Advice for Junior Looking at Ivies/Top 20 (Specifically Penn)????

Applying to College
1

Pakistani Male (born in US)
Income: ~150k

SAT I: 2310 (770 M/760 CR/780 W) one sitting

SAT II:

World History (680)
Biology E (770)
US History (760)
Math II (800)

GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92/4.54 (Grades have upward trend)

Rank: 10% of 430 students

AP (place score in parenthesis):

World History (5)
English Language and Composition (5)
US History (5)
Calculus AB (5)
Biology (5)

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

AP Scholar with Distinction
National Merit Commended

Minor Awards (Local/School etc.):

Honor Roll
Scholar Athlete
Runner-Up General Knowledge Contest
several other various ones…

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):

8th:

Youth Symphony Orchestra

9th:

Youth Symphony Orchestra
Debate Club JV
Club Baseball
Writing Novel (self-published Junior Year)

10th:

Youth Symphony Orchestra
Debate Club JV
Marching Band
JV Baseball
School Weightlifting
Writing Novel

11th:

Youth Symphony Orchestra (Section Leader)
Marching Band (Section Leader)
Debate Club Varsity
Varsity Baseball
School Weightlifting
Science Olympiad
Moody’s Mega Math Challenge
PUBLISHED Novel!!!
Feminist Club (Secretary)
NHS

12th (Predicted):

Youth Symphony Orchestra (Section Leader)
Marching Band (Section Leader)
Debate Club Varsity
Varsity Baseball
Science Olympiad (Captain)
Feminist Club (Secretary)
NHS (Webmaster)

Job/Work Experience:

About a month working in fast food restaurant

Volunteer/Community service:

Various hours logged for NHS
Helping elderly neighbor with housework and chores
Volunteering in temple
see below
~ 80 hours in all

Summer Activities:

9th:

Baseball on competitive team
Traveled to Pakistan to help improve education for children living in impoverished areas

10th:

Baseball on competitive team

11th:

Traveled to Pakistan again to continue to help improve education for children living in impoverished areas
Columbia Summer Program

Teacher Recommendations: 9/10, teachers I am planning to ask love me and I can only ameliorate these relationships
Counselor Rec: 7/10, he doesn’t really know me and vice versa

Other

Intended Major: Economics

Hooks: speak 4 languages (Spanish, Hindi, Panjabi, English)

2

That’s not a hook. A lot of people speak 4 languages, including me. (Plus isn’t it Punjabi not Panjabi).

Your grades and scores are exemplary, so no comment on them. Do you only have deciles?

Your EC’s are okay. But just think of the many people who have similar stats and have better EC’s. Your leadership positions are lacking too.

Anyway, I would say to gain more experience that is related to your major.

3

No, “a lot of people” don’t speak 4 languages.

4

I really don’t see how OP’s leadership positions are “lacking”, and I thought the whole point of the EC list was its subjectivity. My advice to OP would be to avoid taking anything for granted (you’ve kind of veered into the “expensive summer school” and “saving impoverished lives” cliche) and actually begin narrowing down your college list for fit, etc. I highly doubt you’d genuinely be happy at all of the top 20s/Ivies. Do more research on the programs and schools you like, and don’t forget to consider matches and safeties.

5

You’re all set. Keep up the good work and if Penn is really #1, write great supplements and apply ED.

6

@Hawkace‌ - my school doesn’t rank but if they did I would be in the top 10 percentile. Could you be more specific as to how my leadership positions are lacking?
@crimes - Just wondering what you exactly meant when you said “avoid taking anything for granted”. I appreciate the input on narrowing my school choice!

7

  1. despite your best intentions, try to avoid coming off as overly privileged on your application. the trips to pakistan + columbia summer program, as i said, are apparently overdone in the eyes of adcoms. since your ec’s are pretty spread out, consider your passion and maybe focus your attention on a particular area.

  2. there’s no need to predict your senior/app stats, especially the recommendations. you (will) never know, and you can only hope for the best. we can’t really “chance” you based on those.

  3. your accomplishments are impressive, but for the applicant pool of the ivies/top 20s, it’s unfortunately not exactly outstanding and you ought to keep that in mind when you’re applying. it’s not a big deal because it probably won’t actually hurt your chances, but you won’t be that one app that sticks out from the rest (even with a national award, you can’t guarantee admission anymore). this goes back to the suggestion of considering matches and safeties in depth, as well as finances, location, etc.

8

No one can really tell you your chances at any one particular school.

I think you’re asking the wrong question. List your academic interests, the type of environment you prefer (urban versus rural, small versus big, etc) and people can suggest schools of varying selectivity. It’s very easy to pick one’s reaches (top 10, 20, Ivies), almost mindlessly easy. It is much more difficult, it seems, for people to pick safeties and even matches. Start your list with those schools first and be thoughtful with those schools. Don’t just pick Local College or Flagship U as the safety.

Why Penn? Have you visited colleges, including Penn?

9

@9penn9‌: Your credentials are solid (not a guarantee, of course, but you’re competitive); however, you asked advice. Penn – perhaps more than any of the other most-selective National Research Universities – favors ED applicants. Therefore – and these are key conditions – IF next Fall Penn remains your top hope and IF the finances are viable, apply ED to enhance your admissions probability.

10

Penn is truly interested the “Why Penn?” aspect of applicants. I’d recommend connecting with your Regional Admissions liaison. Also attend local meet and greets if possible. Those are the people who will be keeping your app on the pile. ED applications seem to have a slight edge, though my son applied RD.

Are you applying to the College or to Wharton for Economics?

If you are not sure:
http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/undergrad/academic-excellence/BS-versus-BA.cfm

If you really love Penn, perhaps checking out a summer program for 2015 might be something you’re interested in. Youth Scholars or other academic based programs.

And I’m not sure if they are still making a photo optional on the application, but that’s not a bad idea.

Your stats sound great. Kudos on the novel. Might want to enhance your leadership responsibilities on your resume. With all those ECs, I’m sure you’ve got them. I think it’s great that you speak 4 languages and I think they will as well.

Best of Luck!

Proud Penn Parent Alum