Don’t give up. NYU is my dream school as well and I’m sure I’m unqualified compared to other students, but so what? Maybe I should’ve been involved more. Maybe I should’ve joined an orchestra or something(I’m a pianist as well). Maybe I should’ve done blah blah blah. The point is work with what you have. You want NYU right? Don’t worry about anyone else’s chances or even your own. Do the things you love. Colleges are aware that not everyone will have 15 EC’s, 30 awards, travel, and speak 4 languages (excuse my exaggerations). Don’t give up on college. There are hundreds are colleges out there. To get started look at safety colleges. Find colleges that have good music schools. Furman University in SC has one. Ohio State has a good music program. You’re a rising junior, am I correct? You still have time. Enter piano competitions. Do music camps. Join music programs at your school, and if they’re not offered, join a club or start your own. You need a serious confidence boost. You can’t get into anywhere if you don’t try anything. Honors classes and AP classes raise your gpa even if you get a C. Try your best. Don’t sit here and wallow. You still have some years in high school left. MAKE THE MOST OF THEM. Play piano at a church(I do this and I’m not religious). Take the ACT and SAT to see which one you do better on. Set up daily goals for yourself no matter how silly they seem (for ex: look up 2 different colleges today, volunteer for an hour, practice piano for an hour, watch a movie) that will help with your confidence. AP classes and honors classes are only as hard as you make them. Need help? Ask your teacher, ask your friends, get a tutor. Don’t focus so much on the content on threads on here. They represent maybe less than 40% of all applicants. I knew a guy who applied to NYU for this school year with being a national merit scholar, URM, good grades, and less than average EC’s, no sports, and you know what? He got in. His essays were phenomenal. His recommendations were outstanding and his test scores were good. IT’s also good to know that his 9th grade year and half of his sophmore year weren’t so good. So yes it’s possible. Look at in-state schools, look at regional schools. Music is your thing, why not make a career out of it?