In reality, then, you shouldn’t worry too much about your GPA. It’s indeed a bit below average, but your circumstances make a big difference, and admissions officers will recognize that. Your extracurriculars are strong, and they show genuine passion and initiative, which can often speak louder than numbers. Gallatin isn’t extremely competitive compared to other NYU programs, and since NYU uses a holistic process, they look beyond just grades and test scores. They care about your story, how you think, and what you bring to the campus community.
If I were reviewing your application, I would lean toward offering you admission, because you seem to have the qualities that matter most: depth, creativity, and self-awareness. But take this with a grain of salt, as I am not an admissions officer and nowhere qualified to be one. I am in the same boat as you. I stand by my word, believing that this “chance me” will do nothing; it will only build more stress. None of us knows anything, and at this point, we are all just guessing. It is the blind leading the blind.
We still have other applications to work on, schoolwork to focus on, and goals that matter beyond this moment. Put your attention there. NYU will make its decision no matter how many times we refresh the page.
If you get in, that is your path opening. If you do not, it is not a failure. It means you are being guided toward a different route where you will grow, improve, and come back stronger. Every path works out exactly the way it needs to, even when you cannot see it yet.
So breathe, stay grounded, and focus on what you can actually control. The rest will fall into place.