It’s based on your PSAT score. How did you do on your PSAT?
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It is based on your PSAT score. If you are a National Merit Semi-Finalist (NMSF), there are several universities that offer large scholarships.
From Compass Prep:
How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520).
NJ has one of the highest cut offs. It is projected to be 223.
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I am confused by your letters of recommendation. First, how do you have them already if you are still a junior? Second, you usually need one from a science/math teacher and one from an English/ social studies teacher. Do you have that?
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I did good on the PSAT but I’m not sure if I qualify because I studied a lot and a lot of my growth on the SAT happened between October and December. Are there other times when I can take it or take it as a senior?
Ok technically they haven’t written them yet but they verbally confirmed that they would write me one, and I based my score off of my relationship with them. I have a history teacher I have a good relationship with, but idk about math, science or English. Do I really have to have one for every subject?
Not every subject, but most schools want a STEM teacher and a humanities teacher from 11th or 12th grade. Some schools allow additional letters of rec. Read the details on the website of each school you are applying for.
ETA:
Examples
NYU - Policy on Letters of Rec
Northeastern - Required materials - Letters of Rec
Only the psat you take fall of junior year counts for the national merit competition.
If you use the formula above to calculate your score, you can get a good sense of whether or not you have a chance for this. The cutoff is different for each state. Are you a resident of New Jersey?
Welp that’s not happening then. That’s a shame.
That’s okay, you didn’t know it existed until today. Keep focusing on the future and what you can do to make your application strong for the universities that you are applying to. Really look though their websites and note what attributes they look for in their students. See if they have an admissions You Tube page and watch the admissions videos. Reflect on what you have done and figure out how you can convey in your essays that you have the attributes that the school is looking for.
Don’t worry over it too much. You did excellently on the actual SAT and ACT, and that will be a huge boost for admissions.
Have you already written your Common App essay or is the topic you posted above what you plan to write but haven’t yet? I am asking because another approach is to have your guidance counselor write about your struggles in their letter and provide context for your less-than-stellar start, and you could write about something that really excites you and why it is important to you and how you will use that energy and excitement to contribute to the campus culture of the college you attend. That way, the AOs get two ways to look at you – they learn what makes you “you” and what motivates you from your common app essay, and they get a neutral third party’s explanation of your struggles, which is almost always a better idea than the student writing about it themselves. Just something to think about.
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Something isn’t adding up.
It’s February and you’re a junior with recommendations and a personal statement all ready to go? (Meanwhile, those recommendations don’t seem to follow general guidelines.)
You are planning on ED to NYU, but don’t want to do ED1…?
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Also, are you aware of the difference between ED1 and ED2? Many of us are confused as to why you have an ED2 school (NYU) but no ED1 school. Is this a deliberate strategy on your part or an oversight?
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In post #24, OP said that, while he doesn’t have them yet, those individuals verbally confirmed that they would write a LOR.
They might not follow general guidelines, but they would work for NYU. NYU LOR Guidelines
Last year, NYU introduced its new recommendation policy for first-year applicants:
“NYU requires one letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, coach, supervisor, or anyone else in a position of authority.”
Why the change?
In two words, reducing barriers . NYU receives applications from all over the world. School systems and their resources vary greatly. Not all students can easily obtain a recommendation from both a teacher and a counselor, and for some students, the teachers and counselors that they have access to might not be the people who can best speak to their readiness for college. By reducing our requirement to one letter and expanding who could write that letter, we hope to ease this pressure point for applicants.
The other part that is strange is that in addition to describing a personal statement that you’ve already written about Jamaica, you are saying that you’ve already written the additional information section talking about your growth. I think you need to slow down, particularly if you are in an upward trend and write about those topics next fall when you’ve grown more. Also, it would give you the opportunity to write about a different topic than your service work as “broadening your culture horizons” in Jamaica, a topic which I worry will come off as a bit cliched or hyperbolic unless done carefully.
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Because a lot of my extracurriculars are in the fall and December. I’ll have the chance to compete again and qualify for more award in time for EDII on January 1st. Like I’ll be a 3x all south member instead of 2
Hi you’re right maybe my essay is a little too clique. But that’s what I’m scared about because I don’t really have a hook, I’m not an immigrant and I don’t have some trauma or anything to write about. Do you have any essay ideas because I am genuinely blanking. I mean nyu gets like a 120k applications to they even read the personal statements for everyone 
There are a couple of resources that @Mwfan1921 and @sbinaz have recommended for essay…I think The College Essay Guy might be one:
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All south member of what? This likely won’t move the needle for admissions as much as an ED1 vs. ED2. Applying ED1 shows the ultimate demonstrated interest and lets the school know they are your definite top choice. ED2, on the other hand, is often used by applicants that were denied somewhere ED1.
Unless this all south member is a very prestigious award, you should prioritize ED1 if NYU is your 100% top choice(and affordable).
Students are under the impression that colleges want to hear trauma stories in the essay, but really colleges want to hear about your strengths and how you will be a unique and contributing member of their campus community.
Also, many colleges are concerned about not having enough mental health resources for their incoming students, so it is always good to be careful when writing about mental health or similar struggles. Much better to have your guidance counselor talk about struggles and how they are behind you now, if you even want to mention them at all.
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Have you and your parents run the net price calculator for NYU to make sure it is affordable for your family? If not, that is a very important step to take ASAP for all of your colleges. Each college has a net price calculator on their financial aid page. Use the “full” one, not the abbreviated one. However, if your parents are divorced or own their own business, it may not be accurate however.
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