Is it still possible to get into NYU or Penn with a mediocre GPA in sophomore year?
UPenn, an Ivy League school, is a bit more difficult to be
accepted to than NYU, a top-tier institution. Mediocre grades will
get you into neither, but since you're still only a soph, all is
not lost. Buckle down and pick up that GPA. Prepare for the SATs,
and make sure you take all the subject SAT II exams for which you
are prepared. The more, the better.