Advice for UPenn CAS ED, Class of 2027 - current sophomore

Hey College Confidential! I’m currently a U.S. sophomore and in fall of my senior year I will be applying to UPenn CAS ED. I’ve been interested in UPenn for a long time and it’s my dream school.

Here’s some info about me:

Asian (Chinese), female, California, public high school of around 3000 students; income $180k

4.14 W / 4.0 UW
Hypothetically, if I get straight A’s with a B or a few in junior/senior year, I should have anywhere between a 4.3-4.5 weighted GPA and 3.8+ unweighted

Predicted class ranking if I don’t do too badly in junior and senior year: top 1-15 / 800 (not very competitive school)

12 APs by high school graduation (freshmen can’t take APs, sophomores only allowed AP Euro) – AP test scores far too early to tell, but let’s assume I get 4+ on all. The schedule I plan on having is considered highly rigorous for my school.

SAT: taking later this month, predicted 1500+ based on practice tests
ACT: taking in the fall, predicted 33+ based on practice tests (will most likely improve by fall)

Essays and LORs are to be worried about later

Will definitely be submitting a fine arts supplement (piano).

ECs:

  • top prizewinner in multiple international, national, and state piano competitions
  • performances in Carnegie Hall on both violin and piano; invited to perform at Vienna’s Musikverein and Berlin Philharmonie (piano), but Covid cancelled these
  • been playing at senior homes and hospitals since age 6, weekly (for Covid, organized and performed in series of weekly online concerts)
  • acceptance to and participation in prestigious international music/piano festivals
  • soloist appearances with regional professional symphony orchestras
  • Concertmaster of my school’s orchestra and the local youth orchestra (violin)
  • free tutoring for students all over the nation from 20+ states through Zoom, mainly Science/Math but also some piano
  • AFA CyberPatriots Platinum Award
  • Member of Future Health Professionals Club
  • Member of California Scholarship Federation, Interact Club
  • Program director of group that does monthly recitals and volunteering at local senior homes and hospitals
  • On my city’s Teen Council

This summer:

  • a few more piano/music festivals
  • accepted to and plan on attending two summer medical immersion programs
  • will start shadowing and volunteering at two regional hospitals
  • physical education summer class so I don’t have to take it during the school year

Next school year plans:

  • co-found a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing supplies, academic tutoring, and summer enrichment free of cost to disadvantaged youths in my area. There are a lot of kids where I live that are struggling and let’s just say the help they’re receiving in general is… terrible, to say the least.
  • organizing a series of (hopefully in-person) music concerts to raise funds for above project
  • joining National Honor Society
  • running for leadership roles in FHP/City teen council
  • applying for National YoungArts Foundation

Next summer plans:

  • going to apply to COSMOS science camp and keep my fingers crossed
  • paid internship at local hospital (I’ll be 16 then so finally old enough)
  • more summer med programs (maybe 1-2)
  • going to apply for National Youth Orchestra @ Carnegie Hall as pianist, if they require one for that year’s program
  • if NYO doesn’t need a pianist, probably going to attend the music festival I’ve been going to for the last 5 years annually, for the last time :frowning:

As a sophomore I still feel kind of lost with this whole college application process and I’m not sure if I have too much music on my stat sheet and not enough of sciences/medical-related stuff. Especially since I don’t plan on a music major. I also see that a lot of people have done research with local labs/professors but I don’t know where I can even get that kind of opportunity?

During Covid I’ve also found it difficult to build good relationships with my teachers because I was distance learning all year and bluntly all I did this year was get A’s. I don’t even think my teachers know what I look like. I really, really want to change that next year and participate in class but I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing… any advice on how to get good LORs and build relationships with teachers?

Also, does it look better to create a club affiliated with one’s school or just an organization is fine? Is one better than another? I know I have something I want to do to impact others’ lives positively, but my school’s club creation process is honestly a huge hassle and I don’t want to bother with it or be restricted in what activities I can plan by the school.

Thank you guys in advance for any tips you can help me with!! I’m aware that a college like UPenn for everyone is “reach” or “far reach” and I definitely don’t have my hopes too high on getting in… I would just like to maximize my chances in the final year I have left before it’s time to apply.

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