Can I get into NYU or George Washington?

<p>I’m planning on applying ED to one of these two schools and cannot decide which I want to waste my one chance on. I’d be applying to NYU’s CAS. I’m a Junior and here’s my unique situation:</p>

<p>I attend a highly prestigious Jesuit high school in Wisconsin that ranks in the top three high schools in the Midwest.</p>

<p>My GPA is not good at all. I have a 3.31 cum unweighted. Here me out for a second though. My school has kids every year with below 3.0 attending UW-Madison, which the average high school GPA is a 3.7. We have a reputation for having one of the most competitive GPA’s in the country. I also have taken 2 AP classes, a 5 in AP US History and currently taking AP European History. Next year I’ll be taking four AP classes. To take AP classes at my school you have to apply in a competitive admissions process. They don’t hand them out like candy.</p>

<p>Standardized Tests: I’ve only taken the ACT once and got a 31. I’m planning on taking it again, aiming for a 33. I don’t want to take the SAT but if you recommend it, I most certainly will.</p>

<p>Extra-curriculars: Here’s my weighing item. I currently participate in Forensics (public speaking competition) and a chorus. I wrote for the school newspaper for a semester. I am captain of our mock-congress team (for three years), will be captain of our debate team next year. I’ve won multiple mock-congress tournaments and took third at state in debate. I’ve played in the largest and internationally recognized Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra for the past 4 years, but will not be participating my senior year. I’ve played in 2 pit orchestras for my school’s musical. I’ve been in six theatrical performances and will be in four more by the time I leave. I’ll most likely have leads in two shows. I’m currently the student government treasurer and if I’m not next year I’ll be a higher ranked officer.</p>

<p>Service: I have done currently fifty-one hours of community service in high school alone. I’ll have over 130 by the time I’m done.</p>

<p>Letters of Recs: I have one teacher, my academic advisor, who has to write me a letter. I also have two other teachers who promised to write me a letter. One who is nationally recognized for her letters and has gotten people into schools they shouldn’t have gotten into.</p>

<p>Do my EC’s, service, and letters overcome my GPA?</p>

<p>NYU: High match
GWU: High match</p>

<p>NYU has poor financial aid for ED admittees; can you afford NYU ED?</p>

<p>Doubtful. Unfortunately my family fits right into that middle to upper middle class range where we can’t afford private colleges without aid but don’t get aid because we’re surviving on sufficient income. Does NYU tend to give better aid to those who wait for RD or is it a dime a dozen either way?</p>