chance me for stern please

thiswilldo
Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:00:15 +0000

I agree completely with mpwalker.

If I remember correctly, if you get rejected early decision at NYU you can’t apply again during the regular decision cycle. If I’m right about that, don’t apply ED, retake your SATs and try to get them to the 2000+ point.

When I said have a strong essay, I didn’t mean you had to change yours. Writing about an abacus is fine as long as it’s a good essay. Unless you want to do an overcoming adversity type essay (which I don’t recommend because it’s generic and a lot of people do it but if you feel like you can make it stand out go for it; remember you want something that will keep the admissions counselors attention and hopefully something they won’t forget as soon as they put it down), don’t talk about your personal problems extensively. That being said, you do want them to get a sense of who you are through your essay.

The stuff about the school not having a lot of resources should be in the school profile, don’t waste space in your essay about it unless you do that overcoming adversity thing. As far as I know, (almost) every school has a 1-2 page document that they insert in the transcript package that talks about the school, it’s rankings, etc. If your school doesn’t, have your counselor whip something up along those lines and make sure it mentions that the school is new, doesn’t have a lot of resources, doesn’t offer many AP classes and so forth. Then in his/her your counselor can talk about how you were able to achieve what you did despite your personal problems. I’d stay away from doing that myself. Honestly, I’d stay away from the stomach aches thing all together because, as mpwalker said, it sounds too much like an excuse, but I don’t know the severity of your condition and I don’t mean to make light of it.

Keep in mind, this is ultimately your decision. I don’t think anyone on this board is an admissions counselor so we’re all just guessing here.

Feel free to post/pm more questions if you have them.