Would a 36 superscore make a difference in the eyes of the Penn adcoms versus a 34, especially for the level of competitiveness of Wharton? My GPA is a bit on the lower end (3.8) and I’m barely top 5% at a public HS, so I’m thinking yes since it’ll make up for my GPA weakness. EC’s are really good too.
Any thoughts?
No. The statistical difference between a 34 and a 36 is meaningless, IMO. Penn, like many of its peers, engages in holistic review. Stats are important, but they are only one part of the application package.
Colleges of this tier routinely reject applicants with 4.0/1600/36 and accept applicants with lower stats. Good luck.
@skieurope that is not correct. Look up the facts. Perfect scores 36/1600 are admitted at a rate of around 30%. WIth a perfect score and matching grades you stand out academically. For example Brown has a admit rate of 28% for those with a 36 ACT, and only and 11% admit rate with ACT’s of 33-35. Stanford is about the same, a previous article from admissions stated that they rejected 2/3 with perfect scores on the ACT/SAT which means they accepted 1/3. Having a perfect score makes you stand out academically, however it will not make up for other weak areas of the application, and vice versa.
@CU123 is correct…perfect scorers in general have a higher chance of getting in at the top schools. It may not be just because of score, but it adds up. It doesn’t guarantee, but higher chances. 3.8 GPA and within the 5% of the class makes you a strong contender. Given you say ECs are good, the only thing left is essays. So I would focus on those. Good luck!
It is my **opinion/b. One can make assumptions based upon another university’s data or make assumptions for future admissions cycles based upon past data, but that’s all they are - assumptions. And as Penn makes admissions decisions holistically, making any assumptions based upon data for one segment is folly, IMO.
Which is what the OP asked. “I’m thinking yes since it’ll make up for my GPA weakness.” I’ll let others argue whether the OP’s GPA is actually a weakness or not.
One can parse the data however one likes, however, nobody outside of admissions can give a definitive answer.
I spoke to a admissions rep of one of the Ivies, who specifically said that once your GPA and SAT/ACT is above a certain level, a level where they feel you can “handle the work” they focus on the essays, recs etc. They make 2 piles, high enough scores/grades and rejections. Then they start reading… My son got it and did not have a perfect SAT score, but he had excellent essays, recs, ECs, and apparently a good enough SAT score.
Where it will help is with merit scholarships at your 2nd tier choices.
I actually had one college mail us a menu, ranges of SAT scores and merit $ for each range.
But not going to matter financially at the top schools.
Anecdotal info is not reliable, facts printed by the Universities are reliable. AO’s may be telling you that there is a certain minimum to be competitive but the reality is the higher your score the better your odds, there is no denying that from the statistics. If is a continued misrepresentation on CC that seems to have a life of its own. Score a 36 and you have approximately a 1 in 3 chance of getting into a top school, of course many other things will play into the actual admittance but equating a 34 to a 36 is simply not reality.
Stats can “prove” anything. Highly likely that kids with 36 have other qualities of a high achiever.
If you will refute what the AO says, you have made up your mind and the facts don’t matter.