From Online School to Accepted into NYU

Will had dreamed of studying at NYU since his freshman year. Now, four years later he is preparing to move to Manhattan to begin his degree in Real Estate Development at one of the most competitive programs in the US.

He credits Crimson Global Academy for helping him get there.

Although online school was never on my radar three years ago, I am beyond thankful that somehow I found myself here at CGA.

A Real Estate Goal With a Global Edge

Before joining CGA, Will’s university list focused on major business and finance hubs in the US. USC, NYU and UCLA were at the top.

He had a clear goal, but the environment he was in did not reflect his ambition.

I joined CGA for a more academically challenging curriculum, which previous schools had not provided. I was also interested in having more flexibility and taking advantage of the discipline needed to succeed in online school.

CGA’s Advanced Placement courses allowed Will to study at a higher level, while giving him space to focus on what mattered to him most. It was also his first experience learning alongside students from around the world.

Learning alongside students from other countries helps bring topics to life. My classmate is from China, and as we learn about China in our class, it’s interesting to see how his beliefs vary from what we’re being taught.

Inside the NYU Application Process

Applying to a competitive university like NYU is never simple. For Will, one of the biggest challenges was staying confident during a long and often overwhelming process.

I was consistently comparing my unfinished application to finished applications from previous students who shared their stats online which led to self-doubt and pressure to create a perfect application.

Support from CGA’s university guidance team helped him stay on track. He worked closely with his advisor Laila throughout the year. She helped him narrow down his topic for his personal statement and made sure he had someone to reach out to when he needed answers.

I think the most useful piece of advice I received was being told to brainstorm personal statement ideas months beforehand. Although I was unsure of my final topic a few weeks before submission, if I had not begun brainstorming months prior, I would have crammed the personal statement into 2 weeks, where they would have had to take priority.

The Day the Offer Came

After months of preparation, Will opened the NYU portal.

I was at my computer in my bed, reminding myself of how much I had accomplished throughout all 4 years, and opening the NYU portal to see the confetti was all a blur but was genuinely one of the biggest reliefs I have ever felt in my life.

He had earned a place at the NYU School of Professional Studies to study Real Estate Development.

Being offered a spot at NYU was surreal, but didn’t quite set in until days later. The whole time felt full circle since I had dreamed of going to NYU since freshman year, so being able to say I had achieved that dream was motivating to continue aiming high.

NYU stood out to Will not just because of its prestige or location, but because of how well the program aligned with his interests.

NYU has one of if not the best, real estate programs in the country, which made it ideal, but what made it even more of the right fit was the location, where ever since freshman year I had dreamed of being in NYC for university.

More Than Academics at CGA

Studying at CGA fosters self-discipline you can’t replicate at any brick-and-mortar school. I had been to multiple in-person schools, and one of my biggest struggles was a lack of confidence and a lack of discipline when it came to academics, so attending CGA helped me develop skills that will carry me through into my career.

Will’s advice to others thinking about online school is that it's not about working less. It is about working smarter, and with purpose.

I would recommend CGA to students who are set on achieving a goal. CGA provides a challenging curriculum, a global classroom, and supportive teachers. CGA develops skills you are going to need for the rest of your life, whether it be discipline, time management, or even communication.

As he prepares for life at NYU, Will is excited to take the next step toward a career in real estate.

Want to know how CGA can support your child’s university goals? Speak to an Academic Advisor today.