Any UPenn ED Hope?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

I’m an international student (Chinese). My scores are fine but definitely not impressive compared to lots of Chinese students (a lot of them got 1550+ SAT score). UPenn didn’t accept any students from my school for two years, and the last student who got in Penn had a 2390 SAT…I love Penn and I am applying early. Plz help me see if there’s any hope. Thanks!

Objective:

-New SAT: 1520 (CR 720, Math 800)
-SAT Subject Tests: Math L2-800, Physics-800, Chemistry-780, Taking USH in November and expecting 700+
-GPA (out of 4.0): 4.79 Weighted
-Rank: No Rank at school but I’m sure I’m top 10% (maybe even 5%)
-APs:
5: Calculus BC, World History, Microecon, Macroecon, Physics C Mechanics, Physics C Electromagnetics
3: English Language and Composition (this sucks…I won’t report this score)
-Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Psy, Advanced Calculus (equivalent to college sophomore math), Drama, Politics, Geography
-Awards: AP Scholar with Distinction, 2nd Place for National Econ Competition, Best speaker & semifinalist at school debate tournament, 3rd Place in English Speaking Competition in my province, two champions in international choir competitions.

Subjective

-Extracurriculars:
President of Photography Club (3 years)
Section leader of choir (one of the best choirs in China) (6 years)
Lecturer at Debate Club (6 years)
Music producer & singer & activity organizer at a music club (3 years)
President of Alumni Organization at my junior high school (3yrs)
School Volunteer Organization (2yr)
Co-founder & Assistant Director of Drama Club (1yr)
Official School Website reporter (1yr)
Research on gender discrimination and got nominated to publish in a scholarly journal (i don’t know the result yet)
Cornell + UChicago Summer Program

-Job/Work Experience: None

-Volunteer/Community service: No idea how the school counts our volunteer hours…

-Pretty sure I got decent recs from my counselor and one of my subject teacher (the other rec won’t be bad but I don’t expect it to be highly impressive). And I think my essays are good.

Country (if international applicant): China
School Type: Private, International Dept. (the best in my city; quite good in China–sending about 10 students to Ivies per year I think)
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: about $90k (not applying FA since it’s need-based for international students…)
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none.

2

Uh, I just put in my family’s numbers, and Penn would give my kid 30K per year, and we make a lot more than 90K. And that is need-based only of course - there is no merit aid at Ivy League schools, international or not!

So apply for FA just in case, and yes, there is hope! Just because they didn’t take someone last year from your school doesn’t mean they won’t this year!

Everything look pretty good to me, good luck!

3

Thanks a lot! I think I didn’t make it clear. FA for international students is not need-blind, which means it would lower my chances if apply for FA (Only schools like Havard and Yale offer need-blind FA to international students I think). But thank you again!

4

If you can’t afford the tuition, you should definitely apply for FA even if it lowers your chances. As an international student, you will not be able to apply for FA later on. Based on your family’s situation, you would have to take out an incredible amount of loan for an undergraduate degree. I don’t see a realistic way for you or your family to obtain that much money either. More importantly, being an international student, your ability to work in the US after college is not guaranteed. I believe you are making a very bad decision. I’m not trying to hate on your aspiration. I think it’s great. But I believe you are putting both yourself and your parents in a dangerous position.

5

Thanks for reminding! I’ll go over this issue with my parents again.

6

I’m also an international applicant and have discussed this situation with my family and guidance counselors numerous times. I agree with @dreambig22. It would be risky not to apply for FA for various reasons when your family can and should be receiving aid. At $90K, you could be in for a very generous grant. On the flip side, it’s impossible to pay a full $70K tuition/board fee when your parents’ income is $90K.

7

If your parents income is only $90, there is simply no way you can ask them to pay $70K to attend college. Unless of course they have a huge amount of money saved away.