Demographics: Asian male, upper class (200k+ a year)
Stats:
GPA: 3.6/4.1
SAT: 1540
APs taken: APUSH (two years at my school) - 3, AP Macro - 5, AP Lang - 3, APHUG - 4, AP Micro - 2, AP Comp Sci - 2, AP Euro (taking right now), AP Psych (taking right now), AP Gov (taking right now)
ECs:
- Founder of business podcast:
Grown to over 4000 followers in the last 1.5 years and have 50+ episodes with listeners in 44 countries. Top 5 Teen Business Podcast Globally, Ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally, #1 Education For Kids Podcast in Argentina, #3 Family and Kids Podcast in Argentina, #82 Education For Kids Podcast in America, #150 Saudi Arabia (peak level this year). Run a 30+ person team based around the globe from Indonesia, Singapore, Great Britain, USA, etc. Established marketing, operations, graphic design, editing, and content writing departments. Ranked as a 4.8 star podcast with over 250+ reviews collectively over all platforms
Key Club State President (12th); State Treasurer Junior year:
Managed 5 member executive officer team, 24 member LTG officer team and 10k+ member organization. Raised most money in the country for fundraiser “Key Club Walks” for the Thirst Project. Led state board meetings, #2 Membership Increase out of any district in the country; Reversed six year decline and hit 5 year high, Broke the chartering record, Newsletters I made are used internationally in Canada, Chairperson of MGR/DECON Registration Committees; Secretary of the Fall Rally Programs Committee
- Co-founded an app to defeat procrastination
Built an app to defeat procrastination and improve time management skills for high school, colleges and graduate student. Team of 10+ people and growing. Formed after a 2020-2021 DECA State Finalist, International Diamond Challenge Semifinalist, and 2021-2022 DECA State Semifinalist Title with the same concept
Founded my own social media marketing agency
Created a social media marketing agency specializing in digital marketing/branding. Signed two clients and pulled in a monthly revenue of over $1000 so far and growing. Clients are founders of local startups, business owners, etc.
Co-Founded Entrepreneurship Club at my school
Led cohort of individuals through a co-curricular program designed to train and promote innovators to develop products that impact the community; led to the only organization in my high school that has partnered with a university (University of Delaware) to offer college resources (labs, courses, etc.) to high school students. Took home International Diamond Challenge Semifinalist placing top 10 out of 150 teams against students from all over the east coast (1st competition). Helped recruit 50+ members for the club. Successfully planned school wide Pitch Competition
Internship at tech startup based in LA
Performing market research in order to create effective campaign. Conducting analysis of current social media profiles and developed content mixes to target desired audiences. Managed content, development of social media plans and content publishing of channels to increase awareness and engagement. Monitored trends, relevant dates for high school and college students, along with general holiday trends to put actions into play. Led outreach for guest blog posts from Founders, CEO’s, Marketing Directors, Data Analysts, Teachers, and more while ensuring optimization of content. In addition, I wrote blog posts on topics relevant to the high school and college audience.
USA Powerlifting Competitor
Compete in powerlifting tournaments
Internship directly under CEO of tech startup
Marketing Internship
- VP of Research in school DECA Chapter (2 years)
Mentored individuals competing in the DECA international paper events; gave advice to motivate them and give tips; learned a lot of collaborative as well as mentoring skills. Three of these individuals went on to be state finalists this year. 2020-2021 Entrepreneurship Start Up Business Plan State Finalist (Top 10). 2021-2022 Entrepreneurship Start Up Business Plan State Semifinalist (#13 - Top 12 were finalists)
Finance Capstone Internship at refutable company
Co-authored a paper published in a couple of refutable journals
6 month process
AP Scholar Award (July 2022), NJ Key Club Distinguished Treasurer (July 2022), “Key Club Walks” Thirst Project Fundraiser Champion (July 2022), Outstanding District Board Member (April 2022), #1 Ranked Education For Kids Podcast - Argentina (Feb 2022), #3 Kids and Family Podcast - Argentina (Feb 2022), #82 Education For Kids Podcast - U.S.A. (Feb 2022), Top 150 podcaster in Saudi Arabia, Top 5% globally ranked podcaster (Jan 2022), Top 2.5% globally ranked podcaster (Feb 2022), DECA 2020-2021 Entrepreneurship Start Up Business Plan State Finalist, International Diamond Challenge Semifinalist (Top 10 in in a 500+ team globally competition), DECA 2021-2022 Entrepreneurship Start Up Business Plan State Semifinalist, Key Club September Member of the Month, Economics for Leaders selected at University of Michigan, Over 280 volunteering hours, Principal’s List (all of freshman year), Honor Roll (all of sophomore year)
Missed a month of school junior year due to COVID reasons as school policy had resulted in me having to not be there 2 weeks because I had been in contact with a friend who had COVID and then I got COVID 2 after that so I was out for another 2 weeks. Could not make up any exams until I got back and I had around 30 to makeup when I got back. Received barely any instruction and was just expected to keep up anyway. Got medically diagnosed with anxiety and ADHD which is why my GPA dipped but was able to bounce back despite what had happened showing resilience which is what I think my essay will be about
First off, a 3.61/4.1 is not a low GPA. It might be low for admission to NYU, but it’s not low without qualifiers. (1.7 GPA would be an example of a low GPA.)
Your GPA is not going to help, but I certainly think that if you can show verifiable evidence for all your extracurriculars, that your GPA won’t be insurmountable. I suspect that the combination of ED, legacy, your SAT score, and your extracurriculars might be enough to gain admission. I wouldn’t consider admission likely for you, but I certainly think you have a shot.
From what I have heard, please choose a different essay topic as this is one that has been very overdone and can also raise additional concerns about your application (i.e. the mental health concerns).
First – Go ahead and mention in your application that Covid affected your success. Do NOT mention the anxiety or ADHD. Schools will try to avoid admitting students who they don’t believe can “handle” the pressures that come with college. Anxiety and ADHD are red flags of a student that might have difficulty. (and I speak as a parent of a college-applying son who has the same issues).
Second – Congrats on your ECs, very very impressive. Those will be more meaningful than some schools than for others. I suggest you consider strong co-op universities, like Northeastern.
Between your strong ECs and legacy status, I suspect you have a chance at NYU. But your GPA definitely will keep it as a reach. They have an ED acceptance rate of 28%… that probably fairly reflects your chances of ED admission there.
If you don’t get in ED1 at Miami then you likely wouldn’t to NYU.
Can you afford either ?
I assume given your outside activities you’d get into Miami.
They are such different schools I don’t see the commonality there.
As for your awards…not impressed. Some are auto bcuz of AP scores etc. others tell me nothing. You don’t need awards per se but if you share them, state what they are for…ie the impact you made that you were given them. No one wants to see a list. They want to see what you contributed to the world. Quality over quantity. I’m saying here….yes, they’re great….some of them…but make sure the reader understands why.
Your essay. No way…. @AustenNut is 100% correct. Write something original to make yourself stand out.
What has power lifting taught you or why do you do it ? What’s your favorite food and why ? Favorite cartoon ?
Teach them something about you. Don’t highlight negatives you try to make into a positive…btw which they’ve read 1000 times.
Per College Navigator, males had an overall acceptance rate of 33% at U. of Miami and 13% at NYU. Thus, I would assume that your chances are that much greater for ED admission at U. of Miami.
My question for you is, what is your #1 college choice? Is your family willing and able to pay for that school? If so, that is where you ED. If you have a clear #2 choice (that your family is willing to pay for), then you can ED2 there if you don’t get in to your ED1. Otherwise, I would not be applying ED anywhere.
One thing is you might want to think about the type of college that fits you. Maybe look for a school that is a little less traditional in their approach to education. I don’t have any first hand experience with Babson in Boston, but I see it pop up in conversations around Entrepreneurship. Or a school like WPI that focuses their curriculum around projects.
@collegeready2 - I think you have a good shot at NYU ED (you got a few bumps, legacy, Male, great SAT score). Then if you don’t get in ED2 at Northeastern. If you’d be happy with either then there’s no real downside
I think we need to slow down on NY and NEUuntil we understand this.
What is your top choice ?
You mentioned ED1 to Miami so I’m going to assume it’s your top choice hence the other two schools as ED1 and two wouldn’t work.
Only one would but if not into Miami then unlikely into those two.
In the end, people focus too much on - not where they want to go but the highest ranked school they get into.
When you are qualified for a school, where you want to go should motivate that decision. You have to spend four year there, day after day so it’s not a question of getting into # 40 vs 60 etc.
It’s a question of where you see yourself. If that’s Miami then you don’t bind yourself to either of the other two until Miami makes a decision.
The three schools are so different with one of the biggest differences weather…but also sports, environment and more.
Not sure why you said you would ED1 to Miami but you did.
Is that your top choice or is that you trying to optimize acceptance without taking into account where you’d like to spend four years.
I assume all these are affordable because there are reputable schools where you can spend 50%, even 75% less. But you lose any leverage with EDwhich is fine….as long as you are aware or more importantly your parents are because saving $150k, $200k, $250k is a lot.
I think it would be a slam dunk. Your ECs are mind blowing. Your SaT is amazing. And you have a very credible COVID story. Don’t give up on NYU either. I