Hey guys! I’m looking to apply to CAS.
Stats:
Major: Biology
HS GPA: 2.8 UW, 3.14 weighted (grades increased throughout time in high school to a 3.4-3.5 UW, 3 A.P. classes taken so I assume weighted would be around a 3.8-4.0)
College GPA: 4.0 (approx 55 units taken)
SAT: 1270/1600 (do I have to submit?)
Recommendations: I have a glowing recommendation from a bio professor that I am very close with. I got a 99% in her class and she loves me so I’m sure it’ll be good. She also sent me a draft of her letter of recommendation and it was pretty good. I also have an amazing letter of recommendation from a lab coordinator but I might’ve burned that bridge ■■■■■. I also have another chemistry teacher who is pretty fond of me, so I could ask her too.
EC’s/stuff that makes me look good: Volunteered at boys and girls club every summer for four summers, worked in a research lab at San Francisco state university, attended dermatology grand rounds at UCSF, got two scholarships for $12k and tuition, as well as an IRA grant, helped lead cultural pride events at high school, got a poem published in high school. I’m sure there’s more that I can’t think of.
Essay: will be reviewed by lawyer and professors. One was apparently “very well written” but is way over the 650 common app word limit so we’ll see.
Financial situation: this is the ultimate determinant to whether I’ll be able to go, since I think getting in shouldn’t be too much of a problem since I have completed so many credits. My family of 3 including me makes 11k a year tops. So, I would assume that I’d get good financial aid — but, I’ve heard many stories of NYU transfers getting peanuts for aid. What would my chance be of getting into NYU with a scholarship or some program that could help cover some of tuition? (I’ll be paying for housing and books/cost of living on my own so I’d only need to worry about the $55k ish tuition.
Most likely not.
And that’s most likely because of your unweighted GPA and your SAT scores
On do you have to submit test scores:
NYU is test flexible, you can either submit AP, SAT2s, or SAT1s. You can check https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/standardized-tests.html
for more details
NYU will not give you financial aid.as a transfer.
What appeals to you at NYU?
We can try and help you find universities that meet need and share some of its characteristics.
When did you graduate high school?
Why biology (one of the majors with the lowest ROI)?
A little confused about this statement “I think getting in shouldn’t be too much of a problem since I have completed so many credits”. I don’t think number of credits completed has any influence on the success of a transfer application and NYU receives many more transfer applications than they have space to admit.
I have heard that NYU can offer financial aid for transfers but many applicants (both transfer and freshman) are disappointed with their FA packages from NYU because it is very expensive; NYU has a large population who need aid and limited scholarship funds. Books, fees, Dorm/Apartment/food easily run 20K a year - how are you going to pay for that yourself? NYC minimum wage is high but you’d need to work full-time to clear that much. If you’re from SF even the travel from and to NYC will be a burden for a low income family. And NYU requires health care coverage - if you don’t have it, that’s another 2+K a year.
In answer to your original question I would say your chances of getting into into NYU as a transfer and receiving a financial aid package which makes it affordable are low.
Regarding my statement, I hear that the more credits you finish, the less heavily your high school stats will weigh since they won’t be as good of a determinant as to how one will do in college. So, I figured that might apply here.
If I were to go to NYU, I would get a job or internship. My parents’ and my savings put together should cover housing, but they wouldn’t cover tuition. I would cover a majority of the living costs myself though.
Thanks for an honest answer though. I actually needed that and don’t want to go into this expecting a lot.
Dont expect parents earning 11k to cough up their savings. Let them have a life. Or are there income/assets you plan to hide?
And you think you can get, say, a 40k+ job to pay the balance? Every year? If you’re contributing to an 11k total now, I doubt you can.
NYU is known to be stingy and inconsistent in how they give aid.
What appeals to me is honestly NYU’s campus and medical school. I love the unconventional no campus-campus that’s integrated into the city. Additionally, being a pre med student, I’d love to go to one of the top medical schools in the world and build close connections with people there, as I want to go to NYU Langone for med school one day (I know that being an undergrad in NYU won’t make my chances of getting into their med school any higher but I’d want to network ASAP. It also is a rigorous school, but not too rigorous. I’ve seen the study guides in their chemistry classes and they seem doable, but still difficult. At sf state, the classes are way too easy, and I don’t think I’m being prepped enough for the mcat. I also already know some people there so it shouldn’t be too hard adjusting there.
Sf state also has its problems. I’m not going to be able to graduate in four years because I couldn’t get into the classes I needed. This left a bitter taste in my mouth, especially since the 4 year graduation rates are as low as 22%. Their classes are way too easy, as mentioned before, to the point where I don’t have to try to get a 4.0. This won’t be good in the long run.
Lastly, there’s just no competition, which isn’t motivating at all. If I were to transfer, I’d want to transfer to a top school as soon as possible (NYU is the lowest ranked school on my list). My reasoning is that if I were to transfer into a lower tier school, I would not be getting my money’s worth, and it wouldn’t be worth it since I’m currently getting a free ride with the amount my financial aid is giving me due to my efc being zero. I’d also want to transfer as soon as possible — in spring 2020. NYU is one of the only top schools that do spring transfers. Of the other few schools that do do spring transfers, I’m considering brown and northwestern.
Of course, I’m also considering a fall transfer, and will be applying to Vanderbilt, some ivies (definitely a reach), Stanford (reach), and usc, which is way more generous with financial aid. I’m sure there’s other schools that I’m leaving out and can’t think of off the top of my head.
I’d love suggestions for other schools I’d be a good match at. I’ve considered UCLA and UC Berkeley but fear both (Berkeley especially) since I hear a lot about their competitiveness and the extremity of their grade deflation. I don’t know how I’d respond to that competitive or an environment. I’ve also visited UC Berkeley and didn’t like the campus that much. If worst comes to worst and that’s the only school I get accepted to, I’ll probably end up going there though.
P.S sorry this was so poorly worded and all over the place lmao it’s nighttime and I’m really tired
I have savings of my own and a more unique situation where I’ll be able to support myself (for the most part). My parents have some savings and can split the housing bill with me 50/50, which they said they can afford. I can also pay for food and other living costs out of my own pocket.
I actually have no idea why I said “my family of 3 including me make 11k a year tops.” My bad. I think I was really tired or something because I just meant my parents make 11k tops.
If your goal is med school, going from a relatively easy CSU to high level university is a bad idea: your GPA will take a hit and med schools won’t care. (This situation is very common).
My advice would be to target LACs ranked in the 40-75 rank with a good reputation for science/pre-med (Lawrence, St Olaf, Rhodes) + LACs in the 25-40 range + the women’s colleges if you’re a woman. Don’t worry, the step up from sfsu will be significant and you WILL have to work 2-3hours for each class period to get a B or higher.
Don’t major in biology though. It’s not necessary for med school and has terrible ROI on the job market (due in part to all pre-meds who failed to get one place in med school and all non pre-med bio majors looking for general jobs.)
Don’t transfer for Spring:
Since your academics are light, beef up your volunteering and shadowing in the Fall.
Don’t take classes in the spring and work as an EMT/CNA (get certified between now and then if you aren’t yet), or find a medically related position, perhaps at a clinic.