<p>Hello. I’m currently approaching my senior year and am very interested in Business. Economics and Finance to be specific. I want to attend NYU Stern. I would like advice on how I can increase my chances. I have a cumulative 3.14 GPA with an upward trend. The reason I didn’t do so well my earlier years was because I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I wasn’t passionate about education, which eventually changed when I found a love for the Economy, Finance, and Stocks. Since then I have excelled to my full potential taking tough classes and doing well. In terms of extra curricular. I am a Community organizing Leader for both the Obama and Romney campaign. The reason I did both was so I could find out which party I actually supported by learning straight from the source about the views of the party and the goals. I am still undecided so I’m still giving time to both campaigns to find out what is the best for the country. I have volunteered over 500 hours at a local assisted living home. I really enjoyed spending time with Senior citizens because they have a lot of knowledge to be obtained by young people like me. I have worked over two years at a telemarketing company. Currently I am working for a 401k consulting of self investing firm. With this I talk to people approaching retirement who live all over the country. I learn what their scenario is and how they want their money invested in the proper way. In terms of standardized testing I recieved a 20 on my ACT’s the first time, although I am studying very hard right now and take it in a month, and am going to try and obtain a 30. I come from a low/middle class family. I am the first US born citizen of my family. My heritage comes from Nepal. I have done Football and Track in highschool. To top off my extricurricular’s I am President, Co-Founder, and Financial Adviser to Longevity Research organization. What advise can you give me so I can raise my chance of getting in to NYU Stern?</p>
<p>Your ECs are good but you really should get atleast a 28-29 on the ACT to be considered for Stern. Try to make sure you get all A’s in challenging classes during your senior year. If you are really interested in Stern, you should apply to ED. Since you are in the low/middle class, try to apply for a lot of scholarships because Stern is not cheap. Besides your GPA and test scores, you are an extremely good candidate. I would recommend that on your essays, you should write about your financial adversities and how you have shined even in the shadow of these adversities. Also look into some safeties that have decent business/economics programs.</p>
<p>Your EC’s are excellent, and I agree with IwillkillforMIT, you should apply ED if you are really set on it. You can decline admission if you are accepted if the financial aid package isn’t enough. If you can get your ACT up to the 30 mark, it’ll give your application a huge boost over what it’s at now. Have you tried the SAT? While I find the ACT easier, some people do much better on the SAT, and if you can get that over 2000 it’s good.
The upward trend in your GPA is great, so make sure you keep that up this year, especially if you don’t apply ED and they get your semester grades. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>To be blunt, the GPA and standardized testing scores are going to hurt. Good EC’s though. Just apply ED and make sure to write killer essays to improve your chances. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the help. That’s on my agenda right now, just ace the ACT. I haven’t really thought about the SAT though. I’ll have to look into it</p>
<p>Any other advice?</p>
<p>Do not mark anything for the race question. Being Asian hurts you in the college admissions process.</p>
<p>Ok so I can just leave the race part blank? It’s not required is it?</p>
<p>I figured that they would either be able to tell by the fact that A. Your name most likely looks asian or B. only asians leave that question blank</p>
<p>Sent from my SPH-D600 using CC</p>
<p>It is not required, but if you want to check it, check other and specify it by writing Nepali.
@cneogy: I would disagree because several Caucasians do that too.</p>