<p>I’ve decided about a year ago that I’ll be applying ED when I reach senior. And since that won’t come until a few more years, I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions on what I could do right now in order to improve my chances on getting in. I’m aware that they’re not really looking for -one- type of person so I suppose I’m really more interested in the “required” attributes. Haha, did that make any sense?</p>
<p>Anyways! I’d really appreciate it guys :D</p>
<p>start writing your essays... haha. I take it your a freshman so, you'll have a lot of time to craft your ECs. I say: excel in what you like to do. There were some people who had incredible business ECs, however they weren't accepted. Coming from someone whose standardized scores weren't stellar, try not to worry too much about the scores. Decent scores will get your foot in the door, however the Essays are what you should focus on the most.</p>
<p>I'm actually in 8th grade ::sweatdrop::</p>
<p>And honestly, I'm not too proud of my writing/creativity skills so I guess I should start working on that.</p>
<p>I was also wondering if participation in sports make any difference?</p>
<p>I didn't get in, but now I have more of an idea than ever of what is important in college admissions. First, SATs/ACTs are somewhat important, but do not study for them at the expense of your passions/ECs. Second, try to narrow down a particular passion/EC you may have now, and get involved in it anyway you can. If you like business, join a business club (or start one), go to competitions, etc. Really, have all of your activities focus on it. Lastly, take the most rigorous courseload you can possibly take. If you're not good at math, take AP Calc anyway, or if you hate history, take AP USH anyway.</p>
<p>Good luck and have fun at Penn! :)</p>
<p>Here's a suggestion. Start living the 8th grader life. You know what universities want? They want mature people and maturity can only come through the disappointments and satisfactions of experience. For you to be worrying about getting into wharton at this age is a little tragic i have to say (and i don't mean for that to sound condescending, given the ridiculous psychology that all ivy-league applicants are forced to suffer through; this is the system im criticizing) I'm sure you're a great kid. Live highschool and learn from it; you have no idea what kind of learning experience you're in for! Your first love, your first night out, trying to keep a ballance between work and having a life, finding out what true friendship is, etc. will change you forever. It is that maturity that will allow you to succeed in life; to assess risks, understand relationships, know when to kiss ass and know when to take a stand. Now doesn't that sound like a wharonite to you?</p>
<p>footballer, that was beautiful :) and I totally agree with you. </p>
<p>To firefly: you're just an 8th grader, that's too young to start worrying so much about these things. TRUST ME. Colleges like Penn want people who have followed their true passions and have engaged in challenging experiences not just because it is a "required attribute" to be admitted, but because they truly enjoy doing it, because in the end they feel happy and fulfilled by doing whatever they do. And that makes a big difference. </p>
<p>Now this is easy for me to say because I was just accepted ED so I guess right now I'm all happy and optimistic, but a few weeks ago I was a nervous wreck. I kept thinking about what I could have done different or better. See, I am from Panama and it was only halfway thru my junior year that I decided I really wanted to study in the US. I didn't plan my time during high school according to what would look good in a college application, but rather what I wanted and enjoyed doing. So I guess everything turned out just fine. Even if my SAT scores weren't stellar, my interest and passion for learning is genuine and I hope that is what my application reflected to those adcoms at Penn. </p>
<p>So bottomline- my advice to you is to relax a little about admissions and rather enjoy the time between. Get to know yourself, your interests, your strengths and weaknesses. Enjoy your friends, make sure you balance your schoolwork with your social life (that is my motto LOL). But make sure you don't spread yourself too thin, always make time to stop and smell the roses! Good luck ;)</p>
<p>firefly: i also think its a bit too early for you to be deciding where you want to go to college; i remember when i was in 8th grade, i wanted to go to princeton... and by the end of 10th, i had absolutely no interest.</p>
<p>i was just accepted to penn ED... i printed an application off the website on 10/20/05, few days after I got my SAT scores back. i pretty much printed them off of the high of my increase in my SAT scores from the first time I took the test in 5/05. due date is obviously 11/1. I dished my recs to some teachers... told them to write whatever they thought about me. waived my rights to see them, because i cant change what they were gonna write, so whats the use in reading them.</p>
<p>I had my essays mapped out on 10/30... and wrote them up 11/1 at 5:00AM before going to school. my 'why penn' essay had two errors in it. The app was obviously postmarked 11/1.</p>
<p>The point of the story is you can figure out what college you want to go to as late as 11 days before the app is due. You have four years. Please dont take after me... research the schools you might have a mild interest in attending. See if penn is a fit. Do not dedicate the next 4 years of your life to penn, because if all doesnt work out, youre going to have some serious psychological issues for a while.</p>
<p>I know a guy that had his heart set on penn from a very early age. got deferred ED (and eventually rejected), spent the next few weeks in silence. spent his CHRISTMAS in silence. you dont want to do that to yourself.</p>
<p>what advice i can give you is to truly strengthen your extracurriculars throughout high school. pick two or three clubs to really shine in, a sport or two... and focus your community service on one or two organizations.</p>
<p>get your rank up high (if your school ranks), dont slack off, always expect the worst and hope for the best. take the SAT earlier in your junior year, i only got to take the SAT twice... not good. DONT FORGET ABOUT THE SATIIs!!! i had no idea what they even were. had to have my scores rushed in early december...</p>
<p>and i suggest waiting to write your essays until senior year. thats when youll have the most stuff to write about...</p>
<p>Enjoy high school before college.</p>
<p>-aj</p>