floridaa that’s not true at all… How is a community college a clown school?</p>

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<p>Don’t listen to Floridaaa…</p>

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<p>NYU have you ever taken a class at a community college? HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN A CLASS AT ANY COLLEGE. NO? OK.</p>

<p>Considering all community colleges have OPEN ADMISSION… hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…</p>

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<p>floridaa,
you’re not coming off very well here.</p>

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<p>@floridaaa hahahah and who’s already in NYU and who isnt?</p>

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<p>bump please? :(</p>

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<p>Hi Julia,</p>

<p>I recently got into NYU Stern as a transfer student, I’ll be transferring in as a junior this fall. I applied from HS and was waitlisted at Stern and eventually rejected. I worked my ass off for two years at Rutgers (the college where I enrolled), and applied the spring of my sophomore year. I got my acceptance in mid-may. Hard work does pay off.</p>

<p>I am no admissions counselor, but in my opinion NYU focuses A LOT on gpa. Even though the school might say that it is “holistic” if you don’t have the right gpa it will be make or break. You can have amazing essays, recs, even a great resume, but if your gpa is not up to par you will not be accepted. A 3.95 is fine, I had a 3.75 when I transferred. I think for Stern a 3.8 should be in the “safe zone”, anything less than a 3.7 is iffy. I was part of the NYU Transfers thread on college confidential and my 3.75 was the lowest of the acceptances, everyone else who was accepted to Stern had 3.8+ (many with 3.9s and 4.0s) I am not sure for CAS, which I assume you’re applying to since you want to be a philosophy major. NYU has the best philosophy dept in the nation (along with Rutgers and I think princeton). This MIGHT work against you because of the major, but I am not sure if you need to list your major on your application (you might). If you do, this might play against you but again a 3.95 is pretty much the same as a 4.0 so I don’t think gpa will play against you in that regard. However, there were several 4.0s rejected which applied to CAS econ in the last transfer admissions cycle, so its really a guessing game. I would say 3.95 is safe though, especially if you can keep that up going to the time you start applying in Feb/March.</p>

<p>Being from a community college won’t play against you. About half of the people transferring who got into NYU this past admissions cycle were from cc’s. When I applied to Cornell and was surfing through their transfer thread, about half of that thread was also people from cc’s. So being from either a 2 year or 4 year institution really doesn’t matter. What matters is the gpa. It should be 3.8-3.9 range regardless of the institution.</p>

<p>Besides GPA, I think SATs are still important (though not as important as GPA). After that, essays, recs, and resume come next. To be honest, I really don’t think essays and recs count for much. I wrote my essays on the last day (literally), and my rec was written by a prof I never spoke to (I had him write me a rec through email). So even though a college says their admissions process is “holistic” it might just mean that they take a glance at it and move on. Again, GPA is make or break in my opinion even if the college doesn’t explicitly say so. I think you have a good chance at NYU, go for it. Don’t know much about Columbia. Besides NYU, I applied to Georgetown and Cornell. Was rejected by the latter two, so ended up enrolling at Stern, which isn’t a bad place to end up in my book. Good luck with the admissions process, message me with any more questions you might have.</p>

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<p>hey julia,</p>

<p>i tried sending you a pm but i’m not sure if it sent through. if not, pm me your email and i’ll try to answer questions through there. thanks!</p>

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<p>Joe has been so much help! Unfortunately, I think ultimately my HS GPA will kill me. There’s no chance. It’s been nice to dream while I could.</p>