US Citizen
New Jersey Resident (not applying in state)
Public school that is very highly ranked in the state
Female
Applying to Newhouse
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
3.48 UW (on a 4.3 scale)
3.5
My school does not give out class rank, but the average gpa last year was a 3.7 UW, my class size is about 330 people
1220 SAT
My GPA was a 3.1 freshman year, 3.5 sophomore year, 3.8 junior year so each year I have shown improvement.
I have taken 1 honors class, I am planning to take an AP and an another honors class next year. My school requires people to apply to take honors/APs, so I can’t just take whatever I want. Thought that was worth mentioning.
Most Improved Award for Softball/team award
Volunteered as CIT for 2 summers (around 500 hours of volunteer work)
Worked as a camp counselor for 2 summers
I am the co-president of a mental health awareness club that has about 200 members. (One of the largest clubs in the school). I have done that since sophomore year and will still hold the position next year.
Member of the planting club
Varsity Softball
JV Softball team caption
Have not written it yet but I think it will be pretty strong. I am most likely going to have it relate to my improvement in all factors, which is what my app will be themed around. My strongest letter of rec will talk about my improvement
You don’t mention your annual budget. Can your parents pay the full cost for you to attend here at Newhouse?
Do you have some other colleges to apply to and will you also have those applications completed by the time you send your Newhouse application in? If not…I would strongly suggest you get this done.
There is a nice new template for chance me/match me threads. If possible, could you please do this.
US domestic (US citizen or permanent resident) or international student
State/Location of residency:
Type of high school (or current college for transfers):
Other special factors: (first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc.)
Cost Constraints / Budget (High school students: please get a budget from your parents and use the Net Price Calculators on the web sites of colleges of interest.)
Intended Major(s)
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: (calculate it yourself if your high school does not calculate it)
Weighted HS GPA: (must specify weighting system; note that weighted GPA from the high school is usually not informative, unless aligned with the recalculation used by a college of interest, such as CA, FL, SC public universities)
College GPA: (for transfer applicants)
Class Rank:
ACT/SAT Scores:
List your HS coursework
(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)
Science: (including which ones, such as biology, chemistry, physics)
History and social studies:
Language other than English: (including highest level completed)
Visual or performing arts:
Other academic courses:
College Coursework (Transfer Applicants) (Include college courses taken while in high school if not included above.)
General education course work:
Major preparation course work:
Awards
Extracurriculars (Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Essays/LORs/Other (Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.)
Schools (List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)
If a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below; also, for colleges that admit by major or division, consider that in chance estimate.
Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability):
I don’t want to discuss finances online. That is a private conversation between me and my family. And yes of course I am going to apply to others. Syracuse is just my top choice and I want to see what my chances are.
Run the Net price calculator for Syracuse with your parents to see if it’s in their financial ballpark. Then you and your family can have that discussion.
Good job on the upward trend.
Newhouse is a definite reach because of GPA×Rigor. It means your odds aren’t very good but not Impossible.
Applying ED would be your best shot if you’re sure it’s your 1st choice and if, after running the NPC, your parents have determined it’s affordable (applying ED may improve your odds but means no incentive to convince you to enroll so no merit scholarships.)
I would add Ithaca EA.
On both cases demonstrate interest - join the mailing list and make sure you open the messages they send, go visit if you can…
I agree with the prior post. Based on scores, GPA and probably class rank it’s a reach but possible so take your shot. Since it’s your first choice apply ED if you are able to - their ED acceptance rate is high and they love demonstrated interest. Good luck!
You won’t get into Newhouse with those stats. Syracuse has gotten way more competitive over the years. Had 2 kids apply and accepted to Newhouse. One went, the other did not. Child who attended switched from sports journalism to Whitman and Finance and concentrated on the business of sports.
Syracuse is a great school, but also really expensive and is well known for admit and deny…. Meaning they admit knowing a child has great stats, but not the means to pay. So make sure you run the NPC before you apply.
Both my kids who were admitted got a merit discount, but not so much that it was impactful.
Fair enough on finances but before you ED, make sure you discuss with your family because you are bound. Most Newhouse majors don’t have a great ROI.
I note this bcuz I don’t see an admission here due to gpa, SAT, and lack of rigor but if it were to happen it would be via ED and being full pay - SU is need aware.
So you’re talking $350k plus.
My friend had to leave after two years - her family didn’t prepare financially. Finished at her small flagship in the Rocky Mountain area. Small classes and program and placed 100% into jobs. We were broadcast journalism. If 25% of my class got broadcast journalism jobs I’d be shocked.
Don’t know your major and SU is wonderful but finances first and in your case finances may dictate your best shot of acceptance is from being a binding full pay applicant. Whatever you want to study, SU will be great but so will others.
So finances, IMHO, are directly tied to any chance you have.
While I don’t see you getting in - sorry to be blunt - but even today at schools like SU full pay does matter. Best of luck.
Desires - weather, campus size, need big sports or Greek etc. any part of the country off limits ?
Need to know
You may not want to discuss but budget drives everything - giving you a school you can’t afford wasted everyone’s effort - yours and ours. So have that discussion with your folks first.
You can’t say that for sure. It’s a reach, yes but it could happen. The one person From my D’s school who will be attending Syracuse Newhouse this fall had a lower GPA than OP and applied test optional. Applied ED and full pay.
I know you’re reluctant to share your budget, although that will be a critical aspect of the search. But to offer any suggestions at all, it would help if you could let us know more about what you’re looking for from your college experience, as @tsbna44 indicated.
In all honesty, it sounds like a significant reach in terms of test score, GPA, and rigor (no AP courses yet). You’d probably have to go TO and apply ED for any chance and even then, being full pay or not likely comes into play. Demonstrated interest is huge at SU. It’s quite competitive. You may want to build a more comprehensive and list before determining where to use your ED.
Like others have said, Newhouse is a reach unless you apply ED and are full pay. My D was waitlisted last year with 1240 SAT (but maybe applied TO, can’t remember), 3.8 UW/4.3 W, all honors classes plus 3 APs, decent ECs w/ leadership, two varsity sports, part time job, excellent essays and LORs. Syracuse was her #1 because of Newhouse and she considered applying ED but $90K+/year is a steep price tag. She showed a ton of demonstrated interest - two official tours of campus and Newhouse, opened every email from Syracuse, participated in some online sessions and kept in communication with the local college rep who visited her high school. She was offered admission early in May but was not given any merit so she turned down the spot.
Checkout Ithaca’s communications program also. D has a friend who is having an amazing experience there after choosing it over Syracuse.
ED/full pay and a more rigorous senior schedule (where grades only matter through 1st semester) would be OPs main chance at SU.
College suggestions:
Ithaca EA (expect 70k, 45k minimum with a scholarship, which is possible if your GPA reaches 3.5 and your SAT gets to 1240-1250.)
Mizzou
Penn State Bellisario for a more reachable reach and application before Oct 30 but costs are likely to be about 50k.
Rowan would be a good target and likely the most affordable choice (may not be needed if OPs parents make 250k+, but good to have just in case).
Btw, do not have your parents take on loans for you. So ascertaining budget with them is crucial.
Trust me - how much a parent make doesn’t necessarily equate to what they’re willing to afford.
One may make $250k+ and still have a budget. I see it all the time in the town I live.
We don’t know OPs major, budget, desires or anything so it’s hard to speculate what might be a fit. The school mentioned may not even have the desired program.
Thanks for posting that. OP - if you’re seeking more ideas, it’s an excellent thread.
The thing with sports broadcasting - you can go anywhere. The top Fox NFL guy - William Paterson U, a public in NJ.
One of the top MLB and NFL guys Beloit College. A small LAC.
So find the right college. Connect with the College radio / tv outlets. Or mine the local minor league teams etc. go to games. Sit in a corner with your iPhone. Practice doing play by play. Over and over. Get folks to critique you.
You’ll have every opportunity no matter where you go but the thread @thumper1 posted has tons of great ideas throughout - and Ithaca above was another - if you don’t mind freezing.