Chance a cooked gpa [3.6 UW], poli sci major for NYU ED2 and T30s

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics: Male, Northeastern state, low-income underfunded public, and hooks: First Gen. (Family income is about 100k)

Intended Major(s): Political Science / IR

ACT/SAT/SAT II: Test Optional

UW/W GPA and Rank: 3.6UW.

Upward trend; Fr was terrible, and Sophomore improved. Junior year I had a 3.8. My mid-year report has straight A’s

Coursework:

Dual-Enrollment Statistics

Dual Enrollment Enhanced Pre-Calc

AP Spanish Lit (4)

AP US Government & Gov

AP Physics (my average so far is a 98)

DE Film & Writing Course (4.0 gpa)

Awards:

Nominated by school for two relatively prestigous invite only scholarships

Teen of the Month at non-profit I work at

Extracurriculars: (Vague so I don’t get doxxed)

-Leadership role at a state chapter of one of the biggest nationa youth politics orgs in the country (more politics-related)

-Political Strategy Director of the local chapter of the same org. (Organized a youth day of action initiative with a huge turnout, secured $5k in grants for VRDs and some other cool stuff)

-Tutor / Music Instructor at local non-profit teaching students from low-income backgrounds (Led and taught bass, tutored, and mentored over 25 low-income kids. Helped organize community events and developed teaching curriculum)

-Director at another youth org (More legislative work)

-Legislative Intern at State Senator’s Office (Assisted with policy research, constituent services, outreach, & events; supported youth & education legislative initiatives in district office.) **Not included in original description, but one of my bills will reach the state senate soon**

-Intern at BOE’s Communications Department (Produced & edited media for an Instagram account with over a thousand monthly views, highlighting local initiatives and politics.)

-VP of Class StuCo (Led initiatives to raise over $2000, planned events, and other miscellaneous things)

-English Tutor at a non profit tutoring English to children and adults from South America via Zoom Classes (Fr and So)

- 3 year Varsity Captain of my school’s soccer team

**This list was vague, but these were listed on my common app activities without much deviation from what was written above**

Essays/LORs/Other:

Essay: 8.5/10. I had two amazing individuals help me refine the process. The topic was personal to me, and I felt it was well written and reflected my personal growth as well as my character.

LORs: 9/10. I had 3 LORs, one of which came from a mentor who had seen me grow and wrote a deeply personal, detailed letter (he attended NYU if that counts for anything). The second one was from the senator I’m currently interning for, which I must say was incredibly well written and personal, and included anecdotes that I would imagine are useful inside of an admissions committee. The third is from my AP US government teacher, who has taught me since my sophomore year. I haven’t read this one, but he’s written incredible LORs for me in the past, so I wouldn’t imagine that this is any different.

Extenuating Circumstances:

I had two circumstances: I was an assistant manager at 14 at a restaurant in a city away from home, helping my parents due to financial difficulties. Secondly, became the caregiver of my nephew after my brother’s passing.

Schools: List of colleges, All RDs besides NYU (Excluding safeties)

Rutgers NB (Accepted)

Fordham

TCNJ

NYU (ED ll)

Northeastern

Columbia University

Boston University

Brown

Cornell

Stony Brook

Colby

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TCNJ yes. The rest unlikely. But you’ll know soon enough. Good luck.

Ps - missed about your family situation. Condolences and you’ll win in life no matter - bcuz how you’ve handled that situation, you can do anything.

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First off, I’m so sorry to hear about your brother’s passing. Condolences to you and your family.

The strong upward trend in grades and taking care of your family both financially and with caretaking for your nephew can be powerful parts of your application.

I wouldn’t be surprised if your ED II comes through for you.

If ED 2 doesn’t work out, I think you’ll have acceptances at TCNY, Fordham, and Stony Brook. I also think you have a shot at some of your reaches.

Good luck and I hope you circle back and let us know where you land!

PS. Rutgers is a great acceptance to have already!

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If Rutgers is affordable, then it is a safety if you are already admitted. Or are you waiting for a scholarship needed for affordability?

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Yeah, I think the GPA and test optional are really going to hurt you at many of those. But I just want to say that you sound like an amazing person who has a very bright future no matter where you end up. You are mature, responsible, hardworking, ambitious, caring, and smart - all of that is very clear through your ECs and family circumstances. You are a superstar. No matter how admissions go, don’t forget that.

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Yeah I recognize that I’m extremely unlikely for most of these schools, I think I’ll be in absolute awe if I am accepted

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Thank you so much :slight_smile:

I hope ED II pulls through, although regardless of where I go I’ll try to succeed as much as the next person.

Thank you, and I’ll be back come april to update

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I’m still waiting for Rutgers to release the finanical aid packages as well as any scholarships, but even without them, it’s still affordable as opposed to many of the other schools

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Yeah I figured it would, and I really appriciate those kind comments, brings me light in a process that thousands of seniors including myself dread. Tysm!

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Holistic review colleges can and will accept people with GPAs well below their normal reported ranges, if other things about those applicants make those colleges want them enough as members of their community.

Whether any given colleges will think that about you, we can’t really predict. But it does happen, just not that often (if it was often, the reported range would be different).

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Hey you all!

Thank you for your feedback; most of you were spot on. I got rejected from most of the top schools here.

However, I overperformed massively. I got accepted to Stony Brook on a Presidential scholarship, accepted to Fordham LC, and, most importantly, I got a Transfer option to Cornell University (which, by most accounts, is a guaranteed transfer to matriculate during my sophomore year, provided I maintain a 3.0 or above and fulfill their core requirements). It’s a dream come true, and it’s one hell of an overperformance.

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You were spot on, thank you!

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Congrats to you.

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Great outcomes! What’s the plan?

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Congratulations! Great results and a testament to what they saw in you.

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So far thinking of attending Rutgers during my first year, as it’s close to home and is the cheapest option for me, which is crucial if I do pursue the transfer option at Cornell. I’m still figuring out financials because debt isn’t the greatest thing in the world. But it’s an Ivy League and they’re generous (their NPC has me paying a really small amount), so I have more wiggle room

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Thank you so much! Truth be told this admissions cycle was a roller coaster but I’m happy I got the best outcomes all things considered

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If any future applicants read this, I truly want you to know it is not over until its over. Admissions are a gamble, I was automatically writing myself off because of my lower than average stats however I got great results all things considered, and I have a direct pathway to an Ivy league school and one of the best universities in the world in a year.

At the end of the day, it is possible to reach a prestigous or “dream” university even with not so ideal circumstances. While I undertstand that this is purely anecdotal at this stage and does not represent the overwhemling amount of cases of applicants with low stats, my “advice” is to find something cool about your life/story and write about it. I don’t know what got me accepted and I probably will never know, but what I can say is keep faith and believe in yourself!

Lastly, find friends who were already in your shoes. I don’t think I could’ve done this without having some sort of guidance from my friends, who at 1 am often stayed up critiquing my essay and, quite frankly, being ruthless with their constructive criticism. It seems minuscule, and you don’t have to listen to everything, but it helped a lot.

Only you are at the wheel, remember that :slight_smile:

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