I’m currently a freshman with a 3.6~3.7 gpa (unweighted) and I have a ton of good EC’s (I think at least haha) Anyways my dream is to go to NYU for journalism but I’m scared I won’t get in because my grades are only mediocre. I am doing pretty well right now with a little above a 3.7 but first term I only got a 3.5 so we’ll see how this term ends… Anyways, I published a book recently that I started writing in seventh grade and it has 5 stars on Amazon and goodreads. I’m also working for a magazine at the moment so I was wondering if these would help me at all with getting in to NYU and other similar schools? I know obviously the magazine is more helpful for becoming a journalism major, but I feel like writing a book seems like a bigger deal I guess haha but really I’d like to know about both of these things in regards to my admissions. Thanks so much for any feedback?
It would count as an extracurricular, but I do not believe it would make a huge impact. It would demonstrate your passion for journalism. Focus on your grades and raising your GPA- that would help more. Good luck!
Is it published professionally, self-published, or on a micro-“vanity” imprint, @“day man”?
@marvin100 I self-published it which I’m realizing is kind of looked down upon, but my friend’s mom said that it would give me more control to self-publish it so after talking to her, other people, and researching I decided to do that- is that bad?
Yeah, it probably won’t be a big help then, I’m sorry to say. I mean, it’s a nice EC–it took commitment and follow-through, and props to you for doing it!–but it’s not a needle-mover, @“day man” .
Completing a book, whether or not publishing it, is indeed a big deal. A self-published book, however, is not much more than completing a book without more objective data suggesting otherwise. For example, has your self-published book sold more than 10,000 copies in a year (and I don’t mean free downloads)? Has it been quoted or picked up in other news stories? 5 star reviews are great, but how many? 50+? 100+? In the general top 1000 books on Amazon (no subcategory, just straight up book ranking)?
I am not trying to diminish your personal accomplishment at all. Objectively, to an admissions committee member, you just need to have something of provable merit. Self-publishing by itself is not that. But it can be. Perhaps you can turn that self-published book into something more useful. For example, working/starting a local writing center group about how to self-publish and giving advice; getting some local media praising your work (small thing, but it’s social proof), etc. In the end, no one expects you to be William Faulkner. They expect you to be a teenager. But a teenager who is motivated about X, who keeps growing and pushing themselves farther in X, well, that is something of value. Self-published book alone? No. As a stepping stone? Maybe. Turning that into a yes is up to you, and there is no cookie-cutter template way to do that. Be you! Good luck!
@ChartresBlue Thank you that is really helpful feedback! I appreciate it